In a perfect world

In a Perfect World Matthew 5:33-48

So far: Key verse? v20 Matthew 5:20 “ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Then looked at murder and adultery in our hearts. Now to finish out the You have heard it said, in which we are shown the impossibility of resisting sin to the point of being able to save ourselves. Jesus also teaches us in this short section of scriptures that if we focus on committing our hearts in faith to jesus, the rest might take care of itself. seek first the kingdom ya know.

We have quite a few verses to cover, so lets do a bite at a time. First we have Honestly 33-37,

Matthew 5:33 “ “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.’”

Again the said of old but I say in this section of teaching. Oaths and vows are handwitten and hammered out at the table in Uganda - still done today. Some folks in texas still do by handshake.

Numbers 30:2 “ If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

Now, the scribes and Pharisees found what they thought was a loophole. That as long as you don’t mention Jehovah God you aren't guilty of breaking the vow. Jesus in one holy spirit karate chop, breaks that thought in them -

Matthew 5:34–36 “ 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.”

you have no authority to promise or swear on a stack of bibles, or God or anything to give your word.

We often appeal to higher authority in our oaths to give them them more weight, convincing . I swear on my mommas grave.

Matthew 5:37 “ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

James picked up on this and taught us that these truths are still truth and we should live it out - James 5:12 “ 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.”

the idea of simply keeping our word should be plain - Colossians 4:6 “ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

but even here, the idea wasn't to be perfect but to simply be a person of your word. Which is impossible because we often don’t even keep our word with our toddlers. Exceed.

Getting Even

Matthew 5:38 “ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”

This is often called the Lex Talonis - the law of retaliation. Exodus 21:23–25 “ But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

but jesus, turns even this around

Matthew 5:39–40 “ 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 your cloak also.”

Though Jesus gives instruction on this, whats the context. Your righteousness has to exceed that of the scribes/pharisees - what does a humble, a truly righteous man look like?

The slap was an insult, this is not a command to let people beat you up. This was saying the righteous man/woman doesn't fall to the these things.

People belittling you, cutting you down, cant control you, nor does it approach anger if you can realize we are looking at the wrong thing. Plus they are probably right - Lamentations 3:30 “ Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.”

The tunic in the south we say, “Sue the pants off of ya”, but in their law, they were supposed to return the cloak at night (it was their protection from elements, slept outside) Exodus 22:26 “ If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.”

Jesus says a perfect man, would go the extra step.

Matthew 5:41–42 “ 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.”

To the rule of law. To befitting degree. offense after offense, the reaction of the righteous man, is perfect.

The Jewish people hated the roman captivity. The romans could compel jewish “citizens” to help them carry their burdens for a milion - a kilometer.

Jesus says want to exceed the pharisees? then do this. He’s gonna cap it off here in a second, where we see the requirements of exceeding them.

Just another reminder - me pointing out this is perfection lived out doesn't mean we shouldn't by the power of the Holy Spirit seek to live in this manner. Not to be saved but being different because we are.

God can recover and restore all things, if we just have faith.

Wuv, twu Wuv

Matthew 5:43 “ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”

This was a twisted teaching of the S/P, Leviticus 19:17–18 “ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

and don't worry nearly every book of the bible in someway reminds us that God wants to save all.

Can you already see the super smacker coming?

Matthew 5:44–47 “ 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, 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?”

The jews were famous for their ostracizing of other ethnos (ethnicity). There was jew, then gentile. Nothing in between. You either were his or not. Jesus here says that God designed this world, not just for the jew, but for everyone.

and don't worry nearly every book of the bible in someway reminds us that God wants to save all.

Jesus very plainly levels everyone with the challenge to love. That real love isn't just for who you live,

He then sums up or finishes the sermon from v17 to 47

Matthew 5:48 “ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Turn Matt 7, Perfection. Thats the standard. When he says: Matthew 7:13–14 “ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” When He says this, what verse comes immediately to mind?

People wont see whats right in front of their face. read with me Jesus in John 10, turn there with me, John 10:9–10 “ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Is this following a law or being perfect?

John 14:6 “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This isnt about being perfect but being in the perfect one and thus being seen as perfect - someone said,

“If we look through a piece of red glass, everything is red. If we look through a piece of blue glass, everything is blue. If we look through a piece of yellow glass, everything is yellow, and so on. When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God looks at us through the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees us in all the white holiness of his Son. Our sins are imputed to the account of Christ and his righteousness to our account. The Chinese character for “righteousness” is most interesting. It is composed of two separate characters—one standing for a lamb, the other for me. When “lamb” is placed directly above “me,” a new character—“righteousness” is formed. This is a helpful picture of the grace of God. Between me, the sinner, and God, the Holy One, there is interposed by faith the Lamb of God. By virtue of his sacrifice, he has received me on the ground of faith, and I have become righteous in his sight.”

I wanted to break down Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

I have died to this world. It has no more claim on me. My sins paid for on that cross.

Christ lives in me. I am filled with His Spirit ad have eternal life now.

I live by faith. I cannot be perfect, but He was. When I offend, I repent (change behavior), therefore blameless. And when someone offends me, I can show this same forgiveness and mercy/grace.

if Jesus gave himself for me, he can do the same for others.

I live, not by meeting expectations or requirements but completely by faith in Him. You let people see Jesus in you not by perfection but by faith. Love you, live it out. Share the Gospel, be free in Him.