A Standard From Above

Introduction

Jesus teaching to his disciples and a crowd on a country side.

Jesus established that those who trust in Jesus and live committed lives to christ are the truly blessed.

As we saw last week, those who have a relationship with the Lord and are walking with him reflect his glory into the world and results in others coming to saving faith around them.

Jesus shifts gears a bit in his sermon in verse 17. He begins to establish that he isn’t here to get rid of the Old Testament but he’s arrived to fulfill the Old Testament.

Read:

Matthew 5:17–20 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.

A couple of things that become clear.

Jesus establishes he is here for a purpose, the purpose of completing the work of promised in the Old Testament.

Jesus establishes that that the Old Testament should be valued and cherished and not diminished.

Jesus then calls out the Spiritual and Community leaders as not being unworthy of entering the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus essentially says that everyone there cannot do good enough to enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus then launches into a sequence of examples of the standard God has righteous living.

I would like for us to camp out on the first one tonight.

Matthew 5:21–26 ESV

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.

The danger of anger.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

5:21 Premeditated murder is prohibited by the sixth commandment (Ex. 20:13) and under OT law carried the death penalty (Num. 35:31). The prohibition is grounded in the fact that humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27; 9:6). Concerning unpremeditated murder (manslaughter), see notes on Deut. 19:4–6 and 19:8–10.

Anything else?

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

The dangerous and destructive effect of human anger is likewise stressed throughout Scripture (e.g., Prov. 20:2; 22:3; 29:22; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; James 1:20). Anger typically entails a desire to damage or destroy the other person, either in some personal way or literally in the form of murder

Our anger, can lead to us sinning very quickly!

Anger typically results in retaliation.

Name calling

Fighting

Trying to hurt them emotionally or physically.

Even Murder

Joseph and his brothers.

Saul towards David

James 1:20 ESV

20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

The reward of being restored.

Matthew 5:23–26 ESV

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.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

The one who initiates the reconciliation here is the one who has wronged the other person.

The court situation is an illustration of the desperate need for reconciliation with someone who has done wrong to another.

Conclusion:

Why is all of this important?

We are tainted,

one single sin makes us no longer pure

So that first time you became angry and attacked your sibling or friend.

Maybe, it was over them taking a toy away that you were playing with, you became angry and you attacked them. That is sin in God’s eyes.

(Excuses)

Still it was a sinful response, and it makes you guilty. I cant remove the stain of that sin.

another example of anger: You don’t like someone who has been mean to you at school and so you call them bad names, and you hope they are harmed in some way.

Another sin.

(Excuses)

Then, maybe you don’t like how much homework a teacher gave you and you become mad and so you make fun of her, or hope she spills coffee all over herself...

(Excuses)

Still it’s yet another sin.

And the fact is we can keep going on with this line of issue after issue.

But, Jesus

Gospel: died for us (Pour bleach into the stained water)

He became sin for us, he took on our tainted hearts

He then, does something amazing when we place all our faith and trust in him. Pour the baking soda in.

He changes us instantly!

We become new creations in Christ, no longer are we stained with our sin, Christ purifies.

Have you placed your trust in Jesus alone, or have you been like the spiritual leaders in Jesus’ day that thought they could live up to being good enough?