Life as a Disciple
in the Kingdom of Heaven:
Outward and Inward Influence
Matthew 5:13-48
OUTWARD LIFE (5:13-16)
SALT
“You are the salt of the earth,
but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
LIGHT
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
INWARD LIFE (5:17-48)
Purpose: Fulfill
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Authority: Legal
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Nature: Holiness
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Qualification: Surpass
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)
| Macro-Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3) | ||
| Structure (Form, Plan, What) | Filled (Function, Purpose, Why) | |
| Formed Light | Filled Up with Sun, Stars, Moon | |
| Formed the Expanse | Filled Up with Birds and Fish | |
| Formed the Land and Plants | Filled Up with Animals, Humans, Food | |
| Day 7: Rest | ||
| Micro-Creation (Genesis 2:4-24) | ||
| Formed the man from dust | Filled Up with Life | |
| Formed the garden from creation | Filled Up with Work | |
| Formed the woman from rib | Filled Up with Marriage | |
| Macro-Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3) | |
| Structure (Form, Plan, What) | Filled (Function, Purpose, Why) |
| Formed Light | Filled Up with Sun, Stars, Moon |
| Formed the Expanse | Filled Up with Birds and Fish |
| Formed the Land and Plants | Filled Up with Animals, Humans, Food |
| Day 7: Rest | |
| Micro-Creation (Genesis 2:4-24) | |
| Formed the man from dust | Filled Up with Life |
| Formed the garden from creation | Filled Up with Work |
| Formed the woman from rib | Filled Up with Marriage |
Legalism #1: Elevate the Letter of the Law in order to Treat Others As If They Were Dead (5:21-26)
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“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
What Is the Fulfillment of the Law?
- Local Court: But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment;
- Supreme Court: whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and
- Ultimate Court: whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
The Intent of the Heart: Cain
In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. (Genesis 4:3-8)
The Intent of the Heart: John
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him?
Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (I John 3:11-15)
How is the Law Fulfilled?
- Leave and Go: 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.
- Forgive First: First be reconciled to your brother, and
- Offer Gift then come and offer your gift.
Why Fulfill the Law?
- Urgency: Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court,
- Judgment: lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
- Maximum: Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Legalism #2: Elevate the Letter of the Law in order to Engage in Inappropriate Sexual Misconduct (5:27-30)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
What is the Fulfillment of the Law?
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
How is the Law Fulfilled?
- Stop Looking: 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.
- Stop Doing: 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.
Legalism #3: Ignore the Spirit of the Law in order to Engage in Adultery (5:31-32)
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
Divorce: A Legal Loophole for Adultery
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“When a man takes a wife and marries her,
- if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and
- he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and
- sends her out of his house, and
- she departs out of his house, and
- if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife,
then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. (Deut 24:1-4)
How to Fulfill the Spirt of the Law?
- 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.
Legalism #4: Focus on the Formula of a Promise In Order to Not Tell the Truth (5:33-37)
“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.’
The Intent of the Law: Tell the Truth
Love Your Neighbor: You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. (Lev 19:11-14) Leviticus 19:12
How is the Law Fulfilled?
- 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.
Further Clarification by Jesus
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. (Matthew 23:16-22)
Legalism #5: Transfer the Courts’ Authority to Yourself In order for Personal Revenge (5:38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
The Intent of the Law: Judicial Justice
“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Exodus 21:24
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deut 19:21)
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What is the Fulfillment of the Law?
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil.
How is the Law Fulfilled?
- 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 the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Legalism #6: Add and Subtract from the Law in order to Discriminate (5:43-47)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Lev 19:17-18)
What is the Fulfillment of the Law?
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who 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.
Why Fulfill the Law?
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Fulfillment of the Law by Jesus: Good Samaritan
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29)
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)
Conclusion: What is the Purpose of Jesus Fulfilling the Law? (5:58)
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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