The New Covenant - The Kingdom and the Old Covenant

He demonstrates clearly with the following examples that the highest form of righteousness under the Law would not be enough to gain entrance into God’s Kingdom.

His examples are not general spiritual principles, but specific examples taken out of the Law of Moses.

The first has to do with murder

Matthew 5:21–26 KJV 1900

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Exodus 20:13 KJV 1900

13 Thou shalt not kill.

The Pharisees’ position was that murder consisted of taking someone’s life.

Jesus’ position was that, not only was the act wrong, but also the internal attitude and conditions behind the act.

James 1:14–15 KJV 1900

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Being angry at someone without a cause puts us on a very slippery path.

Raca - “empty head, or vain person”. Thinking about someone, or talking to someone, using hurtful words and insults.

At this point, the correct measure is to council the angry person. Warn him what will happen if he does not let God heal him.

If it is allowed to continue, Jesus says the person is in danger of losing his salvation and going to everlasting judgment.

If you have something against someone else, your gifts to God, and your service to the Lord are meaningless! (I Corinthians 13)

And if you continue to harbor anger and hatred toward someone, again, not only will you be completely useless in the Kingdom of God, you will be cast into prison until you have completely paid for all of your sins.

It’s okay to be angry at some things.

Ephesians 4:26 KJV 1900

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Things that anger God should anger us (sin, the devil, the world system, etc.)

Other things ought NOT anger us.

The second and third has to do with adultery and divorce.

Matthew 5:27–32 KJV 1900

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Exodus 20:14 KJV 1900

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Deuteronomy 24:1 KJV 1900

1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

The Pharisees’ position was, again, only concerned with the outward act.

Jesus’ position was, again, the lustful thoughts and desires are the problem. The act is merely the end result of lustful thoughts and desires.

Jesus teaches that we need to remove whatever is causing us to think or feel this way, no matter how much we love it, and no matter how close it is to us. Cut it off, and cast it away from you!

Ultimately, Jesus is telling us that our old natures, our old lusts and desires, need to be crucified. Killed off.

Among the Jews, there were two schools of thought concerning divorce:

One taught a writ of divorcement could be issued by the husband for any reason whatsoever.

The other taught a writ of divorcement could be issued by the husband only for a major offense.

Jesus tells us that marriage is viewed by God as a permanent institution that should not ever be broke.

There is an exception given by Jesus. That of fornication.

Other situations could justify separation, but not remarriage, such as in the case of abuse.

The fourth has to do with oaths

Matthew 5:33–37 KJV 1900

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Deuteronomy 23:21 KJV 1900

21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

The Pharisees were notorious for their oaths.

They would make them lightly, and for any reason.

If they wanted to get out of the oath, they would simply say since they did not swear by the Lord, they were not binding.

Jesus is saying an oath shouldn’t be necessary at all.

The fact that oaths were used at all emphasizes the wicked, lying nature of man’s heart.

Also, Jesus is saying that swearing by all these other things (heaven, earth, etc.) is still binding since they are all His.

Our promises are binding. Our contracts are binding. Our word is binding. When we tell someone we’re going to do something, we have bound ourselves until we’ve accomplished it. Our yes should mean yes. Our no should mean no.

The fifth has to do with the law of retaliation.

Matthew 5:38–42 KJV 1900

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Exodus 21:23–25 KJV 1900

23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

This law was given to protect the innocent and also to make sure the punishment fit the crime.

Jesus teaches us, however, that a righteous person (as defined under the New Covenant) is a person of humility. Of selflessness. Of love.

Instead of retaliating, claiming their rights under the law, seeking justice, they will instead demonstrate love and compassion toward them, and commit their case to God, who will one day set all things in order.

Jesus is our best example of this attitude.

The sixth and last has to do with love.

Matthew 5:43–48 KJV 1900

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Leviticus 19:18 KJV 1900

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

The law emphasizes their own people. The Pharisees taught to love your fellow Israelites and to hate the enemies of Israel.

God, in both the Old covenant and the New, makes a distinction between His covenant people and those who are the enemies of God.

Under the Old, God’s enemies were people. Nations that would rise up against Israel.

Under the New, God’s enemies are spirits, NOT people. Again, natural vs. spiritual.

Jesus taught that we should demonstrate love to all human beings.

All people now would be granted access to this New Covenant. All people are to be considered our neighbors now.

Jesus would soon die for all people. Including our “enemies”.

Those that we should hate now are devils and demons. Our spiritual enemies.

Jesus likens the Pharisees here to publicans, saying they are no better than them. Ouch!

Conclusion

Jesus concludes this part by commanding us to be perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Jesus shows us His standard of righteousness. He is the standard.

God does not lower His standards to accommodate sinful man. He rather sets froth His absolute holiness as the standard, and then gives us the ability to meet that standard through His Name.

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