Sermon on the Mount Week 4

Matthew 5:31-48

Matthew 5:31–48 ““It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 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. “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.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Contrast : Law V Spirit Led lifestyle

The sermon on the mount was all about Jesus trying to get people to move beyond external obedience to the law and into a faith of God’s saving power that transforms us internally.

God is not looking for rule followers - God is looking for surrendered hearts.

The pharisees in the first century focused on the letter of the law. But Jesus calls us to embody the spirit of the law - a righteousness that flows from a heart that has been transformed by God.

Being a follower of Christ is not about daily behavior modification. Hear me - like if you want to be a good christian God isn’t looking for you to come up with a plan of how you are going to do more good things than bad things.

God wants us to surrender to the leading of his Holy Spirit wherein we are filled with his word and transformed by the renewing of our minds.

In this section of Scripture Jesus addresses 3 critical areas:

1.) Marriage and Divorce

2.) Oaths and Integrity

3.) Retaliation and Love

Jesus continues with the pattern of saying “you have heard, but I say to you.” Jesus is not getting rid of the law, but he is fulfilling it, and actually calling us to a higher standard that reflects the character and nature of God.

Key Takeaway - Jesus is not replacing the law he is revealing to us the true intent of God’s law. The Pharisees had reduced God’s commands to external behavior. A list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus exposes the heart behind each command to reveal to us what the real solution to living a fulfilled life is. And that is to be transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Section 1: Marriage and Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32)

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 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." (Matthew 5:31-32, ESV)

The Issue:

The Pharisees had turned Deuteronomy 24:1-4 into a loophole, debating what constituted valid grounds for divorce. Some schools of thought allowed divorce for trivial reasons—burned meals, loss of attraction, or finding someone "better."

Today people get divorced for all sorts of reasons.

Lack of commitment: 75% of individuals. This includes emotional withdrawal, giving up on the marriage, and not working to resolve issues.

Too much conflict: constant unresolved conflict and fighting are frequently cited, often stemming from poor communication or incompatible personalities.

Infidelity: Sexual or emotional infidelity is a leading cause, breaking the trust necessary for a relationship to continue, reported in nearly 60% of cases.

Financial Problems: Disagreements over spending, debt, and financial stress are major predictors of divorce.

Marrying Too Young: Couples who marry before age 25 are statistically more likely to divorce due to lack of maturity or changing life goals.

Lack of Intimacy: Both physical and emotional intimacy gaps contribute significantly to couples growing apart.

Substance Abuse: Addiction to drugs, alcohol, or gambling causes severe strain, often leading to domestic abuse or financial ruin.

Domestic Abuse: Abuse, whether physical, emotional, or financial, is a significant factor in roughly 25% of divorces. 

Jesus gives us one reason here that would justify divorce, sexual immorality. Adultery.

Let me tell you what the root word for sexual immorality is in Greek

Porneia - sound familiar? It’s like a junk drawer for sexual sin. All inclusive.

God takes the covenant of marriage seriously. It is a covenant between one man and one woman for one lifetime.

And just because we say “it’s over” doesn’t mean that it is over in the eyes of God.

1 Corinthians 7:15 “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.”

Paul writing here gives another justification for divorce - abandonment. Really there is nothing you can do here if your spouse abandons you.

The bible generally views divorce as a last resort and according to scripture we should do everything that we can to resolve relationships, just like we talked about last week.

One last caveat for divorce is abuse. God is not calling you to endure an abusive situation in marriage. A lot of theologians argue that severe abuse constitutes a violation of the marriage covenant comparable to abandonment or infidelity.

In the end, even when divorce occurs, God's grace is sufficient for healing, forgiveness, and restoration—for the innocent party and even for those who have failed. But we must never treat lightly what God takes so seriously."

"Jesus' teaching on marriage shows us how seriously God views our covenants and commitments. He calls us to honor the promises we make—especially the lifelong vow of marriage.

This same heart for integrity flows directly into what Jesus says next about our words and oaths. Just as we shouldn't casually break the marriage covenant, we shouldn't play games with truth in everyday life."

Takeaway #1: Guard the Covenant of Marriage with Vigilance and Grace

The Principle:

Marriage is not a human contract to be dissolved at convenience but a sacred covenant reflecting Christ's relationship with the Church.

Application: How do we guard Marriage?

Pursue reconciliation over convenience

Invest in your marriage daily—spiritually, emotionally, relationally

Seek help early when struggles arise

Extend grace to those who have experienced divorce while upholding God's ideal

Do not marry an unbeliever

Supporting Scriptures (ESV):

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matthew 19:6)

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25)

"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4)

"For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, and him who covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." (Malachi 2:16)

"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32)

Section 2: Oaths and Integrity (Matthew 5:33-37)

"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.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:33-37, ESV)

The Issue:

The religious leaders had created a hierarchy of oaths—some binding, some not. They would swear by lesser things to avoid accountability while appearing pious.

Let me ask you a question here - who do you know that does this alot?

Keith Blair story

Listen when you are honest and everyone knows it you don’t have to sell anything you are saying. You don’t have to swear. People recognize your character and integrity and trust you based on that.

Jesus here is telling us that we should have integrity. We should do what we say we are going to do when we say we are going to do it.

Relationships - expectations not met.

We live in a culture where words are cheap and trust is rare - where people need contracts, NDAs and fine print because simple promises are not enough.

Jesus' Correction:

Jesus calls for radical honesty:

Your word should be so reliable that oaths are unnecessary

Every word is spoken before God, whether you invoke His name or not

Integrity should be constant, not situational. You don’t get to turn truthfulness on and off depending on who you’re talking to or what’s at stake.

The Heart Issue: The real problem isn't the oaths themselves (Scripture shows God allowing them in serious matters, like court testimony). The problem is the duplicity that makes elaborate oaths necessary in the first place. Jesus calls us to a life of such consistent truthfulness that our simple "yes" means yes and our "no" means no—every time, in every circumstance. Anything more than straightforward honesty "comes from evil" because it flows from a heart that still wants wiggle room to deceive.

Closing Summary / Application: God is the God of truth—Jesus Himself is "the way, the truth, and the life." In a world drowning in spin, exaggeration, deepfakes, and broken promises, followers of Jesus are called to stand out as people whose word can be trusted without extra guarantees. Your character should make your "yes" believable and your "no" final. This applies in your marriage (keeping the vows you made), your workplace (honest communication instead of office politics), your friendships (no ghosting or flaking), and even your online life (no curated half-truths).

This isn't about being brutally blunt or rude—it's about being reliably truthful with grace. When your speech reflects the integrity of the King you serve, you become salt and light in a culture starving for trustworthiness.

Takeaway #2: Let Your Word Be Your Bond—Live with Unshakable Integrity

The Principle:

Kingdom citizens are marked by consistent truthfulness. Our character should be so reliable that oaths become unnecessary.

Application: How do you let your word be your bond?

Speak truth in all circumstances, even when it costs you

Keep your commitments, no matter how small

We should get lunch sometime

Avoid exaggeration, manipulation, or "spin"

Let your yes be yes—don't make promises you can't keep

Supporting Scriptures (ESV):

"Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight." (Proverbs 12:22)

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25)

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (Colossians 3:9-10)

"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." (James 5:12)

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9)

Section 3: Retaliation and Enemy Love (Matthew 5:38-48)

Scripture: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39, ESV)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45a, ESV)

The Issue: The Old Testament law "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Exodus 21:24) was never meant to promote personal revenge. It was a wise limit on justice—ensuring punishment fit the crime and preventing escalating blood feuds. The Pharisees, however, twisted it into permission for retaliation and personal score-settling. They even added the unbiblical phrase "hate your enemy," which justified coldness, exclusion, and hostility toward anyone outside their circle—Romans, Samaritans, tax collectors, or anyone who wronged them.

Today we see the same instinct everywhere: road rage, social media cancel culture, family feuds, workplace grudges, and even church splits. Our natural response to being hurt, insulted, or opposed is to hit back—harder. We justify it as "standing up for ourselves" or "not letting people walk all over us."

Jesus' Correction: Jesus doesn’t abolish justice—He goes far beyond it. He calls His followers to a radical, counter-cultural response:

(v. 39): When insulted (a backhanded slap on the right cheek was a deep humiliation in that culture), absorb the blow rather than retaliate. Turn the other cheek

(v. 40): When sued for your tunic (the basic garment), voluntarily give your outer cloak as well—going beyond the strict demand. Give your cloak

(v. 41): When forced by a Roman soldier to carry his gear one mile, carry it two. Turn oppression into an opportunity to serve. Go the second mile

(v. 44): Don’t just tolerate them—actively seek their good and intercede for them before God. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

This is not passive weakness. It is active, courageous love that refuses to be controlled by evil.

The Heart Issue: At the core, Jesus is revealing what it looks like to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are called to reflect the perfect character of our Father in heaven, who "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (v. 45). God does not love only those who love Him back—His love is generous, impartial, and undeserved. Our love must do the same. It must transcend natural affection and extend even to those who hurt us, oppose us, or persecute us.

The Main Idea: Be Perfect as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48, ESV)

What does "perfect" mean here? The Greek word teleios does not mean sinless moral perfection (which none of us can achieve in this life). It means complete, whole, mature, fully developed. Jesus is calling us to wholeness in character—to reflect God’s character in its fullness across every area of life:

Covenant faithfulness in marriage (Section 1)

Unwavering integrity in our words (Section 2)

Selfless, enemy-embracing love even when it costs us (Section 3)

This kind of perfection is not achieved by white-knuckling it through human effort or sheer willpower. It comes through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ, surrender daily, and learn to walk in His ways. We grow into this maturity as we experience God’s grace and then extend that same grace to others—even our enemies.

Closing Summary / Application:Jesus’ teaching here is both beautiful and brutally difficult. In a world that screams "hit back," "cancel them," and "protect yourself at all costs," Kingdom citizens are called to a different way—the way of the cross. Turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and loving enemies is not a sign of weakness; it is the strongest possible witness to the power of the gospel. When we respond to evil with good, we show the world what our Father is truly like.

This doesn’t mean we become doormats or enable abuse (as we discussed in the marriage section—protection and boundaries are still wise and necessary). But it does mean we refuse to let bitterness, revenge, or hatred rule our hearts. We entrust justice ultimately to God while choosing love and prayer in the present.

Takeaway #3: Love Like God Loves—Extravagantly, Sacrificially, Unconditionally

The Principle:

The ultimate mark of Kingdom citizenship is enemy love. We are called to reflect the Father's indiscriminate grace, loving not only those who love us but those who oppose us.

Application:

Pray for your enemies by name—genuinely seek their good

Refuse to retaliate when wronged; trust God's justice

Serve those who oppose you—go the extra mile

Bless those who curse you—respond to hostility with grace

Supporting Scriptures (ESV):

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19)

"To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:20-21)

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." (Romans 12:14)

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28)

"See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" (Matthew 5:46)

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Conclusion: The Call to Radical Discipleship

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:31-48 is not a list of impossible standards but an invitation to supernatural transformation. We cannot achieve this righteousness in our own strength—but the Holy Spirit empowers us to live out these Kingdom values.

The Gospel Connection

We have all fallen short of God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23)

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law in our place (Matthew 5:17)

Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Warning: This is not legalism—it's liberation. Jesus doesn't call us to perform for acceptance but to reflect the character of the One who has already accepted us.

Closing Challenge

As you leave tonight, consider:

Where is my heart hard? (Marriage, relationships, forgiveness?)

Where am I compromising integrity? (Words, commitments, honesty?)

Who do I need to love like God loves me? (Enemy, difficult person, persecutor