Heart of the Law Pt. 2

Good morning

We are continuing our journey through the Sermon on the Mount

Last week we began to look the true intention of the law

Remember what does the law show us?

Matthew 5:20 ESV

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Our outward actions reveal an inward change

God's commands are designed to guide you to life's very best. You will not obey Him, if you do not believe Him and trust Him. You cannot believe Him if you do not love Him. You cannot love Him unless you know Him. - Henry Blackaby

Not enough to a good person

Today we look at two more

Marriage and Integrity

Before we jump in let’s pray

Marriage and Divorce

Matthew 5:31–32 ESV

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

God instituted family

A little history - Moses

Deuteronomy 24:1 ESV

1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house,

Two lines of thinking by Jewish leaders

Indecency - sexual witnessed

Any complaint - burning the dinner

Jesus speaks to this in

Matthew 19:3–9 ESV

3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Marriage institution formed by God

God made it and defined it

Jesus wants them to see the heart of what marriage is supposed to be

Interesting

However, for those who were active in their church, the divorce rate was 27 to 50 percent lower than for non-churchgoers. Nominal Christians—those who simply call themselves “Christians” but do not actively engage with the faith—are actually 20 percent more likely than the general population to get divorced.

No one is saying stay in an abusive relationship - the goal is reconciliation and God can redeem everything

2 become 1 , but it takes 3

God must be the center

Any thoughts or questions?

Take you at your word

Matthew 5:33–37 ESV

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

An oath is needed if a persons words are unreliable

Vows and oaths in OT times was optional - above and beyond act

Pharisees had expanded to matters of technicalities

Oaths by heaven more important than oaths on earth - levels of truth

Kind of like crossing your fingers when you promise

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Jesus again uses hyperbole

Matthew 5:34–36 ESV

34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Not saying don’t make any oaths or promises

Make promises and keep them

Be known as a promise keeper -

Let your yes be yes

Matthew 5:37 ESV

37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Integrity -the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

- the state of being whole and undivided

We are called to whole

Integrity means that if our private life was suddenly exposed, we’d have no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. Integrity means our outward life is consistent with our inner convictions. - Billy Graham

Any thoughts or questions

Heart of the Law Pt. 2

Next week - What do you do when you don’t like someone?

Read Matt 5: 38-48

Let’s pray.