Core 52 Week 19 - Deeper Morality

Intro:

(Preached on Mother’s Day, 2020)

Good/Bad advice from Mom.

Bad:

“If you see a bear and don’t have time to run away, hug it. Bears cannot scratch their stomachs.”

“Always weave a little, and all the other cars will stay away from you.”

“Stop reading! You read too much; you’re going to hurt your eyes! Go watch TV for a while!”

As my brother left to pilot B-17s in World War II, our worried mother told him to “fly low and slow.”

Good:

Make sure you always have your own money.

Don’t take a bath when there’s a thunderstorm.

Always wear clean underwear.

Don’t eat yellow snow.

Never ride a motorcycle.

Mind your manners.

Show me who your friends are and that is who you are.

Soap is cheap. There’s no excuse for being dirty.

Be a credit to your community.

Always put on some lipstick. It will make you feel good.

No matter who enters your life, never lose sight of who you are

Always pick your own battles.

Anything worth having is worth working for.

Do your duty even if there’s no reward for it.

Manners are free and people will judge you by your etiquette.

Think good thoughts.

Drink lots of water and don’t eat fried foods.

Mom’s words of advice - however useful - had the same intent as the words we will hear from Jesus in a moment. Those words are designed to teach what right actions are and when/how to do them.

Mom wanted you and I to grow up to be people who knew right from wrong and actually did it.

While her advice is well-meaning and often on target, the the surest path to righteousness (which is the bible word for the topic) comes from the heart of Jesus.

Do the Right Thing

He describes it in a part of Matthew’s gospel we call the Sermon on the Mount. He starts with an appeal to true happiness in what we call the Beatitudes (5:2-12) and then moves into answering the logical follow up that, to know and experience these blessings, we need to know and do the right thing.

But Jesus turns our parents’ list of rules on their head and affirms that it’s not just rule-keeping but a transformation from the inside-out.

It’s true, he says, that the rules exist for a reason:

Matthew 5:17–19 NLT

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

These rules, called “the law” in the OT, helped to form right character within us. Much like mom’s rules and advice were meant to do.

But we know from experience that just knowing the rules and regs and having both the Bible and Mom’s teaching drilled into us don’t always cause us to do the right thing.

The main verse under consideration today clarifies this:

Matthew 5:20 NLT

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Jesus tells this new bunch of followers that not even the world-class rule keepers understood what true right living and morality were all about.

NOT Doing the Right Thing

Jesus contrasts the teachers of the law and the Pharisees to true righteousness and says that they are missing the mark.

Completely shocking to the crowd. Pharisees held up as the best of the best at doing what the law required.

Matthew 23:23 NLT

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Matthew 23:2–3 NLT

2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

Jesus wants us to understand the distinction between law and righteousness (a deeper morality, better way of living).

Law measures actions.

Righteousness grows out of motives.

Law can modify behavior. Jesus wants to transform our character.

REALLY Doing the Right Thing

The next section of the Sermon on the Mount are examples of right actions but not necessarily right motives.

List:

(vv. 21-26) Murder vs. anger

Matthew 5:21–22 NLT

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

(vv. 27-32) Lust vs. Adultery

Matthew 5:27–28 NLT

27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

(vv. 38-48) Revenge vs. love for enemies

Matthew 5:38–39 NLT

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

Matthew 5:43–44 NLT

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

When we listen carefully, we hear Jesus telling us that external behaviors must be prompted by internal values and beliefs that are prompted by God’s Word and Spirit.

Matthew 5:48 NLT

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Conclusion:

Mom (and Dad) were on the right track in teaching us the difference between right and wrong. Showing us how to do right. And we are grateful for their example.

They were, whether on purpose on instinct, giving us their insight into Jesus’ way of a deeper morality. A better kind of righteousness. Prompted by a change that comes from the inside out.