More Than External Behavior Pt. 3
The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsYou are not righteous, rather you are poor in spirit.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Matt 5:17-18
19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The last two weeks we saw how the Scribes and the Pharisees relaxed the Law
and there is a pattern that is established where Jesus quotes or refers to a law that is being taught and he says something like this
Scripture does not tell us to avenge ourself in order to obtain justice.
Scripture does not tell us to avenge ourself in order to obtain justice.
You’ve heard it said: then he quotes the law or the teaching
then he says but I say to you - and then Jesus goes to interpret and teach the true meaning of said laws that the scribes and Pharisees had twisted for their own personal gain.
Generally - sure the scribes and Pharisees didn’t murder, sure they didn’t commit adultery… so in that they obeyed the law in that sense…
But they were failed to keep the Law in that they still had anger… they still spoke words that were that of a murderer… and so proved to have the heart condition of that of a murderer
They failed to keep the Law in that they still looked at women with lustful intents in their heart… and so they proved to be unable to keep the law in that they had the heart of adulterers…
As to all of us:
Then last week we saw specific teachings that are recorded in the gospels where the Pharisees taught.
We see it in we see that taught that it was permissible for a man to divorce his wife so long as he handed her a certificate of divorce. And that is the practice that he confronted in the sermon on the mount
And again in we see how they taught that some oaths were more binding than others and in doing so there were times where it lies became permissible and Jesus rejects this teaching as being unlawful as well…
And this week we see the final two topics that Jesus addresses in this pattern
You’ve heard it said, but I say to you
I would love some help with this: Can someone look up
And as you do let us read matt 5:38
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
(say to volunteer) can you look up
someone else look up
And another 22
23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Who has
23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Who has
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Who has
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
24 A man’s steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
So what with these and in mind… we need to also interpret
Because the law is not giving permission for avenging yourself:
What the scribes and the Pharisees likely taught or practiced regarding this law was that they could justify hurting others at least as badly as they had been heard. And yet this law was not given to allow a person to exact revenge, rather it was given to legislate justice so that Israel, and therefore us today can see that God is a god justice.
Scripture does not tell us to avenge ourself in order to obtain justice.
Scripture does not tell us to avenge ourself in order to obtain justice.
Scripture in undeniably clear: vengeance is not ours to execute on our own
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
And this is what Jesus teaches by providing four different examples to illustrate what the citizen of the kingdom of heaven ought to look like
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
matt
This has less to do with injury and more to do with being insulted
So when insulted what are you to do?
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Jesus says give him the other cheek - that is allow there to be an additional insult to that which has been given…
Instead of retaliating with another insult in an attempt to avenge yourself. Jesus says offer your other cheek.
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
12 And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. 13 You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.
Deut:
26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
What is Jesus saying…
If someone takes your tonic give them your cloak as well…
Jesus in effect is saying - Give to them that which the Law would restrict them from taking from you…
And if he takes it, know that the Lord hears your cries and he sees the injustice that has been done to you....
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matt
Matt 5:38
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Matt 5:
Jesus here is referring to a practice that was used by the Roman soldiers. By Roman law, a soldier could ask any citizen to carry their burden (the gear that they were hauling) up to a mile
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Matt
We see this similar practice being put to use in when Simon is forced to carry Jesus’ cross.
Yet there was a legal limit to how far they had to go… They only had to go one mile, and yet what is Jesus telling his disciples to do? He says go two miles… Go further than what the law would require of you…
And finally:
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Matt 5:
This is a radical form of generosity and responding to those who might wrong us that Jesus is calling us to
The point is this:
Scripture does not tell us to avenge ourself in order to obtain justice.
And further, Jesus even says not only to not avenge yourself, but to repay the evil with that which the law wouldn’t even require of you.
Or as Paul puts it in Romans 12
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Let’s continue… and I need help again: someone look up
and another look up
And for the rest of us: look at what Jesus says next:
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Matt 5:
Now in part Jesus is quoting from the Law
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
What does says…
and prov 24:17
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
Notice the phrase in there you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people…
then it goes “but you shall love your neighbor as yourself”
The teaching and understanding of this law was that the “neighbor” was those who were “their own people” that is ethnic Israelites
And so what was being taught was they had to love fellow Israelites, while there was permission to hate their enemies so long as they were not Israelites…
Let’s contextualize this to the church
It would be as if we hated anyone who wasn’t a Christian
Or someone who didn’t go to LWC
Or anyone who was different than you
And so what was being taught was they had to love fellow Israelites, while there was permission to hate their enemies so long as they were not Israelites…
But what does the scripture say about how we should respond to our enemies?
Read
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
Again listen to
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
Or as Jesus puts it:
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
:45
Loving only those who are easy to love makes you no different from the rest of the world.
Loving only those who are easy to love makes you no different from the rest of the world.
Which at the end of the day… is not being salt and light like we saw earlier in
If we only love those who are easy to love, we fail to be the merciful from
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
We fail to be the peacemakers of matt 5:9
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
And we see examples of this kind of love displayed in the early church…
Look at the radical love that was demonstrated by Stephen
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Listen to how Jesus continues to describe the radical love that we are supposed to have for our enemies
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matt 5:44-
He is calling us to be like our Father in heaven…
And not like the rest of the world
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Matt 5:46
He isn’t after us just being civil...
obeying laws in the Scripture
Obeying laws in our own government… what is he after?
Is it to be like the rest of the world?
Like the tax collectors and the gentiles?
Is it to be like the scribes and the Pharisees?
Who does he want us to be like?
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matt
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Remember back in v 20
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Everything in between v 20 and 48 are examples of the kind of righteousness that we need… And they aren’t exhaustive as a way to follow these six principles and if we can then we can be right with God… Rather they are samples that are intended to establish a pattern wich is to be learned so as to know how one can act for every possible situation we might face.
The Law is an accurate representation of the character and nature of God
The Law is an accurate representation of the character and nature of God
This is why it’s so important for us to understand that Jesus wasn’t abolishing the Law
… He wasn’t getting rid of it.
… He wasn’t changing it…
Because in order for him to change the Law and the Prophets would mean that God himself would have to change… And God does not change does he
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
That means in
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Law is an accurate representation of the character and nature of God…
So how did he respond to us when we were his enemy?
Did he give us the kind of justice that we deserved?
When we sinned against him and deserved to die… Did he say to us “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”?
No
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
When our sin put Jesus on the cross… did he pray to the Father and cry out for justice?
no but instead he interceded to the Father
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
How about when we were his enemy…
Did he keep his love from us?
Did he say he would only love us die for us and rescue us from our sins only if we are able to repent first?
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The gospel shows us this:
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jesus had to fulfill the Law because we could not.
Jesus had to fulfill the Law because we could not.
He fulfilled the law first…
He was the one who didn’t retaliate against us when we deserved his wrath - and furthermore, being that he is God he alone had every right to execute his justices against us…but he showed us that mercy triumphs over judgment.
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Js
He was the one who loved us first even while we were still his enemy
19 We love because he first loved us.
19 We love because he first loved us.
Christ came to fulfill the Law and the prophets
And he fulfilled them on the cross
And since he has fulfilled the law in our place he is all the more worthy of our love and affection… of our praise and our worship… even of our very own life.
So let us respond to the one who has fulfilled the law so that we might have life