Matthew 5:20-
In continuing the study on the Sermon on the Mount, we are going to update our format slightly to provide more study points for all blog participants.
Beginning in Chapter 5, verse 20 0f Matthew we see that Jesus begins a discussion on sins as considered by the law, culture, and God.
v. 20 many people think that this is an easy verse to attain to since the righteousness of the Pharisees is considered to be a false righteousness. However, it should be noted that the Pharisees, in their falsehood, adhered to a standard of living that few others managed. As Paul stated (Phil 3.6), according to the righteous given in God's law they were blameless.
v.21 The reference made here is to the 10 Commandments posted in Exodus 20. Interestingly, the word translated "danger" in the KJV, NKJV, "subject to" NIV, and "liable" in the NAS is the Greek word "enochos." This word means, "guilty of a crime and deserving of punishment," but it has a personalizing quality. In other words, this was a word that meant you are guilty, not just found guilty.
v.22 Look now to the word "danger", "subject to", and "guilty" (KJV, NKJV, NIV, & NAS respectively). It is the same word used in v. 21 "Enochos." The first crime is being angry. The presentation here, however, refers to holding on to anger towards someone. Second, the term Raca, or "good-for-nothing". This seems to be superceding God's determination of value for a person with your own determination of worthlessness. Finally, "you fool". The indication here is that you are expressing detest for a person and determining them to be incapable of anything worthwhile. According to Christ, God equates these sins to murder, probably because each of them is a leading motivation to those who murder: strong anger, feeling them to be worthless, and a disgust for them. What Christ is beginning to present here, is you need to put an end to things early on, before they become what we consider horrible sins.
v. 23, 24 Christ continues, by stating that if you have caused strife with a brother, it is better to try to achieve reconciliation before you present your service to God. Notice that God does not say that He will not accept your offering. I think this then shows us that God is concerned for His namesake more than your act of service. He wants to make sure that you worship Him out of a pure heart in a manner that will not cause another to stumble. Now some of you are saying, "Huh?" God knows that if you have an argument with a brother (not righteous anger), then show yourself in public worship, you are sending the message that your actions were in clear conscious to God and they are the ones in the wrong. This is why God wants us to seek reconciliation with our brothers and sisters before worshiping Him.
v. 25 The idea of sticking to your guns is only useful when you are standing for God's promise and truths. Obey God rather than man. In every other circumstance, be peaceable and if necessary defrauded for the sake of the gospel (Prov. 25:8, 1 Cor. 6:7).
v. 26 If you don't listen to the advice given in verse 25, this is your likely result. Most people don't have compassion for those who fight them. But, even the unsaved show compassion to those who earnestly seek reconciliation.
v. 27-28 Again the inward attitude is considered an equal to the sin. In this case, lusting is shown to be equal to adultery since lusting is a foundational component of adultery. These verses help show us a very important truth regarding our spiritual lives: The attitude of your heart is just as important as the things that you say and do (Psalm 19:14)
v. 29-30 These two verses outline the cure for addictions and for the sins that so easily beset us: radical amputation. This concept is the idea of removing from you the thing which causes you to stumble. In other words, if you are tempted by television shows and commercials... turn the TV off; if there are books or magazines that keep you from God and Christ-likeness... throw them out; if you are addicted to alcohol, drugs, smoking, or pornography.... get rid of it as fast as you can. Jesus was telling us here, that we need to be drastic in how we live to get results from Him.
v. 31-37 Two things to consider here: 1) Marriage is for life...period. All these reasons that Christians come up with for divorce are mainly materialistic or superficial. The truth is: marriage is a spiritual bond which is only broken by sexual immorality or adultery. These two sins cause a person to physically deviate from their vows and to spiritually discontinue their oneness with their partner. Don't be deceived, though, reconciliation can happen through repentance and forgiveness. But without it, the marriage responsibility was ended in God's eyes through those two sins. 2) Be careful about what you promise or make a vow on. It is no mistake that these concepts are presented back to back since marriage is a vow. Taking it further, though, Jesus warns us that breaking promises and vows is lying. Furthermore, God shows us that we cannot swear by anything because the only thing in this universe that we can control is ourselves. That is why we are to simply respond honestly with a "yes" or "no".
As we continue in the next series, we will see that Jesus was developing momentum towards a life of godliness that could only come from following Him. The next portion of this sermon considers relationships and positions.
