A Greater Righteousness (3)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Greeting
Theology of a six year old ...
Joel Stowell - GOD reading newspaper & drinking a Coke
Eli - JESUS died in Kokomo
Rhema - chicken died for his sins
Announce text: Matthew 5:21-32
Key Text: Matthew 5:21-32
Review
Proclaim Auto-Play BP Review Mt 5:21-26
So, that video covers the past couple messages, and as we just heard in the review, JESUS is presenting six case studies that unpack the fulfillment of GOD's Covenant with Israel through HIS KINGdom communities on earth. In these teachings, we as HIS followers are called to a greater righteousness—to be more faithful to GOD's Wisdom and heart than that of the scribes and Pharisees—emphasizing ethical depth in relationships with GOD and neighbor. Where the religious leaders were focused on outward action (religious activity), JESUS is focused on inner heart transformation.
This morning we will begin looking at the second case study. Our passage this morning will cover the first three case studies for context, since they all tie-together in an overarching theme.
Announce text again: Matthew 5:21-32
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’;
32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’;
32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Prayer for added blessing to the reading of the Word
Message
Message
Bernie Zilbergeld (clinical psychologist & author known for pioneering work on male sexuality), Homemade, November, 1989.
I am steadfastly for monogamy. Adultery is almost certainly going to make a dent in trust and intimacy, and in many cases I've known, it has destroyed them altogether. A woman who is conducting a secret affair has to become deliberately deceitful...like a CIA agent or spy. She can't just come home and spill forth the events of her day. She's got to think, What can I safely talk about, and what have I got to keep to myself? So even when the infidelity isn't discovered, it changes who you are. A person goes from being a candid, open human being to a secretive, hidden one.
Introduction
Introduction
Big Idea: To honor GOD’s command against adultery, we must first address our hearts, recognizing that TRUE OBEDIENCE begins with OUR DESIRES AND THOUGHTS.
Righteousness in the Bible describes a world where individuals treat one another with dignity and respect, diligently resolving conflicts by doing right by each other. To discern this way of living, JESUS pointed to the ancient Scriptures as the source of GOD's Wisdom. Meditating on the laws given to ancient Israel uncovers divine principles for relational harmony. These timeless laws remain relevant today, to guide us in righteous conduct. In the Sermon on the Mount, JESUS exemplifies this by citing a command from the Torah and unveiling the deeper wisdom it embodies.
In the second teaching, JESUS begins by citing the seventh commandment from the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:14.
“You shall not commit adultery.
In our passage (vv.27-30), JESUS deepens the understanding of the command against adultery by addressing the root cause—desire and lust. HE emphasizes that adultery begins in the heart, and therefore, believers must take drastic measures to guard their hearts. JESUS, then, is affirming the goodness of refraining from physical infidelity while delving deeper into the heart's cultivation of such desire.
The title for today’s message is ...
The Heart Behind the Command: Guarding Your Desires
The Heart Behind the Command: Guarding Your Desires
This morning we’re going to look at three steps to heart purity.
Three Steps to Heart Purity:
Revealing the Root
First, JESUS reminds us that the law always pointed beyond the act to the inner motive of the heart.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
In our Scripture reading (vv.21-32) this morning, JESUS goes beyond the literal wording of the Ten Commandments to confront the heart‑attitudes that generate sin. As we saw in the last message, while the command, “You shall not murder”, condemns the act of killing, JESUS reveals that the real offense lies in the contempt, anger, and devaluation of another person that precede the act. Likewise, as we will see, the traditional command “You shall not commit adultery” is not limited to the physical act of sexual fidelity alone. Rather, JESUS will once again get underneath this command to get to the real issue that is at the root of adultery - that which causes a person to commit adultery.
When you think about this command, like the command, “do not commit murder,” you would think it is pretty obvious. Why would you need to be told that?
9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, we see that at the heart of GOD’s Wisdom in these commands is Love, and that makes sense, right?
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE.
GOD is Love! It’s WHO HE IS! Everything HE says or does comes from HIS Nature of Love. So, HIS commands are rooted in Love, and they are for our benefit. These aren’t killjoy commands, these are Loving commands, and once again, JESUS exposes the real issue the command is addressing:
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
The real problem is our flesh. Now, what does that word mean—flesh? It’s a word used to reference our human nature—the essential nature of humans as body, soul, and spirit—and that nature has been corrupted by sin!
Left to ourself, our flesh produces only evil.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Human nature became corrupted at its source in Adam, with his offense introducing sin into humanity, so that the Psalmist says in Psalm 51:
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Some have misinterpreted this verse (and perhaps others) to see sexual desire and the act of sex with a low view, meaning there is something dirty about it—like a necessary means for procreation, but should otherwise be avoided. Like it’s not proper human behavior somehow. However, this verse isn’t saying the act of sex is sinful. How can it be? GOD created it for our pleasure (and yes to fulfill the command be fruitful and multiply)! What this Scripture is talking about is the sinful nature we are born with—the state we were born into as a result of Adam and Eve’s fall; and this is true of every human, since we’re all descendants of Adam and Eve.
So, humanity is essentially one interconnected body with a shared corrupted nature. This corruption of original sin extends to the entire person, manifesting not just in physical acts but also in sins of motive, will, and thought.
(Rabbit trail?)—Man was made in the Image of GOD, and was created with free will (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-5; 7-11; 22-23).
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
So, even at our best—when we are calling the shots—we fall woefully short of GOD’s righteousness. Consequently, humans are too weak to keep divine commandments without divine assistance, and must seek God’s mercy to escape the severity of their fallen condition.
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
The purpose of the Law and the commands is to expose sin—that we can’t keep the law. It exposes how weak and how frail we really are, but thanks be to GOD WHO then freely gives us the gift of salvation through CHRIST. JESUS became the atonement for our sin, so that we can freely receive the gift of GOD by faith.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
So, we can’t earn our salvation—we can’t produce it. It is a gift. Yet, we still have this sin nature that we are born into, and it is at war with HOLY SPIRIT living in us.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
We must constantly yield to HOLY SPIRIT—die to ourself; crucify our human nature (stop living for ourselves and start living for JESUS)—or we will become corrupt and defiled.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
JESUS said in Mark 7:21-23,
21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
So, JESUS isn’t doing away with the command, “do not commit adultery”, rather HE is exposing that the root lies within our heart. We begin to see some of the same things that we saw last week when JESUS addressed anger and murder—that at the root of this is we are continuing the devaluation process of another person. We are dehumanizing them.
So, JESUS exposes the issue by revealing the root. Now, HE is going to intensify or expand on this command with a radical new definition.
This leads us to the second ...
Three Steps to Heart Purity:
Revealing the Root
Radical Redefinition
First, JESUS is going to begin by presenting the antithesis (or the opposite)of the heart of the command—specifically, that which we identified in the previous point that the commands are rooted in Love— JESUS reveals the antithesis of love is at the core of the heart issue here.
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
So, just as some have wrongfully believed that the act of sex is somehow a degraded human behavior that is to be avoided, others have wrongfully associated lust as some form of loving, sexual desire. In reality, it is abusive by nature and gets back to devaluing a person as an object for personal pleasure and desire. It is a gross distortion of sexual desire as GOD created between a man and a woman within the confines of marriage and rooted in love.
The Greek word for look here is a present active participle, which means JESUS is speaking about a present, ongoing action. This isn’t noticing a woman is attractive. This is a sustained look—to keep on looking or a prolonged stare—for the purpose of cultivating a mental fantasy. The Greek word for lust is the same word for “covet” in the tenth commandment where Moses prohibits coveting a neighbor’s property, which includes his wife.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The commandment focuses on the inner disposition of one living within covenant community. This corruption of the heart can be habit forming with devastating consequences both to the man who “goes on looking” and to woman who is being objectified. Unchecked lust trains a man to see women as objects of desire to be taken at will instead of dignified, honorable daughters made in the Image of GOD.
This is one example of the lie that “what I do in private doesn’t hurt anyone.” The truth is JESUS is addressing an area of brokenness in heart purity and character formation. So, this kind of thing doesn’t remain private, but it impacts how one sees—or values—another person, and it spills out in every day life. In our context in this verse, it is man being shaped in how he views and treats women.
I like this quote from Dr. Tim Mackie of the BibleProject:
The cultivation of our character is a deeply personal activity, but it never is private, because it never just affects us. It will spill over to how we regard other people.
GOD sees our heart, and HE is concerned with our internal state, not just compliance.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Scripture tells us in Proverbs 23:7 what we think about shapes us.
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ...
So, what we think about, what we dwell on matters. Again, listen to the words of JESUS:
18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
So, JESUS intensifies the original command by instructing that when you engage in this fantasy of the mind—this internal state of lust—you are an adulterer. Though, you may not have engaged in a physical act of adultery with another woman, you have engaged her in your heart, and that is the same thing.
JESUS demands a heart that loves others fully and is not enslaved to selfish sexual desire—such as the lust that fuels adultery. In HIS view, adultery, understood as coveting another person, is the direct opposite of “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Just as unchecked anger and the abusive language it produces invite judgment, persistent lust that leads to sexual immorality also incurs divine judgment; GOD condemns any attitude or behavior that dehumanizes another person.
Heart purity and character formation are everyone’s responsibility. We need to remain vigilant and intentional about what we are cultivating. Are we cultivating purity or are we cultivating lust? We cannot deal with this on our own. We need CHRIST’s strength in pursuing heart-level transformation.
Three Steps to Heart Purity:
Revealing the Root
Radical Redefinition
Resolute Resolve
JESUS uses surprising, hyperbolic language to call HIS hearers not to tolerate anything in their lives that would make room for impurity and, ultimately, the absence of love.
29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
There is a lot of language used in today’s passage (vv.27-30), where JESUS is drawing from and tying back to many images from Genesis and Eden. The reference to the eye demonstrates the first lustful look that from the heart leads to the action of the hand which engages in adultery. This is tie together of the same sequence found in the Garden—see, desire, take—as found in Genesis 3:6:
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
There is significance in the use of the word right, also. The majority of humans are right eye and right hand dominant—especially, back then. So, this was to underscore how crucial this is—removing the right eye and cutting off the right hand would be indispensable in nature. Yet, JESUS uses this language to stress the seriousness of dealing with this sin. This would and should still be seen as a form of repentance. Remember, HE began the SOTM after the phrase, “Repent, for the KINGdom of Heaven is near.” The entire SOTM is framed with this statement, and JESUS begins teaching in ways that are not normal to our thinking. So, HE calls us to repent—change the way we think about these issues HE is addressing.
chop-chop square in Dhahran
If JESUS isn’t instructing the removal and cutting in a literal sense, what extreme measures can we take to guard against sin? What realistically can be done?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he disciplines his body to make it his slave:
27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
This kind of language gets back to what we talked about previously, that we are not to live according to our human nature so that we live selfishly—to gratify or feed those desires that are harmful to our walk with JESUS and our relationships with others. Instead, we are to live for JESUS as righteous instruments to be used by GOD for HIS plans and purposes.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
When we live from this perspective, we begin to live only for HIM, and it shapes our way of thinking.
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
In living this way, we discover purpose and direction.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.
Part of how we implement this way of living is that we must diligently be intentional in participating what we as Nazarenes call the “means of grace”: fellowship, disciplines, and sacraments of the Church. These help believers to grow in grace and in loving GOD and neighbor with our whole heart.
What are spiritual disciplines? Spiritual disciplines are scriptural practices designed to promote believers’ spiritual maturity, which GOD desires us to cultivate. These include habits of devotion such as Bible reading, meditation, prayer, worship, witnessing (telling others about what JESUS has done for you), and fellowship. These disciplines help us grow in holiness and righteousness, maintaining and strengthening spiritual health, while avoiding spiritual laziness and unhealthiness. They are comparable to physical exercises, helping to master fleshly desires and instead grow in the likeness of CHRIST by putting them into practice. They require self-control and discipline. A key practice is maintaining daily devotions, which helps tune one’s heart to stay connected with GOD throughout the day. An important part of this that was mentioned earlier is fellowship. This provides us with support from a community of believers where all benefit from helping and encouraging one another as they journey together in faith.
Practicing and participating in these things keep us centered on JESUS, and helps to address the root of the heart issues JESUS is speaking about in the six case studies we are looking at.
In our context this morning, JESUS is addressing the heart is lust—inner heart purity. One of the biggest assaults on this area in our world today is pornography. You might be surprised to learn this isn’t just a problem for men. In the latest statistics from research done by Covenant Eyes is that:
61% of general population report viewing pornography
78% of men/44% of women
Christians: 54% watch pornography 75% of men/40% of women
Some practical ways to combat this are tools like:
Covenant eyes
Filters
While these are good at restricting access and providing a sense of accountability, we need to remember that these are tools. These don’t address the real issue because the real issue is our heart. Real change must come from within - not external activity. So, by all means, use them, but real transformation is only possible and sustainable through the grace and power given by CHRIST. Remember, what we think about and dwell on matters.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
We need to be like Job when he said in Job 31:1a,
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
This is a proclamation of a way of life that not only restrains physical action, but shows restraint on our thoughts.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
So, pj … What’s the point?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Again, the words of JESUS from Matthew 5:29–30 “29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” This metaphorical language—not literal—stresses sin's gravity through exaggerative shock, urging removal of stumbling blocks: the eye evokes the initial lustful gaze, the right hand (dominant for action) the ensuing deed, echoing Genesis 3:6's "see... desire... take" pattern leading to fall. Framing the Sermon on the Mount with "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near," Jesus demands resolute repentance—a kingdom-turning sacrifice of ingrained habits, however indispensable to identity, prioritizing eternal wholeness over temporal indulgence.
Intentional spiritual disciplines and community support make this resolve practical: discipline the body as a slave to righteousness (1 Corinthians 9:27), consider earthly members dead to immorality and evil desire (Colossians 3:5), and refuse sin's reign by presenting bodies as instruments of God (Romans 6:12–13)—through means of grace like daily devotions (Bible reading, prayer, meditation, worship, witnessing), fellowship for mutual encouragement, and sacraments fostering holiness. In battling lust's assault, especially pornography (affecting 61% generally, 54% Christians per Covenant Eyes), employ tools like filters or accountability software, but recognize they address symptoms; true uprooting demands heart vigilance—"I have made a covenant with my eyes" (Job 31:1)—dwelling on what is pure, honorable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) while watching over the heart diligently (Proverbs 4:23), as "as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).
Such drastic action proves possible and sustainable not through self-effort but Christ's empowering grace: by yielding to the Holy Spirit amid flesh-Spirit warfare (Galatians 5:17), reaping eternal life from Spirit-sowing (Galatians 6:8), and committing works to the Lord for established purpose (Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 138:8). Living for Christ—heartily as unto Him (Colossians 3:23–24)—transforms corrupted nature into righteous instruments, cultivating purity that honors God's love-rooted commands and relational harmony.
Please bow your head and close your eyes. We need a time of reflection. As before, let us examine our inner life and motivations. Are there any drastic changes that need to take place in our own heart? Are you wrestling with addiction and struggling to live with a pure heart? GOD cares about our inner purity just as much as our external actions. Seek HIM while HE may be found, confess and repent this morning. Find forgiveness and freedom in HIM! Only JESUS has the power to transform our hearts and minds! HE is willing. Are you?
Closing prayer & benediction
24 The Lord bless you, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
Scripture records the following words in v.27:
“So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.”
So, receive and go with the blessings of YAHWEH!
