SERMON ON THE MOUNT LESSON #3

Murder, Adultery and Divorce (Matthew 5:21-32)

Introduction:

Just like with the beatitudes, Jesus is again going to turn our thinking “right side up.” The next few topics Jesus deals with point directly back to what we looked at last week in 5:17-20.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law (that is the Law of Moses). Part of that means he came to restore its original intention that so many people had gotten away from. For instance, God didn’t just want His people to not kill people. He also wanted His people to love each other and not hate each other.

Jesus is not disagreeing with the Law. If a Jew in Jesus’ day followed all the teachings found here he would in no way be in violation of any law in the Law of Moses. Jesus is helping us see what God intended the Law to be about in the first place.

It wasn’t about outward obedience to a list of rules. It was about the heart.

Matthew 5:21–26 CSB

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. 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. 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.

Murder & Anger (5:21-26):

Jesus starts each of these with something like, “You have heard that it was said.”

Where had they heard these things said?

The Law “Do not murder” comes from Exodus 20:13. It was the 6th commandment of the 10 commandments. Jesus takes “do not murder” a step further.

What else does Jesus say not to do? Was that teaching just for them or is it for us too?

You probably don’t struggle with murdering people on a regular basis but many of us struggle with our anger. Why does Jesus put murder and anger on the same level? (See also Matthew 15:19) We know murder and anger have different consequences but ultimately they came from the same place in our hearts. Jesus’ point here is God wants our hearts and not just our outward obedience to a list of rules. We can avoid murdering people but still have a rotten heart. God wants all of our hearts so Jesus teaches us not to be angry with others. 5. Are you angry with someone right now? What would Jesus tell you to do about that? 6. What else does Jesus say we are not to do toward other people?

The word “raca” probably means something like “empty headed fool” or “numb skull.” 7. You don’t really hear those words much anymore but what do people say today that carry the same tone? Our words can be like a thermometer of our heart’s condition. 8. What does it say about our heart if we call other people names or shout insults at them? (See Matthew 15:18) Jesus uses an example in 5:23-24 that shows just how important being reconciled with others is to God. 9. What did Jesus say they were to do if they were about to offer something to God but realized someone was upset with them? 10. What does that say about how serious God is about us keeping our relationships solid and resolve any brokenness we might experience? It would be easy to rationalize that giving a gift/offering to God is more important than making things right with someone. But maybe what Jesus is teaching us here is that it is hard to be reconciled to God or offer Him the gifts God deserves if we have angered others and show no concern for making things right (See Matthew 22:34-40 for the connection between how we love God and how we love others). Last, some people believe that 5:25-26 deals with outsiders to the faith. Since we are not to take each other to court that may be what Jesus is teaching about here. Again, Jesus is all about making things right with others. 11. Why do you think Jesus is so interested in how we treat others and our relationships with others?

2. Adultery & Lust (5:27-30):

Next Jesus addresses the very next commandment in the 10 commandments. Right after the commandment to not murder is the 7th commandment that says, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exo 20:14).

12. What two things does Jesus condemn in these verses? Again, Jesus is getting to the heart issue. It is one thing to say you have never committed adultery and quite another to say you have never lusted. Jesus says those two things come from the same place in the heart (Again, Matthew 15:19) and both are troubling to our souls. While Jesus uses a male example as the person lusting, these verses are for both men and women.

This is a huge issue in our country and in the church today. Lust does something to our hearts that is not healthy for our souls and is not something God is pleased with. God intended for sex and sexuality to be full defined through marriage and not through undressing people with our eyes. Just like being angry with people, lusting after people degrades them and makes them into something less than God desires for them to be. 13. Why do you think our nation is so addicted to sex? 14. What can we, as Christians, do to combat this…even starting in our own homes? Next, Jesus gives an example of just how extremely bad and evil he views lust to be.

15. What does Jesus say to do if you struggle with lust? 16. Do you believe Jesus is exaggerating? Jesus is talking about “spiritual surgery” and is not advocating our removing various body parts/self mutilation. In doing so he is highlighting the seriousness of sin. 17. Why is it easy in our world to think some of these things, like lust, are no big deal?

3. Divorce (5:31-32):

In ancient Judaism a man could divorce his wife (Deut 24:1-4) but she was not allowed to divorce him without going through the court system. There was a wide range of ideas on what reasons a man could give from divorcing his wife. Some held a strict view that it had to be due to adultery while others said it could be just about anything that upset him. What Jesus teaches in these verses really serves as a protection to the women. God didn’t want the men divorcing them because they burnt dinner, leaving them to be on their own in society. 18. What did Moses say the men required to give their wives if they divorced them? A certificate of divorce was a document that released her to marry another man. This was to ensure that he didn’t come back and claim to be married to her at a later date. In some ways it was a protection for the woman against any abuse he might try. You can see that Jesus really had a heart to protect those who had little or no voice in the way he viewed and protected women through his teaching.

19. What did Jesus allow to be the reason for divorce? 20. If you are married, what are some things you can do to strengthen your marriage? 21. If you are single and think you may be married some day, how can you see yourself preparing to have a strong marriage? 22. I you are single with no intention of getting married, how can you be a support to the marriages of your close friends? A note about divorce – Jesus is showing us God’s ideal when it comes to anger, lust and marriage and divorce. None of these three things are on the “unforgivable” list or else we would all be in trouble. God has an ideal and Jesus taught that ideal but we all know people make mistakes and often the pieces have to be picked up. Divorce is a difficult subject for us to deal with in such a short amount of time.

Jesus never said those who have angered, those who have lusted or those who have gotten a divorce were second class citizens in the kingdom of God. As we know not every divorce is done for scriptural reasons just like every sin any one of us commits in unscriptural.

That does not mean we are happy about divorce or advocate divorce but that also does not give anyone the right to be less forgiving than God is on this subject. We all want to see the ideal thing take place in each and every marriage but we know things don’t always work out that way. We do have to advocate for people who are seeking God and seeking to get their lives back together.

Summary Questions:

23. Is it ever okay to get angry (See Ephesians 4:26)? If so, what would be some things a Christian might get angry about?

24. Where is the line between thinking someone is attractive and lusting? What personal rules can we have to keep our minds from crossing that line?

25. Are there people you know who had gotten a divorce who never returned to the church/their faith? What can you do to reintroduce them to God’s grace and mercy?