Life of Christ - 20

Introduction

Sermon on the Mount

Jesus is giving us a picture of actual righteousness and actual sin

The result - We understand are depravity. We understand what to pursue - the character of God

Last week we looked at 2 of the commandments that were expanded upon

Murder in God’s eyes is hate of the heart, withholding forgivenesss, and insulting someone - These things come from the same heart that murders - so God sees it as such

Lust in God’s eyes is adultery -

Tonight we are going to finish Chp. 5 as Christ addresses the sins of relationships

Marriage

Lying

Vengenance

Enemies

These are not easy subjects - but let us embrace what God has said

Marriage and Divorce - 31-32

The Jews had twisted scripture to justify their view of Marriage and divorce

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 24:1–4 ESV

1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the Lord. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

The passage does not command, condone, or commend divorce

but it does recognize its existence

Jesus is saying the only biblical reason for divorce is adultery

Divorce is a reality -

How do we deal with divorce biblically in the new testament church?

We do not condemn divorced people.

A sinful culture creates terrible circumstances

Ex. - An abused wife

We don’t condemn but we minister - to existing marriages

1 Corinthians 7:15 ESV

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.

Application - We need ministries to divorced people in the church

Oaths - (v33-37)

Not a condemnation on legal proceedings

If you swear to something - indication that you are not truthful all the time

You can not swear to anything - Because you own nothing - its all God’s

Where do we as Christians struggle with truth the most?

Evangelism, manipulation

The truth will set you free, do we really believe that?

Marks of the people I trust - Humility, wisdom, willingness to tell the truth

Retaliation (v38-42)

These might be the most difficult things Jesus has taught thus far

Exodus 21:24 ESV

24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

The issue was the Jews had twisted the application - these verses are dealing with civil and capital laws - NOT personal retribution

We look at people differently as followers of Christ

Instead of resisting, we show grace

This is at the heart of the gospel -

We don’t retialate -becuase God did not retaliate against us - He made a way to show grace

Even retaliation seems fair but returning favor/forgiveness for evil is a picture of grace

Loving Enemies (v43-47)

Personal application

Illuss.: A man asking me if he should sue his son- in - law

Church application - who are our enemies? how is it that we often react? (lawsuits)

Its not until we get to v48 that we get to the point

How many here have followed the law to the extent in which Christ taught?

No hate, complete forgiveness, no insults, lo lust, always truthful, not retialating, loving your enemies

This is the character of God - Christ says be exactly like Him

You can’t - Therefore - you are due divine justice/wrath and are in need of a Savior