Sermon on the Mount
Pt 4
You have heard it said | But I say to you …
Matthew 5:21-48
[To save space - please read separate]
OPENING REMARKS
A. Structure
1. Today
A. People are structured.
We desire to know what the rules and boundaries are in order that we may not stray too far from our responsibility in keeping these regulations on our lives.
B. This is especially true today for us as Christians.
We want to know what the Bible says about the affairs of our daily lives. This in itself is a good thing. However, what becomes dangerous today to many throughout Christendom is that they (we) become like those of old in the dark ages or even during the NT times – we rely heavily upon others to interpret the Scriptures for us [the preacher or Bible teacher]. Which in itself is not wrong – but it becomes a serious matter when we refuse to take such responsibility upon ourselves like those at Berea – Acts 17:10-12.
We like to know what the Scripture says about what to do or not to do - you know the type, Don’t Smoke, Don’t Drink, Don’t Chew and Don’t Do As Those Other Folks Do. But we are not to put away our responsibility it knowing what the Scripture says to our detriment.
2. NT Era
A. During the time of Jesus’ time on this earth Israel was like many of us today.
They too wanted to know the rules and boundaries in order to live their lives responsibly. But they too refused to take the responsibility to learn for themselves What Says the Scripture. Instead they found it easier to rely upon the religious teachers of their day to do those things for them. Often to their detriment, the Messiah had come and they did not recognize Him – John 1:9-13.
B. Even though God’s Word (OT) was the standard by which Israel was to be governed.
Most of the common people of Israel did not know the Hebrew to read or understand what it was saying. This was due to the fact that since the return from the Babylonian captivity most of those in Israel no longer knew its native language. Instead they usually spoke in Aramaic or Greek and perhaps Latin (due to their being under the Roman Empire authority at that time). Also due to the cost of having a copy of the OT (in this case the LXX [Septuagint]) most could not afford a copy of the Bible of their day. Therefore it was the religious leaders (Pharisees and the Scribes [perhaps the Sadducees too]) who were the ones called upon to translate and interpret the OT. Because of such authority this allowed those who interpreted the Scriptures to do so in a manner that reflected their own personal and biased teachings. Over time this type of interpretation finally led to the point that just observing the Law (Moral, Ceremonial, Civil, and their Rabbinical Traditions) in an outward allegiance was sufficient in fulfilling God’s demands.
C. However, in the next few verse here in Chapter Five (21-48).
Jesus shows that there is more than just an outward allegiance in keeping the Law of God. In these verses Christ’s thrust is to teach that the primary aspect of righteousness was not outward expression but rather the inward matter of the heart.
1. This portion of Scripture can be separated into six divisions which are distinguished by phrases:
a. You have heard that it was said
b. But I say to you
2. These two phrases found in verses: 21, 27, 31, 33, 38, and 43.
3. In these divisions it is observed that Jesus refers to the keeping of:
a. Two of the Ten Commandments
b. Two general principles found in the law of Moses
c. Two broad principles of mercy and love
[John MacArthur, 284 (adapted)].
TEXT
A. Keeping the Ten Commandments
1. Murder
V. 21-26
21
You have heard that it was said to those of old | Manuscripts have: You have heard that the ancients were told.
This falls in line with the fact that the common people did not understand the Hebrew language and thus were dependent upon what the Pharisees and the Scribes told them the Scriptures said instead of being able to read them for themselves.
You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.
This was the sixth commandment - cf. Ex. 20:13, 21:12-14.
NOTE: This is the outward appearance of the Law and this is all that the Pharisees and Scribes said that one was required to do in order to fulfill its demands.
Have any feeling of hatred or anger you desire toward your brother | sister – as long as you have not put these desires of your heart into action you do not break this commandment.
22
But I say to you
Remember that Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it.
He was not speaking contrary to what the Law was stating – instead He was showing how the Pharisees and the Scribes had taken the Law and twisted and turned it to mean only an outward obligation was required to satisfy God. God has always required an inward working of the heart over and above the keeping of traditions of men – John 1:12, Eph. 2:8-9.
a. Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
b. Whoever says to his brother, ’Raca!’ [empty head] shall be in danger of the council.
c. Whoever says, ’You fool!’ [empty character] shall be in danger of hell fire.
. Raca – a word of contempt/slander: (we have not exact English translation) | brainless idiot, worthless, silly fool, empty head, blockhead
. Fool – Gk. means stupid, dull, foolish | Hebrew equivalent: godless person. We get our English word moron from the Gk. moros.
. Hell fire – Gk. Geenna: literally a reference to the Hebrew valley of Ge-Hinnom outside of Jerusalem and used as the city dump. It was a place where the fire, smoke, and stench never ceased thus a graphic metaphor for the place of eternal torment.
23-26
Therefore
1. 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.
2. 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.
NOTE: Instead of holding anger in your heart you are admonished here to settle your dispute. You may not have actually committed the act of murder, but if you continue inwardly to hold harshness and reproach against your brother|sister you MUST resolve it immediately. God does not honor what you bring to Him in offerings (prayer/service/worship) when you are at odds against and cannot forgive as He has shown mercy towards you. If you refuse to act quickly, the situation may spire so much out of control that it will not be resolved between the parties w/o judgment taking place fully and justly!
2. Adultery
V. 27-30
27
You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery.
This was the seventh commandment - cf. Ex. 20:14, Lev. 20:10.
NOTE: Again we see the same principle of the outward appearance of meeting the Law is all that the Pharisees and Scribes said was required to do in order to fulfill its demands.
They said look at a women (or in our culture a woman can look at men) in any way you desire, think and imagine any compromise your mind can dream up – as long as you did not put the desires of your heart into action you have not broken this commandment.
28
But I say to you
Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Jesus just had a way at getting to the heart of a problem. The problem was (is) the heart. Sexual immorality is rampart in our society. It is in every facet of our lives. We see it exploited in the movies, music, advertisement, news programs, politics, clothes, books, and yes - even in our religious circles we can see the beautiful woman or the handsome man are being used to promote the seminar, the book, the CD’s, etc. all for the purpose to sell, sell, sell out products!
NOTE: Christians should have one response to Sexual Temptation – Run away from it.
1 Corinthians 6:18a
Flee sexual immorality.
29-30
1. 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.
2. 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.
NOTE: We are not to literally pluck our eye or cut off our hand, the Lord is speaking symbolically | hyperbolic with this statement.
Jesus is telling us to get away from these things of a sexual nature that are so easily tempting us. We should be willing to give up whatever is necessary, even if it means the most precious things that we own. Do not indulge the lust of your fleshly heart.
Please note that the Lord’s remedy for a lost wicked heart is a new heart, and His answer for our helplessness in giving up the sinfulness of our fleshly nature is found in His sufficiency.
B. Keeping the General Principles in the Law of Moses
1. Divorce
V. 31-32
31
It has been said
Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.
During this time of Jewish history there were two prominent rabbinic positions concerning divorce.
Hillel – permitted a man to put away his wife for any cause (which could be as minor as burning food).
Shammai – limited divorce to only adultery.
The dominant position of the Pharisees and the Scribes in this era was that of Hillel. The rabbinic justification for such easy divorce was based on an erroneous interpretation of Deut. 24:1-4, the Bible’s first mention of a certificate of divorce.
Matthew 19:7-8
Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away? [Jesus] said to them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
Man’s heart is still just as hard today as it was during Moses time and during the time that Jesus walked on this earth. Divorce is not that which God desires for any marriage. However because of man’s sinfulness divorce does happen and when it does please note that we can bring that situation to the Lord and look to Him for mercy as we pick up our lives. Am I endorsing divorce? No! But, I recognize that it does happen.
32
But I say to you
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.
Divorce like all sins brings consequences and as Christians we must be willing to face our Father’s discipline if we persist in pursuing it other than His expressed will for our life.
Jesus says to put away another is cause that person to be in the position of adultery. Jesus affirms what Moses taught in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 that unjustified divorce inevitably leads to adultery. … Every time a man/woman without proper cause turns his/her partner loose to remarry, he/she is forcing them into adultery. Likewise who ever marries them falls into adultery as well. Jesus’ whole point here is that divorce leads to adultery [John MacArthur, 314-315 (adapted)].
NOTE: Here Jesus says that there are allowable reasons for divorce. Here He mentions porneia (a broader term of sexual sins of all kind). We also know that 1 Cor. 7:15 that Paul mentioned abandonment also as a legitimate ground. For any other reason Christianity has been debating this
NOTE: There are passages in God’s Word that is hard for us to accept. Concerning our culture of today where divorce is so easily accessible. These verses (31-32) is one of those hard passages.
NOTE: Though divorce nay have taken place in your life. As a child of God you need to know that it does not lessen you in any way before God. God is merciful to His own and shows compassion to those who cry unto Him in Christ for grace.
For those who have never come to Christ for salvation do not think that divorce prevents you from coming to the cross. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin, a sin yes, unpardonable no.
2. Oaths
V. 33-37
33
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.
Here Jesus probably was referring to the OT command
Leviticus 19:12
You shall not swear by my name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God, I am the Lord.
Numbers 30:2
If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
The Pharisees and Scribes tradition seems to be that as long as you did not make an oath by using the Lord’s name one could easily break their promise w/o consequence because they had not made an oath or vow of any lasting effect since it was not based upon God’s name.
34-37
But I say to you
1. Do not swear at all:
a. Neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne
b. Nor by the earth, for it is His footstool
c. Nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
d. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
Jesus addressed this by showing that by swearing in any form or fashion and on any thing one was doing it in God’s name.
Heaven is His throne.
Earth is His footstool.
Jerusalem was the city of the great King.
Man is under the providence of God.
2. But
e. Let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No.’
f. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
NOTE: Every normal word spoken by us should be in truth.
Tell a lie and you constantly have to watch what you say
Tell the truth and you easily move along your way.
C. Keeping the Broad Principles of Mercy and Love
1. Mercy
38
You have heard that it was said
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
The Pharisee and the Scribe viewed justice as tit for tat. Because of this they did not see any harm in destroying those who disagreed with their philosophy and traditions. After all does not the law say, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Ex. 21:24).
The rabbinic tradition took this phrase and allowed each man to become his own judge, jury, and executioner. God’s law was turned to individual license and civil justice was perverted to personal vengeance. … They personally used this concept as a mandate for their own evil get even schemes.
39-42
But I tell you
a. Not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
b. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
c. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
d. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
1. Jesus is not teaching here that resistance to evil is to be set aside. Whenever evil raises its ugly head in offense to righteousness it needs to be defended against in the name of the Lord.
2. What He is teaching is that we are not to retaliate but to leave our defense to God. This is accomplished by dying to self and living unto God.
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made the heavens and earth.
Romans 12:17-19
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
2. Love
43-48 – Love Your Enemies
43
You have heard that it was said
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
No where did the Pharisees and Scribes demonstrate their taking their traditions and making it equal to God’s Word. In Lev. 19:18 says to Love your neighbor, but nowhere does holy script actually command, Hate your enemy.
However, hatred of one’s enemies was so common in all generations that when the religious rabbinic leaders said, You have heard it said, Hate your enemy, which it seemed natural to accept as being a command from God, not mere tradition of men.
44-47
But I say to you
1. Love your enemies,
2. Bless those who curse you,
3. Do good to those who hate you,
4. Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you
a. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
b. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
c. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
d. And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
We are not to automatically retaliate against those who despitefully use us. Instead we are to do good to those just as God does good to those who are opposed to Him and His sovereign reign.
Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
CONCLUSION
48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
What does this mean for us today?
How are we to keep the demands of God’s Word in our lives:
1. Love the Lord God with all of your heart, mind, and life perfectly
2. Love our neighbor as our self perfectly
3. Love our brother as Christ loved us perfectly
The answer, Jesus Christ.
INVITIATION
COME WORSHIP THE LORD
. Our Invitation is open to all:
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
September 9, 2007
