Matthew 5:21-48 (Click title for audio access)
"Righteousness Defined." • 5.23.10 • Calvary Colton Sunday Morning Service
Intro
- The shocking words of Christ rang deep in the souls of those who initially heard them.
- "Unless your righteousness exceeds the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven!" The word "exceeds" means to be beyond measure, to be over.
- That sets the tone for this entire message. It's meant to define us.
˚ "(There is) nothing (that) shows me the absolute need of the new birth, and of the Holy Spirit and His work within, so much as the Sermon on the Mount. These beatitudes crush me to the ground. They show me my utter helplessness. Were it not for the new birth, I am undone. Read and study it, face yourself in the light of it. It will drive you to see your ultimate need of the rebirth and the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing that so leads to the gospel and it's grace as the Sermon on the Mount." Martyn Lloyd-Jones[i]
- Jesus turns the attention to His people's response toward God's law. In this section, Jesus exposes 6 commandments that deal with human relationship.
- In each, He will expose misinterpretation, with the words "you have heard that it was said."
- Then He authoritatively exposes the divine intention with the words "but I say to you."
- Finally, He will offer a positive application for His people to follow. He begins with murder.
Text
• Matthew 5:21,22 : "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.'" : Most of the people that Jesus was preaching to were not literate. Most of the people had received the law orally, either through the synagogue or through parents.
- "You shall not murder" was a commandment given by the Lord in Exodus 20:13. The penalty for murder was death, a sentence to be feared, and rightfully so.
- The act of murder is condemned, but it was widely believed that you could hate and be angry with someone as much and as long as you wanted.
- It is this that Jesus responds to. When He does respond, He speaks on His own authority, offering His own word.
- Usually, a Rabbi would quote other Rabbis or cite something from another source. Obviously Jesus was not your typical Rabbi!
- Jesus lets us know that murder begins in the heart. Jesus tells us that the morality of God deals both with the end, murder, as well as it's beginning, hatred. It deals with the deed and the seed
- Anger in the heart, expressed in insults like "Raca" and "fool" brings danger to themselves, even the danger of hell!
- "Raca" is less a word and more of a sound that is made. Many attempts have been made to properly define it. Some have said "empty head" would be about the closest translation.
- The words "raca" and "fool" are simply examples of how rage in our hearts can be seen and show a type of anger that escalates from passive anger to aggressive, even pre-meditated anger.
- What is Jesus saying? These angry attitudes always come out and if not checked, the trouble will get deeper and deeper.
- Now, let us say this: Anger itself does not need to be sinful. We can be angry and yet not sin. And Paul instructs us that anger can be resolved and must be done in a timely manner.
- Jesus here is referring to festering, boiling and directed anger.
• Matthew 5:23-26 : "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." : What are we to do with our anger? How important is it to the Lord? It's important enough to interrupt worship.
- The picture painted here is of a Hebrew worship service. The altar of worship, the place where a person would bring their lambs, was in sight.
- Right as the person is about to approach, he then remembers a dispute that has been unresolved. Notice that this refers to some one that has something against you.
- That is God letting you know that something needs to be resolved. It is the conviction of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus says that we are to leave and reconcile and then bring our gifts to God.
- Jesus then gives a civil illustration of the court system. The point is that we must be quick to agree, quick to find resolution to our differences.
• Matthew 5:27,28 : "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." : Jesus attacks the issue of adultery. It has been a problem since then and has not stopped being a problem.
- In the oldest book of the Bible, a man named Job wrote down a great quote that shows us just how ancient a problem that this is:
• Job 31:1 (NLT) : "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman."
- Statistically, I read this week that 60% of all marriages have dealt with the actual act of adultery at least once in their marrriage.[ii] Biblically, that number is much higher!
- Adultery is prohibited in the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:14. Most people would not consider themselves adulterers because they have not committed a sexual act with a non-spouse.
- Jesus tells us it begins with a look. The word that Jesus uses here is insightful. It's not that a man sees a woman, but that he takes the time to process that vision, in order to understand it.
- The looking alone is condemned by God. Most men know exactly what this is about and it's no accident that Jesus puts it like this. Men are primarily visual.
- Jesus lets us know that such a man has already committed adultery with her in the place that God is watching: the heart!
- Jesus speaks this specifically to men, but principally to Ladies as well. Fantasy lives and wandering eyes are not just for men.
- I read this last week that pornography viewership is a 75% to 25% split between men and women. Ladies might be thinking, "We're still a minority. Why bring it up?"
- I bring it up because that number is climbing higher each year. In one study of 813 college students, 31% of ladies viewed pornography, while 49% of them deemed it acceptable![iii]
- This quote was staggering to me, and a real sign of the times.
˚ "Women, far more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex or affairs."[iv]
- There is a real problem here and we need to catch what Jesus is saying about it.
• Matthew 5:29,30 : "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." : Our Lord is not cruel or unrealistic. He knows that these are our weaknesses, but He does not allow that to be our excuse.
- He calls our attention to an illustration which allows us to see what is at stake. Eternity is at stake. When one continues in such a sin, it offends the living God and there is no other outcome.
- Jesus is telling His people that instead of allowing yourself the pleasure of the moment, be drastic and cut out what is offensive!
- Jesus refers to the eye and the hand. Cut off that which leads you to the offense.
- He did not mean this literally, but the sense of urgency is no less necessary! We can never be soft on our sinful natures. We must crucify our flesh if we are to live for Christ.
- Is it an internet connection? Cut it off! Is it a relationship at work? Cut it off! A seemingly innocent magazine subscription? Cut it off and cast it from you!
• Matthew 5:31,32 : "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." : In Christ's time, a divorce was just as easy to procure as it is today.
- Divorce was granted simply, and some rabbis liberally declared that any reason was good enough. Others were a more strict, but there was still a lax attitude.
- The law allowed for divorce. Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, allowed for this in the law. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 specifies that man could divorce a woman who was found unclean.
- Most believe that this refers to a loss of virginity that was not reported prior to marriage.
- In Christ's day, this law had been interpreted to include just about any offense. Jesus gives the heart of His command when He specifies that sexual immorality was the only grounds for divorce.
- The word for sexual immorality is pretty extensive. The word "porneia" has as wide a meaning as possible, but most scholars believe this to be specifically infidelity.
- Now, you have to follow this culturally: Jesus has just put a moratorium on divorce for any reason. A woman in that scenario would be divorced from her man legally, but not in God's eyes.
- If or when she remarried, she being married in God's eyes, would be committing adultery, and the man that married her legally, would also be committing adultery.
- Jesus tells them that His intent, God's intent for marriage was that it was binding and would only offer the exception to those caught in sexual immorality.
- Even in that case, a man or woman does not HAVE to divorce, but it is given as an exception.
- I have personally witnessed several couples who have decided that staying together was worth the struggle. God desires that there be the greatest respect given to marriage.
• Matthew 5:33-37 : "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." : The people listening to the Lord knew what it was to swear an oath. We often do the same thing, swearing by something greater than us, or more grave.
- For them, they swore by each of these things. By heaven, earth, and Jerusalem. The problem is that each of those places belonged to God!
- They did not invoke God's name specifically, but they did principally. It was only one step removed because the stuff that they swore on belonged to God!
- Even their own head, which we are powerless to affect!
- Jesus tells them that Kingdom people are not to swear oaths at all! They are to let their word be true and right. We should need nothing more from one another than a simple yes or no.
- This requires commitment on our part to speak carefully.
- Stop saying some of the following: I'll be praying for you this week. Pray right then and commit time to pray for that person during the week.
- "Let's get together this week." Bust out your calendar and put something down!
• Matthew 5:38-42 : "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." : The law that Jesus is referring to here is the law of retribution, which limited a person to exact the same punishment for what he had received.
- If a tooth was lost in a fight, then that person could respond by taking the same tooth. It was a fair rendering. Usually, when people take something from us, we want to give double back.
- The judges employed this as a way of limiting people's desire for personal revenge.
- This law was taken out of context and used by people for their personal injustices.
- Now, this is one of the more misunderstood portions of the sermon on the mount. Jesus is not prohibiting self defense. This slap of the right cheek was more of an insult in Christ's day.
- It's akin to the removal of a glove and asking for a duel.
- Jesus is saying that there will be people in your life that will seek to incite you to conflict.
- Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek. The idea here is metaphorical. Evil people will seek to take advantage of our submitted nature.
• “Jesus is here saying that the true Christian has learned to resent no insult and to seek retaliation for no slight.” William Barclay
- The tunic was the outer wear, the cloak was usually the underwear and sleep attire. The law said that one could not be sued for this. Jesus says, "Give it to him."
- A Roman soldier could make a Jewish person carry their equipment for up to a mile, which was in their rendering, a thousand steps. Jesus said, "Be the guy who goes even farther!"
- Some will want to have, give it. Some will want to borrow, give it!
- Don't be a person marked by needing to keep or have what you think is yours! Disarm those who would see to exploit you and give to them.
• "The old said, Insist on your own right, and loving your neighbor, hate your enemy, and so secure your safety. The new says, Suffer wrong, and lavish your love on all." G. Campbell Morgan
• Matthew 5:43-45 : "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." : The Bible says that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Tradition had taken the logical opposite, in that they thought that it was fine to hate your enemies.
- God never tells us to hate anyone! There is no justification for hatred. Jesus turns these people around and tells them, not only NOT to hate their enemies, but in fact to love them.
- This was a hard word for these Jewish men, as their enemy was supremely oppressive.
- Rome was not known as a benevolent dictator over it's lands. These men had a very clear picture in their mind of their enemies.
- Jesus lets us know that the proper reaction that a Kingdom person has is to bless when cursed, give good for hatred, and pray for those who persecute!
- This reveals that you are sons of God, in that He does the same thing. Those who curse God, still get blessed by Him, even though they do not acknowledge it.
- Those who actively seek to do damage to God's reputation and kingdom, to no avail, still receive God's good toward them.
- His sun rises each day upon them and the rain falls equally. These are common blessings that come from His good nature.
- God is not asking you to do anything more or less than He is willing to do Himself!
• Matthew 5:46-48 : "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." : Is there anything special about treating someone good that treats you good?
- The tax collectors, often Jewish people who worked for the enemy and cheated the people for their salary, lived their lives like this. This is no mark of spirituality!
- God's people are not just people who treat those who love them with love. The mark of God's people is that those who treat them terribly are treated wonderfully!
- Only God can do that in a person's life.
- The person who would do these things would be perfect. This refers to complete and whole, just as the Lord is complete and whole.
• "If a man could live the way Jesus has told us to in this chapter, he would truly be perfect. He would never hate, slander or speak evil of another person. He would never lust in his heart or mind, and not covet anything. He would never make a false oath, and always be completely truthful. He would let God defend his personal rights, and not take it upon himself to defend those rights. He would always love his neighbors, and even his enemies." Pastor David Guzik
Conclusion
- If anything, this last line brings us to our knees. We know that we are not complete and whole. We give preferential treatment, fight endlessly for our rights, look when we shouldn't and hate!
- We are undone and look at these right interpretations as the standard for our lives. Thankfully, we can run to Jesus, who has fulfilled each of these demands perfectly.
- But that is not all. Because His Spirit lives in us, we can ask Him for the power to conform to these things. Today, you might have that need to confess your impotence to carry this out.
- When you do, He will strengthen you and give you the power where you were once weak.
[i] Studies In The Sermon On The Mount, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pg. 18
[ii] http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/cheating-and-infidelity/stats-about-infidelity.html
[iii] http://jar.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/23/1/6
[iv] http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics-pg6.html
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