A Reminder When Struggling With Sin

 A Reminder

As we study the Sermon on the Mount, we see that Jesus’ standards for those in his kingdom are very high. Some will even say impossibly high. Yet, because it is what Jesus says, we must try to live up to them in the power of the Holy Spirit. Put another way, the citizens of the kingdom want to please the King. 

We know, however, that we will fail on occasion. Studying these lessons may remind you of past failures. We actually should expect this. As Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”. 

 Don’t be defeated by this. Remember two things. 

First, Jesus knows and sympathizes with our failures and our weaknesses. He took on human flesh, human nature, and was subject to all of the temptations we are. He did not sin, but he understands our human weaknesses. As the writer of Hebrews wrote: “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable

 sympathize with our weaknesses.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Second, God forgives. Because Jesus mediates between us and the Father, we can come to him, not only for help, but also for forgiveness and cleansing. Again, the author of Hebrews says “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. (Hebrews 4:16) 

MARRIAGE & SPEECH 5:27-35

 Adultery & Lust

5:27-30

The Old Testament commands us not to commit adultery. ()Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) The teaching of the time focused on stealing another man’s wife. Jesus moves the focus to lust. Jesus said, even if you do not take another person’s spouse, you sin if you lust after a woman in your heart. 

This is very relevant for our day. The invitations to lust are everywhere. Television, movies, and social media are full of pictures, particularly of women, designed to inspire lust.

It used to be said that women were not visually stimulated, but that has changed over the decades. Girls and women are now subjected to many images designed to inspire lust. Now there are “spicy” romance novels with graphic sex. There is pornography made especially for women. 

What is the remedy? Jesus tells us to do whatever is necessary to combat lust. That is what he means by tearing out your eye or cutting off your hand. (29-30) 

Here is an example. I once counseled a younger man who was addicted to pornography. His wife had caught him watching it on his phone while his child was playing nearby. 

He was ashamed. He cried while we talked. When I asked him how he usually accessed pornography, he held up his cell phone. I cited this passage and told him, if he was unable to resist it, he should either get rid of his cell phone or get one which did not access the internet. He said he could not do that. My guess is that he remains defeated by this sin. 

So, do what it takes to resist sin. Remove the temptation if possible. Pray for God’s strength to resist it. Find someone to be an accountability partner. 

Fidelity In Marriage 

5:31-32

The words of the first sentence of this section, “it was also said”, indicate Jesus is speaking further about adultery. 

The thing that was “also said” was that a man must give his wife a certificate of divorce when he divorced his wife.  

Jesus was referring to the teaching about Deuteronomy 24:1-4. That passage requires a man divorcing his wife to give his wife a certificate of divorce when he has found some indecency in her. 

There were no court proceedings about divorce at the time, so there was no court order to prove a divorce. The certificate provided the woman proof that she was divorced and could marry again.   

However, the interpretation of the passage was expanded by some rabbis to mean that giving the woman a certificate of divorce absolved the man of any sin in getting the divorce. 

Jesus issued a correction here. The Pharisees were focused on grounds for divorce. Jesus focused on the institution of marriage itself, as set out in Scripture. He did not rely on the Deuteronomy passage, but on the Genesis account. 

The Genesis account is Genesis 2:24” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”. The implication is that this is a permanent binding. 

The words “hold fast” are covenant language. Just as the Israelites were commanded to hold fast to God (Deuteronomy 10:20), a man was to hold fast to his wife. 

The word “fast” means tightly in Biblical language. Think of a fastener, an object that holds two things together. Today we might say hold on tightly or firmly. 

God expected faithfulness in marriage and holds us accountable for the lack of faithfulness. (Malachi 2:13-16)

A piece of paper, a certificate, did not excuse or eradicate the sin. The result of divorce was adultery. Intimate relationships outside of marriage, especially sexual relationships, are adultery. (32) 

Those relationships can be sexual, physical, but they can also be emotional. Remember that Jesus calls lust adultery in the heart. He also said “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”(Matthew 15:19) 

And the commandment is “you shall not commit adultery”. (Exodus 20:14) 

This passage on divorce is directed at men. That is because, at that time in Israel, only men could obtain a divorce, except in certain rare circumstances. And it was men who were using this certificate to casually divorce their wives.

Now, however, women may obtain a divorce from their husbands in most countries. In the USA, women initiate 70 percent of divorces. If you look at marriages involving college educated women, they initiate about 90% of divorces. Since women can obtain divorces today, this passage applies to them as well. 

Jesus had a second confrontation with the Pharisees on this issue. Matthew recorded it in chapter 19. Jesus will further explain his reasoning in that passage. 

Integrity In Speech

5:33-35

Jesus was referring to the teaching of the Pharisees about taking oaths. The Old Testament context is the requirement for God’s  people to be faithful to the promises and vows they made to God. It also forbade lying and taking the Lord's name in vain. 

They were not to bear false witness against their neighbors. (Exodus 20:16) This presumes a legal context. But, it was also applied as a prohibition against lying in general. 

Leviticus 19:11 says “you shall not lie to one another”. And we know that God hates lying: “there are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him…a lying tongue…”. (Proverbs 6:16) 

The problem is, lying is endemic to human nature. Ever since the Fall, when Adam chose Satan over God, people have lied. Jesus called Satan the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Since lying is so common, people devised ways of emphasizing that they are telling the truth we call those things “oaths”. The Pharisees, true to form, began to work on loop holes, where you could take an oath but not sin. They did not want to swear by the Lord, but they said you could swear by the temple, or the doors of the temple, or the altar. Some of those things could make you accountable and some not. In other words, they created exceptions whereby you could swear to the truth, but lie, and not be accountable. 

Jesus cut through all of this made up stuff and said not to swear, or take an oath, at all. Swearing in this context is not cussing, but taking an oath meant to prove you were telling the truth or would be bound by your words. 

Jesus said not to take an oath by anything in heaven or earth because they all belonged to God, implying that it took the Lord’s name in vain. Regardless, every vow, even if we swear by something other than God, is made in God’s presence.

Rather, citizens of Christ’s kingdom are to simply say yes or no and tell the truth or keep their word. He was making the point that God requires total honesty in speech. Christ followers should have such high integrity that oaths are entirely unnecessary. 

James picked up the theme of Jesus’ teaching here when he wrote: 

“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.”

(James 5:12)

The citizens of Christ’s kingdom should be faithful to him, to their spouses, and to each other in truth. 

IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

 IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

What are we saved from? We are saved from God’s wrath. 

Romans 1:18 tells us “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth”. And Romans 2:5-6 tells us “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed”. 

God is withholding his wrath presently, but will ultimately release it and express it in hell. Only God can save us from himself.

But the Bible tells us that the gospel reveals Christ’s righteousness. “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “the righteous shall live by faith”. (Romans 1:17) 

Christ was totally righteous. Therefore, God could impute Christ’s righteousness to us. It is imputed to us through faith alone. It is for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) 

In support, Paul quoted Habbakuk 2:4; “”the righteous shall live by his faith”. This shows us the gospel has always been about faith”. 

ANGER, ADULTERY & LUST - MATTHEW 5:21-30

Murder Begins In The Heart

5:21-26

Jesus begins each of these topics with some variation of “you have heard that it was said”. He is referring to teachers in Jesus’ time. Jesus shows, on his own authority, that his interpretations of the Old Testament are correct and deeper than those of the contemporary teacher. 

He was not critiquing the Old Testament, but the understanding of the Old Testament that was common at the time. Remember, he said he did not come to abolish the law. Rather, he wanted to show the ultimate meaning of it. 

First, he discusses murder, saying it will bring a person under judgment. (21) The law clearly forbids murder. Exodus 20:13 simply says “you shall not murder”. God made men and women in his image. (Genesis 1:27; 9:6) Whoever ends the life of a man or woman is accountable to God with his life. God delegated the punishment to mankind: “Whoever shed the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”. (Genesis 9:6) 

Jesus, however, takes it further. He goes to the attitude of the heart. He says one who is angry with his brother is liable to judgment, as is one who insults his brother or calls him a fool. (22) 

Who qualifies as a brother? The term “brother” here means a fellow believer or disciple. (Matthew 12:46-50)

This sermon is Jesus teaching about the kingdom and how kingdom citizens should live and act. So, Jesus is saying anger should not exist among believers. 

John follows up on this by writing “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not  love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4:7-8).

Then, Jesus gives two examples. First, he said If you go to the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your offering, go and be reconciled to him. Making peace with your brother or sister is more important than the offering. After reconciling, you can return to the altar. 

Applying that to the current day, we might say, when you attend the worship service and realize a brother or sister has something against you, get up and go to them and reconcile. Then you can return to worship. 

Notice here it is not if you have something against a brother, but if he has something against you. 

This actually happened to me. My pastor was preaching on this passage when God reminded me that I had spoken harshly to him in a meeting a couple of years before. I did not believe interrupting the service was appropriate, but after the service I came an apologized to him. He did not remember the incident, but graciously accepted my apology. 

The second example is to make peace with your accuser before going to court. The idea is you have failed to repay a debt. The court will keep in jail until you pay all of the debt, which was the Jewish custom. I think this is a practical advice, but also a metaphor for judgment. Pay your debt, or settle your differences, before the judgment comes with its consequences. 

Everyone knows murder is wrong. But, before you feel self righteous because you have not murdered, consider your anger and the obligation you have to those you have hurt or offended with it. 

Adultery & Lust

5:27-30

The Old Testament commands us not to commit adultery. ()Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) The teaching of the time focused on stealing another man’s wife. Jesus moves the focus to lust. Jesus said, even if you do not take another person’s spouse, you sin if you lust after a woman in your heart. 

This is very relevant for our day. The invitations to lust are everywhere. Television, movies, and social media are full of pictures, particularly of women, designed to inspire lust.

It used to be said that women were not visually stimulated, but that has changed over the decades. Girls and women are now subjected to many images designed to inspire lust. Now there are “spicy” romance novels with graphic sex. There is pornography made especially for women. 

What is the remedy? Jesus tells us to do whatever is necessary to combat lust. That is what he means by tearing out your eye or cutting off your hand. (29-30) 

I found over the years that people are often not willing to do this. They will not get rid of devices they use to see porn, they will not get rid of internet or cable, or they will not cut off relationships that are inappropriate. When this happens, they remain defeated by sin. 

So, do what it takes to resist sin. Remove the temptation if possible.  Find someone to be an accountability partner. Pray for God’s strength to resist it.

FULFILLING THE LAW & PROPHETS - MATTHEW 5:17-20

 Fulfilling The Law And Prophets

5:17-20

If you are reading Matthew’s gospel through in one sitting, or at least reading large portions, these verses may seem to be a jarring interruption to the flow of the sermon.

However, these verses serve as a transition to Jesus’ explanations of various laws that follow these verses. 

Also, Jesus was answering the accusation that he wants to abolish the Old Testament and, especially, the Law. That would resonate with the Jews because the Law is the basis of God’s covenant with Israel. It was the thing that separated Jews from the world and made them God’s people. They might not always keep the law, but they wanted to be identified by it. 

First, Jesus said they should not think he came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. Referring to the Law and Prophets was a way to refer to the whole of Old Testament scripture, not just the Ten Commandments. 

Rather than abolish the Law and the Prophets, Jesus came to fulfill them. What does that mean? 

The Old Testament contains several things. There are three that are especially relevant to what Jesus is saying: (1) moral law; (2) doctrinal teaching;  and (3) prediction or predictive prophecy.

Jesus fulfilled the moral law in two ways. First, he obeyed it. (Hebrews 4:15) As he told John the Baptist at his baptism, he wanted to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15) 

Second, Jesus fulfilled the moral law by explaining the full meaning of it, what is required for obedience. 

The Pharisees and Scribes had developed a superficial interpretation of the law, one that focused on outward displays rather than inward submission. For example, Jesus condemned them for cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside was full of greed and self indulgence. (Matthew 23:25-26)

So, Jesus fulfilled the moral law by explaining its full meaning. He will give several examples of this in the following sections of Matthew 5.

The Old Testament also contains doctrinal teaching. The Law is instruction about God and man’s relationship to him. For example, the doctrine of substitutionary atonement is presented in the sacrifices. It said “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin”. (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22) It pointed Israel to the perfect, complete sacrifice of Jesus for sin. Jesus fulfilled that teaching 

The Old Covenant priesthood taught that man needed an intercessor between man and God. (Exodus 28-29) Jesus fulfilled that teaching, becoming the ultimate mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15)

The New Testament book of Hebrews teaches these truths in detail. 

Finally, the Old Testament contains predictions of the future, especially in the coming of God’s anointed one (Messiah\Christ). It is estimated that Christ fulfilled at least 300 prophecies. It also contains types of Christ that foreshadowed him. 

Jesus fulfilled those prophecies and types since they were about him. That is why he said “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand”. (Mark 1:14) He told the Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me…For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me”. (John 5:39, 46) 

When, after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he gave the greatest Bible study of all time. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interprets to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Matthew took pains to show this, not only by Jesus’ words, but by this actions as well. As he sets out the facts of Jesus’ life, he continually says “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet…” and quotes the prophecy from the Old Testament. 

So, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures. And then he said None of it will pass away until the consummation of the kingdom at the end of the age (all has been accomplished). (19) 

Paul taught this same truth that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament scripture. In his defense to King Agrippa. He said that he preached “nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles”. (Acts 26:22-23) 

Paul also wrote that Christ was the “end” of the law. (Romans 10:4) “End” means the goal or purpose of the law. 

What does that mean for us? Jesus did not render the Old Testament scripture useless. We, then, do not discard it. And because of that, he requires us to obey and teach God’s moral law. If we do not, if we “relax” the commandments, there is a penalty. That person will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven. In contrast, those who obey will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) 

Despite this warning from Jesus, many teachers have indeed relaxed commandments and disregarded the Old Testament. 

It began with Marcion in the 130s A.D. He believed the God of the Old Testament was a different God than the one in the New Testament. Therefore, any scripture that was in, or referenced, the Old Testament was to be regarded. Unsurprisingly, he produced his own Bible without the Old Testament. And in the New Testament, he deleted these verses. 

There are theologies that teach the Old Testament is inspired, but not applicable unless replicated in the New Testament. In practice, however, this led to many of their members ceasing to believe the Old Testament was anything more than a history book. 

This idea recently resurfaced in Andy Stanley’s sermon, saying that the church must “unhitch” from the Old Testament and focus only on the resurrection of Christ.

The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 provides a good summary of Jesus' words and the correct way to view the Scriptures:

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

• The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.