First Things First

Matthew 23: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

The Pharisees Getting things our of adjustment. They clean the outside but not the inside FIRST clean the inside, THEN the outside can be cleaned They were clean on the outside, groomed, shaved, hair combed. Inside they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

What about us? Our lives can get out of sync. We lose direction. We forget what is really important. Men will make an extra dollar and lose their marriage and family We get busy with the urgent and forsake the important. Jesus helps us identify some FIRST – THENs.

1 st Brother – Then your gift Matthew 5: Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Discord = powerless, paralyzed, can't grow Reconciliation is required Can't be right with God and wrong with brother

1 st Spiritual – Then the Temporal Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Often quoted – seldom understood God knows our material, physical needs Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 st Spiritual – Then the Temporal The kingdom of God (church, spiritual family, worship, Bible study, prayer, communion) must come first. “All these things” = where to live (house), what to eat (food), what to put on (clothes) All the physical, material things are not first

1 st Judge self – Then your brother Matthew 7:1-5 1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

1 st Judge self – Then your brother We are blind to our flaws, faults, sins We are quick to see the flaws in others It is better to judge yourself first It is better to mend, restore than criticize Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

1 st Christ – Then your wants Matthew 8: Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Let me solve my problems first. Let me focus on the physical troubles first Let me deal with the material issues first

1 st Christ – Then your wants Don't be self-centered Philippians 2:3-4 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Put the spiritual first Personal wants must take second place

1 st Inside – Then outside 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Christian <> not just clean on the outside Christian = clean on the inside Christianity = not what is professed but who we possess

First must come FIRST! The passages we studied show: What we should do The order in which they are to be done Some toys say “Some assembly required” Get it partially together and realize that you failed to do step 4 – Take it apart – Start over Must follow the steps in the proper order

First must come FIRST! HAVE YOU TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TO OBEY THE GOSPEL? BELIEVE REPENT CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST BE BAPTIZED HAVE YOU TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TO RETURN TO YOUR LORD? REPENT, PRAY, MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE