Introduction
Advertising agency- nationwide telephone survey on lying. 91% of all Americans confessed that they regularly lied. One out of five admitted they could not get through one day without going along with a previously lie. We live in a day when we have been bombarded with erased tapes, tampered evidence, illicit cover-ups, and exaggerated ads to the point that we have given up on truth. We have learned to accept lying. We don’t get upset anymore when someone exaggerates, falsifies, fabricates, or misrepresents the truth. James Emery White, You Can Experience an Authentic Life (Nashville: Word Publishing, 2000), 121-122.
Review
Studying the SOTM- we have been looking at 5 blocks of scripture where Jesus says-
You have heard that it was said, but I say to you
Mtt 5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43
Jesus was not discrediting the OT but correcting the Jews misunderstanding of what the OT said.
He was opening to them God’s heart behind the Law.
Mtt 5:33-37 read
It is possible to interpret these verses with such legalism that we miss the heart of the Lord.
OT/teaching of Jesus- more concerned w/making false vows than it is about us not making vows at all.
Nu 30:2 "If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. NASU
Jesus’ overall intention is to prohibit false vows-
making a vow and then breaking it,
promising something and not doing it.
False vows became profanity- misusing God’s name.
Rather than perjury- saying one thing- doing another, not living up to their word.
V34-36
The Jews had become more concerned about the wording of the vow than the vow itself.
The real implication of the Law is that we must keep our promises and be people of our word.
Why do we make vows? We make vows because …
we know that man lacks integrity, and
concern that our word is likely not to be trusted.
AM Hunter …
Oaths arise because men are so often liars.
The same applies to exaggerations and the use of superlatives- prophetic people given to this.
We cannot simply say something is good, we must describe it as fantastic or awesome.
The more we do this it devalues human language, human words, and human promises.
V37
We should say what we mean and mean what we say.
Some take these verses to- extreme- where- cannot sign an affidavit or take an oath in a court of law.
Bible does not forbid oaths- even God made vows.
Gen 22:16-17
16 and said, " By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 indeed I will greatly bless you … NASU
What Jesus is saying- honest men do not need vows.
He is not saying we should refuse vows if required by some external authority.
However, what should back up our words-
not a vow or an appeal to a higher authority,
not the use of superlatives, exaggerations,
but our character/life/honesty/integrity.
Mtt 5:38-42 read
Law of Moses- both a moral law and a civil law.
The 10C’s in Ex 20 are a distillation of the moral law.
Ex 21-23- ordinances that apply the 10Cs to life.
Ex 21:22-25
The context of these ordinances was for the judges of Israel to govern the nation- purpose was two fold-
1. to lay a foundation for justice, specifying the punishment for a particular wrong doing
2. to limit the compensation of a victim of a crime to a set amount and no more
In other words- defined justice and restrained revenge.
It was forbidden to take the law in your own hands and carry out penalty beyond what the Law said.
Pharisees- extended these to personal relationships and tried to use it to justify personal revenge …
Lev 19:18 ’You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people … NASU
Jesus is not saying there is no need for retribution.
He was saying- the principle pertains to law courts and to God’s judgment, but not to individuals.
Our interpersonal relationships are to be governed by the principle of love, not justice.
Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. NASU
In this we are not pretending a man is not evil, nor are we to condoning his actions.
V39-42 Four illustrations- in each example, our duty is to forbear revenge and bless in return.
To slap someone on the cheek was a form of insult, like spitting in someone’s face today.
Isa 50:6 I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. NASU
Jesus called His disciples to what Bonhoeffer called,
… visible participation in His cross.
As Peter says … 1 Peter 2:21-23
Only limit of our generosity- the limit of God’s love.
Jesus purpose was to forbid revenge, not to encourage injustice, dishonesty, or taking advantage of others
What is clear- duties and functions of the state are much different from those of the individual.
Rom 12:17-18
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. NASU
It is not that retribution for evil is wrong, but it is God’s prerogative and not man’s.
His purpose is for it to be expressed through governments, law courts, and His Divine judgment
The individual Christian is not to repay evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.
We all at some level play different roles and this principle can sometimes cause inner tensions.
For example, if my house if burgled one night and I catch the thief, it may well be my duty to sit him down and give him something to eat and drink, while at the same time telephoning the police. John Stott
Jesus is not saying- no one should ever resist evil, this would completely undermine rule and authority.
But the individual/state- respond to evil differently.
Jesus does not prohibit the administering of justice, but us taking it into our own hands.
These verses cannot be used to justify pacifism, but they do call Christians to an attitude prompted by
mercy rather than justice.
Hate multiplies hate … love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. Martin Luther King
Mtt 5:43-48
V43
This statement- distortion of- Law/the heart of God.
Lev 19:18 ’You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. NASU
Pharisees- redefined neighbors as only Jews, everyone else became enemies- used- justify racial prejudice
Ex 23:4 "If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. NASU
V44-45
As we love our enemies we prove ourselves to be sons of God- not comparing ourselves w/men, but God.
God’s love is a love shown equally to good/bad men.
Here we have- picture of God’s grace towards all men
Not His saving grace- grace enabling sinners to repent, believe and be saved,but His common grace, poured out on all men, believers and unbelievers.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. NASU
God gave Himself for His enemies, we must give ourselves for our enemies.
Lastly, when we pray for someone it helps tear down barriers in our heart towards them and love them.
Through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God. Bonhoeffer
We do not wait to love them before we pray for them.
V46-47
Not enough for Christians to resemble non-Christians.
Mtt 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. NASU
We are to love like God, not like men.
Human love- contaminated w/self-interest.
Love w/o self-interest- impossible w/o God’s grace.
What enables us to love like this- cross of Jesus Christ
This is what makes us different from the world.
Our self-interest must die so God can live through us.
V48
Perfection is the disposition of God alive in me.
If the Holy Spirit has transformed us within, we will not exhibit good human characteristics, but Divine characteristics in our human nature. Oswald Chambers
It is not a question of trying to live up to the principles as much as allowing the HS to work in us to
express the character of God through us.
We are not called to be morally perfect as much as we are called to love perfectly, as God loved.
In V39, we are called to resist evil, in V44 we are called to love our enemies.
There are times- may be able to turn the other cheek, but not able to love the person who struck us.
In grained in our culture is the principle of retaliation for both good and evil …
You do me good, I will do you a good.
You do me a bad, I will do you a bad.
Neither one is motivated by God’s love.
The life of our old man is- avenge those who have injured us- return favors to those who do us good.
To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine. Alfred Plummer
God- calling us-renounce all restrictions-place on love
In conclusion
Christian character is not expressed by good doing, but by God-likeness. Oswald Chambers
It is allowing God to change us from inside out.
Mt 5:48 "In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. MSG
God is calling us to a radical walk with Him.
We are so afraid of being fanatical; would to God that we were as afraid of being fusionless. Oswald Chambers
