Sermon Tone Analysis

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