Bible Study - Follow Jesus - High Expectations Matthew 5 - September 9, 2012
Bible Study – Follow Jesus – High Expectations –
September 9, 2012
This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “What
It Means to Follow Jesus.”
Our scripture is Matthew 5:17-19, 20, 48, 21-22,
27-28, 31-34a, 38-39 and 43-44.
JESUS was teaching HIS disciples and the crowd was
listening. As mentioned in last week’s lesson, the “Sermon on the Mount” likely
spanned several days. JESUS was contrasting the lives of true believers,
disciples and followers of GOD with the lives of the Jewish religious leaders –
scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, rabbis.
There is the letter of the law and then there is the
spirit of the law. The religious leaders prided themselves on following the
letter of the law and as such concluded that they were righteous, therefore,
acceptable to GOD. JESUS was giving the rest of the story from GOD’S
perspective, which is embodied in the spirit of the law.
When Christians consider the spirit of the law, they
can get overwhelmed and conclude, “How can anyone measure up to the
expectations of GOD?” That is the correct conclusion. It is impossible without
the shed blood of CHRIST blotting out our sins and the gift of the love and
grace of GOD. As the born-again believers live, as GOD desires for them to live,
the more they realize how far short they fail to meet both the letter and
spirit of the law. CHRIST came to earth to fulfill the law in both the letter
and spirit of the law. By recognizing how far short we fall from living as GOD
desires for us to live, which is called sin, we also recognize how much we need
to be redeemed from the consequences of sin, which is death or eternal
separation from GOD.
The shed blood of CHRIST paid the price GOD placed
upon sin. Those who accept CHRIST as their Savior are covered by HIS blood for
past, present and future sins, thus redeemed forever from the consequences of
sin.
JESUS was preaching about GOD’S requirement of
perfection which should have resulted in all asking the question, “How can
anyone measure up to GOD’S standard?” People today need to ask this same
question.
We need to keep in mind that religion is man’s
efforts to reach up to GOD, whereas Christianity is GOD reaching down to
humankind through HIS Only SON, JESUS. There are many religions in the world
including Christianity. They all have their formula for reaching GOD and being
acceptable to HIM.
The Bible is very clear the way to GOD is through
CHRIST but people try to make it complicated. True Christianity is CHRIST in
you. How do you get HIM in you? You ask HIM to forgive you for your sins,
accept that CHRIST gave HIS life for your sins and ask HIM to come into your
life. When you do, a miracle takes place. You are born-again in your spirit and
become a child of GOD through CHRIST. This Son-ship or Daughter-ship will never
change for eternity. GOD gives every
Christians the Holy Spirit Who indwells them and confirms that they are GOD’S
child. If you have never asked CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and to come
into your heart, why not do it now?
We need to keep in mind that JESUS was preaching
this sermon before HE gave HIS life to pay the debt for sin. If HIS life had
ended with HIS death there would be no more reason to believe in HIM than
anyone else. HIS resurrection is proof that HE conquered sin and its
consequence which is death. HE lived on earth for 40 days and ascended into
heaven, while HIS disciples and others watched. HE sat at the right-hand of GOD
and maintains that position of power and authority until all has been
accomplished and HE hands it back to GOD as fully accomplished. GOD, in turn,
sent the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell every true Christian. The bar that GOD
set for all to be acceptable to HIM was higher than human could set, including
the most perfect, according to them, religious leaders of that day.
That simply begs the question, if it is impossible
for any human to meet HIS standard, then all will not be acceptable to GOD. You
got it! That is why we all need CHRIST, Who is acceptable. All who believe in
HIM receive eternal life, enter heaven and the presence of GOD based upon HIS
Credentials. Salvation is free to all who believe and eternal life is the gift
resulting from salvation and so much more.
Let’s explore what JESUS had to say about GOD’S
expectations for living for HIM. HE has high expectations for those who follow
HIM.
Affirm
Scripture’s Authority
Let’s read Matthew 5:17-19:
Christ Fulfills the Law
17 “Don’t assume that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (v)
18 For •I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest
letter (w) or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things
are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these
commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great
in the kingdom of heaven. (x)
JESUS made it clear that HE came
into the world not to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill or “to
fill with a content,” “to validate,” “to complete,” or “to finish.” JESUS
actualized, made real, or lived HIS life according to both the letter and
spirit of the law and what the Prophets had written regarding the commands of
GOD. JESUS did not even attempt to obey all the interpretations and traditions
that man had concocted because they are useless. JESUS had likely been acused by the religious leaders of not obeying and following their manmade rules, regulations and traditions. Therefore, HE made the statement that HE had come to give true meaning to GOD'S intent of HIS Law and commandments.
When we look at the life of JESUS,
we see a person doing the will of the Father without getting tangled up in the
manmade interpretations, traditions and additions to the Law and the commands
from GOD as written by the Prophets. JESUS was 100% obedient to what GOD
required for a person to be righteous, not what man had concocted. This was why
JESUS was the perfect sacrifice to pay in full the sin debt. HE did not jump
through hoops to play the games that the religious leaders would have liked for
HIM to play. HE focused on truth.
JESUS made it clear that the Old
Testament scriptures gave the full story about HIM. Some translations speak of
a jot and tittle. A “jot” is smallest letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. It is like
the “i” in the English alphabet. A “tittle” referred to the smallest stroke of
the pen to distinguish one letter from another such as the mark that
distinguished “O” from a “Q.”
GOD spoke through HIS prophets to
the people of earth regarding the coming of the Messiah, HIS purpose and
ministry of salvation. JESUS in essence was saying, “Oh, by the way, you
religious leaders need to check the scriptures GOD has given you against what
you know about ME; Just a hint, in case you are interested.” The religious
leaders of that day prided themselves on knowing the scriptures and looking for
the promised Messiah. It is sad when you look for something for so long and
completely miss it because you have figured out that you will know it when you
see it.
JESUS made it clear that all of the
commands that GOD spoke through HIS Word are important. The least command in
the eyes of man are important in the eyes and purposes of GOD. JESUS painted a
Spiritual picture that should have begged the question from every listener,
“How in the world does GOD expect a person to live this perfect life?” That is
why JESUS came into the world, stripped of HIS Glory, to live as a human
subjected to temptation and fully capable of yielding to that temptation. HE
lived the perfect life and gave it so that all who will believe in HIM will be
saved from sin and its consequence, death.
JESUS was saying that the truth, as
presented in scripture, exceeds the interpretation of mere man and manmade
religious traditions and rituals. By JESUS giving HIS life for the salvation of
all who will believe on HIM as their Savior, HE pulled all Spiritual matters to
one spot. Simply accept CHRIST as your Savior and you will receive the gift of
eternal life which is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. There is much
more but that is ground zero, CHRIST in you, the hope of Glory.
Rise
Above Mediocrity
Let’s read Matthew 5:20, 48:
20 For I tell you, unless your
righteousness surpasses that of the •scribes and •Pharisees, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven.
Then there was the group known as
the Pharisees, which means “separated ones.” They had a separatist attitude.
This group was the largest and most influential group in the Jewish religious
system. They were powerful and influential politically and religiously. They were
the group that believed the way to GOD was through obedience to the law. They
were the very ones behind oral traditions. They appeared to keep these
traditions but on the inside they knew they did not measure up. JESUS and GOD
knew their spiritual plight, because GOD knew their hearts. Most people of that
day considered the Pharisees to be the model of righteousness and ritual purity
because of their outward appearance of piety.
It is sad but Christians can play
this same self delusional game today. This is why Christians must come before
GOD in complete honesty. JESUS said on judgment day some will come before HIM
and say in Matthew 7:21-23:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,b ; ; but only the one who does the willc ; ; ; ; ; of My Father in heaven.d ; ; ; ;
22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demonse ; ; in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’f ; ; ; ;
23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’g Lit you who work lawlessnessh ; ; ,; i
22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demonse ; ; in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’f ; ; ; ;
23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’g Lit you who work lawlessnessh ; ; ,; i
JESUS made it clear that a person
must be as perfect as GOD is perfect. WOW!!! That sets the bar as high as it
gets. Yes, people are to be perfect as GOD and there is only one way that is
possible. That is why all who desire to be acceptable to GOD must come by way
of the cross. Do you remember 2 Corinthians 5:21?
21 He (GOD) made the One
(JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him. To come to GOD any other way is impossible. Our
sin was placed on CHRIST and HIS righteousness was placed upon all who believe
in HIM. Faith in CHRIST through HIS shed blood makes a Christian acceptable or
perfect to GOD.
Go
Beyond Superficiality
Let’s read Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-34a, 38-39,
43-44:
JESUS gives examples of embracing the spirit of the
law instead of the letter of the law. JESUS shines the light of GOD into the
hearts of mankind to reveal truth from GOD’S perspective.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21 “You
have heard that it was said to our ancestors, (y) Do not murder, (z) (a) and
whoever murders will be subject to judgment. (b) 22 But I tell you,
everyone who is angry with his brother (c) will be subject to judgment. And
whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ (d) will be subject to the •Sanhedrin. But
whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to •hellfire. (e) (f)
JESUS went
beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. None of us have murdered
but have we been angry enough to murder or to murder a person with words? Yes!
We are all guilty. It is what is in our hearts that matters to GOD.
Adultery in the Heart
27 “You
have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. (j)(k) 28 But I tell
you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. (l)
The
religious leaders prided themselves on being pure and not committing sexual
sins. JESUS took sin to another level by asking, “Have you ever thought about
having sexual relations with another person?” GOD considers the desires of the
heart just as important as the overt action. The Greek word used for "looks" means to stare. It carries the idea of going deeper than a look but pondering in the mind. It is in the mind where overt action begins to take root. This is one of the dangers of looking at ponography.
So what is
the conclusion? We are all guilty and when we see our hearts in the light of
GOD’S expectations, we see our need to maintain our relationship with CHRIST as
we journey through this life on earth. The Bible is clear in Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
Divorce Practices Censured
31 “It was also said, Whoever
divorces (o) his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. (p) (q)
32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of
sexual immorality, (r) causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a
divorced woman commits adultery. (s)
This is a very sensitive subject in
today’s society. Divorce has resulted in the decay of the institution and
security of the home. Divorce has negatively impacted the stability of the home
where children are involved. I think that is one reason so many young people
find it difficult to make a commitment to a marriage partner today. “Is he or
she the right one?” They fall into lust and out of lust and do not know what
true love is all about.
I have heard Tony Campollo, professor
emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, a former faculty member at the
University of Pennsylvania, and the founder and president of the Evangelical
Association for the Promotion of Education,
speak on the subject of love and marriage. He said that every marriage provides
the opportunity for love. True love is built through living, working, playing,
raising a family, worshipping and communicating together. Marriage is not 50/50
but it is 100/100 Percent. It is a team effort with the team pulling together. I
know there are abusive situations and if they cannot be worked through quickly,
in my opinion, no one needs to stay in such a relationship. There is in my opinion
a place for divorce.
JESUS was likely addressing the
provisions for divorce found in Deuteronomy 24:1 - 1 “If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds something improper about her, he
may write her a divorce certificate, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.a ; ; Divorce was as easy as it gets. The poor woman was the victim and JESUS
said that was not the intent of marriage. GOD’S perspective of marriage is for
it to last, “until death do we part.”
Marriage is a commitment between two
people and just because a woman gets up one morning with a bad hair day, it is
no reason to divorce her. Again, it comes down to the hearts of the people.
Yes, people make mistakes and base their relationship on what can be done for
me now? He or she makes me laugh. What happens when the laughter stops?
Marriage is a team effort, especially when children are involved. JESUS was
addressing the intent of marriage and it was until death broke their vow.
Tell the Truth
33 “Again,
you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, (t) You must not break your
oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. (u)(v) 34 But I tell you,
don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne;
Making a
promise or vow is important to GOD. This goes back to the marriage vows and
other commitments as well. Bottom line a person’s word and him/her keeping it
is a reflection of his/her heart. Keeping a promise or vow reflects the
character of the person. When Christians are in right relationship with GOD,
through CHRIST, their word is their bond.
Bottom
line when a person tells the truth, he/she does not need to swear by anything.
The idea JESUS was highlighting was that some of the people swear by all sorts
of holy and sacred things in an effort to give credibility to what they were
saying, while all the time they were uttering these words they had their
fingers crossed. Simply, let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No” and mean
it.
Go the Second Mile
38 “You
have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. (z)(a)
39 But I tell you, don’t resist (b) an evildoer. On the contrary, if
anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (c)
The law of
retaliation was not to authorize vengeance without restraint but it was to limit
the degree of retaliation applied by legal authorities. The law of retaliation
came from the Mosaic Law. It did not come from the moral code but from the
civil code, which was designed to provide justice.
JESUS said
a true follower of GOD was not to be so quick to retaliate. A slap on the right
cheek, coming from a right-handed person, meant he/she slapped the person using
the back of their hand. This would be an insult and not something which would
unleash wrath from the person being slapped. A true disciple would show
restraint. How we respond to insults reflects the nature of our hearts. I am
sorry but I do not measure up well in this category. It takes restraint and for
a person to rely upon GOD to take the necessary action.
The
Apostle Paul addressed this in Romans 12:19 - Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for Hisp Lit the wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,q ; ; ; r says the Lord. Let GOD handle some matters. This
does not mean that a person cannot defend himself/herself, if attacked. Again,
how we handle these matters reflects our hearts.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You
have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor (h)(i) and hate your enemy.
44 But I tell you, love your enemies (j) and pray for those who (k)
persecute you, (l)
JESUS
introduced a new concept of loving and praying for the unlovely. The Jews
thought of their neighbor as a fellow Jew or the Pharisees thought of a fellow
Pharisee. CHRIST was telling them to think outside their box of tradition and
to even consider their enemy as their neighbor.
All of
these attributes of a born-again believer have to come from a changed heart;
Hearts that are indwelled by and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our study of
the Beatitudes revealed that these were attributes of the ideal Christian.
Today’s study reveals attributes of Christians who are in right relationship
with GOD through CHRIST. The heart that responds as JESUS has stated reflects a
heart that has been changed by GOD and depends upon GOD. These are hearts that
have been made perfect by GOD dwelling within and being manifested to others
through everyday living. WOW!!!
Such a
lifestyle is only possible through a Christian in right relationship with GOD
through CHRIST. Faith in CHRIST makes it possible for a person to have a
relationship with GOD. Having such a relationship is a building process through
sanctification.
Are we
Christians in name only or have our hearts been changed to reflect GOD and live
as led by GOD through the indwelling Holy Spirit? Blessings!
posted by Bible Study | 5:55 PM
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