INTRODUCTION

The Lord came to the earth on a mission to die on the cross for the sins of the world, but that is not all. Likewise, He came to give mankind a fuller revelation of the Father. The law was a shadow (Hebrews 10:1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
See All...), but Christ was the image (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
See All...; Colossians 1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
See All...; Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
See All...). This contrast is presented in Matthew 5 where the Lord said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time . . . But I say unto you" (Matthew 5:21-22 [21] Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
See All...; Matthew 5:27-28 [27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
See All...; Matthew 5:31-32 [31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
See All...; Matthew 5:33-34 [33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: [34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
See All...; Matthew 5:38-39 [38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: [39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
See All...; Matthew 5:43-44 [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
See All...). In old time the commandment pertained to the act of murder, but now "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer" (Matthew 5:21-22 [21] Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
See All...; 1 John 3:15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Saul hated David and tried to kill him (1 Samuel 18:8-11 [8] And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? [9] And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. [10] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. [11] And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
  See All..., 17; 1 Samuel 20:31-33 [31] For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. [32] And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? [33] And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
  See All...). Yet, David did not hate him and spared his life (1 Samuel 24:11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
  See All...; 1 Samuel 26:8-9 [8] Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. [9] And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?
  See All...). Even after Saul's death, David spoke kindly of him (2 Samuel 1:17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
  See All...; 23-25).
• Murder springs from hatred. How did the Lord Jesus offer a fuller revelation of the mind of God the Father by emphasizing the dangers of hatred?
• Hatred compels one to murder, but love compels one to die for another. Which of these is a better representation of the nature of God?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for demonstrating the beauty of love.
• Ask the Lord to help us go beyond the letter of the law.

HYMN

O to Be Like Thee!

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