Expansion of the Law (pt. 2)

INTRODUCTION

How we view others matters.

We saw this last week. How we think about others determines whether or not we’re murderers. Jesus made a pretty strong statement there. Jesus is going to continue to make equally strong statements over the next couple of weeks.

Remember our question? Are you ready?

Learning from Jesus what it means to live like Jesus exposes our hearts. Jesus is seeking to transform us from the inside out. Remember, Jesus cares more about our heart’s purity than our outward religiosity.

Jesus begins by addressing how we view others. Tonight’s lesson is going to get a little pointed. It may feel awkward. Yet, if you have ears to hear and hearts ready to receive, I know there is going to be something beneficial in this lesson for all of us.

Let’s pray before we begin.

Turn to Matthew 5.

Can someone read Matthew 5:27?

Matthew 5:27 KJV 1900

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

What’s the law or 10 Commandment that Jesus is referencing here?

THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY (vs.27-28)

LETTER OF THE LAW (vs.27)

Exodus 20:14 KJV 1900

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

The letter of the law is simple — Do not commit adultery.

Adultery: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.

Similar to last week (thou shalt not kill) there should be some recoil here.

I would never…!

That’s exactly what the Pharisees would have thought and even taught others to do. Seems pretty like pretty common sense Jesus. But if you were here last week you would know that Jesus is not merely concerned with the letter of the law, but he exposes the spirit of the law as well.

How does Jesus teach Exodus 20:14?

SPIRIT OF THE LAW (vs.28)

Matthew 5:28 KJV 1900

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Lust = Adultery

Strong language from Jesus.

Jesus is condemning lustful thoughts and actions—those involving an actual desire to have sexual relations with someone other than one’s spouse.

How we view others matters. Whether that’s anger or lust. Jesus states we are committing murder or adultery. Neither is permissible for a believer.

Why does Jesus start with these two sins of the heart?

Here’s what I think… I think Jesus begins with these two because they are some of the most common sins we commit in our hearts.

But here’s something I want us all to think about, and we can apply this to last week’s lesson as well. Can anyone make us angry? Can anyone make us lust?

NO! These sins are choices that we make in our own hearts and minds. No one can make you to lust. You are responsible for how you view others.

Here’s what the Pharisees taught contrasted with what Jesus teaches — “Rabbinic traditions often expected women to wear head coverings to prevent men from lusting after them, whereas Jesus place the responsibility squarely on the person doing the lusting.” — Keener

You cannot blame anyone for your lust.

But Jesus equips us in the following verses for how to deal with our sin / desire to lust.

MORTIFICATION OF SIN (vs.29-30)

Matthew 5:29–30 KJV 1900

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

These verses describe a process that Paul names as mortification.

What does this mean?

Mortification is the theological term used to describe the call for those who are united to Christ and living in the power of the Spirit (i.e., Christians) to put to death (mortify) lingering sinful impulses that arise from within and resist temptations that surface from outside of the believer.

Paul writes this concerning mortification:

Romans 8:13 KJV 1900

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Colossians 3:5 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

How do we put to death our flesh?

We put to death our flesh by radical amputation. Cut off the troublesome part of your body that is causing you to sin.

I love these verses!

Jesus is literally saying here, if you eye causes you to sin… you should pluck it out. It’s better for you not to have an eye than for you to have your sight but continue to sin. Why? Because continual sin lands someone into the depths of hell.

How do you see your sin? Do you see your sin as serious as this?

Here’s an example. If going to the gym to play basketball leaves you angry and despising others, Jesus says it’s better for you to never play basketball again than to continue to struggle with anger every time you go.

Here’s another one. If you have a tv in your bedroom but every night you end up watching rated R movies with inappropriate scenes. It’s better for you to get rid of your tv than to continue to struggle with lust every night.

Sin leads to death. It doesn’t matter if the sin is anger, lust, or jealousy. It all should be treated as the disease that it is. Amputate your body parts. Go to great lengths in order not to sin.

Martin Lloyd-Jones writes, “We must avoid everything that tends to tarnish and hinder our holiness.”

I wonder, how might Jesus be calling you to practice radical amputation?

But wait, Jesus has more to say.

JESUS AND DIVORCE (vs.31-32)

What do you think Jesus has to say about marriage and divorce? Is there any reason to ever get divorced?

Again in these verses we have a letter of the law (Pharisees) vs. spirit of the law (Jesus).

LETTER OF THE LAW (vs.31)

Matthew 5:31 KJV 1900

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Divorce is permissible at the husband’s discretion.

Deuteronomy 24:1 KJV 1900

1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

It needs to be noted that this is not what Jesus says about divorce.

In actuality, we can find the explanation for the above mentioned law in Matthew 19.

Matthew 19:1–9 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

A writing of divorcement was invented by Moses because of the hardness of the Israelites hearts. Divorce is not God’s design.

*sad example of the woman at the well. (John 4:15-19)

SPIRIT OF THE LAW (vs.32)

Except for fornication, Jesus accepts no excuse for divorce.

Matthew 5:32 KJV 1900

32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Fornication: sexual intercourse between people not married to each other.

Jesus, in Matthew 19, references the intitial institution of marriage. When God made woman for man that was his intention, that was what he indicated, and that was what he ordained.

One man, for one woman, for life.

Next week Jesse will talk about oaths and swearing. At the marriage ceremony, you are making a covenant / commitment with one another. As believers, we should be committed to upholding any covenant we make with one another, especially with our spouse.

Marriage is designed to be a picture of Christ and the church, a demonstration of God’s love towards humanity. When divorce enters the picture, we are no longer portraying the image we were intended to reflect.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

*have a quick conversation about viewing explicit material and even masterbation. (we want to talk with you about it / encourage them to talk with their parents / honesty is courageous)

Jesus says lust is as serious as adultery. In what ways do our culture, media, or even friend groups make lust feel “normal” or “no big deal”? How can you resist that pressure?

Radical amputation means cutting off anything that feeds sin. What’s one practical thing you may need to give up (a certain app, video game, website, or habit) in order to fight for purity?

Jesus says except for fornication, there is no excuse for divorce. How might the habits you establish as a teen (holy or sinful habits) affect your future marriage?

PRAYER PROMPTS

Pray for purity of heart – Ask God to guard your thoughts and desires, and to help you see others the way He sees them, with respect and love.

Pray for courage to take action – Ask for strength to practice “radical amputation,” giving up anything that leads you toward sin, even if it feels costly or difficult.

Pray for a right view of marriage – Ask God to help you value marriage as He designed it—one man, one woman, for life—and to live in a way now that honors that picture of Christ and the church.