This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the "Listening To Heaven's Infallible Teacher" series from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapters 5-7.
In last week's sermon, "A Reliable Guide for Successful Living" Jesus had just declared that the law—not the burdensome laws of the scribes, but the law of God based on the two great principles of reverence for God and respect for others—is a reliable guide for successful living.
Sermon Scripture
Matthew 5:21-48 NIV “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Text:
Matthew 5:22 NIV But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Introduction
That is our text today but we are going to be talking about what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-48.
Perhaps the greatest demands of all the teachings of Jesus are found in this segment of the Sermon on the Mount. In the preceding four verses, Jesus had just declared that the law—not the burdensome laws of the scribes, but the law of God based on the two great principles of reverence for God and respect for others—is a reliable guide for successful living. We talked about that last week.
Now Jesus demonstrated how respect for others affects our behavior. He expects those of us who believe to also behave! Jesus made it quite clear that Christianity is no easy “do-as-you-please” religion. In love and yet in firmness he said that if we dare bear his name, we are to believe and act in love toward others.
Christianity is not simply a private affair between you and God but is reflected in your relationship to other people.
Matthew 22:37, 39-40 NIV Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are five problems with others that we will not have when we believe and act accordingly.
The problem of anger
The problem with morality
The problem of dishonesty
The problem of retaliation
The problem of hate
I. First let's deal with the problem of anger (Matt. 5:21–26).
Matthew 5:21-26 NIV “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Jesus contended that outward conformity to the old law that forbids killing is not sufficient. He taught that we will be judged according to the inward desires of our hearts.
Clearly the ancient law said, “Thou shall not kill.” But Jesus forbids even the attitude of anger against others.
The King James Version says that a man is condemned who is angry with his brother “without a cause”.
Matthew 5:22 KJV but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
This shows that Jesus’ statement is actually a total prohibition against anger in any form. Christianity requires that we not ever have and harbor ill feelings against a brother or sister.
The word danger appears three times in this one verse, obviously underscoring the danger of anger.
So how do we reconcile this with the time that scripture says that Jesus showed anger.
Mark 3:5 NIV He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Or the time that Paul said we should be angry but not sin.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
From these two references it is obvious that anger is not always condemned in the Bible. God has given us the ability to feel anger, but he expects us to use it constructively.
We should notice in this passage in Matthew that Jesus was not speaking about anger concerning a situation but about anger directed toward individuals. We can be angry about situations but not at individuals.
What Jesus was forbidding here is selfish and vindictive anger.
The word raca in this scripture is hard to translate because it describes a tone of voice more than content or meaning. Jesus forbids the use of this word because it displays a spirit of arrogance and scornful anger. He said that one who is guilty of this is liable to the judgment of God.
Jesus also forbids the use of the word fool. This word was used to cast aspersions on the moral character of another person. Jesus forbids us to destroy another person’s name and reputation.
B. But, you can defeat anger through reconciliation.
Matthew 5:23-26 NIV “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Jesus painted the picture of a worshiper standing before the altar. There comes to the worshiper's mind the fact that someone is angry at him, or perhaps that he is angry at someone else. Should he complete his act of worship and then go solve his problem, or should he solve the problem first? Jesus says that we should stop worship, go to our brother or sister, make things right, and then return to a meaningful worship experience.
Jesus was clearly saying that Christians should take the initiative in reconciliation. Such reconciliation will never come by wishful thinking or even by prayer alone. The sooner we take this initiative in asking and granting forgiveness, the better and the easier it is. The longer we wait, the more fixed the attitude of resentment and anger. So, Jesus said, “First go and be reconciled to them” (v. 24).
Also in this passage Jesus was saying that Christian reconciliation is a prerequisite to fellowship with God. Whenever we hold grudges and attitudes of anger toward others, we become alienated from God. The warning is first to be reconciled to our brother or sister and then come and offer our gift to God.
II. The problem of morality (Matt. 27–28).
Matthew 5:27-28 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Here’s the point, any act that damages everyone concerned can never lead to a happy or Christlike life. For example in the matter of adultery, everybody involved loses. Never is there a happy ending to an affair, whether that affair be extramarital or premarital, or a relationship with a friend or family member. Therefore Jesus attacked this problem head-on. He asserted that if you believe as you should, you will behave as you should in your personal morals.
A. Just as Jesus did in the case of murder, he distinguished between the deed and the attitude. The law condemns the act of adultery; Jesus condemned the attitude of adultery.
If we take the law of Moses literally, a man on a desert island could never be guilty of adultery. But according to the teachings of Christ, he could if he persisted in his lustful attitude toward women. Thus Jesus dealt with the root of the problem, which is a matter of the heart.
B. So what is Jesus’ remedy for a morality problem (vv. 29–32).
Matthew 5:29-30 NIV If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
It is true that amputation may hamper the ability to steal, but it does not remove the heart of the thief. The goal Jesus was advocating was not mutilation of the body but purity of morals.
III. Now, let's talk about the problem of dishonesty (Matt. 5:33–37).
A. The problem of dishonesty is compounded by empty oaths
Matthew 5:33-36 NIV “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
The Jews were notorious for dividing oaths into two classes—those that were absolutely binding and those that were not binding. For instance, an oath that contained the name of God was binding, but an oath that omitted the name of God was not binding. Those who were not familiar with this form of trickery could believe a person’s oath when that oath meant absolutely nothing.
In light of this, Jesus did not forbid taking an oath such as one must take in jury service or when being inducted into the armed forces. What he did reject is on-again-off-again truth telling. He was simply saying that we must tell the truth under all circumstances.
B. The problem of dishonesty is solved by Christian character
Matthew 5:37 NIV All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
A person’s word should be his or her bond. Christians should never need to take an oath to substantiate what they are saying. Their guarantee should be their Christian character.
In the business world you may get a person to sign all kinds of contracts and take all kinds of oaths, but none of these will solve the problem of dishonesty. This problem is solved only by Christian character produced by belief in Jesus Christ that changes the way a person behaves.
IV. Then there is the problem of retaliation (Matt. 5:38–42).
Retaliation use to be unlimited. The law of the jungle prevailed, and might made right. If a man knocked out another man’s tooth, he could expect to have all of his teeth knocked out. Because of this unrestrained retaliation, God had to deal with it in the law.
Exodus 21:23-25 NIV But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Though it may be hard for us to understand today but, at that time limited retaliation was a real advancement in the area of personal morality. This law in Exodus precisely defines the amount of revenge that was permitted. But Jesus asserted that repaying evil with evil falls short of the Christian concept of believing and behaving.
A. What does retaliation do anyway
Actually, what good does retaliation do? Does it restore a lost eye, or does it replace a broken tooth? Saying something in answer to a remark or accusation, in a sharp, angry, manner and caustic criticism gets us nowhere except in serious trouble. Violence has always bred violence. So Jesus underscored the senselessness of retaliation.
B. Here was Jesus’ alternative.
Matthew 5:39-42 NIV But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
The ancient law of unlimited retaliation and the later law of limited retaliation was now replaced by Jesus with the law of no retaliation. Here Jesus was speaking about personal wrong done by a personal enemy. He was not delivering a discourse on proper response in the case of war or unprovoked attack.
We should also keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to committed followers. What we are talking about now is difficult for mature Christians and is certainly beyond the ability of immature children of the kingdom of God. The overall implication of Jesus’ teaching in this passage is that if we are slapped in the face, we must neither hit back nor run. Instead, we must stand our ground, take the insult, and demonstrate that, as Christians, we would rather suffer wrong than do wrong.
V. And finally Jesus deals with the problem of hate (Matt. 5:43–48).
This is perhaps the ultimate test of the Christian who wants to believe and behave.
Let’s read;
Matthew 5:46-47 NIV If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
A. Hate destroys
In verse 46 Jesus said that hate destroys our rewards. In verse 47 he asserts that it destroys our testimony in that we become no different than the non-Christian, unbelieving people around us.
Hate will ultimately destroy the person who hates.
Hate has a way of fastening itself on the person who does not deal with it quickly and effectively. Hate warps our judgment, breaks down our personal equilibrium and peace of mind, creates nervous disorders and high blood pressure, and can actually cause illness and death. These facts are confirmed by leading physicians in clinical studies.
So it is quite obvious why Jesus said we must avoid the destructiveness of hate. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our Christian testimony, we owe it to our church, and we owe it to the Christ we serve.
B. Jesus gives us four steps to take in the destruction of hate.
1. We must love our enemies. This commandment can be obeyed only by those who are Christians. Apart from the grace of God, we can never really love a person who doesn't love us.
2. The second step is to bless our enemies. This means we must speak well of them. Again, obviously those who know nothing of the grace of God can ever bring themselves to bless a person who has been cursing them.
3. The third step is, “Do good to them.” It is not difficult to do good to those who do good to you, but to do good to those who do you harm requires the help of the Holy Spirit in the fullest sense.
4. Jesus offered a fourth and final step. He asked us to pray for our enemies. Someone has said that our natural impulse is to prey on our enemies, not pray for our enemies. Yet this is love’s requirement of those who believe and behave.
Conclusion
Jesus finishes this section of His sermon with what it says in;
Matthew 5:48 NIV Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
On the surface this is impossible, since no one can be as perfect as God. Yet the word perfect should not be interpreted to mean sinless or flawless. Rather, we should understand it to mean whole—complete and mature. Jesus seemed to be saying, “Stop acting like a child!” He admonishes us to grow up and become mature as our heavenly Father is mature and thus make our love all-inclusive.
When you draw love’s circle big enough to include everyone, you will exclude the problems of anger, immorality, dishonesty, retaliation, and hate.
I will end with a poem by Edwin Markham
He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the will to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
—Edwin Markham
Let's pray,
Dear God, please make is people that love other people with all our hearts. Help us to have a selfless attitude towards others. Let us be a part of people’s solutions and not their source of problems. Please let us be your true ambassadors on earth, and let us serve you well.
Let us express our faith in you by loving other people. Let us be a channel of blessing to people throughout the world, so that your name can be praised. In Jesus' name.
Sermon Audio
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