Title: Rash Decisions
Theme: We never expect the bad decisions to lead to anything terrible. But . . .
Text Matthew 5:21 - 38
Introduction
Mat 5:17-20 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (19) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Review of Last Weeks Message
Lessons for Life
Sacrifice and rewards
Commonality
1. Jesus is making a reference to an Old Testament or Scribal law (You have heard it said), Jesus is questioning the interpretation of the OT Law by the scribes.
2. There is a theme in these. It is making rash decisions.
(Mat 5:21) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, [18] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
“You have heard it said”
(5:21-48) "Ye have heard"— "It hath been said": these words are found in every paragraph or subject of these verses. It is important to understand this: Christ is referring not only to the ten commandments, but also to the Scribal Law of the Jewish teachers. (See Deeper Study #1—Luke 6:2; Deeper Study #4—Luke 6:7 for discussion.) He is directing the listeners' attention to what they had heard from their teachers, that is, to their interpretation of the law. Very simply put, Christ is giving the real meaning of certain laws, just what God originally intended the law to say.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
(Mat 5:22) But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.(local Jewish council of 23, Jesus taught us Matthew how to deal with conflict in the church, bring it to individual, then to council then to church) And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. (Sanhedrin of religious leaders) But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. (damnation, cursing, useless, and prejudice)
Levels of Anger
1. The anger that broods, that is selfish. It harbors malice; it will not forget; it lingers; it broods; it wills revenge and sometimes seeks revenge.
2. The anger that holds contempt (hraka PWS: 3151). It despises; it ridicules; it arrogantly exalts self and calls another person empty and useless. This is an anger that is full of malice. It despises and scorns (hraka PWS: 3151). It arises from pride—a proud wrath (Proverbs 21:24). Such feelings or anger walk over and trample a person. It says that whatever ill comes upon a person is deserved.
3. The anger that curses. It seeks to destroy a man and his reputation morally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
Reconciliation
(Mat 5:23) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (the is the key to these verses) 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.
Quickly
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephes. 4:26).
Why? Bondage (physical and spiritual)
(Mat 5:25) Agree with your adversary quickly, (He told us in the “Be Attidudes” last week that Blessed are the Peacemakers) 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. (what is really worth fighting over that has eternal consequences, this does not mean you should not defend yourself but make sure you have a just cause and it is worth fighting over)
(Mat 5:26) Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. (this is a debtors prison)
Our life is different. Many times our adversary has more weapons than we do. They are willing to lie, steal and bear false witness just to get their way. We are not. We have integrity and a line. So it is better not to go down that road.
Adultery
(Matthew 5:27) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
2. (5:28) Adultery— Eyes— Hands: the real meaning of adultery. Adultery (emoicheusen PWS: 64) is often said to be sexual unfaithfulness by a married person. This is true, but it is much more. Man's idea of adultery is shattered by Christ (see Deeper Study #5—Matthew 19:9). Christ says adultery is not only the actual act, but adultery is committed by any one of five acts:
? A deliberate look.
? Passion within the heart: desiring and lusting.
? The actual act of sex with someone other than one's own spouse.
? Divorce relationships (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9-11; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18).
? Spiritual unfaithfulness toward God or apostasy from God (Matthew 12:39; Matthew 16:4; Mark 8:38; James 4:4; cp. Ezekiel 16:15f; Ezekiel 23:43f).
Simply stated, Christ says there is eye adultery, heart adultery (lust), and body adultery. This is a shattering revelation that strikes at the experience of every young person and adult. There is no question: many dream and imagine, and if they had the opportunity they would commit the act. All they lack is the chance and a boost to their courage to sin. (Cp. James 1:14-15.) The eyes can lead to lust by looking upon persons or pictures or stimulating objects. The eyes can be used sinfully in several ways.
? To look and search for another person in order to lust.
? To let another person know that one is available.
? To attract, suggest, and entice.
? To gratify lust where an experience is not possible.
There are two other matters that need to be thought about at this point.
1. Suggestive communication. This can arise from (a) unclean talk such as jokes, foul words, and suggestive statements made in passing; (b) luring talk that arises when sharing with the opposite sex. This tends to lead a person to let down his guard or to play loose with his conviction and mortal commitment. Such sharing often dallies with enticing phrases and suggestive propositions that arouse pleasure. Suggestive conversation can occur anywhere: at work, at school, at parties, over the phone, or just standing around talking.
2. Dress. This arises from exposing parts of the body or from following the latest fad in dress that might be designed to display or attract. (See note—• 1 Tim. 2:9-10; cp. Mark 12:38.)
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
Make the sacrifice for the greater good.
(Mat 5:29) 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. 30 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.
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? (Job 31:1)
We must make a change to avoid the temptation of lust.
It is better to make the sacrifice of not seeing or touching. When we put ourselves in positions.
Example: a simple internet search, a second look, putting ourselves in the company of someone. Yes you will be ridiculed when you protect yourself but at least you are not tempted.
DEEPER STUDY #1
(4:1-3) Lust— Desire: the word is used three times in James 4:1-3. In James 4:1 and James 4:3 the word hedonon is used. It means out of your sinful, sensual pleasures. In James 4:2 the word is epithumeite which means a yearning passion for (A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures In The New Testament, Vol. 6, p.49). (See Deeper Study #1, Lust—John 8:44 for more discussion.)
Note that desire, lust, a yearning passion for is not always evil. In James 4:5 the Spirit "lusts to envy." In Luke 22:15 Christ desires (yearns) to eat the passover with the apostles. What is it that distinguishes a good desire from an evil desire? At least two major things.
1. Motive: if one desires the necessities of life, his desire is good. The necessities—food, clothing, shelter, love, care—are essential for the fulness of life. When a man seeks God for these things, God provides the necessities.
2. Greed: desiring food is good, but if one desires food to "consume it upon [his] lusts," that is, he desires food and food and food, it is wrong passion. It becomes sinful, sensual pleasure. Desiring love is good, but if one desires love to consume it upon his lusts, that is, he desires love and love and love, it is wrong passion (1 Thes. 4:5).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Hebrew, James.
James has a lot to say about this.
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet [12] you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and [13] adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." [14] Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:1-8)
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13-16)
Divorce
(Mat 5:31) "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
(Mat 5:32) 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.
1. (5:31) Divorce: the law against divorce was given for three reasons.
1. To protect the family.
"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Mark 10:6-9).
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh" (Ephes. 5:31).
2. To protect the land or nation, preventing national disintegration (cp. Deut. 24:4. See Deeper Study #1—Matthew 19:1-12; notes—• Ephes. 5:22-33; notes—• 1 Cor. 7:12-16.)
"By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked" (Proverbs 11:11).
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
3. To prevent a person from becoming an adulterer (see outline—• Matthew 5:27-30 and notes—•Matthew 5:27-30).
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:9; cp. Luke 16:18).
"And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery" (Mark 10:12).
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Ephes. 5:22).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
Jesus take on Moses
They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" He 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. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: (Mat 19:7-11)
Swearing – Keeping Your Word
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21
Exodus 20:7 paraphrase “Don’t not use the Lord’s name loosely”
Exodus 20:16 Do not lie
(Mat 5:33) "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.' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
(Mat 5:37) But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
1. God gave the law to men for several reasons.
a. To keep man from dishonoring God by falsely calling upon His name or by cursing Him.
b. To keep man from perjuring himself, showing himself to be a liar and an unjust and unstable person.
c. To keep man from treating others unjustly.
2. The law was given to govern several things.
a. Lying and then swearing that one is telling the truth. This is perjury. How often men perjure themselves—stretching the truth, exaggerating, or lying outrightly—and then swear that they are telling the truth!
b. Making a false vow to God. How many vows have been made to God and never kept!
c. Making a false vow to another person, promising something and not doing it.
d. Using God's name in vain. So many use God's name as a slang or curse word. This person will stand especially guilty before God.
Scripture says that it is better not to vow than to vow and not pay (Eccles. 5:4-5). The reason is clearly understood: a vow makes a person a debtor. The person is in debt to fulfill his vow or promise.
1. A vow to God puts the man in debt to God. To break a vow is an act of lying to God (Acts 5:4).
2. A vow to man puts the man in debt to man. To break his vow is an act of injustice to man.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment. (James 5:12)
Conclusion – Self control
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
“Against such there is no law” – There is no possibility of having these fruits because of the law. These come from the working of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Also they cannot be forced.
Closing
Yesterday I had to do a funeral for a 33 year old young lady. Talking about heart wrentching. This broke my heart. It broke my heart to stand in the pulpit and look at 3 children in the face who have lost their mother. It broke my heart to look at siblings and friends who are sad and crying because they lost a friend or family member.
But you know what broke my heart the most was the fact that it was preventable. If Cyndi knew that on June 22 what was going to happen, things would be different.
