THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THE CONDUCT OF THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
REGARDING THE LAW – INTRODUCTION
MATTHEW 5:17–20 “DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS; I HAVE NOT COME TO ABOLISH THEM BUT TO FULFILL THEM. 18I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH DISAPPEAR, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER, NOT THE LEAST STROKE OF A PEN, WILL BY ANY MEANS DISAPPEAR FROM THE LAW UNTIL EVERYTHING IS ACCOMPLISHED. 19ANYONE WHO BREAKS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME WILL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT WHOEVER PRACTICES AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDS WILL BE CALLED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 20FOR I TELL YOU THAT UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SURPASSES THAT OF THE PHARISEES AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW, YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
INTRODUCTION: IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WE LIVE IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD. SO MANY THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY ONCE WERE. TECHNOLOGY HAS BROUGHT THE DISTANT CLOSE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKEN WHAT IS CLOSE AND MADE IT DISTANT.
IN OTHER AREAS THERE HAS BEEN SIMILAR MOVEMENT. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE OF DISCIPLINE WAS, FOR THE MOST PART, A UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICE.
I GREW UP IN THE ERA WHERE I DID NOT HAVE A SILVER SPOON IN MY MOUTH BUT I DID HAVE A WOODEN SPOON ON MY, WELL YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.
THEN DURING MY APPRECIATION FOR THAT SPOON, ALONG CAME DR. SPOCK. REMEMBER HIM? NOT MISTER SPOCK – POINTY EARS AND LIVE LONG AND PROSPER, BUT DR. SPOCK WHO WROTE EXTENSIVELY ON CHILD REARING.
WRITING FOR REDBOOK MAGAZINE, DR. SPOCK WROTE THIS -- "WE HAVE REARED A GENERATION OF BRATS. PARENTS AREN'T FIRM ENOUGH WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR LOVE OR INCURRING THEIR RESENTMENT. THIS IS A CRUEL DEPRIVATION THAT WE PROFESSIONALS HAVE IMPOSED ON MOTHERS AND FATHERS. OF COURSE, WE DID IT WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS. WE DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE HOW OUR KNOW-IT-ALL ATTITUDE WAS UNDERMINING THE SELF ASSURANCE OF PARENTS."
TOO LATE
WE SEE THAT RESULT OF THIS TEACHING FINDING SEED IN OUR SCHOOLS, MOVING INTO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THEN EVEN OUT INTO THE WORKPLACE.
THERE IS A GENERAL AND GROWING DISRESPECT FOR AUTHORITY OF ANY KIND AND WITH IT COMES AN ATTITUDE OF ENTITLEMENT
TRANSITION: YET, WHEN WE COME TO OUR PASSAGE TODAY. A PLACE WHERE JESUS LAYS THE FOUNDATION AND GROUNDWORK FOR OUR CONDUCT UNDER GOD’S LAW, WE CAN AND WILL SEE A DIFFERENT PICTURE. GOD’S LAW WAS NOT SO MUCH WHAT WE WERE TO DO AS IT WAS WHAT HE WAS DOING FOR US.
JESUS INTRODUCED A NEW COVENANT, ONE WHICH REMOVED ITS PLACE FROM TABLETS OF STONE AND MOVED INTS PLACE TO TABLETS OF FLESH – THE HUMAN HEART.
WE WOULD QUICKLY SEE OUR WORLD SHIFT IN CONDUCT WERE IT POSSIBLE TO SUPERNATURALLY PLACE THE PERFECT LAW OF GOD IN EACH AND EVERY HEART.
AND JUST TO REMIND YOU – IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT BRINGS THE PROMISE OF GOD INTO THE HEART OF MAN.
SO, IN OUR TIME THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE TEACHING OF JESUS HERE ON THE MOUNT CONCERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
I. JESUS PERSONIFIES THE LAW
JESUS INTRODUCES US TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF INTERPRETATION – ONE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WOULD NOT ACCEPT
a. JESUS AFFIRMS THE REALITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE LAW
i. HE AFFIRMS THE LAW – FIRST FIVE BOOKS WHICH INSTRUCTED THE NATION OF ISRAEL BY GIVING THEM THE LAW OF GOD
ii. HE AFFIRMS THE PROPHETS WHICH WOULD DECLARE TO THE PEOPLE WHAT GOD HAD SPOKEN AND WOULD BE POINTING PEOPLE TO THE MESSIAH
b. JESUS DID NOT, IN HIS OWN WORDS COME TO DESTROY THE LAW
i. THE WORD MEANS OVERTHROWN
ii. THE WORD MEANS TO LOOSEN
iii. TO UTTERLY DESTROY
CONCLUSION: ACCORDING TO JESUS THE LAW GIVEN BY GOD THE FATHER DOES NOT NEED TO BE TOSSED OUT, IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE WATERED DOWN, AND IT DOES NOT NEED TO DISAPPEAR
HAVE YOU SEEN THE BUMPER STICKER ON CARS THAT SAYS,” THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT NEED TO BE REWRITTEN, IT NEEDS TO BE REREAD.”
AND IN A RECENT FOX NEWS POLL – JUST SAW THIS ON FRIDAY ONLY 39% OF AMERICANS SAID THEY WERE PROUD OF THEIR COUNTRY
c. JESUS TELLS US THAT HIS PURPOSE WAS TO COME AND FULFILL THE LAW
i. THE PICTURE BEHIND THIS WORD IS THAT JESUS WAS COMING TO FILL IN THE GAPS THAT WERE BEING MISSED
ii. IT IS KIND OF LIKE FINDING THE MISSING PIECES TO A PUZZLE IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN COMPLETED
iii. THIS STARTED WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD IN THE GARDEN -- GENESIS 3:15 AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HERS; HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIS HEEL.”
iv. THIS PROMISE WOULD BE FULFILLED WITH THE INCARNATION – THE COMING OF JESUS -- JOHN 1:14 THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US. WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.
d. JESUS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE LAW OF GOD WAS IMPORTANT DOWN TO THE SMALLEST MARK
i. JOTS AND TITTLES
ii. THE SMALLEST LETTER
iii. THE SMALLEST MARK ON OR BESIDE A LETTER
MARVIN VINCENT IN HIS WORD STUDY BOOK QUOTED JEWISH TRADITION WHEN HE WROTE, “THE GUILT OF CHANGING THOSE LITTLE HOOKS WHICH DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CERTAIN HEBREW LETTERS IS DECLARED TO BE SO GREAT THAT, IF SUCH A THING WERE DONE, THE WORLD WOULD BE DESTROYED.”
II. WHAT LAW WAS JESUS COMING TO FULFILL? THERE ARE THREE
a. CEREMONIAL LAW
i. RITUALS AND REGULATIONS
ii. HOW SOMEONE COULD APPROACH GOD
iii. THE FOCUS OF THIS LAW WAS ON THE PRIESTHOOD AS THEY APPROACHED GOD FOR THE PEOPLE
1. THROUGH SACRIFICES
2. IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES
iv. THIS LAW WAS FULFILLED WITH THE DEATH OF JESUS
1. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS REFERENCED THIS EVENT -- HEBREWS 10:1 THE LAW IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING—NOT THE REALITIES THEMSELVES. FOR THIS REASON IT CAN NEVER, BY THE SAME SACRIFICES REPEATED ENDLESSLY YEAR AFTER YEAR, MAKE PERFECT THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO WORSHIP.
2. THE ACTIONS SURROUNDING THE CROSS FULFILLED THIS ASPECT OF THE LAW
a. THE LAST WORDS OF CHRIST – IT IS FINISHED
b. THE CURTAIN IN THE TEMPLE WHICH DIVIDED THE HOLY PLACE FROM THE MOST HOLY PLACE WAS TORN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
c. BEFORE THE WORK OF CHRIST, GOD WAS APPROACHED THROUGH A CURTAIN, BY THE PRIEST FOR THE PEOPLE ONCE A YEAR
3. THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO APPROACH GOD
4. THE DEATH OF CHRIST FULFILLED THE CEREMONIAL LAW
b. CIVIL LAW
i. THESE WERE THE LAWS GOD GAVE TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL
ii. THEY WERE TO BRING ORDER FOR THE NATION
iii. IT CONCERNED
1. OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
3. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
iv. HOW THE JEWISH SOCIETY WOULD FUNCTION
v. NO APPLICATION OUTSIDE THE NATION OF ISRAEL
1. SIMILAR TO WHEN WE TRAVEL, WHILE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO OBEY THEIR LAWS.
2. ONCE WE ARE NO LONGER IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, WE ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO OBEY THEIR LAWS
c. MORAL LAW
i. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. GOD GIVEN STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR
2. APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE, ALL PLACES, ALL TIMES
3. THIS IS THE LAW JESUS IS SAYING HE CAME TO FULFILL – HOW WE BEHAVE
ii. SCRIPTURE TELLS US THE NEED FOR JESUS TO FULFILL THIS ASPECT OF THE LAW
1. MATTHEW 5:19 ANYONE WHO BREAKS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME WILL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT WHOEVER PRACTICES AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDS WILL BE CALLED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
2. JAMES 2:10 FOR WHOEVER KEEPS THE WHOLE LAW AND YET STUMBLES AT JUST ONE POINT IS GUILTY OF BREAKING ALL OF IT.
3. GALATIANS 3:10 ALL WHO RELY ON OBSERVING THE LAW ARE UNDER A CURSE, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW.”
III. WHAT JESUS TELLS US ABOUT THE LAW
a. IT IS REALISTIC
i. THE FACT THAT JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW MEANS THAT IT IS STILL RELEVANT IN AN WORLD THAT SEEMS TO BE CHANGING EVERY DAY AND ADOPTING NEW STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY ON A DAILY BASIS
ii. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LAW, WE SAY, “HOW CAN I EVER DO WHAT IT SAYS?”
iii. JESUS TELLS US HE CAME TO MAKE THE LAW DOABLE FOR US
1. HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS AND OFFERS US THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD AND RESTORATION WITH GOD THAT WAS LOST AT THE FALL.
b. IT IS RELEVANT
i. THE ALL HAS A PLACE AND PURPOSE IN OUR SOCIETY UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY
1. INTERESTING REFERENCE
2. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION WHERE WE SEE THE CREATION OF A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
3. ALL OF CREATION IS RESTORED AND THERE IS NO LONGER NEED FOR THE LAW OF GOD
c. [IT IS RIGHT
i. I MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT IN BIBLE CAMP WE TALKED ABOUT HOW GOD NEVER CHANGES. THE BIG WORD WAS IMMUTABLE
ii. THE LAW OF GOD IS A REFLECTION OF THE PERSON OF GOD – IT ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE
iii. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS RELATED TO OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW OF GOD
iv. JESUS TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO EXCEED THE LEVEL OF THE PHARISEES AND THEIR ADHERENCE TO THE LAW.
1. THE PHARISEES WERE BIG ON ALL THE EXTERNALS OF THE LAW.
2. JESUS WOULD OFFER THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM A FULFILLED WAY – WITH THE LAW IN THEIR HEARTS NOT JUST IN THE ACTIONS OF THEIR HANDS!
WHAT DOES THE TEXT TELLS US TODAY
• WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S WORD
• WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE BOTH THE PERSEVERANCE AND AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD
• WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT ETERNITY IS BASED ON OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
• WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN CENTERS ON OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD
