Matthew 5:21-30: “Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount: True Righteousness Involves Thought Life Also
/ Be Reconciled To Your Brother Before You Leave Your Offering / Cut Off That
Which Offends”
by
1.
INTRO: In this next section, Jesus uses a
couple of examples from the Mosaic Law for explaining that the whole Law must
be kept not only in ‘external’ actions that one does, but also on the
‘internal’, in the thought life and attitude and motivations of the heart
1.1.
In these examples, we see how Jesus actually raised to
the nth degree the standard of righteousness that the Law requires
1.2.
This teaching of Jesus is radical and profound, and
the Jewish religious leaders of His day were not able to comprehend a
righteousness that was internal, however their Old Testament scriptures reveal
the nature of this internal standard for righteousness, as the following
examples show:
1.2.1.
Proverbs 4:23, “23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life”
1.2.2.
Jeremiah 4:14; 17:9, “14 Wash your heart from evil,
O
1.2.3.
2 Chronicles 32:25-26, “25 But Hezekiah gave no
return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore
wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.26 However,Hezekiah humbled the
pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath
of the Lord did not come on them
in the days of Hezekiah”
1.3.
These examples show also that sin is in the hearts of
men, and that all sinful acts originate in the hearts of men
1.3.1. Jesus
summarized what these verses teach in Mark 7:21-23, “21 “For from within,
out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts,
murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things
proceed from within and defile the man””
1.4.
By the time of Jesus’ day, the Jewish religious
leaders had done something very similar to what the Roman church had done that
lead to what is known as the “dark ages”, when they had taken the scripture out
of the people’s hands. The Jewish
religious leaders had taken God’s laws in the Penteteuk, and they had created
their own interpretations of the fulfilling of the laws. They called this huge book of their own
interpretation of laws, “The Talmud”.
Then, instead of teaching the people from God’s word, they instead
taught them from the Talmud.
1.5.
In these examples, we see that Jesus is not
contradicting the Old Testament scriptures by His teaching when He says in
them, “But I say to you”, rather He is restoring the original meaning which had
been corrupted by the false teachers of
1.6.
You see what Jesus is teaching in the principles
revealed in this next section is that you can try to keep the letter of God’s
Law and tote the line spiritually, however if your heart or your motives are
wrong, you are still wrong and your life does not please God
1.7.
I have known Christians who had a legalistic bent, and
they have been people who have tried to tote the line spiritually, however
their attitudes stunk and they were not pleasant to be around, and they were
just not happy people
2.
VS 5:21-22 - “21 “You have heard that the ancients were told,
‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the
court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall
be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall
be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be
guilty enough to go into the fiery hell”” - Jesus equates ‘anger’ and ‘cruel speaking’ to committing murder
2.1.
First of all, we
must identify whom Jesus is speaking of as ‘the ancients’
2.1.1. Some people have believed that Jesus is referring to Moses
and the Old Testament prophets here, however that theory falls apart
for two reasons
2.1.1.1.Jesus would then be saying that the ancients were
‘told’ these things, and supposedly they would have been taught them by God,
however God did not originate these man-made institutes
2.1.1.2.Jesus had just said that not one jot or title would be
removed from the Law until heaven and earth pass away, so it would not make
sense now for Him to criticize what Moses and the Old Testament prophets wrote
under inspiration of the Holy Spirit
2.1.2. Some people have believed that Jesus is referring to the
general Jewish populace during the time of Moses and the Old Testament
prophets
2.1.2.1.This would make Jesus to be at odds with the general
Jewish populace, however this interpretation falls apart because Jesus seems to
have another group which He is trying to confront here by saying this
2.1.3. Some people have believed that Jesus is referring to the
Jewish leaders since Moses’ time
2.1.3.1.This view seems to make the most sense because Jesus
is confronting here a false religious system, one which, pertaining to
righteousness, ignored the internal attitudes and motivations of the heart
2.1.3.2.Another reason that this view makes sense is because
Jesus next tells us what the Jewish leaders taught the people concerning how
justice was carried out in
2.1.3.3.In support of this view, verse 21 can alternately be
translated ‘taught them’ instead of ‘were told’. Either translation is possible, and the
translators of the NASB, which I use, chose the one which they preferred.
2.2.
Even before the
Law of Moses, we see in Gen. 9:5-6 that the Lord had determined that the
punishment for premeditated murder was death, “5 “And surely I will require
your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from
every man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his
blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man”
2.2.1. The Bible doesn’t condemn a person who accidentally kills a man or
kills him while in a military charge
2.3.
The “court”
mentioned in these verses consisted of a council of 23 men, and they could
administer a punishment of strangling;
the “supreme court” referred to here, the Sanhedrine, which consisted of
72 men. It was the highest court of the
land, and it alone could administer a punishment of stoning
2.4.
The word
translated ‘raca’ here means “empty head” and in using this word, Jesus was
speaking of that kind of judging of another that condemns and despises a person
for their lack of knowledge, particularly regarding spiritual things
2.5.
Even though Jesus
is speaking of punishment coming from the court and the Sanhedrine when He
speaks of actions equivocal to murder, He is really speaking with reference to
divine retribution
2.6.
The sentence for
one who committed intentional, or premeditated, murder was death, and by Jesus
saying these things He is saying that if a person is ‘angry’ at his brother,
calls him an “empty head” or a ‘fool’, then that person is guilty of murder for
it is the spirit of murder which inspires such behavior
2.6.1. The Jews in Jesus time never considered it sinful for
a person to hate or speak evilly about another person
2.6.2. We must also remember that there is a “righteous
anger” which is rare in occurance, but which is justifiable. When a person becomes angry because of
injustice as well as dishonor done unto God, this is a justifiable anger.
2.6.2.1.An example of this type of justified anger is the two
times, once at the beginning, and once at the end of Jesus’ ministry when He
threw the money-changers out of the temple
2.6.2.2.Paul wrote about this type of anger in Eph. 4:26a, “26
Be angry, and yet do not sin”.
2.7.
Not only is the
person who is ‘angry’ at his brother, and calls him an “empty head” or a
‘fool’, guilty enough that he should appear before human courts and be
condemned, he is also guilty enough because of this sin to deserve the
punishment of hell itself
2.8.
The word here
that is translated ‘fiery hell’ is “Gehena” in the Greek, and this is the word
that is most often used for “hell” by Jesus and the writers of the New
Testament. It referred to the valley of
Hinnom outside Jerusalem where the Israelites who had once given themselves
over to idolatry had sacrificed by fire their children to Molech, and where
since that time a continual fire burned the garbage that people brought to it
3.
VS 5:23-24 - “23 “If therefore you are presenting your offering
at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” - Jesus tells His disciples that they must be
reconciled to their brothers and sisters first in order to be able to serve and
worship God in a way that pleases Him
3.1.
Jesus reveals
here that how we handle the relationships that we have with people in this
world effects our relationship with God
3.1.1. If we commit sin against a brother or sister, then
that sin is really sin against God since man is made in God’s image and He has
given us His Laws regarding how we must act in regard to our brothers and sisters
3.2.
Jesus does not
teach us that we should first worship God and then go and make things right
with a brother or sister, but rather that we should make things right first,
then come and now there will be nothing that will hinder or worship of God and
His acceptance of us as worshippers
3.3.
In these verses
Jesus teaches that we as Christians must keep our relationships with our
brothers and sisters in Christ in proper repair if we are to be where He wants
us to be
4.
VS 5:25-26 - “25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law
while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver
you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 “Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up
the last cent”” - Jesus
tells His disciples to ‘make friends quickly’ with their opponent at law
4.1.
There has been
much confusion among commentators in regards to why these verses appear where
they are in this text, and this confusion is caused by misunderstanding as to
whom is referred to as the ‘opponent’, or ‘adversary’ (as other translations
permit)
4.1.1. Some have said that the ‘opponent’ is God,
however this does not seem to make sense since God would be delivering the
person up to God in that case
4.1.2. Some have said that Jesus has changed the subject here
and that he is now speaking strictly about civil issues and the
wisdom of resolving those quickly, however this view is just not supported by
the context
4.1.3. Some have said, and I think that this is the correct
view, that the ‘opponent’ mentioned here is actually the devil,
and that the exhortation then is to agree with the devil when he comes to
condemn of sin, rather than trying to deny or justify it
4.1.3.1.This view is supported by the fact that the word
translated ‘opponent’ here is the same word that is translated every other
place in the scripture as ‘adversary’ and refers to the devil, the believer’s
adversary, in at least one of those references (1 Peter 5:8)
4.1.3.1.1.Likewise, in Rev. 12:10, satan is called “the accuser
of the brethren”
4.1.3.2.There is nothing wrong with agreeing with the devil
concerning our sin since we can also trust in the righteousness of Christ to
clothe us and His blood to cover all of our transgressions
4.1.3.2.1.Satan wants to place us under condemnation, so we must
be sure when we agree with satan about our sin that we are also claiming the
blood of Christ as covering and atoning for those sins
4.2.
In essence we
could look at this teaching of Jesus as just telling us to be quick to confess
and repent of our sins whenever we find ourselves having sinned.
4.3.
Whenever we are
convicted of sin, we should not, and we would be wise to not fight that
conviction but rather just give in to the Lord and admit that we have sinned,
confess and repent of the sin, and keep on walking with Christ
4.4.
Have you ever
noticed that if we refuse to confess and repent of our sins when they are
pointed out to us (whether by the Holy Spirit or the accuser, the devil), then
God doesn’t give up on us and that conviction of sin will be relentless until
we eventually confess and repent?
5.
VS 5:27-28 - “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall
not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman
to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart”” - Jesus gives us the second example of how the
breaking of a commandment can occur through an attitude of heart and mind, the
case of committing ‘adultery’
5.1.
In saying, ‘You
have heard that it was said’, Jesus is again referring to the teaching of the
Jewish leaders which comes from their traditions of men more than the
commandments of God
5.2.
Jesus teaches
that the act of looking on a woman with eyes of ‘lust’ and for the purpose of
seeing her as a sex object is to commit the sin of ‘adultery’
5.3.
Again, in Jesus
saying, ‘but I say to you’ He is not teaching something that is completely new
but rather bringing out the true sense of the original commandment and
contrasting that to what had come to be taught to the Jewis people and
consisted of the traditions of men
5.3.1. Jesus always did teach “as one having authority” and
regardless of whether these principles can be find represented in the Old
Testament in somewhat of obscurity, they were not truly understood or applied
by the people at large during Jesus day, and thus these principles were radical
concepts Jesus was teaching
5.4.
As I mentioned
earlier, these two teachings of Jesus concerning the sin of “murder” and
“adultery” are just examples of how each of God’s Laws can be broken through
the thoughts and motivations of the heart of men
5.5.
Since it is the
same as committing adultery for a man to look upon a woman for the purpose of
lusting, then when a woman dresses herself in such a way as desiring to have
men lust after her, she must also be guilty of committing adultery
5.6.
I remember a guy
once saying in regard to these verses that since looking at a woman in order to
lust after her was the same as committing adultery with here, that he might as
well go and commit the act, however this is very foolish for the consequences
and guilt before God of actually committing the act are very much greater
though the sin is the same in its essence as committing the act
5.6.1. Followed this thought to its extreme a person who got angry
with someone would be justified for just going ahead and killing them
5.7.
I
want to issue a warning here, for if you allow sinful thoughts to be
entertained in your mind, know that if you continue to do that it will just be
a matter of time before you carry those thoughts out
5.7.1. That’s why it is so important to flee temptation when
it comes into our lives rather than to flirt with it
5.7.2. I have known so many good men and women that have
fallen, so don’t think that you will be any exception to this rule, for when
each of them who have fallen there has been a pattern that they had let develop
in their lives that led to their fall
6.
VS 5:29-30 - “29 “And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear
it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts
of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 “And
if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it
is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your
whole body to go into hell”” - Jesus
teaches that the believer is to tear out from his life any member which causes
him to stumble
6.1.
Some people in
history past have taken this verse literally and mutilated their bodies when
they discovered that they had a tendency to sin in a certain area
6.1.1. Origen, the famous and often quoted second century
pastor and author, had his testicles cut off because of his struggle with
sexual lust
6.1.2. Some in history past have separated themselves from
all of civilization thinking that to do so would remove lust and sin from their
heart
6.1.3. However, if we were even to mutilate our bodies
cutting of the offending parts, we would still have to gain mastery over our
minds and hearts in order to gain mastery over our sin, for if, for instance,
we were to cut off the hand that tended to steal, I suppose we could still find
a way to steal with our toes
6.2.
What Jesus is
really trying to teach us then is that we need to gain mastery over our body
and its appetites, and “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts”
(Romans 13:14)
6.2.1. We need to do what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor.
9:26-27 and “buffet” our bodies, “26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not
without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my
body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I
myself should be disqualified”
6.2.2. Jesus warns us here in Matt. 5:30 just as Paul warns
us in this verse that the person who does not learn to gain mastery over his
body will end up spending eternity in hell if he does not change
6.2.2.1.Jesus taught in Luke 13:24-28 that the Christian life
is a narrow path of forsaking all evil ways and following the Lord, “24 “Strive
to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will
not be able. 25 “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you
begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’
then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26
“Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught
in our streets’; 27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are
from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ 28 “There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out””
6.2.2.2.Paul taught the same thing in Rom. 8:13-14, “13 for
if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit
you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who
are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”
6.2.2.3.In Gal. 5:24, Paul again taught the same principle,
“24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires”