2.2.6 1.3.2021 Matthew 5.17-48 Motivation and Obligation of a Disciple

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Matthew 5:17–48 ESV

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. 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. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 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.

1. Entice: Wow that is a lot of verses. This text could have been an entire course of sermons about each of the issues Jesus discusses. Maybe He brought them together this way to view them as a whole to give a broader, panoramic view. How do we mature in Christ? How do we become more like the Father? How can we develop a spirituality that is deeper than keeping the rules?

2. Engage: Jesus, clearly thinks in terms of balance. The law and other rules have a role within the Kingdom but cannot save us. Gospel has a role in the Kingdom, but it sometimes cannot form our behavior. We need a little bit of both.

Expand: 3 Jesus makes this possible. Through His sinless life He will make the balance work. He had very high standards. He often laid upon His intimate disciples crushing demands. But he balanced that with grace. He forgave sin and lifted the crushed and oppressed. He understood that law was a good fence. He understood that gospel gave leadership. We need both, but Jesus has to be in the middle to make it work.

Excite: 4 The standard we are trying to meet is perfect Godliness.

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

this becomes possible for us when we allow Jesus to lead us on our kingdom journey…because it is in

Explore:

In the Kingdom, Law and Gospel are combined and amplified reinforcing each other.

Explain: Consider how law and gospel compliment each other.

1 The Law Guards our Actions. 17-20

1.1 The Law provides fences for our behavior.

1.2 The Law provides focus for our behavior.

1.2.1 Fulfill & Accomplish. 17-18

“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. 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.” (Matthew 5:17–18 ESV) 1.2.2 Keep+Teach= enter the kingdom. 19

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least vin the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

2 The Gospel Guides our Attitudes. 21-47

2.1 You have heard it said....

vs 21,27,31,33,38,43,

Behave!

Beware!

Follow the rules.

2.2 But I say....

vs 22,28,32,34,39,44=

go beyond behavior,

rise above actions

do more than the right thing.

develop a Christ-like mind

Godliness begins in the heart and mind.

Shut Down:

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Matthew 5:48 ESV

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Law and gospel should work together to bring us to the ultimate Goal: “to be like the Father.” Jesus exemplifies in Himself this holistic, integrated approach to spirituality. High expectations combined with High grace. We tend to continue to separate what He brought together and unified.

2 He fulfilled what we cannot. He perfected a path we often fail to follow. He reminds us that we need both a guard and a guide. He provides both.

Some of us who are more mature disciples should be offering our own growth experience as an ongoing model for those who are younger in the faith. Our lives should serve as an alluring example for those who have not yet come to Jesus in faith.