Sermon Tone Analysis

The New Way vs. the Old

Matthew 5:21-48

*Introduction*

/This section of Matthew's gospel, 5:21-48 Jesus gives six examples of what was understood as acceptable practice in the light of Old Testament Scripture contrasted with a new standard based on the teaching of the Lord Jesus.

Actually, this section is part of a larger sermon so there are some points that should be kept in mind when looking at this text.

Going back a couple versus Jesus stresses the importance of these commandments and he also points out the fact that one's obedience must go beyond the legal adherence to the letter of the law (v.

19).

Jesus tells His listeners in order to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, a person's righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees (v.

20).

For the Christian, the reality of this standard that Jesus speaks of is that man, of his own ability, is not able to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees.

Any attempt to fulfill the law based on man's own strength would only lead to matching the same standard.

The only true way meet the standard that Jesus speaks of is to place one’s faith in Christ as only He in His perfect humanity qualified as the righteousness of God and as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The standard of Christ is a heavenly one.

Once, on another occasion of misunderstanding, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

The standard of Christ is not of this world.

The first “You-have-heard” statement begins with v.21, “You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER.'”

All of these statements deal with our relationships more than anything else.

Perhaps, Jesus begins with the commandment to not murder, to show us the consequences of a worst-case scenario of a relationship that has gone wrong.

On the other hand, we often hear an unbelieving person justify himself by saying, “I never murdered anyone…” We all know that murder is the epitome of wrong.

It is the universally recognized sin deserving of God’s judgment.

However, the teaching of Jesus is intended to take us beyond the point of avoiding being as bad as one can be.

Murder is the consequence of built-up anger and bitterness.

When a person leaves an offense unresolved, he is actually taking the first step towards murder.

This is why Jesus’ words encourage us to seek immediate, practical resolution of our differences as opposed to hiding behind self-satisfying religious offerings.

There is no sense in pretending to please God at the altar when He sees us and the real need.

What pleases Him is that we have peace with those around us.

Verse 23 is a picture of God’s grace as it works in the heart of the believer.

How often, in the midst of our service or worship does the Holy Spirit touch us?

Like the words of Jesus: “and there at the altar you remember that your brother has something against you,” we are prompted to respond so that we can in truth “lift up holy hands” to God (1 Tim.

2:8).

* *

*Verses 5:21-26.*

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.

This section is actually the largest contrast with a sober reference to the consequence of not dealing with our anger and offenses in this life time.

One could argue that there is a parallel between the condemnation worthy of the "fiery hell" mentioned in verse 23 and being thrown into prison by the judge and being unable to pay or to be freed mentioned in verses 25-26.

In addition to being reconciled to your brother, we should endeavor to “make friends quickly with your opponent at law.”

While there is time, we need to take care of our offenses because one never knows when our time is up and the deeds of our life will remain to accuse us before the Judge.

In reality, the only way to resolve this dilemma is to place one’s faith in Christ while there is time.

This is how we can resolve these things on earth, so we can be assured that they will be resolved in heaven.

*Verses 5:27-30.*

27"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

 28but 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 “You-have-heard” statement in verse 27 speaks of the commandment to not commit adultery.

It is contrasted with Jesus’ word to not look at a woman with lust.

There is a similar principle with the first contrast, which is the fact that a “small” sin in one’s heart can lead to something much more serious.

One look can be the start of a habit of looking, which can lead to the leaving of one’s spouse—if even for a brief affair.

The mental incident of unfaithfulness precedes the so-called “moment of weakness.”

Society tries to say that it is just temporary weakness, which suddenly, without much warning causes the failure of a marriage.

Jesus uses very strong illustrations to emphasize the consequences and specific areas of weakness that must be addressed.

The first area begins with the eyes.

Men are very easily tempted by what passes before their eyes.

It is a fact, and it is also a fact that every man knows what it means when one says, “Don’t look!”

The strong language and hyperbole to “tear out” one’s right eye is to emphasize the need that strong action steps must be taken to avoid falling into this temptation.

It is also statement made to emphasize that the consequences, that the "whole body to be thrown into hell" would be far worse than losing one's sight in order to avoid this type of sin.

* *

*Verses 5:31-32.*

31"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';

 32but 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.

This is the briefest section, and perhaps at the heart of this part of Jesus' discourse.

The rabbis took what was spoken of by Moses in the Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and applied a very liberal spin to the matter of marriage and divorce.

The passage does not command or condone divorce, but it does recognize that it happens under certain limited circumstances, namely adultery.

The overall teaching of Jesus is actually a rebuke against the dishonest and hypocritical keeping of the law outwardly, but missing God's intention.

The Jewish leaders perverted the standard of God's justice by allowing a man to divorce his wife for any reason as long as he gave a certificate of divorce.

Jesus had already gone to the heart of the matter by pointing out that divorce begins first with committing adultery in one's heart (v.28).

The seed of adultery is planted by the unrestrained looking at a woman when one ought not.

By allowing a man to divorce his wife simply because "she finds no favor in his eyes" (Deut.

24:1), this would result in the multiplication of adultery in addition to the multiple harmful effects upon society.

* *

*Verses 5:33-37.*

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,

 35or 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.

This section makes a contrast between the hypocritical use of vows linking the Lord's name with the shallow promises often associated with religious ceremonies.

Again, to be practical, a connection can be made to the subject of marriage.

Is not the marriage covenant between a man and a woman also a promise to the Lord?

Too often in our world the same conditional—even superficial—vows exchanged between a bridegroom and his bride are casually broken, though our heavenly Father was “their” witness.

Such vows are "false vows" (v.

33).

Jesus is therefore pointing out both the hypocrisy and the lack of logic of such a vow.

If a promise is made with open-endedness and with so many conditions that allow for its being broken, it is not a promise at all.

In reality, it is nothing more than an affirmation with MAD principles (Mutually Acceptable Dissolution principles).

Thus, Jesus is not advising the complete abandonment of making vows; rather He is saying that we must not carelessly tag on to one's commitment the imprimatur of God.

If there is no humble awareness of the solemn implications involved, don't bring God or His name into that covenant.

Actually, to make a distinction by making one kind of promise "holy" while another is not is rather silly.

The phrase, "make no oath that all," is made in contrast, yet in conjunction with the phrase, "let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’ (v.37 NIV).

All our words are accountable to God and they should not be profane, corrupt, or insincere (Eph.

4:29).

This standard reinforces the original command in Deuteronomy 23:21 and 23, which refers to the occasional voluntary vow.

The standard of Christ reaches higher to include all our words.

The Christian will remember the words of Hebrews 4:13 that says, "no creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

*Verses 5:38-39.*

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.

"An eye for an eye -- a tooth for a tooth."

The term actually speaks of the principal of law, which is that a punishment should match the crime.

The street value of this popular saying is quite different and the expression is often quoted in films where the hero is nothing more than a vigilante who makes his own law.

How many times have we seen the Hollywood story line where a convict is made more noble because he seeks revenge against an unfair justice system?

The common theme is that an "eye for an eye" is not proper justice anymore – now, the hero must teach someone a lesson by going beyond what might be considered fair!

Jesus' word are definitely in contrast to this mentality.