Series: Learning From The Master – A Plan to Live By
You Can’t Just Walk Around The Outside
INTRO: Continuing with our series Learning From The Master – A Plan To Live By. Last week we looked at the Beatitudes. We learned what real happiness can be when we look to and trust the Lord.
Ever wish you could just follow a few rules and not worry about the details? In fact I hear that advice all the time. There are books written along these lines. What did Jesus teach about these things? Did He encourage us to just make a general acceptance of things and not worry about the details? Today, I want to look at how he opened up some things that most people are real familiar with and expanded them for our understanding.
Today, I want to continue in Matthew 5 and look at how we need to walk close to where God wants us, not just around the perimeter.
Matthew 5:13-48(NKJV) 13“You are
the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be
seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled
underfoot by men.
14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hidden.
15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever
does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter
the kingdom of heaven.
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall
not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,
‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall
be in danger of hell fire.
23Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with
him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to
the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there
till you have paid the last penny.
27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall
not commit adultery.’
28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him
give her a certificate of divorce.’
32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except
sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman
who is divorced commits adultery.
33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall
not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it
is God’s throne;
35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for
it is the city of the great King.
36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair
white or black.
37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is
more than these is from the evil one.
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.’
39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your
cloak also.
41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from
you do not turn away.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’
44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you,
45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His
sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust.
46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even
the tax collectors do the same?
47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than
others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is
perfect.
I read last week, but I want to look at verses 13-20 again this week.
Matthew 5:13-48(NKJV) 13“You are
the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be
seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled
underfoot by men.
14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hidden.
15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are different than the world – 13-16
We should “flavor” people’s lives
We should make things better
Continually (not hidden) – 14
Brightly (on a lampstand) - 15
Revealing (they may see your good works) - 16
Blessing (glorify your Father in heaven) - 16
Jesus talks about the details -
17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever
does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter
the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus came to fulfill the Law not destroy it - 17
Jesus came to fulfill the Law completely - 18
Jesus came to fulfill the Law with every detail - 18
Jesus came to fulfill the Law that we might know it better - 19
Jesus expects us to notice the details - 20
Thou shalt not kill – vs. 21
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You
shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,
‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall
be in danger of hell fire.
23Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with
him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to
the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there
till you have paid the last penny.
But Jesus taught more…
Nor be angry without a cause – 22a-b
Nor harbor (or cling to) ill feelings – 23-24
1 John 4:20(KJV) 20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Nor let pride prevent peaceful actions – 25-26
27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You
shall not commit adultery.’
28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Nor should we lust after another woman – 28
Is there anything wrong in our society today?
31“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his
wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason
except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a
woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Sexual purity
God’s blessings and planning
Do not swear falsely
33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of
old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it
is God’s throne;
35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for
it is the city of the great King.
36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair
white or black.
37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is
more than these is from the evil one.
Keep our vows unto the Lord – 33
Hesitate or refrain from making vows haphazardly – 34-36
Just be truthful - 37
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an
eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your
cloak also.
41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from
you do not turn away.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’
44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you,
45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His
sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust.
46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not
even the tax collectors do the same?
47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than
others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Jesus stated the scripture commonly known and used…
Works for me
Seems fair
I like it!
Jesus instead challenges us to…
Turn the other cheek - 39
Give them even more when they take advantage - 40
Don’t turn them away – 42
Love our enemies – 44
Bless those who curse us – 44
Do good to those who hate us – 44
Pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us - 44
Don’t let hate choke the love God has instilled within you – 45-47
Love all of God’s creation – 46-47
48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Teleios = From telos; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with ho, hay, to) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.
Telos (tel'-os) = From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid):—+ continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost.
Know He does the details
Pay attention to them
Be complete in Him for Him and for others
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 072510am