Hold High The Standard

Matthew 5:17–20 (NLT)

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Introduction:

We are living in a world that is in a constant state of flux. It seems that the standards and requirements for everything are constantly changing. Most of the time, the standards are raised. Educational requirements for different professors are becoming more rigid. Moral standards, however, it seems, are becoming more lax. Practices that were once considered to be negative and sin are becoming more accepted by society.

What does God think of it all? Jesus makes the answer clear to this question. In our text, notice three declarations that Jesus sets forward in his Sermon on the Mount.

I. The law of God has not changed. (Matthew 5: 16-17).

Matthew 5:16–17 (NLT)

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

A. Christ did not set aside the law, but came to fulfill it. (Matthew 5: 17 ).

Matthew 5:17 (NLT)

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

1. He fulfilled it in order that he might die as the just for the unjust. (1 Peter 3: 18 ).

1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

a) If the law remain unaltered by its author, it is so for those to whom it was given.

b) Christ condemned the scribes and Pharisees for changing the law to suit their purposes. (Matthew 15:1-9 ).

Matthew 15:1–9 (NLT)

1 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him,

2 “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?

4 For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’

5 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’

6 In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

B. The Word of God will remain unalterable. (Matthew 5:18).

Matthew 5:18 (NLT)

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

1. The standards set forth are unalterable spiritual laws. (Hebrews 2:2)

Hebrews 2:2 (NLT)

2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.

a) You may think you can get away with breaking them, but you won't. (Revelation 20: 11-15 ).

Revelation 20:11–15 (NLT)

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.

12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.

14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.

15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

(1) Illustration: The law of gravity. Can't be broken.

(a) Spiritual laws are as unalterable as physical laws.

2. Notice: The smallest part of the law will be eternally intact.

a) “ the smallest detail” translates words referring to breath marks in the Hebrew language. Seemingly inconsequential, but are permanent.

II. Obedience is still the standard by which men will be judged. (Matthew 5: 19)

Matthew 5:19 (NLT)

19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

A. Disobedience to God's Word will not be taken lightly.

1. The consequences of disobedience are severe.

a) Loss of rewards in heaven. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 (NLT)

13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

b) Loss of testimony here below.

* Bob Harrington (September 2, 1927 – July 4, 2017) was an American preacher who became one of the leading evangelists of the 1960s and 1970s. Known as the "Chaplain of Bourbon Street", he gained fame through a series of recordings, books, and most notably a series of debates on the existence of God with prominent atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair. At the height of his popularity he abandoned his wife and ministry. He became a motivational speaker in Florida, eventually returning to Christian evangelism at the end of his life.

Note Paul’s words: (1 Corinthians 9:27)

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT)

27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

B. Teaching others to compromise their obedience is also a serious matter.

1. In so doing, you become a stumbling block.

a) Note Jesus's words: (Matthew 18: 6 ).

Matthew 18:6 (NLT)

6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

2. There are two ways of teaching others to disobey God.

a) Words.

b) Works.

C. Obedience and teaching others to obey reaps rewards.

1. Rewards (Crowns) in heaven.

a) The crown of righteousness. ( 2 Timothy 4: 8 ).

2 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

b) The crown of life. (James 1: 12 ).

James 1:12 (NLT)

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

c) The crown of glory. ( 1 Peter 5:4)

1 Peter 5:4 (NLT)

4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

d) The incorruptible crown. ( 1 Corinthians 9: 25.)

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT)

25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

e) The crown of rejoicing. ( 1 Thessalonians 2: 19 ).

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NLT)

19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!

2. Rejoicing on Earth.

a) Souls won to Christ through your influence.

b) Peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4: 7).

Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

c) Personal intimacy with Christ.

d) Perfect fellowship with Saints. (1 John 1: 7 ).

1 John 1:7 (NLT)

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

III. Real righteousness, not self-righteousness is the absolute standard. (Matthew 5: 20 ).

Matthew 5:20 (NLT)

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

A. What was the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees like?

1. It was a system built on negatives.

a) They invented a system of 300 laws and traditions required to be deemed as obeying the ten commandments.

Examples:

1) Don't walk over a Sabbath day’s journey distance (a distance of 2,000 cubits, or less than half-a-mile) on the Sabbath.

2) Mosaic law required grain be left in the edge of the field to feel those who were poor and hungry. The teachers of the law set rules that did not allow the grain to be picked and husked on the Sabbath. (Luke 6:1-2)

Luke 6:1–2 (NLT)

1 One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain.

2 But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

3) The “traditions of the elders” required ritual washings take place before eating food. (Mark 7:1-5)

Mark 7:1–5 (NLT)

1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.

2 They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.

3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.

4 Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”

2. It was a system that promoted self righteousness.

a) Pharisees called attention to their own goodness. (Matthew 6: 1-2, 3, 16 ).

Matthew 6:1–2 (NLT)

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

Matthew 6:3 (NLT)

3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Matthew 6:16 (NLT)

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.

3. It was a system of rules that produced bondage.

a) Jesus accused them of making slaves of their disciples. (Matthew 23: 2-5, 13, 15)

Matthew 23:2–5 (NLT)

2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.

3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.

Matthew 23:13 (NLT)

13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

Matthew 23:15 (NLT)

15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

B. Real righteousness exceeds self righteousness.

1. It comes from within the heart. (Luke 8: 15 ).

Luke 8:15 (NLT)

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

2. It claims the righteousness of Christ as its avenue of grace. (Romans 3: 22-26 ).

Romans 3:22–26 (NLT)

22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

3. It seeks through the power of the Holy Spirit to allow Christ to live his life through us. (Galatians 2: 20 ).

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

4. It is this righteousness that brings freedom. (John 8: 32, 36)

John 8:32 (NLT)

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 (NLT)

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Conclusion:

In a day of uncertainty and never ending change, you can anchor yourself in the one whose nature and standards never change. His standard is still unalterable. That standard is obedience.

The first act of obedience that is required is to receive God's Son, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

For the believer, the issue is simply living in obedience, moment by moment, as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Your choice is to either obey or rebel.

Preached at:

Emmanuel Baptist Church of Nathitoches, Louisiana. February 11, 1996.

Woodville Baptist Church., Woodville, Mississippi. November 10, 2024.