Matthew 5 Kingdom Righteousness 1

I) “Kingdom Righteousness Part 1: Fulfilling the Law”

A) File: matthew 5 kingdom righteousness 1.doc

B) Audio: Kingdom Righteousness Part 1

C) Series: Matthew

D) Preached: December 2, 2007

II) Introduction: Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount:

A) The requirements for and/or characteristics of a citizen of His Kingdom.

B) The beatitudes.

1) Part one: Spiritual Poverty – The citizens’ focus on God:

2) Part two: Spiritual Overflow – The citizens’ focus on others:

3) Part Three: Spiritual Overflow continued: Salt and Light – What the World Needs.

C) Righteousness: Major theme.

III) Jesus redefines righteousness / Introduction

A) Contemporary thought:

1) Messiah would come to establish His kingdom and would choose those who were most righteous to rule with Him.

2) Righteousness was defined by adherence to the Law

B) Present situation:

1) Jesus sits down to teach disciples the essentials of the kingdom – covering here what it takes to become a citizen

2) Jesus will receive resistance from the legalistic parties of Pharisees and Sadducees.

IV) Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets

A) He says this because He will be accused of defying the Law:

1) On the Sabbath by healing a man

2) By sitting and eating with tax collectors and sinners

3) His disciples on the Sabbath for picking and eating grain

B) But He never broke the Law of God – only the traditions of men.

C) The Pharisees and Sadducees were following the Law for the wrong reasons

1) They had lost the intent of the Law

2) they had made it burdensome

3) Their righteousness was phony

4) It had made them proud – the very opposite of what it should have made the: poor in spirit.

5) They were the ones who abolished the Law.

V) Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. What does it mean? A couple of things.

A) He came to obey it.

1) As a child – circumcision and dedication according to the Law

2) In His actions – He kept the Law but not all traditions

(a) No one was ever able to accuse Him of sin.

B) He came to teach it. A fresh look:

(a) He returns them to the word (teaches with authority)

(b) He returns them to the intent of the Law

(c) He removes some of the traditions that had been added.

(d) In this sermon:

(i) Law is important – not one bit of it should be ignored

C) He came to complete it. To accomplish the things it represented.

1) Prophecies:

(a) Of His comings

(b) Of His work

2) The Work itself:

(a) In His death: Gal. 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us”

(b) He fulfilled the types and ceremonies of the Old Testament (Heb. 9-10) removing the need for their observance

(c) He fulfilled the former covenants by bringing a new covenant in His blood

3) Warren Wiersbe: “Jesus did not destroy the Law by fighting it; He destroyed it by fulfilling it!”

(a) The walnut is a useful illustration: “If I have a [walnut], I can destroy it in one of two ways. I can put it on a rock and smash it to bits with a hammer. Or, I can plant it in the ground and let it fulfill itself by becoming a [walnut] tree.”[1]

4) His work brought the Law to life:

(a) Heb. 10:19, we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus – why the veil closing off the most holy place in the temple was torn in two at His crucifixion.

(b) Eph. – The well that separated Jews and Gentiles was torn down by Christ – one church of both.

(c) Acts 7:48 – no longer worship in temples made with hands but by Spirit and Truth (John 4).

(d) No longer have need for religious rituals like circumcision (Col. and Gal.)

(e) AS a result, the New Testament teaches that we are no longer under the Law.

VI) So what purpose does the law serve?

A) To point out our sin – to establish the need

B) Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Epson, Brother…

1) What do all these companies make?

2) Printers? The most obvious answer.

3) Ink. Just like when Kodak and Polaroid first started making cameras – especially the instant cameras.

4) They are in the business of establishing a need for their product!

C) God did not send the Law of Moses that we would follow it and not sin – though clearly He would want that. He knew it was impossible.

1) He sent the Law to show us our incredible need for a savior. Jesus extends this teaching:

2) (Foxworthy) You might need a savior if…

(a) Murder - Anger - Failure to reconcile

(b) Adultery – looking at someone with the wrong intent

(c) Failure to keep an oath

(i) Even making oaths – “Yes or No; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

(d) You have failed to do good for others.

(e) You’ve done anything for the wrong reason.

D) Paul uses an example of a guardian. Faith in Christ is the coming of age – the Law prepares us for that time.

VII) Application

A) We may be guilty of abolishing the Law

1) Have we made our spirituality a bunch of rules?

B) We can fulfill the Law

1) By allowing God to work through us.

(a) To obey the law.

2) By living in the Spirit

3) By teaching and preaching the Law

(a) Jesus did.

(b) Paul – Rom., Gal., the Law brings knowledge of Sin and 1 Tim. “The Law is not for the just but for the lawless.”

4) By responding to Jesus Christ’s invitation to take on His righteousness.

VIII) Invitation:

A) vv29-30: Do you have sin? What is holding you back from surrendering to God? If it is better to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye than to go to hell, Would it not be better to…

B) Whatever it is that is keeping you away from Jesus – Jesus is more important!

C) James 2:10, “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

November 25, 2007,

“What the World Needs”

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV):

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Mt 5:13-16

The World Needs:

The world needs _________________ and ______________.
Salt and Light ____________________ the world.

□ To __________________ corruption.

□ To __________________ God’s Truth.

Salt and Light are __________________ traits.
Salt and Light can become _______________________.[2]
Invitation: I recognize my need

□ To purify myself.

□ To join with this body of believers.

□ To join with Christ

Matthew 5:1-16 Word Find:

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ACCOUNT	HUNGER	PERSECUTED
BASKET	INHERIT	POOR
BLESSED	KINDS	RIGHTEOUSNESS
CROWDS	LIGHT	SALT
DISCIPLES	LOST	SEEING
EARTH	MEEK	SHALL
GIVES	MERCY	THEIRS
GLAD	MOUNTAIN	THEY
HEAVEN	MOURN	UNDER
HIDDEN	PEACEMAKERS

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[1]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), Mt 5:17.

[2] 1) Salt…Light; 2) Influence; 2a) prevent; 2b) provide; 3) Inherent