Matthew 5:33-42 Dealing with Your Character

Intro: Malawi

A few weeks ago I asked you to pray for some pastors that we support in Malawi

Flooding

Whole Villages wiped out

Main road washed out

Living by side of the Road

We were able to send them $500 which helped them to buy firewood for the people who are living in this refugee camp

Firewood

I asked them what else we could do

He told us the people needed Maize

That is the staple dish in Malawi

It is a tasteless meal that has the consistency of mashed potatoes

On Monday morning I woke up and God was telling me to send him the $800 he needed

He took the money and went to the camp. When he got there he found out that the people had not eaten the day before. They were out of maize

Maize

Stanley went and bought 35 bags of Maize, had it milled, and transported to the camp and it was able to feed 14,680 people

Refugee Camp

It wasn’t enough for them to make their main dish but a bowl of porridge

Refugee camp

To feed 14,680 for one day it would take 70 50kg bags of maize which costs 1,000,000 Kwatras.

That converts into $1,500 US dollars

Opportunity to give

Possibility to go

Read Matthew 5:33-37

Transition:

Jesus emphasizes the divine standards for living in His kingdom

The righteousness God requires is first of all internal

If it doesn’t exist in the heart, it doesn’t exist at all

1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

A good outward act is validated before God only when it honestly represents what is on the inside

Right external behavior only pleases him when it corresponds to right internal attitudes and motives

Much of the sermon on the mount is devoted to exposing the faulty principles and motivations of the legalistic system

His teachings stand firmly in agreement with every truth in God’s Word

In the 6 illustrations found in vs. 21-48 Jesus refers to two of the 10 commandments , two more general principles in the Law, and two broad principles of mercy and love

These illustrations progress from the protection of of each human life to the love all human life, including enemies

Today’s passages deal with a person’s character

Jesus takes two principles in the law, taking oaths and retaliation and makes them about telling the truth and turning the other cheek

You character drives your behavior

Lying covers for character lapses

Retaliation exposes insecurities

I. Telling the Truth vs. 33-37

The first Character issue we look at this morning is telling the truth

In Jesus time oaths and vows were more prominent

Several OT passages give guidance on vows

Num 30:2 If you make a vow to the Lord you must keep your word.

To avoid this requirement they would swear by heaven, by Jerusalem, or by the hair on their head

This allowed them to go back on their word because they didn’t swear to God

vs. 33 Perform What You’ve Sworn

The first place need to tell the truth is keeping your word

Jesus tells us to perform what we have sworn

Deuteronomy 23:21 ESV

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Part of our witness is doing what you say you will

People just talk and don’t ever intend on doing what they say

vs. 34-36 Don’t Swear… Oaths

The second area we need to tell the truth is in our swearing

Jesus tells us not to swear, but not of the cursing type

He is talking about how we verify or back up our stories

The Pharisees had a convoluted system of oaths

They said if you swear by Jerusalem it was not binding, but if you swear toward Jersualem it was binding

If you swear by the temple, it is not binding, but if you swear by the temple’s gold, it is

You will hear people say “I swear to God.”

Or they will “I kid you not.”

Leviticus 19:12 ESV

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Profane is to treat that which is holy as something common

The Jews were avoiding this by swearing by heaven, earth, Jersualem, and their own head

Isaiah 66:1 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

Heaven is the throne of God

Earth is the footstool

Jerusalem is the city of the great king

Your can make one hair white or black

vs. 37 Let Your Yes be Yes

The final area we need to tell the truth is in how we answer people

Let your yes be yes and your no be no

Telling people no is a real challenge for some people

They don’t want to disappoint the person to their face so they say yes when they can never fulfill the commitment

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

When you tell people that you can do something when you can’t is lying

Lying is wrong but it doesn’t damage

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

II. Turn the Other Cheek vs. 38-42

vs. 38 Eye for Eye

The second area we need to check our character is to turn the other cheek

There was an OT Law that said and eye for and eye

Deuteronomy 19:21 ESV

Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

The original law was a fair one; it kept people from forcing the offender to pay a greater price than the offense deserved.

It also prevented people from taking personal revenge.

Jesus replaced a law with an attitude: be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer.

Paul backed it up in Romans

Romans 12:17 ESV

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

Vs. 39-41 Go the Extra Mile

Cloak = Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the tunic next to the skin

Lamentations 3:28–30 ESV

Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

vs. 42 Give to Beggars & Borrowers

Psalm 37:25–26 ESV

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.