Matthew 5:21-32

Matthew 5:21-32

“You have heard it was said…....but I tell you.” Jesus uses this series of statements 6 times over the next part of His discourse. In the previous section on the Law He just established the validity of it. Why then does He seem to be contradicting it?

He is not contrasting the OT teaching with His own, but He is differentiating between the legalistic interpretation the religious leaders of the time used and His own correct view of the Law. He is not saying that the Law is wrong; He is saying that they didn’t understand the true nature of the Law as intended. The Law was not put into place so legalism and externality can be displayed like a t-shirt or bumper sticker is these days. The Law was given to change mankind’s heart.

Jesus is saying that it is the condition of ones heart that is truly important to Him and He gives some very clear examples of where the religious leaders of the day (and today) went wrong in their interpretation. Is it wrong to kill? Yes, of course it is. But Jesus says it is just as wrong to hate someone or hold a grudge against someone. There is no use coming to Him if you have something against someone else. Settle your matters before coming to worship Jesus.

Is it wrong to commit adultery? Not in today’s society. Swinging and partner swapping is much more common than we would like to think. The courts are filled with divorce cases stemming from infidelity. Even though marital vows are not as important to some as they were in days gone by, they are important to God. Infidelity was wrong when God gave Moses the Law and it is wrong today. But here in verses 27-30 Jesus ups the ante even more. Of course it is wrong to have sexual or physical relations with someone other than your spouse but Jesus says it is wrong just to look lustfully at someone that isn’t married to you. In today’s society a common expression is, “Just because I am on a diet doesn’t mean I can’t look at the menu.” In today’s world pornography is one of the top industries in the world making billions of dollars annually. What’s the harm in just looking you might ask.......well Jesus knows the harm and He tells us that drastic measures must be taken to avoid this sin. Any willful, calculated stare that arouses sexual desire is wrong. According to Jesus this is a form of adultery. It is a seed that once planted can grow into an addiction that can ruin relationships and break apart families and keep you separated from God.

The people in the 1st century were not so different than we are today when it comes to divorce. They looked for any excuse to jump from their marital contract. Today it is actually easier to just throw in the towel, divide everything up, and go your separate ways than it is to try to put the pieces back together and make it work. Billboards advertise, “Divorce for as little as $99!”, “1-800-DIVORCE”, and “Divorce made easy”. Lawyers make millions helping people destroy lives and relationships (trust me I know). The vernacular that they use during these proceedings is enough to make me vomit in my mouth. They act like they are doing you a favor as they suck the financial and emotional life out of you while dividing up your family and possessions like it is a thanksgiving turkey fresh from the oven and waiting to be carved. (Do I sound bitter?) These people would make Jesus sick to His stomach as well of this I am sure. In the next few verses He says that there is only ONE thing that warrants a certificate of divorce. Marital unfaithfulness. Period. Seems pretty clear to me.

People sometimes seem confused by the teachings of Jesus. As we are starting to see Jesus does not pull any punches. He is pretty clear on what He expects from us. Yes, He has set a pretty high standard for us. I struggle with maintaining His standard in each one of the issues we looked at today. Why do I struggle so much? Simply put I try to meet His expectations on my own strength. When I do this I fail every time. Only when I surrender my will and desires to Him and let Him take control of my thoughts can I have victory in these areas.

Please do not get discouraged. Put your faith and hope in the only One that can see you through to ultimate victory and eternal life. Please stay with me as we continue to forge ahead through the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament.

All praise and honor and glory go to God.

Have a great day.

God bless.