Matthew 5:33-48
Our Words Matter (33-37)
Unfortunately the society in which we are living in lost its relevance for truth.
The truth has become relative and there is no absolute truth remains.
Because in our everyday living we shade the truth and we make promises we have no intention of keeping them.
In HIS Sermon on the Mount teaching, Lord Jesus points to the oath taking by people to convince others of the truth they are expressing.
HE is warning that be very careful the oaths we take in the normal course of our conversations.
In verses 33-37 the Lord basically reminds us that swearing with an oath weakens the truth in our words.
According to Lord Jesus God is the Creator and HE is the truth.
To take any part of God’s creation as witness to a false oath is to dishonor God Himself.
To dishonor and compromise any truth is to dishonor and compromise His truth.
It is wicked and sinful for us to use anything of God’s name or a part of His creation, as witness to anything for our dishonest, deceitful, insincere, and false statements.
Believers in the Lord Jesus do not need the help of an oath to confirm their words as truth.
We do not need the ‘crutches’ of oath to make others believe in us.
Our Reactions Matter (38-42)
Deuteronomy 19:18-21
The Scribes and Pharisees missed both the context and the original intent of this passage.
It is for the judge or the state to enforce punishment on people who commit crimes.
This is not an issue of personal vendetta to take matter into one’s own hands.
The principle of punishment to match the crime had two basic purposes.
To remove the person from the society doing more harm.
To prevent excessive punishment based on personal vengeance and angry retaliation.
The religious teachers of that time moved this command out of its proper place of application.
These teachers made it an obligation even in personal relationships.
According to Jews custom or as a matter of fact in other eastern customs, the slap on the face is literally understood as a terrible insult.
Turning the other cheek means not to avenge or retaliate but be humble and gentle in response to such insult as kingdom people.
The attitude of kingdom people should be willingness to share even at personal inconvenience.
Lord Jesus saying that we should share what we have when we see a person in need – that is exhibition of true Christianity.
Walking an extra mile means to go beyond ones comfort level to help others.
As believers we should never say no to people who ask for help.
Lord Jesus is reminding us to be generous as kingdom people.
Our Actions Matter (43-48)
Here is the most powerful teaching in Scripture about the meaning of love.
As Christians we are not only to love our neighbors and but also love the enemy by praying for them.
One of the common and most damaging criticisms of Christians is that they do not live up to their faith.
We as God’s children must show love and care as God shows.
God allows sun to rise on the good and the bad and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
In theological terms it is common grace shown indiscriminately.
We as the citizens of God’s kingdom must show much higher standard of love.
Our actions should be better than the rest of the world.
Such Christians should be noticed by others as more honest and considerate.
They should be noticed in their communities as more helpful and caring people.
We are kingdom people and we have the love of Christ in our hearts.
Our words matter – our reactions matter - our actions matter to God.
We have to become what God wants us to be – the channels of HIS blessings.
The Sermon on the Mount continues to teach us to be different and extra-ordinary.
Can we be those people who can make a difference in the world we live in?
Our Words Matter (33-37)
Unfortunately the society in which we are living in lost its relevance for truth.
The truth has become relative and there is no absolute truth remains.
Because in our everyday living we shade the truth and we make promises we have no intention of keeping them.
In HIS Sermon on the Mount teaching, Lord Jesus points to the oath taking by people to convince others of the truth they are expressing.
HE is warning that be very careful the oaths we take in the normal course of our conversations.
In verses 33-37 the Lord basically reminds us that swearing with an oath weakens the truth in our words.
According to Lord Jesus God is the Creator and HE is the truth.
To take any part of God’s creation as witness to a false oath is to dishonor God Himself.
To dishonor and compromise any truth is to dishonor and compromise His truth.
It is wicked and sinful for us to use anything of God’s name or a part of His creation, as witness to anything for our dishonest, deceitful, insincere, and false statements.
Believers in the Lord Jesus do not need the help of an oath to confirm their words as truth.
We do not need the ‘crutches’ of oath to make others believe in us.
Our Reactions Matter (38-42)
Deuteronomy 19:18-21
The Scribes and Pharisees missed both the context and the original intent of this passage.
It is for the judge or the state to enforce punishment on people who commit crimes.
This is not an issue of personal vendetta to take matter into one’s own hands.
The principle of punishment to match the crime had two basic purposes.
To remove the person from the society doing more harm.
To prevent excessive punishment based on personal vengeance and angry retaliation.
The religious teachers of that time moved this command out of its proper place of application.
These teachers made it an obligation even in personal relationships.
According to Jews custom or as a matter of fact in other eastern customs, the slap on the face is literally understood as a terrible insult.
Turning the other cheek means not to avenge or retaliate but be humble and gentle in response to such insult as kingdom people.
The attitude of kingdom people should be willingness to share even at personal inconvenience.
Lord Jesus saying that we should share what we have when we see a person in need – that is exhibition of true Christianity.
Walking an extra mile means to go beyond ones comfort level to help others.
As believers we should never say no to people who ask for help.
Lord Jesus is reminding us to be generous as kingdom people.
Our Actions Matter (43-48)
Here is the most powerful teaching in Scripture about the meaning of love.
As Christians we are not only to love our neighbors and but also love the enemy by praying for them.
One of the common and most damaging criticisms of Christians is that they do not live up to their faith.
We as God’s children must show love and care as God shows.
God allows sun to rise on the good and the bad and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
In theological terms it is common grace shown indiscriminately.
We as the citizens of God’s kingdom must show much higher standard of love.
Our actions should be better than the rest of the world.
Such Christians should be noticed by others as more honest and considerate.
They should be noticed in their communities as more helpful and caring people.
We are kingdom people and we have the love of Christ in our hearts.
Our words matter – our reactions matter - our actions matter to God.
We have to become what God wants us to be – the channels of HIS blessings.
The Sermon on the Mount continues to teach us to be different and extra-ordinary.
Can we be those people who can make a difference in the world we live in?
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