Jesus Calls Us to Live Righteously
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome
I am blessed to see you all today.
We are now in a period of time moving between the day of Jesus resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world that we know as Pentecost. 50 days total, 40 days after his ascension back to the Father in heaven.
Its during this time I want to encourage you all to pray for each other, for the Kingdom of God to move in this world and in peoples hearts.
Please be praying.
This morning we are coming back to the Gospel of Matthew and we are in chapter 5
This last section here in chapter 5 has a great deal of information about the way God expects us to live in front of Him and others.
I think that is important, Why????
God spells it out, this is how we are to live… but what I find is people doing the opposite, and that says out loud is this… I don’t care what God thinks, I need this or that, I am going to do what I want because God doesn’t mind, He knows my heart.
My question is simply this.. Are you Sure?
Friends, why do I say this? God is calling us to be the church, His people and to reflect His light and to be Salt in a dark world.
Here in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spells out what living for Him requires.
So my words are simple.. Buckle up butter cup, … Your thoughts might be challenged. Your ways might be challenged… I am not going to give you my thoughts here, but God’s ways.
We are called to be His people so it shouldn’t be difficult for us.
So lets go… Matthew 5, verses 17-20
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.
Wow, so makes you think a bit doesn’t it.
So this morning as Jesus is teaching those who are up on the mountain side with him Jesus is calling His people to live in a way that is holy and pleasing to the God.
Three thoughts:
The Law isn’t abolished in Jesus........ The Law calls for us to follow Jesus Example and finally.........His Example for living righteously.
1. The Law isn’t Abolished in Jesus...
1. The Law isn’t Abolished in Jesus...
There is a great misconception that with the coming of Jesus, the law doesn’t matter any more.
But Jesus says, No - we are wrong to even think that… Here is why....
First off, Jesus says His coming doesn’t destroy the law, it fulfills it. This truth is exactly what He says in verse 17
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.
Now the law refers to the first 5 books of the OT, the Torah. and the Prophets refers to the rest of the OT, most of which was written by Prophets themselves under God’s inspiration.
These two sections are the whole of what the religious leaders like the Scribes and the Pharisees are teaching from, instructing the people to follow all the way to every fine detail, the joy and tittle if you will.
So what does Jesus mean when He says I have come to fulfill the law instead of abolishing.
So let me ask you a question, who wants to abolish the law? If Jesus says it isn’t Him, well we can also assume that it isn’t God. Then it must be mankind.
Mankind seeks to abolish the law because we don’t like the law.
Why? Because it tells us what we are doing is wrong. Right?
We don’t like being told we are wrong. We would rather justify what we are doing, we would rather justify sin and make our appeal toward heaven declaring that God knows my heart.
My friends, God does know our heart and He hates it because we try to justify our sin before Him,
Listen, if we are living against the law, then our heart is the problem,
And if our heart is the problem, will God extend mercy or grace to us to justify our failures?
This is what the scribes and the pharisees missed, they didn’t understand the message of the law and prophets would not be complete until the Messiah came.
Jesus says here, I have not come to abolish, to tear down the law, but instead His mission was to fulfill all that was given and told to them by God.
All that the Old Testament was pointing to was the one who was promised to come. And even the sacrificial system was pointing to the one great sacrifice that God himself would provide. The Lamb of God was foreshadowed in the Old Testament teachings..
Jesus came, He perfectly obeyed the law, and his pattern of living reflected the wisdom of the prophets in every detail as he lived among the people and His ministry completes all that God had in store for His people.
How important are His teachings that are tied to the Old Testament teaching…and listen to what Jesus continues to say...
Look at verse 18
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.
Jesus confirms here that the whole of Scripture is important… We cannot say that because we have the New Testament Scriptures, we can abandon the Old Testament. No, not at all.
Let me share with you the testimony of 2 Tim 3, verses 15-16
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
You see the Old Testament is relevant and points us to the necessity of salvation. We know this because it is all God’s word, breathed out, given by God himself for our good. And look at the dynamic of its good....For teaching, reproof and corrections and for training in righteousness.
Jesus coming into the world and His ministry are the perfect fulfillment of all that God was doing in the lives of His people.
2. The Law Calls for Us to Follow Jesus Example...
2. The Law Calls for Us to Follow Jesus Example...
Without a doubt Jesus is our example for life and living, we would all agree on this today.
And He calls for us to live with that in mind my friends
Lets go back and look at our text....
Lets examine verses 19-20
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.
This sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it....
My friend’s, that is how important and precious the Word of God is, it is authoritative and meant for us to use as our standard for living.
So look Jesus says Therefore.... In light of what I have just said, I have come to fulfill it not destroy or do away with any of it. If you relax or break even the least of these commandments or enables others to do the same, you are held accountable.
My friends, I will tell you something, the church is suffering today, it is declining today because its members we do not live for God in the way we has called us to.
He tells us to be Holy for He is holy.. I Peter 1:16...
Jesus says that those who live this way.. are called least in the kingdom of God...
Now we understand, the Scribes and the Pharisees taught there was a difference to what they referred to as “light” commandments ( tithing and food’s that clean or unclean) and then “weighty” commandments like idolatry, murder and so forth.
Now we know some commandments change in light of Jesus fulfillment. for example, the dietary laws have passed away… the sacrificial system has passed away … these we know to be true in Jesus and have there perfect conclusion with Jesus.
How are we living today in light of His law… Jesus is calling us to live for God in all ways. in fact He says humanity has to do better than the religious leaders of the day.
Please understand the religious leaders of the day shirted the law, perverted it for their own means and desires. God hates it when we justify sin. When we justify our flesh and live for our self, we are telling God we don’t care about what He says...
So let me stop right here.. all of this section is meant to call us to look at our lives, our practices and ask .... What am I doing? How am I living before our Lord?
I want to remind you of a passage I think about a lot in my life.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
When I appear before my Lord I want to be able to stand before him with a glad heart that I have done my best and I have lived my best.
Do you want the same?
Then I ask you how are you living....
And then this brings me to my last thought for today...
3. His Examples for Living Righteously...
3. His Examples for Living Righteously...
When I think about all that Jesus has done for us and taught us, I love the fact that Jesus is very practical and teaches by example, turning over all the stones so we can know exactly what God desires from those who follow Him.
Make no mistake about it my friends, God will not leave in the dark about His ways.
So Jesus gives us several examples to follow...
A. He begins with anger.
A. He begins with anger.
Lets go back and look at verses 21-22 to begin with what He is says...
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.
Jesus says you have heard it taught You shall not commit murder. Make no mistake, the 6th commandment prohibits this… and those guilty were to be put to death themselves.
But Jesus intensifies this… Verse 22
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.
Anger in your heart is a sinful condition, it places us in a state of judgement before God, why? Because of the attitude of our heart.
Listen when we hate in our heart, we have chosen to follow destructive behaviors that ruin us, it hinders our walk with God and keeps us from being able to be free of sin and being free to live life normally.
Anger against another is not of God.
How often have we ever thought I wish they were dead… oh - we have all done it… We are guilty and need to seek God’s forgiveness for those thoughts my friends.
And Jesus ramps it up a notch, to insult or even call another person a fool places a person in judgment. So don’t do it…
Remember my friends that each person is made in the image of God and we are treat each other with dignity and respect. Acting in a way that is contrary to His standard places us in judgement.
Listen, here is the biblical approach to hate, being upset with a person, especially a brother or sister in Christ. Go to them and seek restoration. That is the Biblical approach my friends.
Now lets move forward
B. Now what about Lust...
B. Now what about Lust...
Jesus now moves to the 7th commandment, Exodus 20:14 - Adultery…
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
Now we know that God’s word prohibits adultery, a marriage is a lasting covenant and to break that by having sexual relations with another person is immoral. And God hates it...
Marriage is God’s standard for the family and when we take our vows, we are taking them before God. We are to do all we can to honor those vows and that relationship before the other person and God.
Listen I know that there are times when the other person makes it impossible for a marriage to continue, Divorce is permitted, God forgives. What is wrong is when we do it for our own convenience.
Divorce should be the very last step........ we are getting ready to talk more about that..
Now back to Jesus here in this passage... Jesus turns it up and notch, Jesus says lets take our living to the next step. If you lust in your heart after another person, if you mind is so carried away that you think sexually about another person you have committed adultery in your heart.
Listen it is ok to see a pretty person and say , oh they look nice and move on.. but when you start undressing them.. you have sinned. The heart of man has already carried you away and you cannot live correctly before God in this manner.
Sexual sins are evil in God’s eyes, and we must do our best to abstain from them.
So how do you overcome? You don’t place yourself in the place where this can happen...
To live righteously before God, think about my friends what you allow in your heart and mind… What are you listening too? What are you watching? And is your greatest desire Jesus or is it something else...
Protect your heart… guard your eyes, and your mind...
C. What about Divorce....
C. What about Divorce....
Now let me start by saying divorce is a tough subject for many, there are times where regardless of what one person wants, they cannot stay in that relationship because of various types of abuse. At times a marriage must come to an end to protect the physical and mental safety of a person.
You may agree or disagree with me on this point.
People are called to follow God and in doing that the marriage, the home will be protected. But when sinful people live for themselves, they do things that dishonor God and His plan for the home.
In fact Jesus says the only true reason God would allow the separation is because of sexual immorality… The sexual relation of a man and a woman is a special component of life, it is not meant to be treated causally, cheaply…
Marriage is meant to be sacred, it is to be treated as such. It is a relationship of two people and it should honor God.
The terrible things is that people treat the marriage as contractual, You haven’t lived up to your end of the bargain per say and I want out… I’m not happy, I want out. You haven’t done this or this.. I want out...
Friends, The marriage is meant to reflect God his covenant relationship with man.
The covenant is not meant to be broken, and it says when I make a mistake, you will still love me and I will do the same to you, we will seek to restore and bless each other for the glory of God.
I could say a lot more… but lets leave this here..
Marriage is the most sacred institution of the home. It’s where two become one and the home is meant to held in high regard. We cannot treat it cheaply.
D. Oaths..
D. Oaths..
In verses 33 through 37 - we are told not to take oaths, We are not to swear anything according to his name or toward what which is his..
Instead the real issue is our standard of living, let your life be lived in such a way, that your integrity is so known, your word is trusted a part from anything else. Plain and simple, live right in front of others.
Do not give people a chance to see anything but the good of your life because of God.
Live your life well my freinds
E. Retaliation....
E. Retaliation....
Now we have heard the old saying an Eye for an Eye, tooth for a tooth… this really wasn’t meant to be a form of retaliation for people to extract justice for a wrong done to them.. This action has been taken out of context.
No, it was God’s standard that the punishment should fit the crime and it was to be administered by the civil authorities,,,
Now listen to what Jesus does so....Jesus says here the principle of Christian kindness should transcend any form of this tit or tat retribution. Break away from the chain of evil reactions that characterizes humanity and our relationships..
Listen my friends, here is a side note.. when we look at the OT laws, we have to go back and look at the historical setting by which God intended them, to help us better understand them.
Instead we are called to let mercy flow… our Christian character is to take the lead in all that we do and the reactions we are to have...
Listen I understand that is easier said than done, but as we walk and live for Jesus we can be transformed into His life lived out in front of others.
And then one last thought my friends in this chapter.
F. The Real challenge of it all is to love others, to love our neighbors.
F. The Real challenge of it all is to love others, to love our neighbors.
What I see right here is that we are called to remember the greatest commandment, where by we are to love God and to love others.
Lets’ take a test… How are you doing with that....?????
Now lets look at our last text for this message...
Verses 43-48
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.
When I think of the greatest commandment one moment in the life of Jesus becomes a reality here…
Jesus has been crucified, and while hanging on the cross Jesus says… Father forgive them for they know not what they do… Luke 23:34.
So instead of loving your neighbor and hating your enemies, Jesus said you should love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Why? If we cannot love those who do not love us and if we cannot pray for those who persecute us or seek to harm us… then we are no different than the like of those religious leaders like the Pharisees and Saducees. And we are certainly not like Christ.
Almost all people look after their own. The true test of genuine Christianity is how believers treat those whom they are naturally inclined to hate or who mistreat or persecute them.
Now what does he mean by love them… “love” here refers to “generous, warm, costly self-sacrifice for another’s good.”
The term greet them (v. 47) refers to more than a simple hello, namely, heartfelt “expressions of desire for the other person’s welfare.”
When we do this we exhibit the growth that reveals we are becoming more and more like our heavenly Father.
Here is a question… Do you love? Or do you hate?
We are called to love those we dislike the most, and when we fail too, Christ is not being exhibited in us properly.
Jesus illustrates a lot here in these last few verses, How are you living up to His standard....???
And if you say , may there are some things I am missing.. Then I would invite you to stop this morning and seek His face, ask for forgiveness and ask him to help you move forward.
Life is difficult, but it is easier when we have Jesus to help us.
Lets pray