Matthew 5 Verses 33 to 48 Blessed Are the Peacemakers April 28, 2024

Matthew 5 Verses 33 to 48 Blessed Are the Peacemakers April 28, 2024

The Sermon on the Mount Lesson 4 Class Presentation Notes AAAAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Luke 6:27-36 (NKJV) 27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask themback. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

· Matthew 5:10-12 (NKJV) 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

· Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORDyour God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Main Idea:

· A peacemaker must be honest, rejecting retaliation, benevolent, and loving.

Study Aim:

· Our attitude toward our adversaries changes when we perceive them as persons for whom Christ died.

Life Impact:

· The Life Impact is designed to help you follow Jesus and live according to His teachings by comparing your lifestyle with the lifestyle Jesus taught and then assessing how you will more closely follow the lifestyle Jesus taught.

Create Interest:

· Like father like son. Does not our Heavenly Father cause the rain to fall both upon the good and the bad? “When the non-Christian curses God, our Father is too big to try to retaliate. He continues to shower good upon the evil one in hope that he might repent and be saved. If our Heavenly Father sets such an example of love, how can we do otherwise?[1]

· We should see others as God sees them, we should respect…even go so far at to love them as God would. Matthew 5:33–48focuses on three areas in which Godly action in love is expected of us by the Lord. These verses are among the most demanding verses in God’s Word.

o They deal with swearing, retaliation, and love for enemies.

o The chapter ends with a call to be perfect.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· The Jewish law of equal retaliation (sometimes called the lex talionis or “measure for measure”) was stated this way in Exodus 21:22–25: “When men get in a fight … if there is an injury, then you must give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound” (HCSB).

o Prior to this law, people often took vengeance for themselves and often did greater harm than they had received; thus, this was an advance in its day.

o But Jesus went beyond this ancient law in Matthew 5:38–42.

· Jesus reminded His disciples that the Old Testament required keeping promises to God. The Pharisees had found ways of getting around that commandment.

o Jesus said that oaths should not be necessary in daily life because our words should speak only what is true.

o Jesus reminded them of Old Testament teachings on retaliation—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. He called for no retaliation and gave four challenging examples of giving back good for evil.

o Jesus pointed out that they had been taught to love their neighbors and to hate their enemies. He called them to love their enemies.

o He said that if they loved only friends, they would do no more than pagans did.

o He also called them to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect.[2]

· No one had ever heard anything like this before. The great Jewish teachers had always had characteristic phrases in their teaching. The characteristic phrase of the prophet was: “thus saith the Lord.”

· He claimed no personal authority at all; his only claim was that what he spoke God had told him. The characteristic phrase of the Scribe and the Rabbi was: “there is a teaching that. …” The Scribe or the Rabbi never dared to express even an opinion of his own unless he could buttress it with supporting quotations from the great teachers of the past. Independence was the last quality that either would claim.

o But to Jesus a statement required no authority other than the fact that he made it. He was his own authority.[3]

Bible Study:

Matthew 5:33-42 (NKJV) 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. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

· Vs. 33-34: The matter of making oaths (Lev. 19:12; Deut. 23:21) was next addressed by the Lord. The Pharisees were notorious for their oaths, which were made on the least provocation. Yet they made allowances for mental reservations within their oaths.

o If they wanted to be relieved of oaths they had made by heaven … by the earth … by Jerusalem, or by one’s own head, they could argue that since God Himself had not been involved their oaths were not binding.

· Vs. 35: But Jesus said oaths should not even be necessary: Do not swear at all. The fact that oaths were used at all emphasized the wickedness of man’s heart.

o Furthermore, swearing “by heaven,” “by the earth,” or “by Jerusalem” is binding, since they are God’s throne … footstool, …and city, respectively.

o Even the color of the hair on their heads was determined by God (Matt. 5:36). However, Jesus later in His life responded to an oath (26:63–64), as did Paul (2 Cor. 1:23).

o The Lord was saying one’s life should be sufficient to back up one’s words. A yes always ought to mean yes, and a no should mean no. James seems to have picked up these words of the Lord in his epistle.[4]

§ James 5:12 (NKJV) 12 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.

· Vs. 36-37: Jesus taught that our conversation should be so honest, and our character so true, that we would not need “crutches” to get people to believe us.

o Words depend on character, and oaths cannot compensate for a poor character.

§ Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV) 19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

o The more words a man uses to convince us, the more suspicious we should be.[5]

Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have yourcloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

· Vs. 38: Jesus offers a new sort of justice, a creative, healing, restorative justice. The old justice found in the Bible was designed to prevent revenge running away with itself. Better an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth than an escalating feud with each side going one worse than the other.

o But Jesus goes one better still. Better to have no vengeance at all, but rather a creative way forward, reflecting the astonishingly patient love of God himself, who wants Israel to shine his light into the world so that all people will see that he is the one true God, and that his deepest nature is overflowing love.

§ No other god encourages people to behave in a way like this!

· Vs. 39: So, Jesus gives three hints of the sort of thing he has in mind. To be struck on the right cheek, in that world, almost certainly meant being hit with the back of the right hand. That’s not just violence, but an insult: it implies that you’re an inferior, perhaps a slave, a child, or (in that world, and sometimes even today) a woman. What’s the answer?

§ Hitting back only keeps the evil in circulation.

o Offering the other cheek implies: hit me again if you like, but now as an equal, not an inferior.

· Vs. 40: Or suppose you’re in a lawcourt where a powerful enemy is suing you (perhaps for non-payment of some huge debt) and wants the shirt off your back. You can’t win; but you can show him what he’s really doing.

o Give him your cloak as well; and, in a world where most people only wore those two garments, shame him with your impoverished nakedness.

o This is what the rich, powerful and careless are doing.

§ They are reducing the poor to a state of shame.

· Vs. 41: The third example clearly reflects the Roman military occupation. Roman soldiers had the right to force civilians to carry their equipment for one mile. But the law was quite strict; it forbade them to make someone go more than that.

o Turn the tables on them, advises Jesus. Don’t fret and fume and plot revenge. Copy your generous God! Go a second mile, and astonish the soldier (and perhaps alarm him—what if his commanding officer found out?) with the news that there is a different way to be human, a way which doesn’t plot revenge, which doesn’t join the armed resistance movement (that’s what verse 41 means), but which wins God’s kind of victory over violence and injustice.

o You see, life is lived, really, on three levels.

§ First of all, there is the hellish level. A lot of people in the world live on the hellish level—that is, to return evil for good.

§ Second is the human level—the very best you could hope for without the new birth is to return good for good and evil for evil; that’s the human level.

§ Third is the heavenly level to return good for evil.

📷 Now, when you return good for good, evil for evil, that’s the first mile.

📷 But, when you return good for evil, that is the second mile[6] Good time for discussion!

Thoughts to Soak On

· These examples are only little sketches, like cartoons to give you the idea.

o Whatever situation you’re in, you need to think it through for yourself.

o What would it mean to reflect God’s generous love despite the pressure and provocation, despite your own anger and frustration?

· Impossible? Well, yes, at one level. But again, Jesus’ teaching isn’t just good advice, it’s good news. Jesus did it all himself, and opened up the new way of being human so that all who follow him can discover it.

o When they mocked him, he didn’t respond.

o When they challenged him, he told quizzical, sometimes humorous, stories that forced them to think differently.

o When they struck him, he took the pain.

o When they put the worst bit of Roman equipment on his back—the heavy cross-piece on which he would be killed—he carried it out of the city to the place of his own execution.

o When they nailed him to the cross, he prayed for them.[7]

· Vs. 42: “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. This illustration does not mean we should give whatever anyone asks of us.

· The only limit to this kind of sacrifice is the limit that love itself will impose. It isn’t loving to give in to someone’s manipulation without our transforming it into a free act of love. It isn’t always loving to give or to not resist. Hmmm?

o We might say that Paul repeated this idea of Jesus: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)[8]

o We are not required to respond to every foolish, selfish request made of us. Sometimes to give a person what he wants, but does not need, is a detriment to that person, doing him more harm than good.

§ Ask a banker or doctor to respond to this statement😊.

o Giving must never be such as to encourage a person in laziness and in shiftlessness, for such giving can only hurt that person.

o It is seldom, perhaps never, good to give to a man that is able to work but will not work. Discuss!

o The unlimited government policies which give money to those who are too lazy or unwilling to work or blow their earnings on gambling and drink have, in fact, destroyed their character.

o Unlimited giving is never a good thing, for the poor or for your kids, and it is certainly not the theme of this section of Scripture.

o Teach your kids the value of work and to earn some of the things they want.

o 2 Thessalonians 3:10—For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

· If a lazy man is indeed hungry, give him a bite to eat; if he wants anything farther, encourage him to get a job.If Christians in poverty-stricken countries need assistance, help them as they help themselves. If a widow, an orphan, a man of misfortune, or a man infirm, lame, or sick, is at your door, try to assist them if you can. Do what you can to help them, but again, use wisdom. Asking questions will give you discernment on what to do.[9]

· Also implied is the principle that we should offer to give what is needed as soon as we know of the need, whether or not we are asked for help. Jesus is not speaking of begrudging compliance to a plea for help, but a willing, generous, and loving desire to help others.

o He is speaking of generosity that genuinely wants to meet the other person’s need, not tokenism that does a good deed to buy off one’s own conscience.

o Many times, a loan is often more beneficial than an absolute gift.

§ First, because it flatters less the vanity of him who lends.

§ Second, it spares more the shame of him who is in real want;

§ Third, it gives less encouragement to the idleness of him who may not be very honest.

· If God leads you to help someone, then do it with wisdom and discernment and He will bless. Share the following example:

o Many years ago, two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist Paderewski for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski’s manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The students worked hard to promote the concert, but they came up $400 short. After the performance, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400 as soon as they could. It appeared that their college days were over. “No, boys, that won’t do,” said the pianist.

§ “Take out of this $1,600 all your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest.”

o Years passed. Paderewski became the Premier of Poland following World War I. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help, the head of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Paderewski’s appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later he met the American statesman to thank him. “That’s all right,” replied Herbert Hoover. “Besides, you don’t remember, but you helped me once years ago when I was a student in college.”

§ Ecclesiastes 11:1—Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV) 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

· We must love our enemies. “But I tell you: Love your enemies.” How are we to do this? We must first notice that Jesus does not ask us here, nor has he ever asked us, to love our enemies in the same way that we love our loved ones—our nearest and dearest.There are people for whom we have a spontaneous, natural, instinctive love. We do not have to make any effort to love them—we just do.

o Jesus is not asking us to have a romantic love or a buddy love or a family love or an emotional love for our enemies. What He commands is an agape love—that is, a deliberate, intelligent, determinedlove—an invincible goodwill toward them.[10]

· If you’ve ever lashed out at someone who refused to fight back, you know how small it made you feel. Don’t fight back. Love back. Nothing will disarm your enemy so easily.

o But you say, “She has hurt me or has trampled on me. I can’t love back.”

§ In Vs 44b, , Consider this approach

o Bless them! When the person who bugs you the most comes down on you, look at him and say, “The Lord bless you. The Lord be with you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.”

§ Numbers 6:24-26

§ Pronounce blessing upon him; do good to him; pray for him.

o I’ll tell you a secret: If you pray for your enemies—for the people who bug you the most—you will experience power in your life and an ability to love them that will blow you away. Why?

o When you pray for your enemies, two things happen:

§ They change and you change. It might take some time, but slowly yet surely, you’ll see a change.

§ If I’m praying every day for the guy I can’t stand, something amazing happens. I become involved with him and interested in him.

📷 As I pray for him, there is a linkage established through prayer.

Matthew 5:45-48 (NKJV) 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

· In Greek, the sonsof your Father. The word son has a variety of significations. Christians are called the sons or children of God in several of these senses: as his offspring; as adopted; as his disciples; as imitators of Him. In this passage the word is applied to them because, in doing good to enemies, they resemble God. Hemakes his sun rise on the evil and good, and sends rain, without distinction, on the just and unjust. So, his people should show that they imitate or resemble him, or that they possess his spirit, by doing good in a similar way.[11]

· “You shall be perfect? You mean never be angry because that’s equivalent to murder? Never say anything more than yes or no without defending or explaining? Turn the other cheek when people are attacking me? Bless those who hurt me? Be perfect?

o “Rabbi, if what You say is true, if this is what was meant in the Old Testament Law, then no matter how I come across outwardly with my robes, my pious postures, and my religious activities, I’m lost.

o No wonder You said righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. I’m a Pharisee—and I’m a sinner.”

· “Great!” Jesus would answer. “That’s right where I want you. I will now help you live the way of the kingdom constitution as I, the King, take up residence within you.”

o Soon we’ll see Jesus face-to-face. He’s coming back. And when we see Him, the Bible says we shall be like Him (I John 3:2).

§ We shall indeed be perfect. And what a day that will be![12]

Thoughts to soak on

· Jesus dealt with much in the passage that we have just considered, but the central theme is love. We will never be what God desires us to be without loving as He would have us to.

o How would you rate the love that you possess?

o Does the description that Jesus gave reflect the love within your heart? I am sure that we all could love more than we do.

§ Why not seek the Lord to place a greater love within your heart?

· If you’ve never been saved, you really don’t know love. One cannot truly love apart from a relationship with Christ. If you desire to experience His love, and develop the ability to genuinely love others, why not come to Him in salvation?[13] Because of God’s grace through faith you can experience the love taught here.

[1]R. E. Neighbour, Wells of Living Water: New Testament, vol. 7, Wells of Living Water (Union Gospel Press, 1940), 70. [2]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Fall 2007, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 89–90. [3]William Barclay, ed., The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster John Knox Press, 1976), 134–135. [4]Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 31. [5]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24. [6]Adrian Rogers, “The Second Mile,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Mt 5:38–48. [7]Tom Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 51–53. [8]David Guzik, Matthew, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Mt 5:38–42. [9]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from the Sermon on the Mount, vol. 1, Treasures from Scriptures Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2006), 273–274. [10]R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon on the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 143. [11]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 61. [12]Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 30–31. [13]Chris Benfield, Pulpit Pages: Topical Sermons (WORDsearch, 2014).