"honesty, Kindness, And Love"

Title: “Honesty, Kindness & Love” Script: Matthew 5:33ff

Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 3-8-26

Intro: *A man was still playing competitive league softball in his late 40's. His team had a lot of younger guys. During one game, this man was playing third base when a line drive was hit right over his head. He jumped as high as he could, but couldn't quite get a glove on it. At the end of the inning, when everyone was heading to the dugout, the left fielder caught up with him. The outfielder held up his thumb and first finger a couple of inches apart. And he said, "That much." The older third-baseman replied: "I know, I almost had it!" But his younger friend laughed and shot back, "No, I mean that's how far you got off the ground." (1) When it came to softball, the veteran player needed to go higher. And when it comes to our spiritual lives, WE need to go higher. Here Jesus continues to call us up to God's highest standards in life. In today’s passage we will notice three areas where Christ wants us to live at a higher standard.

Prop: Let’s examine three practical areas where Christ wants us to live differently from the world.

BG: 1. Continuing SOM, teaching on what Kingdom people should look like.

2. Jesus calls us to a higher standard. I believe people rise to a higher standard.

3. Three specific areas Jesus addresses today.

Prop: Matthew 5:33ff we’ll see 3 practical ways to live differently as followers of Christ.

I. Kingdom People are to be Honest. Vv.33-37

A. Christ’s followers are to be honest and forthright individuals.

1. The OT Law forbade false witness.

a. Illust: Swear falsely, specifically meant to commit perjury, lying under oath in an official court case. Now, the Jews at that time believed that ONLY taking an oath in God’s Name was a binding oath. So, the recourse was to have substitutes so as to be able to “get out” of keeping one’s word. Substitutes included: Swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, etc. Was a system to allow lying NOT encourage truthfulness.

b. So the whole purpose of the “substitute” oaths was so they could break their word to one another! Matthew 5 contains six comparisons between this “external performance” and the “internal obedience” that God desires. Jesus talks about anger, sexual desire, divorce, lying, revenge, and hatred. In each case, he calls us, his followers, to commit ourselves not just to obeying the external requirements of the law, but also to allowing the Kingdom Code to govern our thoughts, our motives and our attitudes.

2. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ thinking and sets a new standard for behavior.

a. v.37 – taking an oath was reserved for special situation. It was to be grave or important matters, yet, had become quite commonplace. Illust: Who remembers why President Clinton was impeached? Affair and sexual scandal? Workplace harassment? Abuse of power? No, perjury! Lied under oath. Illust: An oath is a solemn promise someone makes to indicate that they’re being truthful. The story of the Old Testament is full of examples—oaths are mentioned almost 200 times! This practice didn’t begin with the law. It already existed in Abraham’s day, over 500 years before Moses.

b.Illust: Now, think about the reason for oaths: Man is prone to lying due to his sin nature. Again, at the time of the Law, life was chaotic. “Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (9th Commandment). Why? People lie. Promises are cheap. For basic economic development to take place trustworthy agreements and documents must be honored. Property rights must be defended. Honesty and integrity essential. Courts of law only function if basic levels of honesty.

B. Christ called His Followers to be Truthful.

1. Truthfulness should be a distinguishing mark of the Christian.

a. Again, the Pharisees had broken this law down to essentially “one should not commit perjury”. However, Christ says, “No!” If you are a follower of mine, let your “Yes be yes and no be no.” Be honest and be characterized by being honest. Christ’s teaching here includes 3 important points: a. Christ wants us to never use God’s sacred Name in cursing or in any other demeaning way (No OMG!). b. Christ forbids swearing by any creature or thing because He is Lord of all. Not by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, the temple or the gold of the temple etc…. Why? Relationship with Jesus means you are related to one over everything! C. He forbids oaths in ordinary conversation. Simply give a yes or a no. Then, keep your word.

b. Illust: Church I attended in college had a small C&C Sunday School class, taught by the Mayor of the City, Mayor Pete Chalos. Chalos was the son of Greek immigrants and he looked like could’ve been a mob boss. Mayor Chalos once asked us in class: “What is the most valuable asset you have?” All sorts of answers were given…all incorrect. Nope. “A good name.” (Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is more desirable than great riches.”) Honest people who are committed to integrity have a good name.