Sermon on the Mount - Lesson 11 SS

Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3	Last week we talked about anger and lust – even if we think about it, Jesus said, we have already committed adultery in our hearts.Jesus immediately launched in a logical discussion of marriage and divorce.
Slide 4
Slide 5	Matthew 5:31-32 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. •This teaching by Jesus is barely a summary of the detailed teaching he conducted on this matter in Matthew 19:3-9, Luke 16:18, Mark 10:10-12•Let’s combine these passages and then treat His whole teaching as one.
Slide 6	Matthew 19:3-9 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Slide 7	7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Slide 8	Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. Mark 10:10-12 10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Slide 9	•This discussion is based on Moses’ decree given in Deuteronomy 24: 1• 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. •“…no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her” •No favor – an unforgiveable breach•Uncleanness – sexual immorality
Slide 10	•In verse 31 Jesus introduced it by saying “It hath been said…” – this form is used when you are bringing up a point that needs to be straightened out or clarified – Jesus chose to straiten out the difference in man’s teaching and God’s principles or intent -The law of divorce—according to its strictness or laxity—has so intimate a bearing upon purity in the married life, that nothing could be more natural than to pass from the seventh commandment (anger & lust) to the loose views on that subject taught by the religious leaders•There were two schools of thought regarding the matter of divorce.•Those who followed Hillel said it was permissible for a husband to divorce his wife for any reason at all, •Those following Shammai said divorce was permissible only for a major offense. •His response in verse 32, was a strong declaration or teaching that marriage is viewed by God as an indissoluble unit and that marriages should not be terminated by divorce. •Jesus allowed, not required, one exception.
Slide 11	•5:32 “…For the cause of fornication”• *The Greek porneia* - “Sexual immorality*”. Various meanings are exhibited in the N.T. for porneia, the context making the significance clear:* •(1) it may refer to voluntary sexual intercourse of an unmarried person with anyone of the opposite sex (1 Cor 7:2; 1 Thess 4:3); •(2) it may refer to all forms of unchastity (John 8:41; Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Cor 5:1; 6:13, 18; Eph 5:3); •(3) it may refer to prostitution (Rev 2:14, 20, 21). •The exception clause may also refer to a situation in which those married are already closely related and whose marriage, according to Jewish law, would technically be sexual immorality • *“causes her to commit adultery” - The Greek word moicheuthenai* described adultery, extramarital sexual infidelity.** Porneia and moicheuthenai later came to be used interchangeably. •When you violate God’s laws there is a consequence•We no longer have a commitment – we are a “me” generation and we raised a “me” generation. Rick Warren’s key phrase in his book – The Purpose Driven Life – is “It ain’t about me!”
Slide 12
Slide 13	•The divorce rate in America for first, second or third marriage•41-50% percent of first marriages•60-67% of second •73-74% of third marriages end in divorce•66 per cent of all divorced couples in America are childless
Slide 14	•Marriage rates: America in 1977 was 19.8 •When you violate God’s laws there is a consequence•We no longer have a commitment – we are a “me” generation and we raised a “me” generation. Rick Warren’s key phrase in his book – The Purpose Driven Life – is “It ain’t about me!”•The consequence is:•Abortion, divorce, kids with one parent homes, rampant pursuit of alternative life styles – every society in history that embraced homosexuality has fallen
Slide 15	Matthew 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Because of the hardness of our hearts – It is pretty obvious that God’s will is that there be no divorce – the Good News is that God is in the forgiving business and He is a God of reconciliation!
Slide 16	Matthew 5:33-3733 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.
Slide 17	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.
Slide 18	•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:•The matter of making oaths (Lev. 19:12; Deut. 23:21) was next addressed by the Lord. The law regarding oaths was based upon the third Commandment. False testimony resulted in severe consequences, since it consisted of taking God’s name in vain (Ex 20:7; Lev 19:11, 12; Num 30:2; Deut 19:16-20). The rabbis taught that oaths which omitted God’s name could be broken and were not binding. Jesus maintains that God is involved in heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and all things. Hence, all oaths are binding, and any attempt to avoid an oath while pretending to keep it profanes the divine name. The reference is neither to taking oaths in court nor to profanity.•The Pharisees were notorious for their oaths, which were made on the least provocation. Yet they made allowances for mental reservations within their oaths. If they wanted to be relieved of oaths they had made by heaven… by the earth… by Jerusalem, or by one’s own head, they could argue that since God Himself had not been involved their oaths were not binding.•Forswear = perjure – lying under oath•Jesus declares “But I say unto you, Swear not at all…”• Jesus said oaths should not even be necessary: Do not swear at all. The fact that oaths were used at all emphasized the wickedness of man’s heart. Furthermore, swearing “by heaven,” “by the earth,” or “by Jerusalem” is binding, since they are God’s throne… footstool, and city, respectively. Even the color of the hair on their heads was determined by God (Matt. 5:36). However, Jesus later in His life responded to an oath (26:63-64), as did Paul (2 Cor. 1:23).
Slide 19	•Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil•The Lord was saying one’s life should be sufficient to back up one’s words. A yes always ought to mean yes, and a no should mean no. James seems to have picked up these words of the Lord in his epistle (James 5:12).•James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. •Complete honesty should be typical of the Believer •No oath is necessary to guarantee trustworthiness for one’s “yes” or “no.”
Slide 20	•WE CAN’T FORGET THAT THE BEATITUDESE HAVE TO BE OUR ATTITUDES AND IF THEY ARE WE ARE LIVING WHAT JESUS IS TEACHING! •The first four Beatitudes reveal spiritual progress – each step leads to the next and presupposes the one that has gone before.•To be poor in spirit we acknowledge our complete and utter spiritual bankruptcy before God•Next we mourn over the cause of it – our sins, the corruption of man and his fallen nature and the control sin and death has over this world•We are to be meek, humble, and gentle toward others allowing our spiritual poverty to condition our behavior to them as well as to God•We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness – what good does it to confess if we don’t hunger – we replace our sin with a desire for righteousness•Next we turn from our attitude toward God to our attitude toward others•Merciful – Pure in heart – peacemakers•We will be reviled and persecuted and we are to rejoice and be exceeding glad!•These are character traits - we don’t act like Christians – we are Christians and our actions are an outcome of that.•We are not meant to control our Christianity – our Christianity is meant to control us.•So far Jesus has spoken of Christian Character•He began with 3rd person grammar –”Blessed are….”•Continued in the 2nd person – “you are the salt….•And now in this section the 1st person “I say unto you…” He shifts gears and ties His ministry into the Old Testament – links to the Laws and the Prophets
Slide 21	Oswald Chambers: “Jesus Christ by His Spirit alters our standard of honor, and as His true disciples we will never care what people say of us but will care tremendously what people say of Jesus Christ; we realize that our Lord’s honor, not our own honor, is at stake in our lives. What is the thing that rouses you? That is an indication of where you live.”