Our priorities can get all out of kilter. Jesus teaches us what we should do first.

1. First Things First

2. Matthew 23:25-28
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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. 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

3. The Pharisees
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Getting things our of adjustment.
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They clean the outside but not the inside
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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.

4. What about us?
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Our lives can get out of sync.
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We lose direction.
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We forget what is really important.
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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.

5. 1st Brother – Then your gift
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Matthew 5:23-24 23 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.
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Discord = powerless, paralyzed, can't grow
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Reconciliation is required
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Can't be right with God and wrong with brother

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

7. 1st Spiritual – Then the Temporal
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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

8. 1st Judge self – Then your brother
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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.

9. 1st Judge self – Then your brother
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We are blind to our flaws, faults, sins
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We are quick to see the flaws in others
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It is better to judge yourself first
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It is better to mend, restore than criticize
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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.

10. 1st Christ – Then your wants
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Matthew 8:21-22 21 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."
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Let me solve my problems first.
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Let me focus on the physical troubles first
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Let me deal with the material issues first

11. 1st Christ – Then your wants
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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.
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Put the spiritual first
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Personal wants must take second place

12. 1st Inside – Then outside
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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.
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Christian <> not just clean on the outside
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Christian = clean on the inside
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Christianity = not what is professed but who we
possess

13. First must come FIRST!
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The passages we studied show:
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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

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