Monday, February 14, 2011

EPIPHANY 6
February 13/14, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Matthew 5:20-37

“WHEN IT COMES TO GOD’S COMMANDS…”
1. Jesus sets the record straight.
2. Jesus sets our record straight.

Matthew 5:20-37 (NIV) “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. 33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

“He was such a good man.” I’m sure you have heard it. Maybe you even said it. Probably at a funeral. Someone has died and they say, “He was such a good man, father, husband, friend.” In a certain sense this is what you want to hear about you and say about other believers. I would hope that any unbeliever who looks at me or you would say that. If we are living our lives as lights shining for Jesus, being the salt of the earth, then we will be good neighbors who help and are kind and take care of our own and our neighbors’ property. We will be obedient and respectful children who have manners. We will have clean mouths and be loving to our family members and friends. So anyone looking at us should be able to say from their earthly outward morality based viewpoint, “He was such a good man.”
Is that what you say when you look at yourself? Now how you answer that question is going to reveal how well you understand God’s commands and what you think of Jesus. Let me explain. Rather let Jesus explain. He’s preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount. You are there with your family. You have grown up being taught the 10 Commandments. That you must keep them to enter heaven. But Jesus says,” For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is odd! We thought the Pharisees and teachers of the law had it right. We don’t see them committing murder or adultery! How can this be?
Jesus sets the record straight. Four times Jesus says a version of “You have heard it said.” He’s pointing out the way the people have been taught. Four times Jesus goes on to say, “But I tell you.” The Son of God is speaking. People need to listen. We need to listen as Jesus sets the record straight when it comes to God’s commands.
He starts with murder. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Jesus sets the record straight. God’s command to not murder includes thoughts like sinful anger and hatred, words said in disdain and mockery. It includes selfishly expecting forgiveness and welcome from God when refusing to settle matters with people, blowing off their concerns. All of these sins bring God’s judgment of guilty of murder.
Next Jesus goes to adultery. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Jesus sets the record straight with adultery. Lust. Looking. These sins offend God and make us worthy of hell. Sexting. Pornography. How would Jesus say it today? If your computer or your cell phone, your TV or your movie pass are causing you to sin throw them away. Parents, do you regularly check the pictures and videos on your children’s cell phones? Do you audit their text messages? You need to. The evil one is at work among us. I’d do that as soon as you get in the car if I were you. No chance for erasing. Then set the record straight on God’s true commands as Jesus did.
Teach it in your marriage. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” Even back then they had no fault divorce. But you can’t have a no fault divorce. There is only sin caused divorce. God’s will is for husband and wife to love each other for life. When husbands are not cherishing their wives and wives are not respecting their husbands? Is marriage being honored by all or made a sham? Jesus sets the record straight. He sums up all marriage breaking and harming by calling it adultery.
He sets the record straight on lying. “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Apparently the Pharisees and teachers of the law gave themselves wiggle room. It was the Old Testament equivalent of crossing your fingers. If you swore by the Lord you had to keep it. Anything else not so much. Jesus sets the record straight. God expects people to be truth tellers always. Oaths only happen when they are required, not to cover for the fact that we can’t be trustworthy. And remember not lying, is not the same as telling the truth as God expects. Jesus sets the record straight.
So what must we conclude? I am not a good person. Neither are you. You are murderers, adulterers and liars. So am I. Remember how Jesus started this? “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Our righteousness does not surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. We can’t enter heaven.
Except Jesus set our record straight. That’s why He came. Remember last week in the Gospel reading where Jesus said, “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come to fulfill them.” He came to fulfill them for us. Jesus never hated or murdered his classmates with unkind words and cruel teasing. He never harbored ill feelings about his fellow congregation members or spoke mockingly or disdainfully about them. He never lusted or lied. He always put God first, used God’s name rightly. He always worshipped in spirit and in truth and loved to hear and learn God’s Word. He respected and obeyed every authority over Him even when they were in the wrong. Think of that kids! Jesus’ righteousness does surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He is perfect. And you know what? He gives that perfection to you and to me through faith. And all that murder and adultery and lying we’ve done? That He takes away. Praise be to Jesus. We’re going to a lot better place than Disneyland. We’re going to heaven.
When I look at myself honestly I am not a good person. Neither are you. But Jesus is. He has set the record straight on what God’s commands really are. He has set our records straight in not keeping them. Now what do we do? Let’s strive to keep the true meaning of God’s commands in every area. Not just outwardly but in our hearts too. Not to get to heaven but to thank Jesus for giving us heaven. Then when we are letting our lights shine and people we know look at us and say, “He’s such a good man. She’s such a good woman.” We can hear that gladly and give all the glory to where it belongs. To Jesus. Amen.

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