READ: Matthew
5
Matthew 5 begins the famous Sermon on the Mount. In order to understand
this sermon well, we must remember Matthew is writing to Jews. Not only is
Matthew writing to Jews, Jesus is speaking mostly to Jews, but also to Gentiles
as they were part of the crowds that were gathered to hear Him speak. As you
read through this sermon, ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart with the
message He wants you to understand.
In every topic Jesus covers in this sermon, He raises the standard. He
usually begins with, “You have heard that it was said…”. This means you have
been taught through an interpretation of the Scriptures or through tradition.
Then right after that Jesus tells them what was meant by the Law in the first
place. Each time it refers to the heart rather than just to actions.
On the topic of anger, Jesus
said that they had heard murder was wrong. Of course they had! Do not kill is
one of the commandments! However, Jesus now sheds light on what this really
means. He says holding anger in our heart, or calling someone names with evil
intent, or even holding a grudge is really the issue. The heart of the matter
is when our relationships with others are broken and we contribute to that
brokenness with attitude, words or actions. It gives us new eyes to read the
commandment ‘Do not murder’. Instead of thinking, ‘I’d never do a thing like
that!’ we are now guilty of breaking this commandment every time we hold a
grudge or unforgiveness in our hearts.
Jesus does this again with the topic of adultery. He says in the ten commandments ‘Do not commit adultery’
and ‘Do not covet your neighbour’s wife’. Again, it’s an issue of the heart. We
don’t have to actually commit the physical act of adultery to sin; just having
a heart that thinks about illicit relationships is enough to condemn us.
Whether it’s looking at pornography or fantasizing about someone who’s not your
spouse (real or imagined) it’s the same as adultery in God’s eyes. The issue of
purity is one of thought and heart. Actions reveal what’s in the heart. In the
Sermon on the Mount Jesus made it clear He will be judging not just
our actions, but also our hearts.
Oaths or
promises are another issue Jesus raised. In those days, it was understood that if
they swore on a deity (on God or any of His names, for example) the oath or
promise was binding. But they thought if they swore by something else, like
heaven, or the hair on their head, etc. that it wasn’t binding. This way they
could get away without keeping their promises if they changed their mind. Jesus
told them their oaths were just as binding as if they had sworn by God’s name
because God Himself made the heavens and owns them. God is the one who put the
hair on our heads. The point Jesus is
making is not really about what we swear on at all! Again, it’s a matter of the
heart. He is telling us we need to be sure that when we say “yes” or “no”, we
will follow through. Our character should be such that our word alone holds the
weight of an oath or a contract.
Journaling
and Prayer
1.
Ask the Lord to speak to you
about the three things in today’s reading (anger, oaths, adultery). Ask Him to
show you if you have any sin to confess in any of these areas. Then ask Him if
there are other things in the chapter He wants to highlight for you as areas
you need to confess. In obedience, confess them as sin, and ask God to give you
a pure heart.
2.
Spend some time in
thanksgiving for the forgiveness God so willingly pours out when we confess and
repent. Thank Him specifically for freedom in the areas you confessed sin.
3.
Ask the Holy Spirit to open
your spiritual eyes as you go through your day to the situations that come up
that reveal a heart that is not pure or free from sin. Ask Him to give you a
sensitive spirit to recognize His conviction and immediately repent.
