Completed Through the Teaching of Christ  (Part I)

Integrity In Reconciliation

Text: Matthew 5:21-26

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03/11/01)

Introduction:   

Matthew 5:21-48 contains specific examples that illustrate the general principles set forth by Christ in vs.17-20

In each case we are given a commandment of the law along with the interpretation that the Jewish teachers were accustomed to giving it.  Christ then declares that His commandment is stricter, more inward and spiritual.

“What a King is ours, who stretches His scepter over the realm of our inward lusts!” - Spurgeon

Christ came to fulfill OT prophecy through the work of the cross and to fulfill the law through His teaching.  As we live in Christ’s teaching we will find the fulfillment and completeness of the Christian life that He intended for us.

Deuteronomy 18:18-19  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

LOOK UP & READ Romans 8:1-4

To be complete in Christ we must live with….

1. Integrity in personal reconciliation vv.21-26

2. Purity in the marriage relationship vv.27-32

3. Honesty in our communication vv.33-37

4. Humility in refusing our own “rights” vv.38-42

5. Charity in all our relationships vv.43-48

Christ deals first with some heinous sins.

MURDER vs.21

Exodus 20:13  Thou shalt not kill.

EXAMPLES……

Cain & Abel (Genesis 4)

Joab (Abner, Amasa) I Kings 2:31-32

Ahab & Naboth (I Kings 21:4)

David & Uriah (II Samuel 11)

Haman (Mordecai/Jews) Esther 3:5-6

Their motives for murder included covering sin, greed, jealousy, revenge and in most cases clearly rooted in anger.

Prophets, Priests and Kings have been murdered in OT

Jesus Christ was murdered and we are all guilty of His murder!

ANGER vs.22

Murder is not only an outward act, but also an inward choice.

1 Samuel 18:8  And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him……….

1 Samuel 20:30  Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan

RACA – Aramaic for “empty headed one”

FOOL – term of common derision.

JUDGMENT – An inferior court of judicature, in every city, consisting of 23 members, which punished criminals by strangling or  beheading.

COUNCIL – The Sanhedrin, composed of 72 elders, who alone punished by stoning.

HELL FIRE – Gehenna, Valley of Hinnom (Tophet) Give brief explanation.

Matthew 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 20:14-15  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Anger is a horrible sin!!

Psalms 37:8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Ephesians 4:26-27  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27  Neither give place to the devil.

God has wonderfully provided a process for dealing with matters (oughts, indebtedness etc.) before they give rise to bitterness, anger, resentment, and any resulting violence that is done against an individual’s person, reputation or character.

This process is called reconciliation.

There are a number of key words that will help us understand various elements of this process.

I. Reconciled vs.24

A. Definition

"to effect an alteration, to exchange," and hence, "to reconcile," in cases of mutual hostility yielding to mutual concession.  There is no such idea as "making it up" where God and man are concerned.

B. Illustration - Christ

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

C. Exhortation

2 Corinthians 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We are obligated as believers to seek reconciliation and forgiveness in every situation.

Matthew 18:21-22  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

II. Remember vs.23

“To bring to mind”

We tend to remember some things we should forget, while forgetting many things we should remember.

A. Who is doing the remembering?

The sinning brother.

The principle is taking ownership of our own sin, of our own actions.

We must be sensitive to conviction & guilt, not susceptible to self deceit and denial.

ILLUS: Joseph’s brothers justified their actions, lied to their father, but never forgot.

Genesis 50:15  And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

B. What is being remembered?

The “Ought” – anything.

The problem is clearly broken fellowship with a brother.  This may go much deeper than the offense or wrong.

C. Where is the remembering taking place?

At the altar – the place of worship.

III. Reverence vs.23-24

A. Self-examination before worship.

We must not enter worship w/o first careful self-examination.

1 Corinthians 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

1 Samuel 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

B. The High Priority of Reconciliation

“Leave thy Gift”

Reconciliation comes before worship.

You cannot be right with God and wrong with your brother.

LOOK UP & READ I John 3:14-15

Worship w/o reconciliation is irreverent.

Proverbs 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

LOOK UP & READ Isaiah 1:10-15

IV. Responsibility vs.24

“Go thy way”

A. Responsibility of the sinning/offending brother

B. Responsibilty of the offended brother

LOOK UP & READ Matthew 18:15-17

V. Resolution vs.25

The image in these verses is that of the debtor’s prison, a Gentile custom, but known to the Jews.

“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him”

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

Esau & Jacob - Genesis 32-33

Genesis 33:10  And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

Abigail & David – I Samuel 25

1 Samuel 25:17  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

A. Quickly

ADVERSARY – "an opponent in a lawsuit,"

 “whiles thou art in the way with him”

“Nip it in the Bud”

Isaiah 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Hebrews 3:12-13  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

B. Personally

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Proverbs 25:9-10  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

C. Fully

No further need for civil proceedings.

LOOK UP & READ I Corinthians 6:7-8

D. Justice = No mercy

Where no mercy is shown the debt extends to the last farthing (quadrans – among the least valuable of Roman coins – equivalent of only a few minutes wages).

Conclusion:     (Review)

Matthew 18:34-35  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

James 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Proverbs 13:15  Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.