Way of the King - Divorce & Oaths

INTRODUCTION

OPENNING

Good Morning

Release the Kids

Turn with me to Matthew Chapter 5 as we continue in our series on Jesus’ sermon on the mount

REVIEW

Previously:

Kingdom of Heaven (context)

Attitudes of the Kingdom

Salt & Light

Demand of Radical Righteousness

6 examples

Bokkends of - righteousness that exceeds scribes and Pharisees and perfect

Nails through a board, piercing the surface and digging into our hearts

Lat week: first two examples (anger and lust)

This week: divorce and oaths

READ & RECITE

I want to begin in verse 17 so we hear Jesus thesis statement and then feel the compounding impact of these six examples.

Matthew 5:17-27

DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE

CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE

CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE

Cultural Situation

Controversy both socially and theologically in how to appropriately interpret the teaching of “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 - he writes her a certificate of divorce...”

What does, “she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her?”

R

The Rabbincal School of Hillel this meant:

If she spoiled dinner

Walked around with her hair down

Talked to a man on the street

Spoke with disrespect the the husband or his parents

Rabbi Akiba said:

If the husband found someone who was more beautiful...

Current Situation

Divorce Rate is America is 45-50%

Top 3 reasons:

Infidelity

Money

Lack of Communication

Weigh Gain

Misinformation - divorce rate is not 50%, and it is not the same among among practicing Christians

60% of professing Christians who do NOT regular participate in the church end in divorce

This number drops almost in half for those who participate in the church as a disciple

Current statistics would say that 8 of 10 people here today have been impacted either directly or indirectly by divorce.

The topic of divorce is sensitive and touches the heart...

I believe that is exactly why Jesus uses it at an example here in the sermon on the mount - through these 6 examples he is exposing the hardness of heart and showing us our need for transformation

For many - this probably raises the question - what are biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage?

CREATION

Jesus’ Words

I don’t want to put words in the mouth of Jesus

How is Jesus addressing our hearts in bringing up the topic of divorce

Jesus isn’t using this opportunity to tech us specifically about divorce but rather, this is one of six illustrations that is meant to expose our hearts

In

Pharisees came to Jesus and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”

Created Order

[Jesus Answers]

In the beginning God created them male and female and said, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore Gdo has joined together, let no man separate.”

[Pharisees ask…]

“Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce?”

Why then does the Bible talk at all about divorce? But doesn’t the Bible say that divorce is OK in some situations?

CONCESSION

[Jesus Responds]

“Because of your hardness of heart - Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”

To focus on what allows us to be divorced is the miss the point entirely - and for some this morning - you will be frustrated with me this morning for not going into all the exceptions.

Hear the words of Jesus - It is because of our hardness of heart that we ask about divorce at all.

[Jesus]

“And I say to you: whoever divorce his wife, except for sexually immorality, and marries another, commits adultury.”

In Creation: the two have become one - no separation

Sin: Sexual immorality breaks that union and is therefore the only exception Jesus mentions

[Disciples Response]

“If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

[Jesus…]

“Not everyone can receive this teaching...”

Let the one who is able to receive it this receive it.”

Broader Biblical Teaching

For many, I realize that this raises additional questions -

Some of those questions may be answered in a fuller sermon on Marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

I am going to save those questions for another time

For today, what I want you to feel is at the heart of what Jesus is saying

The fact that we have lingering questions for the biblical conditions of divorce and remarriage reveal the brokenness and hardness in our own hearts.

We’ve experienced the pain of sin and separation

We are called to live differently:

Misinformation - divorce rate of 50% is not the same among among practicing Christians

60% of professing Christians who do NOT regular participate in the church end in divorce

This number drops almost in half for those who participate in the church as a disciple

OATHS & HONESTY IN SPEECH

Next, Jesus addresses oaths and promises… Jesus quotes from the OT

CULTURAL CONTEXT

Old Testament Teaching

It is important to realize that the encouraged vows

, “Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.”

, “ And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’”

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’”

“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.”

Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Contemporary Teachings at the Time of Jesus - At some point, rabbis began to teach that an oath was not binding if said in a particular way.

They said if the oath didn’t include the name of God

The Mishna is the first part of the Talmud, which is the authoritative collection of exegetical material embodying the oral traditions of Jewish law.

There was epidemic of frivolous swearing

The common practice was to convince the other person that you were telling the truth, which actually lying, by bringing some other person or object into reference.

Swear by my life,

“by my beard,” “may I never see the comfort of Israel again if....”

Current Interpretations

I swear on my grandmother’s grave

I promise (but you have your fingers crossed behind your back)

“Seriously!...”

“For real though...” | “For real, I will”

Dr. Helmut Thielicke

“ Whenever I utter the formula “I swear to God,” I am really saying, “Now I’m going to mark off an area of absolute truth and put walls around it to cut it off from the muddy floods of untruthfulness and irresponsibility that ordinarily overruns my speech.” In fact, I am saying even more than this. I am saying that people are expecting me to lie from the start. And just because they are counting on my lying I have to bring up these big guns of oaths and words of honor.”

Whenever I utter the formula “I swear by God,” I am really saying, “Now I’m going to mark off an area of absolute truth and put walls around it to cut it off from the muddy floods of untruthfulness and irresponsibility that ordinarily overruns my speech.” In fact, I am saying even more than this. I am saying that people are expecting me to lie from the start. And just because they are counting on my lying I have to bring up these big guns of oaths and words of honor.

CHRIST’```````````````

CONSISTENCY - CHRST’S TEACHING

CHRIST’

“Do not take an oath at all...”

People thought they were only bound when then used God’s name

Jesus is saying that everything belongs to God

Heaven, earth, jerusalem, even the hairs on your head

The entirety of Creation belongs to God and you cannot to refer to part of Creation without referring a part of God himself.

God is calling us to profound truthfulness

We live in a culture of

Saving your own skin

Exaggeration

I expected lies from politicians - broken promises - hyperbole - half-truths.

Have you ever been asked a hard question and the first thing out of your mouth is a lie - you ask yourself - , why did I just say that...”

Jesus calls us to profound, radical truthfulness.

No complexity, no deep words to solidify the validity of our words

Just: Yes or No

The world longs for freedom from dishonesty, half-truths, hidden meanings, redefined terms.

Can you imagine if we as believers simply said what we mean?

67% of Gen Z crave truthfulness and authenticity.

The world cultivates and germinates lies and deception but longs for truth.

GOSPEL CONVICTION & COMFORT

EXPOSED

Religiosity encourages external performing and pretending

External Morality vs. Internal Transformation (IMAGINE 6 NAIES)

#1 - No Murder - BUT angry?

#2 - No Adultery - BUT gazing with lustful intent

#3 - Where is the biblical exit to my unhappy marriage

#4 - I don’t lie about important stuff - BUT do you exaggerate or lie at all

The Radical Demand

You therefore must be perfect

Hearts pierced with guilt - we have all fallen short

TRANSFORMED

All But ONE

The God-Man, Jesus - lived a perfect life

His perfection was not only toward the external demands of morality

His perfection permeated his every thought and motive

The nails exposing our unrighteousness pierced his perfect, guiltless hands

He was pierced for our our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

Upon him was the punishment that brought us peace

and with his wounds, we are healed.

This is GOSPEL

These examples are meant to lead us to the cross where Jesus

Fulfilled the radical demand of righteousness

Accomplished the payment for the debt of our sin.

CONCLUSION

TRANSFORMED AFFECTIONS

Not just moral conformity

BUT transformed hearts

TRANSFORMED THINKING

You have heard… but I say...

Allow God’s Word to shape your thinking

The culture or Your Creator

To whose voice are we listening? God or others

We can find people willing to agree and affirm whatever your heart desires.

If you only goal is to have the hardness of your own heart validated then you will find those voices.

If you desire heart transformation - they is only one voice

MEMORIZE THE LORD’S PRAYER

The Lord’s prayer