Kingdom Citizens living out true righteousness
sermon on the mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Kingdom citizens living out true righteousness
What was our key verse from yesterday?
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
What did Jesus tell us about those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?
We saw the Spiritual ladder as well as the impact those kingdom dwellers will have on the world around us.
We also found that it was an easy road and there would not be any opposition right?
No - this is a difficult road and there will be persecution and difficulties because of Him. We will be persecuted because of the righteousness we exhibit.
We discovered that this new calling was counter-cultural and counter traditional and counter experiential as far as what they had ever known.
Before we go any further let me ask you a question.
How many of you have committed Murder?
Now Jesus is going to challenge them at the point of their religion. And their religious system, the Law.
17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus packs a lot in these 3 verses;
1. He didn’t come to abolish the law but fulfill it.
2. Whoever breaks the law and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
3. Whoever does them and teaches others will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
4. Unless your righteousness surpasses the scribes and Pharisees you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
Fulfill all righteousness
Identification w/us repentance John’s baptism was for repentance For example - for us to follow Proclamation of God’s purpose in righteousness.
Jesus takes what they know, the Law and redefines it.
You have heard it said. But I say to you.
External Internal
Doing Being
Duty Devotion
Performance Relationship
Guilt Grace
Letter Spirit
Head Heart
True righteousness is not found in following the law but in a Relationship
That relationship can only be gained through the Spiritual Ladder.
As we are salt and light in the world, God calls us to something greater than just following the letter of the Law.
21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.
Jesus here redefines murder as not just an action but also an attitude of the heart.
I asked you all earlier how many of you have committed murder.
According to this new revelation, what is your answer?
Is all anger sin?
26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity.
How do we determine which anger is sin and which is not?
The word used for insult is Raca , the Aramaic word for empty-headed or stupid, the word fool is Moros - means morally worthless. Both these words are expressions of contempt.
Jesus reminds us that God cares about our hearts as well as our actions.
He cares so much he says if your horizontal relationships are not right take care of that before we come before God.
23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
How can we have a right relationship with God if we are at odds with our brother?
Our earthly relationships have an impact on our heavenly relationship!
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
We are encouraged to make things right, quickly.
Which beatitude do these align with?
Both these instructions align themselves as examples of what Jesus has already said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers”. In both these situations we are to make peace with our brothers and sisters.
Jesus’s teaching should prompt us to ask ourselves some important questions:
Are we responsible for any grudges someone has against us? Are we responsible for any anger someone has against us? Are we responsible for any bitterness someone has against us? Are we responsible for any hostility someone has against us?
If the answer is yes then we must do something about it.
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Next Jesus addresses Adultery and divorce. Many times these two are closely related.
27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. 32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Jesus defines adultery as; looking and lusting. He said that was committing adultery in the heart.
18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. 20 These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”
How did Jesus say to control adultery?
Self-control. He wasn’t telling them to mutilate themselves but to exercise self-control which is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
How do we combat these thoughts?
3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
What we think about is what we become.
Ralph Waldo Emerson “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. 32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
This issue of divorce has risen to the point that divorce was granted for any reason.
14 And you ask, “Why?” Because even though the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, you have acted treacherously against her. She was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant. 15 Didn’t God make them one and give them a portion of spirit? What is the one seeking? Godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully, so that no one acts treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 “If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord God of Israel, “he covers his garment with injustice,” says the Lord of Armies. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously.
Matthew 19:3-12 (NLT) 3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps.12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Why is Jesus so adamant about divorce?
Marriage is a picture of God and Israel, Jesus and His Bride.
Ephesians 5:25 (NLT) 25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
Oaths:
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
compare
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’ 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.
Let you yes, be yes and no be no. This command is bound up in being authentic and truthful.
Which Beatitude would this align with?
Blessed are the pure in heart. Are we pure in our dealings with others?
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Obligations:
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Which beatitude does this command relate to?
Blessed are the merciful.
Enemies:
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?
Law of retribution Ex 21:24, Leviticus 24:19-20
Legal payback limits for exacting justice for injury or injustice.
Jesus’ new standard - How can I respond to injustice with mercy in order to reveal God’s hear and extend the Kingdom?
Late of Love : Leviticus 19:18 (CSB) 8 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Existing interpretation: love those inside my circle
Jesus’ interpretations: Love and pray for those outside my circle. Luke 10
Which beatitude does this command relate to?
Bless those who persecute you for righteousness.
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
Is it unrealistic for Jesus to expect us to live this way?
How is it possible?
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Think about: what commands do you struggle with the most?
Where do we need to be more in line with Jesus’s commands as a church?
Are we living out these principles as Kingdom citizens?