Jesus' Sermon: The Law of Love

The overall message you and I should be understanding in this passage is that there is no way we can, on our own, do what Jesus is saying here.

Even if we could muster up the kind of faultless and unflagging outward obedience that the scribes and Pharisees prided themselves in, we would still never make it in. We’d have to exceed that kind of righteousness.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Remember that in the Kingdom of heaven you are perfectly loved, inside and out, all the time. Unless you and I are perfect the way God is perfect, we have no hope of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

God understands our failure and has provided His own true righteousness, His perfect righteousness, in place of the righteousness you and I do not have.

Nobody can have true righteousness without repentance and receiving God's nature, being born again of the Spirit. It is given to us freely, without any contribution on our part, as we have faith in Jesus Christ. This is called justification, which means that we are now "made right" or "just" before God on the basis of Jesus' achievements.

God's kind of love, the love He has poured into your hearts and mine, through His Holy Spirit, is sacrificial. The king of kings set aside His glory and His throne so He could associate with the lowly, and finally He gave up His life so that you and I could live in harmony with Him.

He repaid our evil with His good.

This is the kind of love that Jesus said people would immediately recognize as God's kind of agape love, and it is every bit as sacrificial for you and me to display, as it was for the Lord Jesus.

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Jesus' Sermon: Perfection in the Law

(6) Jesus sixth and final illustration in today’s text has to do particularly with love.

Each time Jesus says the word “love” in this passage, He is using the word “agape,” meaning God's kind of love: pure, unselfish, sacrificial.

* You think about the other person and what would be the very best for them, even if there is a personal cost to you.

* The kind of love that flows out from the center of your heart, you really feel it, it isn't pretend.

* Genuine love has a cheerful heart which shows in your smile, in your voice, in your gentle words and warm affection.

Hopeful, joyful patience that leaves no room for complaining, or blaming, or shaming people.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' (Matthew 5:43)

God’s law actually says to love your neighbor as yourself, that’s back in Leviticus 19:18. But the Talmud, the rabbinical traditions, added the second part about being allowed to hate your enemies.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44)

Being kind and considerate, love does not want to hate an enemy, love seeks to change an enemy into a friend. This is what God did with you and me, He kept loving us, and provided everything we needed to become His friend.

Jesus added even more

"...and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)

The most revealing test of love comes when love is rejected.
* What do you do when someone twists your motives, doubts your sincerity, or repays your goodness with meanness?

* What happens when you are offended?

* When you work at getting along with people who are not friendly to you, who are on the opposite side of you, who persecute you in some way?

Jesus says love them and pray for them.

Sometimes you and I make up our minds to show love to somebody, no matter how hard it’s going to be, and then find out that we can't keep it up on our own.

That's because this isn't about gritting your teeth on the inside and putting on a command performance of being nice on the outside.

Love is not just an action word. Agape love is about being filled up, heart, soul and spirit, with God's love through the Holy Spirit, which overflows to other people in the way you talk to interact with them.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Retaliation

(5) The fifth illustration has to do with retaliation,

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' (Matthew 5:38)

This was a famous law even in Jesus’ day, what the Romans called the “Lex Talionis,” the law of “tit for tat.”

It was an ancient and universal law, found even in the Code of Hammurabi. When God gave this law, it was for mercy. Before this law, people took revenge at a level above the offense. If a person killed someone, for example, then the family of that someone would come back, kill the the murderer and wipe out his whole family for good measure.

God put a stop to this kind of retaliation by requiring that the recompense should be no more than an equal match to the offense.

This principle is intended for daily life. In personal relationships, you and I are not to develop a spirit of retaliation – we are to trust that with God. It doesn’t mean that we can’t defend ourselves in a dangerous situation, it doesn’t mean that people who do wrong shouldn’t be brought to court. What it means is that you and I are called to give love and mercy in return for unkindness.

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39)

* If someone is mean to you, then you are kind and loving back to them.

* When you receive a hurt, trust God with it, and don’t give the hurt back.

* Stay faithful in relationships where the other person is hard to get along with, even though you would far rather not have them be in your life anymore.

"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." (Matthew 5:40)

If you are forced to give up something, don’t indulge in resentment and bitterness over it, just give back good for the evil that was done to you.

This can happen at the most mundane level.
--> Everybody makes you go eat at the Mexican restaurant even though you wanted to go get hamburgers.
--> It was your turn in line, and someone else cut in.
--> Your friend tells a secret about you and you are forced to admit it’s true.

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:41)

A Roman soldier could force someone to carry his load for a mile. Grace goes the second mile.

In all of these examples, God is interested in what’s going on in your heart. God loved you and me when we did not love Him. Time and time again we offended God, and grieved Him, and hurt Him with our sin. He continued to persevere with us until we began to love Him back. Aren’t you thankful that God faithfully loves you like that? He calls you and me and to show the same faithful love to the people He’s put in our lives.

"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." (Matthew 5:42-43)

* Who in your life is asking something from you, and it would be a real sacrifice to give it?

* Or you are reluctant to give it because they don’t really deserve it?

* Or you’re pretty sure they would not use what you’re giving them in a way that you would approve of?

* Or they are in no position to give back to you, or to repay you?

* Or you simply would like to keep whatever it is for yourself?

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Contracts

(4) The fourth illustration has to do with being genuine and keeping our promises.

Your character should be so honest that people who know you know they can believe what you say. Words depend on character, and oaths can’t compensate for poor character. You and I are to be trustworthy the way God is trustworthy.

As God’s people you and I are to be known as utterly truthful all the time, no promise given that we don’t intend to keep, no careless words, no sudden “I swear to [you know what] I’m not kidding, cross my heart and hope to die, this is the truth, I really mean it this time.”

That includes carrying through as a parent – no meaningless threats, no extravagant promises, just consistent follow through of doing what you said you would do.

Jesus said that by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned.

Our words end up revealing what’s really in our hearts.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'" (Matthew 5:37

What would it be like if you had a little tape recorder, and recorded everything you said for the next whole week? It would only be revealing, of course, once you forgot it was on, so you didn’t use your company manners. Anything you and I say that does not flow from the new life the Holy Spirit gives within us is sin,

"...anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:37)

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Divorce

(3) It makes sense, then, that right after speaking on adulture Jesus went straight into the third illustration, about marriage and divorce. Jesus was referring to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which explains that a man could divorce his wife if she displeased him in some way. All he had to do was give her a certificate of divorce, then they both could move on to marry someone else.

But Jesus said that kind of divorce made them adulterers, unless the marriage had already been broken by adultery. Jesus was talking about the heart, what was happening in the heart.

Throughout the Bible God says He hates divorce, but He never says He hates divorced people.

It is because of the devastation that divorce leaves in the people He loves so deeply that God hates divorce in the first place. Those of you who have gone through a divorce know -- and members of my own family have been through divorce so I know too -- how devastating such an experience can be. You break a bone, a few months later, it’s as good as new, isn’t it. You break a heart.... God knows how long it takes to knit your heart back together.

Be assured that when you come to Him for His comfort and cleansing, He will flood you to overflowing with His love and grace.

If you are troubled by a divorce in your background, then remember what Jesus said to the woman who was dragged before Him to be stoned for committing adultery.

Jesus told all the people present -- who were feeling very self-righteous by the way -- that whoever among you has not sinned, you can throw the a stone at this woman. After they all left, one by one, knowing they had no right to throw those stones, Jesus told her, I don’t condemn you either, you’re forgiven, you are free to go and sin no more. You and I live in the day of grace right now. Jesus didn’t come to condemn, He came to heal and forgive.

If your spouse left you, and you didn’t want this divorce at all, then God has something even more for you. In His eyes you hold a special place in His heart reserved only for the widows and the fatherless, people God has said, over and over again, He will personally protect, provide for and work justice for.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Adultery

(2) Jesus’ next illustration is about adultery.

Adultery is any sex that happens outside of your marriage.

People who love as Christ loves do not commit adultery. When two people allow their physical passions to sweep them away, the reason is not that they love each other too much. The reason is that they each love their own pleasure too much and love each other too little.

In real love, there is at the same time respect and self-control which seeks to build the other person up in Christ. Real love saves from sin. You cannot commit adultery and call it making beautiful love. In God’s sight it is the deepest possible betrayal.

Even toying with temptation,
* Reading books, or magazines that you know will excite those desires,
* Or watching a show,
* Flirting with someone you are attracted to
* Pretending to be single
* Looking at certain material,
* Or listening to that kind of music,
* Giving your fantasy life free reign
* Or talking dirty just for fun....
God considers all of this evidence of a betraying heart -- That's what Jesus was saying.

Jesus said it’s better to cut that right out of your life, even though it feels like you’ve just poked your eye out, or chopped off a vital part of your body, than to keep that in your life.

Why does He say that? That’s so harsh!

"For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."(Matthew 5:29)

Did you know it meant that much to God? Look at what Jesus said next,

"...if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." (Matthew 5:30)

* What have you been unwilling to cut off, even though you know it leads you into temptation and worse?

Jesus is saying deal with sin immediately and decisively. Don’t taper off, cut it off.

If you find yourself feeling helpless in this area of your life, that it has a stronger draw than you feel you have the energy, or even the “want to” to resist, then talk about it with a trusted, wise, spiritually mature friend or counselor who would keep your confidence, who would pray fervently and faithfully with you about this and help you think through practical ways you can develop fresh new thought patterns and habits.

Adultery corrupts marriage as the illustration of God’s love for you and me.

God's love is pure, and faithful, His love is whole, and that is what He desires from us, too. When you come to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God merges your life and His together, and He gives you His Spirit to live in you.

In a mysterious way, when a man and woman marry, the Bible says that their lives merge together too, and they become “one flesh.” God has given us marriage as a way of living this kind of love out every day, of understanding what it means to sacrifice for love, and to be faithful, to be pure and whole hearted in love.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Anger

Jesus gave six illustrations of what He meant by “righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees.”
(1) Matthew 5:21-22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"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."

There are all kinds of reasons that you and I get angry that, when you get right down to it, have only to do with our selfish interests being thwarted.

We didn’t get what we wanted, one way or the other. When you and I hold people in contempt, or put them down, or impugn their reputation, that comes from evil. God considers that as good as murder, it’s sin.

* People who love with Christ's love will not sin in this way because love never seeks to destroy, but always to build up.

Jesus gave an example of what this would look like in every day life:

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you" (Matthew 5:23

You’re preparing to worship God, or do your Bible study, or pray about something, and this thought comes into your head “You said some pretty mean things to that person.” Who do you think would help you remember that someone had reason to be offended by you?

Pay attention when the Holy Spirit is working in your heart about something.

"...leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:24)

Literally, do not delay another moment.

Sin never dies of old age, it just gets worse with time.

Call that person up, or write them a note; do something about it, in all humility and true grief for having offended that person and God. You will find that Jesus not only goes with you, He provides the words for you, and has prepared the other person to hear what you have to say.

When you obey God in this, whatever happens next is also in His hands, you have done what was right in His eyes, and now it is the other person’s chance to also do right. Then you are free to worship, and get into the Scriptures, and pray.

Jesus gave another example about going to court, and you’re both convinced that you’re right. Better settle out of court, while you still have a chance, in this life. It’s really better to do whatever you can, out of mercy, for the other person rather than stand on your rights, because once God comes into it, the judge at the court, you may very well be found guilty after all.

* What dispute has there ever been where only one person is a hundred percent wrong, and the other person is one hundred percent the innocent victim? Nothing gets past the Lord. You are responsible for your one percent.

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Blended Gospels: Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, Intention of the Law

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"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.

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

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. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'

"But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil.

"But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

"Give to everyone, the one who begs from you, do not refuse the one who would borrow from you and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

"But I say to you, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,(G) pray for those who abuse and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

"For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

"And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

[Blended Gospels, Matthew 5:21-48, Luke 6:27-35 ESV]

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