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Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

The Hard Sayings of Jesus

August 23, 2020 • Pastor Paul Becker

• "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." —Matthew 5:48
• "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." —Matthew 6:13
• "'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'”—Matthew 27:46

The hard sayings of Jesus force us to reexamine our cherished assumptions and challenge us to rethink our view of His life and the life of the Church of which He is the Head.

1. Jesus teaches us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
a. We mistakenly assume the impossibility doing what Jesus commands.
b. Be all-embracing, without restriction, in your acts of mercy

2. Jesus teaches us to pray for strength in our spiritual struggles.
a. Jesus is NOT teaching a rapture/escape from temptation, tribulation, testing.
b. May our faith stand firm in the time of trial / temptation.

3. Jesus’ cry of dereliction shows that He would pay any price for us.
a. Jesus felt the full weight / consequence of sin.
b. Jesus’ experience of God-forsakenness is our rescue.

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