In this study, we’re going to look at a particular teaching of Jesus that is at once audacious, sobering, and hopeful at the same time. It’s found at the end of the last block of teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, two days before he would be betrayed and executed.

The theme of Jesus teaching—the coming Kingdom of God—was driving the religious leaders crazy, b/c he wasn’t including them.

Over and over, Jesus announced that his coming Kingdom is all about love, and Jesus has warned over and over again that you cannot use religion as an excuse to not love people.

Jesus is playing for keeps, and we’re going to find out that he takes it very personally the way we treat others. And we desperately need to hear what he says….