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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verses of the day for July 30th are Matthew 5:14 and Matthew 5:16. The title of the book Matthew is also known as “The Gospel According to Matthew.” The book Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew.
For geographical context, below is a link to a map of Israel during the time of the Lord Jesus Christʼs First Advent (also known as the Incarnation). The First Advent was during a time when the region where Jerusalem was located was an occupied province of the Roman Empire. The name of that Roman province was Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz]. On that map, Judea is located in grid coordinates B6, C6, B7, and C7. For reference, Jerusalem is located at grid coordinate C6.
https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt1.jpg
If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt1.jpg
Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Matthew 5:1–20. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.
Note: Notes for Matthew 5:1–20 reference the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], the Church Age, and the Second Advent. With regard to the Day of Pentecost, the Church Age, and the Second Advent, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.
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Dispensation |
Start |
Ending or Interruption |
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Age of the Gentiles |
Adam |
The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. |
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Age of Israel |
Exodus |
The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost. |
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Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel) |
First Advent of Christ |
The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ. |
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Church Age |
Day of Pentecost |
The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church. |
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Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed) |
Rapture |
The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ. |
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Millennium |
Second Advent |
The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. |
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Eternal State |
Great White Throne Judgment |
The Eternal State will be never-ending. |
Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.
judge −e +ment
= judg +ment
= judgment
Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.
After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.
Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.
Matthew 5:1
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the hill/mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
Note: Matthew 5:1 is the beginning of the Lord Jesus Christʼs Sermon on the Mount, a sermon covered in Matthew 5–7.
Matthew 5:2
Having opened His mouth, He was teaching them, saying,
Note: The passage Matthew 5:2–12 contains the Beatitudes [bee-AT-ih-toodz or bee-AT-ih-tyoodz]. The Beatitudes are blessings spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ during the Sermon on the Mount. The English word beatitude came from Middle English, which was the English language from circa A.D. 1150 to circa A.D. 1470. The word circa [SUHR-kuh] means “approximately”; circa is used before dates. Also, the abbreviation c. can be used for the word circa. The abbreviation A.D. means “Anno Domini.” The phrase Anno Domini is Latin for “in the year of the Lord.” The abbreviation A.D. should be placed before the numerals of a date but after the spelled-out words of a date.
Latin is a language that started as the language of ancient Rome. The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital. The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C. Rome eventually became a kingdom. That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom. Then Rome became a republic. That republic is known as the Roman Republic. After that, Rome became an empire. That empire is known as the Roman Empire. The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.
The Middle English word from which beatitude originated came from Old French (the French language up to c. A.D. 1400). The Old French word from which it came is béatitude [bay-a-tih-tood]. That Old French word was based on the Latin word beātitūdō [bay-ah-tee-TOO-doh]. The Latin word beātitūdō came from the Latin word beātus [bay-AH-toos]. The Latin word beātus means “blessed” or “happy.”
It is worth noting that the New Testament was written in Koine [KOI-nay] Greek. Koine Greek was the lingua franca [LING-gwuh FRANG-kuh] of the Roman Empire at the time that the New Testament was written. A lingua franca is common language used as a means of communication by speakers of different languages. For many people today, English is a lingua franca. In the Roman Empire at the time that the New Testament was written, even though Latin had been the language of Rome for quite some time and continued to be so, many people within the Roman Empire communicated with each other by means of Koine Greek.
Instead of a Koine Greek–derived term being used to refer to the blessings spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ during the Sermon on the Mount, the Latin-derived term Beatitudes is used to refer to those blessings. This usage is related to a Latin translation of the Bible. That translation is called the Latin Vulgate [VUHL-gate] or simply the Vulgate. The Latin Vulgate translation is believed to have been composed from A.D. 382 through A.D. 405.
In the Latin Vulgate translation of Matthew 5, verses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 each start with the Latin adjective beati [bay-AH-tee], which, when written with a macron (a diacritical mark appearing as a horizontal line above a character) to indicate that a vowel has a long sound instead of a short sound, appears as beātī [bay-AHH-tee]. Some people omit macrons; however, because macrons help with pronunciation, it is useful to include them. The Latin adjective beātī can be translated as “blessed” or “happy.” Below is a link to the Latin Vulgate translation of Matthew 5 without macrons over long vowels.
https://www.BLBClassic.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=5&t=VUL
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed / Happy: the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the Heavens.
Note: The New Testament was written in Koine Greek. In the Koine Greek of Matthew 5, verses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 each start with the Koine Greek word μακάριοι [pronounced mah-KAH-ree-oi and transliterated as makarioi]. That word is an inflected form of the root word μακάριος [pronounced mah-KAH-ree-oss and transliterated as makarios]. Also, in this verse, the phrase kingdom of the Heavens refers to eternal life.
In this verse, the phrase poor in spirit refers to believers who think in terms of the Word of God and who thereby recognize that they are lowly. In other words, that phrase refers to believers who have humility. The believers who have humility refrain from being arrogant—in other words, they refrain from being self-centered. Believers who refrain from being self-centered are unselfish.
Regarding the reference to unselfish believers in this verse, absent from this verse is anything indicating that being unselfish is what obtains eternal life for them. Instead, this verse indicates that believers who are unselfish are happy. In addition, this verse indicates that the fact that unselfish believers have eternal life contributes to the happiness of those believers. In other words, believers who are unselfish appreciate the fact that they have eternal life, and their appreciation of the fact that they have eternal life contributes to the happiness of those believers.
In order to be unselfish, a believer must obey the Word of God. In order to obey the Word of God, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.
While some believers had empowerment from God the Holy Spirit before the Day of Pentecost, such empowerment was available only to a limited number of people and for specific purposes. That empowerment before the Day of Pentecost is known as enduement. Enduement involves differences from the filling of God the Holy Spirit which occurs in the Church Age. When a believer who had enduement sinned, once that believer confessed that believerʼs sins to God the Father, that believer needed to pray to God the Father for the enduement to be restored. In contrast, once a Church Age believer commits a sin after salvation, after that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit is restored.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed / Happy: those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Note: Believers who are going through a period of mourning can be happy. Even if there is no one who comforts them before going to Heaven, they will be comforted when they go to Heaven.
Matthew 5:5
“Blessed / Happy: the humble, for they shall inherit the land.
Note: It is possible that the reference to land in this verse metaphorically refers to blessing and that that metaphorical reference involves a comparison to Israelitesʼ future blessing of inheriting the Promised Land when the Lord Jesus Christ will return on the occasion of the Second Advent. It is also possible that the reference to land in this verse literally refers to Israelites inheriting the Promised Land when the Lord Jesus Christ will return on the occasion of the Second Advent. Regarding Israelites inheriting the Promised Land when the Lord Jesus Christ will return on the occasion of the Second Advent, the Israelites who will do so will be believers who will be alive when the Second Advent will occur.
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed / Happy: those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Note: God the Father ensures that believers who want to learn the Word of God will indeed be able to learn the Word of God.
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed / Happy: the merciful / compassionate, for they shall receive mercy / compassion.
Note: God the Father is merciful / compassionate towards believers who are merciful / compassionate.
Matthew 5:8
“Blessed / Happy: the pure in heart, for they shall see/perceive God.
Note: The heart refers to the mind. In this verse, the reference to seeing/perceiving metaphorically refers to having some understanding about God the Father. In order for a believer to have some understanding about God the Father, that believer needs to learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:9
“Blessed / Happy: the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Note: The word peacemakers as used in this verse refers to believers who share the gospel such that people can have peace with God the Father—in other words, the believers who share the good news that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity. Also, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “sons” in this verse is υἱοὶ [pronounced hwee-OI and transliterated as huioi]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word υἱός [pronounced hwee-AHS and transliterated as huios]. The word huios involves a focus on the privileges of being someoneʼs son. In that regard, the use of the inflected form huioi in this verse focuses on the privilege of receiving eternal rewards that occur for believers who are peacemakers.
Matthew 5:10
“Blessed / Happy: those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the Heavens.
Note: A with verse 3, the phrase kingdom of the Heavens in this verse refers to eternal life. As indicated in the notes for verse 3, believers who obey the Word of God appreciate the fact that they have eternal life, and their appreciation of the fact that they have eternal life contributes to the happiness of those believers.
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed / Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:12
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in the Heavens is great. Indeed, in the same way, people persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Note: Believers who obey the Word of God and who are persecuted will receive tremendous eternal rewards as a result of experiencing that persecution. In that regard, a believer needs to be in fellowship with the Trinity when experiencing persecution in order to receive eternal rewards for experiencing that persecution. Also, prophets have experienced persecution; therefore, a believer who obeys the Word of God and who is persecuted can keep in mind that there have been other believers who have been persecuted also. Keeping that in mind can help a believer refrain from succumbing to any temptations to commit the sin of self-pity.
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth/land/region, but if the salt has become tasteless, by means of what will it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Note: In this verse, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “earth,” “land,” or “region” is γῆς [pronounced GAISS and transliterated as gēs]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word γῆ [pronounced GAI and transliterated as gē]. An inflected form of gē is also in verse 5. In the context of that verse, the inflected form of gē is translated as “land.” In verse 13, the context is such that the inflected form of gē could be translated as “earth,” “land,” or “region.” In that regard, the content of verse 13 could be referencing the positive effects that believers who obey the Word of God have throughout the world, or the content of verse 13 could be referencing the positive effects that occur in a region where a believer who obeys the Word of God is located. Either way, this verse calls attention to the positive effects that believers who obey the Word of God have. Those positive effects can be referred to as blessing by association.
Regarding blessing by association that occurs as a result of believers obeying the Word of God, this verse involves a metaphor related to salt. Regarding the type of salt referenced in this verse, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what type of salt is referenced in this verse. Therefore, the type of salt referenced in this verse might be a different type of salt than some people have encountered or even about which some people have become aware. In that regard, while sodium chloride (table salt) might not become tasteless, the salt referenced in this verse might have been composed of substances such that the salt referenced in this verse could become tasteless.
This verse calls attention to the fact that a believer who regularly obeys the Word of God can be a source of blessing by association for the people in the region where that believer is located. In other words, the beneficial effects of whatever blessing that God the Father has God the Son provide for that believer could “spill over” to people in the region where that believer is located. In that regard, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ controls history.
Regarding salt being used as a metaphor in this verse, salt is a preservative. In that regard, a region can be spared from or delivered through calamities as a result of one or more believers who obey the Word of God being associated with that region. Also, salt can be used for flavoring. In that regard, a region can experience blessings as a result of one or more believers who obey the Word of God being associated with that region.
Also, the beneficent behavior of the believer who regularly obeys the Word of God could be beneficial for the people in the region where that believer is located. In addition, the people in the region where that believer is located could benefit from that believer sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. In contrast to such a believer is a believer who refrains from regularly obeying the Word of God. A believer who refrains from regularly obeying the Word of God fails to fulfill God the Fatherʼs plan for that believer. The consequences of a believer who refrains from regularly obeying the Word of God are metaphorically described as being trampled by other people.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill/mountain cannot be hidden.
Note: The content of this verse calls attention to the fact that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are examples for mankind to see. In that regard, peopleʼs observations of a believer who regularly obeys the Word of God can result in a person or people noticing something about that believer such that there could be an opportunity or opportunities for that believer or another believer to share the gospel with that person or people.
Matthew 5:15
“Neither does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket / peck-measure but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Note: Believers are supposed to be positive examples for mankind to see.
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good production / acts / deeds / doings / labors / works / whatever with which one is occupied / whatever one undertakes to do / things done, and glorify your Father Who is in the Heavens.
Note: In this verse, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word that is translated as “production / acts / deeds / doings / labors / works / whatever with which one is occupied / whatever one undertakes to do / things done” is ἔργα [pronounced EHR-gah and transliterated as erga]. That word is an inflected form of the root word ἔργον [pronounced EHR-gahn and transliterated as ergon]. In the context of this verse, erga refers to whatever one does. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should be unselfish as frequently as possible.
As mentioned in the notes for verse 3, in order to be unselfish, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.
As mentioned in the notes for verse 3, while some believers had empowerment from God the Holy Spirit before the Day of Pentecost, such empowerment was available only to a limited number of people and for specific purposes. That empowerment before the Day of Pentecost is known as enduement. Enduement involves differences from the filling of God the Holy Spirit which occurs in the Church Age. When a believer who had enduement sinned, once that believer confessed that believerʼs sins to God the Father, that believer needed to pray to God the Father for the enduement to be restored. In contrast, once a Church Age believer commits a sin after salvation, after that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit is restored.
In Matthew 5:16, the phrase the Heavens refers the to the Third Heavens (also known as the Third Heaven or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. Regarding the word heaven, below is a summary of the different usages for that word.
• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens): the atmosphere of earth
• The second heaven (aka second heavens): outer space
• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven): the location of the throne room of God the Father
When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ obeys the Word of God, that believer brings glory to God the Father. In that regard, a believer should be focused on obeying the Word of God rather than on trying to bring glory to oneself. When a believer is trying to bring glory to himself or herself, that believer is behaving in a narcissistic manner. In that regard, trying to bring glory to oneself is selfish, and thought, communication, or action that is selfish is sinful.
Regarding sinning, sins can be categorized in various ways. There are three broad categories of sins: mental-attitude sins, verbal sins, and overt sins. Verbal sins can also be referred to as sins of the tongue. They can also be referred to as communicative sins because that category also encompasses non-verbal communication that involves sinning. Communicative sins can also involve physical means of communication such as facial expressions, other forms of body language, tone of voice, and demeanor.
Regarding a believer being a light for the world to see, a right thing must be done in a right way. Below is a list of right and wrong things.
A right thing done in a wrong way is wrong.
A wrong thing done in a right way is wrong.
A wrong thing done in a wrong way is wrong.
A right thing done in a right way is right.
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy / demolish / overthrow / throw down / annul / abrogate / abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to destroy / demolish / overthrow / throw down / annul / abrogate / abolish but to fulfill.
Note: In this verse, the Lord Jesus Christ indicated that He would fulfill the Mosaic Law and fulfill what prophets had prophesied. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. When the Lord was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, the Lord did indeed fulfill the Mosaic Law and did indeed fulfill what prophets had prophesied. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, people are no longer under the Mosaic Law.
While people are no longer under the Mosaic Law, the content of the Mosaic Law can be of benefit for people because the Mosaic Law reveals that all human beings except the Savior are unable to be good enough to obtain eternal life for themselves and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity. In this verse, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek verb that is translated as “fulfill” is πληρῶσαι [pronounced play-ROH-sigh and transliterated as plērōsai]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word πληρόω [pronounced play-RAH-oh and transliterated as plēroō].
Note: Regarding the content of verse 18 below, the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet is the letter named iota [igh-OH-tuh]. Also, a serif [SEHR-uhf] is a projection on a letter that finishes a stroke of that letter.
Matthew 5:18
“Indeed, truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth pass away, not one iota or serif shall pass away from the Law until all comes to pass / until all happens / until all is finished / until all becomes fulfilled.
Note: There are two instances of the Koine Greek word that is translated as “until” in this verse. The first instance of that word in Matthew 5:18 is in the phrase until the heaven and the earth pass away. In that regard, the phrase the heaven might refer to might refer to the atmosphere of the earth or to both the atmosphere of the earth and outer space. Regarding the phrase until the heaven and the earth pass away in Matthew 5:18, after the one thousand years of the Millennium finishes, the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy the current heavens and current earth and create new heavens and a new earth.
The second instance of the Koine Greek word translated as “until” in Matthew 5:18 involves the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling of some things. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the timing of that occurring, finishing, or fulfilling of those things. Also unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is to what that occurring, finishing, or fulfilling of some things refers. In that regard, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “comes to pass,” “happens,” “is finished,” or “becomes fulfilled” in this verse is γένηται [pronounced GEHN-ay-tigh and transliterated as genētai]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word γίνομαι [pronounced GEE-nah-migh and transliterated as ginomai]. The verb ginomai is different from the verb translated as “fulfill” in verse 17. In verse 17, the verb translated as “fulfill” is an inflected form of plēroō. In that regard, while the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling referenced by means of an inflected form of ginomai in verse 18 might refer to the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law and the fulfillment of what the prophets had prophesied, it is also possible that the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling referenced by means of an inflected form of ginomai in verse 18 refers to different things than the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law and the fulfillment of what the prophets had prophesied. For example, the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling referenced by means of an inflected form of ginomai in verse 18 might refer to the destruction of the current heavens and current earth. Also, the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling referenced by means of an inflected form of ginomai in verse 18 might refer to all the events that are part of the angelic conflict.
The angelic conflict is the conflict between the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit] and the elect angels on one side and Satan and the fallen angels on the other side. This conflict has been raging for a long time, and it began sometime before the creation of mankind. How long the angelic conflict has been raging is unspecified in the Bible. Also, the specific means by which the struggle of the angelic conflict is waged is unspecified in the Bible. Whatever is the specific nature of that struggle, human beings were evidently created to resolve the angelic conflict. In that regard, it appears that at least one aspect of the angelic conflict involves argumentation and attempts at persuasion, such as in a court case. For example, when, in the Garden of Eden, the first woman was tricked by the serpent—whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are metaphorical references to Satan appearing in a form other than that of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan appearing in the form of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan controlling a literal serpent—Satan persuaded the first woman to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Later, Satan caused Job to experience suffering. Later still, Satan tried to persuade the Lord Jesus Christ to sin. The Biblical accounts of those occasions indicate that Satan was arguing and trying to persuade.
Regardless of to what the occurring, finishing, or fulfilling referenced by means of an inflected form of ginomai in verse 18 refers, none of the Mosaic Law will pass away until after the Lord Jesus Christ destroys the current heavens and current earth and creates new heavens and a new earth. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is in what way the Mosaic Law will pass away. In that regard, it is possible that after the Mosaic Law passes away, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will no longer have any recollection about the Mosaic Law. If that is indeed what will occur, believers will remember other aspects of the Word of God, as per the content of Matthew 24:35.
Matthew 5:19
“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments and teaches people in this manner, shall be called least in the kingdom of the Heavens, but whoever does and teaches them—he shall be called great in the kingdom of the Heavens.
Note: The Lordʼs words that are quoted in this verse were directed to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, the content of Matthew 5:1–20 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. The content of the Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5:1. The content of Matthew 5:1–2 indicates that the Lord was speaking to His disciples. Because He was speaking to His disciples, He spoke in terms of speaking to an audience of believers.
The content of Matthew 5:19 indicates that all of the commandments of the Mosaic Law are valuable. Also, because the Lord had not yet been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law was still in effect at the time that the Lord spoke the words quoted in this verse. In that regard, if from the time that the Lord spoke these words up until the time that the Lord was judged for the sins of humanity, a believer were to disregard any commandment of the Mosaic Law and then were to teach others to disregard that commandment of the Mosaic Law, the believer doing so would miss out on some sort or sorts of honor in Heaven. It is worth noting that absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that that believer would lose his or her salvation. Instead, the content of this verse indicates that that believer would still go to Heaven.
Note: Regarding the content of Matthew 5:20 below, the word scribe in that verse refers to Jewish scribes. At the time that Matthew wrote The Gospel According to Matthew, Jewish scribes seemed to be experts regarding the Mosaic Law when actually they lacked understanding regarding the Mosaic Law. Also, the Pharisees [FEHR-ih-seez] were one of the powerful groups of Jewish people in Judea. The scribes and Pharisees were opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:20
“Indeed, I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of the Heavens.
Note: The scribes and Pharisees were the epitomes of the type of people who try to obtain eternal life by means of their righteousness. While the scribes and Pharisees and others who were aware of the scribes and Pharisees might have considered the scribes and Pharisees righteous enough to obtain eternal life, in reality, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was insufficiently righteous to obtain eternal life. In that regard, the righteousness of every human being except the Savior falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity. The righteousness of the Trinity can be referred to as +R. The righteousness of mankind falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity; therefore, the righteousness of mankind can be referred to as −R. Isaiah 64:6 covers the matter of the −R being contrasted with the +R of the Trinity. In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 64:6.
Isaiah 64:6
However, all of us are like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags / menstrual rags. All of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Note: The Hebrew word translated as “filthy” or “menstrual” in Isaiah 64:6 is עִדִּים [pronounced eed-DEEM and can be transliterated as `iddiym], which is an inflected form of the root word עִדָּה [pronounced eed-DAH and can be transliterated as `iddah]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew word `iddah refers to something filthy in the sense of being soiled by menstrual flux—in other words, soiled by menses, which is blood and other matter that is discharged from the uterus of a woman during menstruation. The Hebrew word translated as “rags” in Isaiah 64:6 is בֶגֶד [pronounced VEHG-ed and can be transliterated as veged], which is an inflected form of the root word בֶּגֶד [pronounced BEHG-ed and can be transliterated as beged]. Regarding the content of Isaiah 64:6 containing the phrase `iddiym veged, the content of that verse indicates that in comparison to the righteousness of the Trinity, the righteousness of mankind is yuck, yuck, yuck!
At the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, +R is imputed to that person. In other words, that person is credited as having righteousness, which means that that person is declared sufficiently righteous to have an eternal relationship with the Trinity. This crediting of righteousness is a free gift that occurs at the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
Regarding the crediting as having the +R type of righteousness that occurs at the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the Lordʼs words that are quoted in Matthew 5:20 indicate that a person needs the +R type of righteousness in order to go to Heaven. With regard to the Lordʼs words that are quoted in Matthew 5:20, both instances of the word you and the instance of the word your are plural. In that regard, why did the Lord speak as though there were disciples who had not yet believed in the Lord as the Savior? It is possible that one or more of them had not yet believed in the Lord as the Savior.
Sincerely,
John
