Jesus' True Teaching of the Law
Matthew 5:21-48
Purpose: We are called to live in Jesus Christ's will for our lives!
This is Jesus the King's Exposition of the Law and God's intentions for how we live it out.
Because Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets (5:17), if we live believing in Jesus and His teachings, we also then fulfill God's true intent for the Law and the Prophets in our own lives (7:12). King Jesus affirms His absolute authority in fulfilling the Law and the Prophets with His consistent use of the pattern, "you have heard that it was said"¦" followed by, "but I say" for each of the issues while teaching His followers the true intent of God's will for their lives.
- Jesus Christ's Call Above Murder
Matthew 5:21 "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 says to his brother, "You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, "You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 "Therefore if 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; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent."
The call above Murder is both:
- not to hate
- and to do what makes for peace
This is the true intent of Exodus 20:13 in the 10 Commandments
True v. False Worship involves your relationship with God and others
- Jesus Christ's Call Above Adultery
Matthew 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell."
The call above Adultery is both:
- not to lust in the heart
- and to remove from your life the things that cause the sin
This is the true intent of Exodus 20:14 in the 10 Commandments
- Jesus Christ's Call Above Divorce
Matthew 5:31 "It was said, "WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE'; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
The call above Divorce is to remain faithful to your covenant of marriage instituted
by God
This is the true intent of Genesis 2:24, see also Matthew 19:1-12
- Jesus Christ's Call Above Vows
Matthew 5:33 "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, "YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' 34 "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36 "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 "But let your statement be, "Yes, yes' or "No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."
The call above Vows is to be true in all speech because anything beyond this is evil
This is the true intent of Leviticus 19:12
- Jesus Christ's Call Above Vengeance
Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, "AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."
The call above Vengeance to non-resistance & service
This is a the true intent of Exodus 21:24
- Jesus Christ's Call above Partiality
Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The call above Partiality is to Love your Neighbor and your Enemy
This is the true intent of Leviticus 19:18
Thus you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect