Session 4: Sermon on the Mount

"You have heard that it was said".

Looking at the righteousness of a disciple and what that looks like.

Matthew 5:17-18

Look at this "I say to you".  He didn't come to do away with the law but to make it deeper, fill it up through my own obedience and deeper interpretation.

Matthew 5:19-20

His listeners would have been stunned to hear this.  Their thinking was that the scribes and pharisees were most holy people.  Jesus will point out that these people who are regarded as the most righteous are those who have had an external emphasis on obedience but not an internal emphasis.

He is going to now key in on the relaxing of the commands.

In what way were the scribes and pharisees relaxing the law and teaching others to do the same? Jesus will start with murder and adultery.

Verse 21. The problem was the way the law was being applied.

Verse 22. "But I say to you". One who speaks with full authority of God.  Jesus has strong words in this verse regarding murder.  He is going to correct their assumption that "as long as I have not jabbed a knife into someone and taken away their physical life, then I am not guilty of the sin of murder".

But Jesus says it's not enough for you to just have external righteousness; murder begins in the heart.

He will show them the progression of their thinking. He says three things:

1) Angry with brother - liable to judgment

2) Insults his brother - liable to courts (Sanhedrin) ("Raca" in Aramaic sounded like you're clearing your throat - contemptible sound)

3)  You fool - hell fire

The term "you fool" in contrast to "Raca" is a progression. "Raca" means empty-headed. Saying "you fool" is taking it a step further - morally worthless.

Jesus is showing that we start with anger and move to contempt.  Contempt continues to degrade until we see others around us not just as one who gets on our nerves but someone who is worthless.  If you follow His logic to the end, He's saying once you have assigned worthless to a person, you're not that far away of committing murder.

Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He's going to use extreme examples because He wants to make a connection between our outward actions and the state of our heart.

He shows also that anger turns into sinful speech quickly.  We need to understand the difference between anger and contempt. Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure.  It's not morally right or wrong in and of itself in its very first stages initially.  It's what we do with them.

Jesus got angry a few times: 

1) The temple

2) Withered hand

We hold onto our anger and cultivate it - wrong.  Anger is simply our natural response to having our will violated.

What's the difference between our anger and the anger Jesus displayed in scripture?  Jesus is angry because His Father's will has been violated - that is righteous anger.

How often is our anger righteous?  Not often

Jesus in 33 years get angry twice.  Even though He lives around people who violate the Father's will every day.  His words and actions were on behalf of His Father's will not His.

Anger - Contempt - Murder

When we begin to engage in contemptuous speech, what do we end up doing? We commit character assassination, even though we didn't physically murder, which is wrong.

Murder begins in the heart - Jesus is saying.  He gives us a way to reconcile in verses 23-24.

Verses 25-26. "When you offer your gift at the altar".  We don't offer our gift at the altar anymore.  The way to think about this is "if your brother has anything at all against you".  Jesus wants us to understand that unresolved anger interferes with our worship of an Almighty God.  When there is all kinds of friction in our horizontal relationships, we need to go and resolve it quickly before it becomes something that blocks that vertical relationship with God.  We've set aside purity of heart to hold onto our anger.

Ephesians 4:26 means choose your time well and quickly.  "Don't let the sun go down....." does not mean to stay up until 2:00 a.m. hashing it out.  Don't let your anger linger.  The term "brother" here means those you share faith with.

In verse 25, He broadens our understanding of how to handle reconciliation - "accuser" now.  What He is saying here is before you get to a place where you will be thrown to justice, see if there is a way to work in mercy and grace.  Even if someone has accused you of something, whether true or false, you go, you try to reconcile.  This echoes Romans 12:18.

Fractured relationships are our responsibility to mend.  Why? We know Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers right?  But we're the ones who know what it means to be reconciled to God.

Jesus then moves on to His next topic which is adultery.  There is a definite connection between murder and adultery.  Adultery only happens when anger and contempt fester in a relationship.

Verses 27-28. "But I say". Someone waiting to devour a woman with his eyes - lustful look takes in the image to use it to fulfill desires.  Different than just looking at a beautiful woman.

Verses 29-30.  What is happening here? Jesus using hyperbole here.  (Origin of Alexandria).  (The counsel of Nicea). We do not maim ourselves to keep from sinning.

What has been His focus thus far? He's addressing line-walking.  These who say "how close can I get to sin before I've actually sinned". Jesus is going to reduce to absurdity what the scribes and pharisees believe.  They believed that if your arms and hands were obeying themselves, then you were righteous - eyes also. 

With Jesus it's always internal, a heart obedience.  Women indulge in lustful thinking as well.  Sexual as well as the perfect marriage, guy, husband etc.  Lusting after a husband who is not ours or a feeling.  Lust is wanting something that isn't ours.  Adultery begins in the heart.  We must forgive.

1) Walk in forgiveness toward others because of Christ's example.  Those who commit these offenses towards us are doing this in ignorance.  Look at Luke 23:33-34.  But they do know.  Jesus says "no". If they knew who I was they would not do this.  Their eyes are blind.  Do we extend that kind of grace? Give the benefit of the doubt to those who stir up our sinful anger?

2) We walk in forgiveness towards others because of Christ's provision.  The very best reason for us to set aside our anger to those who offend us.

I Thessalonians 5:9.  God is not angry with us.

Colossians 3:12-13. Bear each other.

God put His anger on Christ.  There is no more anger coming our way.  It was poured out on Him.  May the vision of Christ on the cross bearing the anger of God come into our minds when we are offended.

Next: session 5