the sermon on the mount (matt. 5-7) …. kingdom righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 re: man’s traditional...

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7)

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Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Man’s Traditional Teaching 5:21-48

This section has been greatly misunderstood The “general” understanding…

“You’ve heard Moses say… But I’m setting you straight. Here’s how it really is…”



The greatest barrier to the kingdom would not be Gentile idolatry & immorality

The greatest barrier would be the perversions of the Pharisees & scribes Mt 23:13-15

“Legalistic thinking” Mt 23:16-24



Jesus’ 6 “contrasts” illustrate 1 main point…

God is not just concerned about outward actions…He is also concerned with motives that might lead to those actions.



Contrast # 1 Murder (vv. 21-26)

A “legalistic” Jew saw Ex 20:13 and thought “Don’t take another man’s life”

This left untouched malice, hatred, contempt… areas courts cannot condemn




Jesus teaches otherwise The Jews missed the Law’s intent Lev 19:17 “Divine courts” will condemn a heart full of

ill-will towards another person




Jesus even emphasis how such malice towards another affects one’s worship

The gospel of the kingdom connects hatred and murder 1 Jn 3:14-15



Contrast # 2 Adultery (vv. 27-30)

A “legalistic” Jew saw Ex 20:14 and thought “Don’t go to bed with another man’s wife”

This left untouched lust, sinful desires Jesus teaches otherwise




Lust is already “adultery of the heart” Left unchecked, it will lead to literal adultery A point even taught before the Law Job 31:1




David’s sin was not so much in “seeing” a naked Bathsheba…it was in “looking upon her” and finding a way to satisfy his desire 2 Sam 11

Such temptations must be “radically removed”



Contrast # 3 Divorce (vv. 31-32)

A “legalistic” Jew saw Ex 24:1b as a “right” and even a “command” from Moses Mt 19:7

Jesus teaches otherwise…He affirms the real intent of marriage “from the beginning” Mt 19:8



Contrast # 3 Divorce (vv. 31-32)

The “putting away party” can divorce & remarry if he/she puts away a mate for fornication

The “put away party” cannot remarry…it doesn’t matter whether the divorce is lawful or unlawful



Contrast # 4 Vows (vv. 33-37)

A “legalistic” Jew saw Lev 19:12 and thought “Just don’t commit perjury, especially when the name of God has been invoked…all other vows are not binding” Mt 23:16-22



Contrast # 4 Vows (vv. 33-37)

Jesus teaches otherwise This was “sophistry” (deceptive word games) Kingdom citizens are people of their word Every word spoken will be judged Mt 12:36-37



Contrast # 5 Vengeance (vv. 38-42)

A “legalistic” Jew saw Ex 21:24 and saw a “license” for personal revenge

Jesus teaches otherwise…this precept was meant to govern legal retribution




Kingdom citizens will be “wronged” 5:10-12 Nowhere does Jesus ever teach a disciple

cannot restrain someone from doing evil The point is how this can & must be done




Whatever we do in response to another’s evil toward us or others we love must be done in love…not personal revenge

Evil cannot be resisted with evil Rom 12:17-21



Contrast # 6 Love (vv. 43-48)

A “legalistic” Jew was quick to quote Lev 19:18, but also always showed contempt to “enemies”

They were “separatists” (kept themselves aloof from others they deemed “unworthy”)




A “legalistic” Jew would also “nit-pick” how “neighbor” would be defined Lk 10:27-29

Jesus teaches otherwise




If a kingdom citizen sees an “enemy” in need, he will not refuse to serve him out of love for him

This is a character trait learned from a “perfect” Father Rom 5:6-10


Kingdom Righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 Re: Empty Self-Righteousness 6:1-18

The “kind” of righteousness Jesus has been discussing is not academic…it is active

He now instructs how one will practice the righteousness of His kingdom

Right actions can be done wrong



Remember His words from 5:20 The scribes & Pharisees were the epitome of

such “shallow” righteousness Mt 23:1-12 Hypocrisy strategically planned “praise” Those who exalt themselves will be humbled



If all we seek & receive is “men’s praise”… we have our reward in full vv. 2b, 5b, 16b

Such get no reward from the Father v. 1b The over-riding principle is found in 5:16b To illustrate, Jesus uses 3 “topics”



Topic # 1 Charity (vv. 2-4)

The object = help others less fortunate The concern is not to draw attention to yourself If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”




“Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing”

Translation make your charitable deeds so secret that not even your other hand is aware




Even if no one else sees/knows your actions…. …the needy still get helped …the Father who “sees in secret” knows and will reward you



Topic # 2 Prayer (vv. 5-15)

The object = petition God for help, cast cares The concern is not to be heard by others If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”




Many words…vain repetitions are useless They may impress men…they don’t impress God Pray in your “closet”…the God who sees in

secret will hear you and grant what you need




The God to Whom we pray already knows our needs before we ask them

As an “example,” Jesus gives a Model Prayer




The Model Prayer Praise to God…a desire for His will to succeed Petition for daily needs, temptation deliverance Request for mercy from God…to others




The very attitude re: prayer Jesus is addressing here is illustrated in Lk 18:9-14



Topic # 3 Fasting (vv. 16-18)

The object = to humble self…seek God’s favor It is not just to appear “righteously afflicted” If that is one’s motive…he has his “reward”




Fasting appears to be the result of spiritual activity and not “planning” to abstain from food

Because one pursues a spiritual goal, he may not take the time to eat




“Anoint your head…wash your face” v. 17 Don’t appear to be “spiritually afflicted” so that

men will notice and praise you…the Father who “sees in secret” knows and will reward


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the sermon on the mount (matt. 5-7) …. kingdom righteousness 5:17 – 7:12 re: man’s traditional...

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kingdom righteousness

mans traditional teaching

person slide

legalistic jew

moses mt

legalistic thinking

literal adultery

beginning mt