Matthew 5:21-48 | "Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect"
[Sermon on the Mount] Living the New Life! • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 36:18
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· 713 viewsSunday, February 7, 2021. Matthew 5:21-48 | “Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect.” Jesus begins to reveal the Heavenly Father to His followers. As the Father is, so we will be in Christ — perfect. What does it mean that our Heavenly Father is perfect? What must we do to be perfect too? The answer points to one inexhaustible theme and working of the Holy Spirit in us: Love.
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I. Reading of Scripture
I. Reading of Scripture
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is God’s Word, Amen.
Pray
II. Introduction
II. Introduction
A. Introduction to Theme
A. Introduction to Theme
I once found myself working with a group of people that didn’t get along very well.
We were given a specific task to accomplish, a worthwhile task, and we all believed in that work and wanted to see it fulfilled.
But we couldn’t do it, because there was a problem. There were actually, several problems.
WE were the problems!
Each one of us on this team had a different way we thought the work should be accomplished. Rather than seeing the unique contribution and strengths each person brought to the task at hand, we let our selves get in the way of the work.
What could have, and should have been a united success, became divided and dysfunctional — and even emotional and frustrating.
This kind of thing happens on repeat: in workplaces, in churches, in marriages…we all have to live and work with people who think and do things differently than us.
In fact, have you ever asked the Lord: “Why did you make people like this!?”
I found as I studied our problem, that while a group of people may be given the same task to accomplish, each person may have a different motivation for accomplishing that task.
Different motivations cause people to approach tasks differently.
One person, for example, may be motivated by a desire to control everything in order to protect others. That is a problem when working with someone who is motivated by a desire to be happy and that means being free from all restrictions.
Another person wants security. Another wants competency. Another wants authenticity. Another wants everyone to be at peace.
For me, my main motivator is a desire for everything to be done right. Correctly. Perfectly.
This is a good thing, especially for a teacher of God’s Word.
You want someone who will study, and invest in getting it right. You want someone overseeing the church who is concerned for the details, who counts the cost, and builds on a slower but solid foundation rather than quick sand.
While my motivation for things to be right is a strength, as with any strength, it also has weakness.
One weakness of mine, that I am very well aware of and constantly working on, is that I can spend an enormous amount of time on something so ridiculously small, in hopes that it might become perfect — and I’m always disappointed and I’m always critical of myself when I realize time and time again that perfection is unattainable and out of reach in my flesh.
My strength is also my weakness.
So when Jesus says:
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
— That gets my attention!
Because Jesus reveals something about God that resonates with me.
He is perfect!
And because God is perfect, I will be perfect too.
What does it mean for God to be perfect?
And what does Jesus mean when he says “You must be perfect”?
B. Introduction to Text
B. Introduction to Text
Jesus introduced The Sermon on the Mount by pronouncing “Blessings.”
Those who are happy, those who are blessed in God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, are not those who seek to change their circumstances, but those who are content as they are in whatever their circumstances, in Christ.
Jesus is the blessing! And as He is, so are they!
They are blessed, not because of what they do, but because of who they are — as a matter of identity — they are who the King says they are! They are blessed, because the King says they are blessed! His Word and His presence inform their identity as His people!
Jesus then narrows the focus from “they” to “you.”
He speaks not OF his disciples, but TO his disciples directly, and identifies them as the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World.
These are not hopeful wishes of what you might become or will become in the future. These are declarations of you are, now!
Your function in this world, your purpose on earth, serves a heavenly purpose as representatives of God’s heavenly kingdom.
You season the earth with kingdom words and slow its inevitable decay with a gospel witness. You let the light of Christ shine in you in as you walk in the darkness of this world, being IN the world but not OF it.
Then, Jesus narrows the focus once more to Himself.
He speaks not of “they” or “you” but of “I.” He speaks of Himself with authority.
17 “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.
And then with these terrifying words, Jesus says:
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus takes a condemning statement and by his grace makes it a conditional statement.
Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is possible — for those who have a surpassing righteousness. A “better righteousness” (Luz).
Not a righteousness like that of the Scribes and Pharisees, which is an outward righteousness. The kind of righteousness that says “Do as I SAY but not as I DO.”
That is an incomplete and ineffective righteousness.
But Jesus speaks of a righteousness that is deeper. A righteousness of the heart. A righteousness that does what it says and says what it does.
The righteousness of Jesus, who did not abolish what was spoken in the Law and Prophets but fulfills every iota and dot of the Law, as the Great Fulfiller of the Law and the Prophets.
And now Jesus goes on to explain for His followers, what surpassing righteousness looks like. What perfection looks like.
And it is not about conforming to a set of rules. It’s not external. For Jesus it’s about something internal. It’s about what motivates us, as His followers. (France).
So what does that look like?
Jesus begins to show us by focusing further further from His work as the Great Fulfiller, now to His work as the Great Revealer.
Jesus fixes our eyes upon Him, so that through Him, He might help us see our Heavenly Father!
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When Jesus began this body of material in his teaching, he called out a thought that his followers were thinking, or would be tempted to think about his coming.
He said “Do not think...” in verse 17. He anticipated a thought and answered it with a truth.
Now, in this section of Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus draws back from history and selects six statements that are not thoughts, but that that have actually been heard or said. For each one, He intensifies those statements with the authoritative words: “But I say to you.”
As we hear these statements, note that Jesus is not placing the emphasis on the TEACHING itself and he is not contradicting the TEACHING of old.
What Jesus emphasizes is — WHO SAID IT, so that in all of these we will be reminded of WHO IS SPEAKING these things to us.
Jesus tells us WHAT was said of old, but he doesn’t tell us WHO said it of old, so we might hear his words “But I say to you” with all the authority with which they are meant to be heard!
Brothers and Sisters, we live by what Jesus says. Not by external teachings, but by the Holy Spirit within, steering our minds to the words of Christ who reveals to us the Father (see GCM).
Without Jesus, we have no authority or ability to obey and live out His teachings!
This is why for this kingdom teaching, Jesus tells us both WHAT is said, and WHO says it, so that we might know WHO we are to listen to and obey.
III. Exposition
III. Exposition
A. (5:21-32)
A. (5:21-32)
1. Murder (5:21-26)
1. Murder (5:21-26)
a. 5:21-22 - Brotherly Love
a. 5:21-22 - Brotherly Love
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
If we are to be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect, we can’t settle for simple statements of what to do, and what not to do.
We have to go deeper than that, to the root of the problem.
My children are of the age where I have to tell my son not to bite his sister. “Don’t do this action. It is bad. Biting your sister is bad. Don’t do that.”
I have to tell him what behavior is good and what behavior is bad.
But my goal is for him to become perfected in his understanding of what is good and bad. My desire for him is to not have to tell him “Don’t bite your sister” but for him to not want to bite his sister because it hurts her! I want my son to think about the results of his actions.
I made the comment just yesterday that I don’t think children have any foresight! And then it hit me — that’s because they are children! Of course they don’t have any foresight! They don’t have any experience! They don’t know how to think ahead. That’s my job as a parent. To teach them to think about consequences for every action.
If we are to be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect, our motivations need fixing! We need to think beyond the moment to the consequences to come.
Our motivations need to reflect our Father’s, as kingdom people, so that our desires for others reflect our Father’s desire for them too.
And so Jesus goes beyond the commandment to not murder, and goes to the root of that problem.
Murder is the end of what begins with anger, insulting, and calling someone a moron or a fool to their destruction.
And just as murder takes a life and has eternal implications — anger, which leads to murder has eternal implications. Anger makes us liable for judgment. Our words towards our brothers in anger make us liable to the hell of fire — that is the trajectory we set for others when we do not show love.
It’s worth noting that the anger Jesus is speaking about is not the anger you have toward outsiders, but here he is speaking of anger against brothers.
Within the family of God. For you to desire the destruction of another in whom the Spirit of God indwells is unspeakable!
You are not attacking that person, but you are attacking a new creation in the Lord!
The message is this — don’t react. Reconcile.
b. 5:23-24 - Reconciliation
b. 5:23-24 - Reconciliation
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. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Here we begin to see how everything is connected. Not only is our relationship at stake with one another, but our relationship with God is at stake!
God prohibits worship when we are not reconciled with one another.
And it is the burden of the worshiper who has offended, to seek out this reconciliation before worshiping.
If you are on our stewardship committee at the church, give me grace for just a moment to say this —
But here is one time I will tell you NOT to bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord.
God expects you to bring offerings to Him. But here is one exception.
Don’t bring your gift to God in worship if you have wronged a brother and haven’t made it right with them and reconciled. God does not receive that as worship, and we don’t want that gift either!
Don’t make your peace with God and then go make peace with your brother. Reconciliation with your brother comes first (Luz). Then confess your sin to God as one who means to repent from it.
Don’t bring your gift to the altar if you are not reconciled with your brother.
But don’t hold out for long!
c. 5:25-26 - The Last Judgment (settle up before then).
c. 5:25-26 - The Last Judgment (settle up before then).
Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
“Settle the case while you are with him on the way” (LEB)
Because the time is short! Judgement is coming! Not just the judgment and consequences on earth, but eternal judgment is also in view here!
The day of no second chances! The day when it will be too late!
As long as you are “on the way” it’s not too late!
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We should think about the end goal — we should desire that our opponents and accusers would become our brothers (Luz), and this eternal aim is far more important than whatever we are angry about in the moment.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
If God reconciled us to Himself while we were his enemies, would we not desire that our enemies be reconciled to God too? And even more, that we remain reconciled to our brothers?
2. Marriage (5:27-30)
2. Marriage (5:27-30)
a. 5:27-28
a. 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Sin does not begin with the action committed. Sin begins in the heart, with one’s thoughts, with even a look (Luz).
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Sin begins in the heart long before it acts.
And this is true with adultery and within the greatest picture of love, the context of marriage.
A look with lustful intent or desire at another woman, or another man’s wife or wife to be, is the seed that when it grows produces adultery and devastation.
b. 5:29-30
b. 5:29-30
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. 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.
Hear it again — there is a coming judgment! There is a real hell!
Jesus is using extreme examples of removing important parts of our body to say that sin, and the impact of sin on self and others is far worse and longer lasting.
Think about the end of sin for yourself and for others and don’t sin!
3. Divorce (5:31-32)
3. Divorce (5:31-32)
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 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.
Divorce is very serious, and this is a difficult teaching because divorce is widespread even in the church.
The importance in this text is to recognize how divorce affects all the people involved in that relationship.
And anyone who has experienced a divorce should agree, that divorce has wide-reaching impact.
I’m reminded of
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
But this word was spoken to a church in Corinth made of of people who had done all of these things. For in the next verse, the Apostle writes:
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
If you’ve been angry, hurled insults at a brother, neglected reconciliation, failed to make peace, if you’ve committed adultery or been a part of divorce — the Gospel of Jesus Christ says you can’t enter the kingdom of heaven because of these things, but “Come — Come to Jesus.” You will be washed and sanctified from all of that.
“Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
A work done on the inward parts — the heart.
B. (5:33-48)
B. (5:33-48)
4. Oaths (5:33-37)
4. Oaths (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.’ 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.
Jesus not only speaks about things we SHOULD do (reconcile, come to terms with your accuser, tear out and throw away your right eye…) but he also speaks of what we SHOULDN’T do.
I’ll instruct my children to “Go clean your room,” a positive instruction, and that usually has the same affect as “Don’t bite your sister,” a negative instruction.
I want them to think less about what to do and what not to do, but I want them to think about what is right and what is wrong and how that matters in the end.
Truth belongs to God. Whatever truth we have is what God gives. We do not know possess truth within ourselves. That is traced back to the first sin, with Adam and Eve, when they ate of the forbidden fruit believing they knew better than God and His Word.
Jesus says “Do not take an oath at all.”
“Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No.”
We all need to practice this at home. Say “Yes” (silence.....). Say “No” (silence.....).
Embrace that silence and learn to stop talking, committing, and promising what you have no control or authority or power to fulfill. Think about the end result.
This swearing of oaths has implications for our worship as well.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
James echos this as well:
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
5. Retaliation (5:38-42)
5. Retaliation (5:38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. 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.
These are people who are in need.
I’ve learned it this way: “hurt people hurt people.”
They have a need to harm, to strike, to take, to force with burdens, to beg and borrow.
Think about the end. Their end! Let them have what they want in the moment. Perhaps they might receive what the need for eternity.
6. Love Your Enemies (5:43-48)
6. Love Your Enemies (5:43-48)
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 makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
This is where the distinctness of the disciples is highlighted the most. How distinct the kingdom of heaven is from the kingdoms of the world. Where the light shines bring in the darkness.
Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.
This last section brings the transition of our focus on our Heavenly Father into full view.
If we thought we could obey the other teachings in our own strength — this one makes it abundantly clear that we cannot.
Something within us must be so changed by something outside of us in order for us to do something so radical as loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors.
We have to be perfected, with that which is perfect.
IV. Conclusion
IV. Conclusion
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is not a natural thing.
This is what it means to have a surpassing righteousness.
This is the great motivator that unites all people toward a common mission in God’s kingdom —
Love.
Love!
To be perfect does not mean everything is done to the highest achievable degree. It doesn’t mean sinless, although God is sinless.
To be perfect means that “everything has attained its end/purpose” (Mounce).
Human beings were made in the image of God (Gen 1:26).
For human beings to be perfect, means that we reflect that image, the image of our Heavenly Father who is Himself our end and purpose.
It is not a command that we be perfect. Let us not misunderstand the force of “you must be perfect.” It’s not a command — it’s a description of what will be. Future.
It is what God is bringing to completion through Jesus Christ in us.
A. Gospel Proclamation
A. Gospel Proclamation
It is the love of Christ at work in and and through us.
Who loved us so much that He did not let his anger over our sin out against us, giving us what we rightly deserve, an eternity in a fiery hell.
But instead let his anger for our sin out against one who was sinless, and stood in our place. Jesus, on the cross.
Who loved us when we were His enemies.
Jesus, the King, sums up every one of these commands and does so with His love.
And not if — but as, we love with His love, we will not be angry with our brothers, we will honor the sanctity of marriage and not wreck relationships, we will speak the truth and do what we say.
The first fruit of the Spirit is — love.
Faith, hope and love abide — but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:13).
We are perfected in love.
So let us let Christ love through us, in the way the Father demonstrated His love for us and for the world.
Said another way —
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.