HOCF SERMON 2023

Matthew 5: Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Law

Matthew 5:17-20

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

17 "Indi kamo maghunahuna nga nagkadto ako diri sa pagbaliwala sang Kasuguan ni Moises kag sang mga sinulatan sang mga propeta. Nagkadto ako diri sa pagtuman sini. 18 Sa pagkamatuod, samtang ara pa ang langit kag ang duta, wala gid sing bisan gamay nga bahin sang Kasuguan nga mabaliwala hasta wala pa matuman ang tanan.[] 19 Gani ang bisan sin-o nga maglapas sang bisan labing gamay nga bahin sang Kasuguan kag magtudlo sa iban nga maglapas man, siya ang labing kubos sa mga nasakop sa paghari sang Dios. Pero ang bisan sin-o nga magtuman sang Kasuguan, kag magtudlo sini sa iban nga magtuman man, kabigon siya nga dungganon sa mga nasakop sa paghari sang Dios. 20 Gani ginasugiran ko kamo nga kinahanglan ang inyo pagtuman sa kabubut-on sang Dios maglabaw pa sa pagtuman sang mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan kag sang mga Pariseo, kay kon indi, indi gid kamo masakop sa paghari sang Dios."

SERMON:

Good morning Church! Today we are on Chapter 5 of the Book of Matthew. The whole chapter actually speaks about some of the most famous teachings of Jesus and commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount where thousands of people gather to listen to him.

If we are to read the whole chapter, the first few verses from 3-11 speaks about Jesus teaching his disciples and enumerating the things that bless a man or what we call the beatitudes o mga buluhaton sa pagkabulahan.

Jesus teaching us the beatitudes shows us that in this world of suffering, in this world of lack, in this world of sorrow, in God we are blessed. That no matter how difficult life is, no matter what we lack in this life, nothing and no one can ever give us the satisfaction that we need but God and God alone.

In this world we have sorrow, but true happiness is found in God. IN this world, it is so hard to find justice, but in God we will be justified. IN this world, we may be mocked and insulted, we may be ignored, bullied because of the things we do for God, but God promises great reward for us.

In the beatitudes, Jesus showed what a loving, just and righteous God we have. But along with the promise of blessedness, Jesus also teaches the things that we need to do in order for us to be blessed.

For us to acquire heaven, we have to acknowledge that we fall short of God's glory. Kinahanglan naton kilalahon ng nagkulang kita sa Diyos. It takes a repentant and humble heart to acknowledge that indeed we are poor in spirit.

For us to be comforted, we would need to experience mourning. Para lipayon kita sang Diyos, kinahanglan naton mag agi sa kasubo.

For us to inherit the earth, we need to be meek, kinahanglan naton mangin mapainubsanon. Pero sa sini nga kalibutan lisod magpaubos. It would take a lot for us to actually remain humble and meek all the time because we are living in a wicked world. Indi mahapos ang magpabilin nga mainubsanon kay madamo mga beses nga tilawan o sulayon gid kita diri sa kalibutan.

Ina pa lang gani nga garit-gariton ka sang imo utod daw kabudlay na magpaumod. Ina pa lang gani nga may upod ka sa work place mo nga daw pirmi pa bida, mga toxic nga katrabaho, daw nami na gid patulan.