Please turn with me to Matthew 5 - starting at verse 21.  We are continuing in our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus is out on a hill by the Sea of Galilee talking to a large diverse crowd of people.  Possibly here.  Taking the unimaginable - hard to wrap our minds around - reality of God and His kingdom - and bringing all that down to the reality of where we live our lives.  Teaching us what it means for us to live in relationship with the Sovereign God down on the level where we live life.

Jesus is talking to people like us.  People who are crunched for time.  Who are dealing with issues of stress and fatigue.  Who are trying to make it financially.  People who’s bodies are increasingly unreliable.  Who often wonder how God is relevant to where we live our lives outside of Sunday morning.  People like us - who often feel disappointed in ourselves and wonder why our faith isn’t deeper.

Jesus has been teaching that God and His kingdom isn’t about us somehow reaching up to God - somehow trying to achieve some kind of righteousness - some kind of right relationship with God by our religious efforts - but that God has reached down to us.  Brought His Kingdom - His very presence into our lives.

Then - in the teaching we looked at last Sunday - Jesus tells this crowd that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Most people - if we’re honest with ourselves - don’t think of ourselves that way.  But God does.  In Jesus we really are God’s flavoring - His sharers of His truth and the reality of His kingdom - His light in the darkness of this world - His preservative in the decay of this world.

In Jesus - God offers to each of us the opportunity to live in the astounding blessing of a relationship with Him and huge God given purpose and value to our lives.

Coming to verse 21 - Jesus is focusing on what that relationship - what life with God in His kingdom - is like at the heart level - the core of how we act and think - the very heartbeat of our relationship with God.  Down deep we all want to experience the fullness of what God has for us.  How do we begin to go there with God?

Matthew 5 - starting at verse 21:  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. 

Let’s pause there.  There’s a pattern here that Jesus uses that makes it easier for us to see what Jesus is getting at.

Each time Jesus introduces a new part He first quotes a commandment or law from the Old Covenant - “You have heard that...” - a commandment or law dealing with our people to people relationships - then Jesus applies that commandment or law in a teaching that exposes the deeper heart implications of that commandment or law - “But I say to you…”

Are we together?

Something else that’s huge for us in that pattern.  Notice, Jesus is not a commentator - talking about Scripture - not a rabbi or Bible teacher.  Jesus is His own authority - creator of everything that exists - the Author of the commandments and the law.  When Jesus says, “I say to you…”  That’s God speaking directly to us about what it means for us to live in a heart level relationship with the living God.

Cool!  Yes?  God wants us to get this.

Let’s look at Jesus’ first teaching which focuses on Murder And Anger. 

The first part of the pattern.  Jesus quotes the commandment:  “You shall not commit murder.”  Which is commandment number?  Number six.  (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)

To a first century Jew - when He heard Jesus quoting commandment number six - to a first century Jew certain things should have been going through our minds.

There are seven different words in Hebrew for killing.  Each word has its own specific meaning and application.  Here in the sixth commandment the word for “murder” is the Hebrew word “ratsach.”  There are two ways that “ratsach” is used.

First - “ratsach” describes personal premeditated killing .

The issues of capital punishment or waging war - things that a government might do - aren’t included here.  We have to go elsewhere in Scripture to understand God’s teaching about those issues.  What God is focused on in the sixth commandment is personal - our premeditated killing of a personal enemy - or an innocent victim - or even the taking of our lives - suicide.

Second, “ratsach” is used to describe manslaughter by negligence - death because of something we fail to do.

In the Old Testament the Jews were required to take precautions to protect life.  In Exodus 21 - God told His people - if you have an ox and it gores someone and that person dies - then the ox is to be stoned - killed.  But the owner of the ox gets to keep living.  Because it was an accident.

But, if you don’t kill your ox - or keep the killer ox penned in - and it goes out and gores someone else then the owner is put to death.  There’s punishment.  You’ve been negligent - because you knew what would happen and did nothing to prevent it.  (Exodus 21:28,29)

In Deuteronomy 22:8, God tells His people - when you build a house - build a high balcony around the perimeter of your roof so that someone won’t accidentally fall off.  Take precautions to preserve life.  (see also Exodus 21:12 ff, Deuteronomy 19:1-13)

Point being:  The sixth commandment teaches the value of life.

The basis of the command is found in Genesis 9:6.  God speaks to Noah.  God says, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.”

God took dirt and formed Adam in His own image - breathed into Adam His breath - created in us a living soul.  Life is sacred - to be valued - because God created it so. 

Last Tuesday was the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  Friday there were thousands marching in Washington DC. - the March For Life Rally calling for the overturning of that ruling on abortion. 

The struggles that we have today - in wrestling with issues like - abortion - stem cell research - euthanasia - assisted suicide - to a tremendous degree that struggle is because we’ve forgotten the truth behind the sixth commandment.  Man is the image of God.  Value God and you will value human life.

Ray Stedman once said, “If you lose God, you lose man.” (1)

Hold onto this:  We need to see God in the life of others.  To realize that the planned taking of that life - or negligence that results in death - murder is a rejection of God and the value He places on human life.

The second part of the pattern - we need to be clear on Jesus’ application of the sixth commandment to where we live life.  The “But I say to you” part.

Its not hard to image that the people listening to Jesus - and maybe us - the people were saying, “I haven’t murdered anyone!  I’m not guilty of breaking the commandment.”   

But this is an Emeril moment.  Remember Emeril Lagasse?  “Bam”  Jesus kicking it up a notch.  Jesus is going from what we’re comfortable with to showing us how we all fail at keeping this commandment.  Stuff of the heart.  Everyone say “Bam!”

Short video.  See if you can relate to this.  (Video:  Gentleman) 

Every feel like that?  Need to get someplace and the driver in front of you is in lah lah land yaking away on their cell phone.  Can anyone say, “BAM!”?

Jesus starts with anger - what’s inside that comes out in our actions and in the things we say at each other.

There are justifiable reasons for being angry.  What Jesus is talking about is anger that totally disregards the value of life that God gives to each of us.  When we rip into people and tear them down because - what’s going on in us at the heart level - what’s going on is our own selfishness and pride.

Jesus says, “If you’re angry with your brother you’re liable to judgment.”  Literally - the original Greek has the idea that when we’re angry we’re already guilty - already worthy of being judged.

He goes on.  To “insult” our brother means we’re already liable - guilty - before the council. 

“Insult” is an Aramaic word - “raca” - an Aramaic word meaning “empty.”  Great word.  Its kind of like clearing the throat - “ragh-kah.”  Try it - “raca.”    It sounds disgusting.  It was a word said with total disgust towards someone.  Turn to the person next to you and say to them… no don’t do that.  

(Peanuts Cartoon)  “I don’t care what you call me, Charlie Brown.  Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me!!!   You blockhead.”

That cartoon ran in 1951 - the first time Charlie Brown was called a blockhead.   “Raca” can be literally translated “blockhead.”

Jesus goes on - whoever says, ‘You fool.’ - the word is “moros.”  The word we get - what?  “moron” from.  In the Hebrew understanding - it literally was accusing someone of moral and spiritual rebellion against God.  Only a fool would rebel against God.  Call someone a fool and you’re guilty and on your way to the fires of hell.  That’s kicking it up a notch.  Eternal damnation for what’s coming out of our mouth.

The “Rappin’ With Jesus” paraphrase puts it this way, “Murder is still murder, baby... You try sweating a brother for no reason, you’re still guilty.  And you know how easy it is to rank on a brother, calling him stupid or worse, a fool.  It’s gotta stop...  Hell itself will be on your doorstep otherwise.”  (2) 

Going on - verse 23 - So - because people are valuable - if you are offering your gift at the altar and there you remember that your brother - not an enemy - but a brother - family - has something against you - notice - not if you have something against your brother - but if your brother has an issue with you - you take the first step - you leave your gift there before the altar and go.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

Unrighteous anger values us not others.  Dwells on how we’ve been wronged by others.  Those blockheads on cell phones.  How others need to take the first step.  But our relationship with God is going to be damaged if we don’t first seek reconciliation with others.

Verse 25:  Come to terms quickly with your accuser - notice - your accuser - someone who’s working against you - 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.

God calls on us to respond - not in defense of self - but in humility - seeking reconciliation - valuing others as God values them.  We may be 100% in the right.  But if there’s anger involved - an attitude that keeps us back from seeing value in the other person - that keeps us from seeking friendship with our enemies - we’re gonna pay.  There are huge - really bad - nasty consequences for us. 

Hold onto Jesus’ people to people heart level relationship:  Murder and Anger - Living in the Kingdom - living in relationship with living God means - at the heart level - God holds us accountable to value people like God values people.

Going on - verse 27:  You have heard that it was said - back to the pattern - new part of Jesus’ teaching - You have heard that it was said , “You shall not commit adultery”  Which is commandment number what?  Seven.  (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18)

Verse 28:  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Let’s pause.  First we need to be clear on the meaning of the seventh commandment.  If we were a first century Jew listening to Jesus what should be going through our minds when we heard Jesus quote the seventh commandment.

Adultery - as the Bible defines adultery - is the act by which a married man or women becomes sexually involved with a member of the opposite - or same sex - outside of marriage.

The reasons people commit adultery are a lot.  Adulterers are seeking affection - adventure - longing to be touched - held - kissed - to be valued - respected - emotional or relational security.  A sentimental unexpected gift once in a while.  Someone to share experiences with - stories.  A loving friend who won’t judge them.  Now and then a way out from under what has become predictable - dreary - difficult.

At its core adultery is selfish - self-focused.  Focusing on meeting legitimate needs in an illegitimate way.

God is very specific.  There’s no wiggle room.  Don’t commit adultery.

Second - we need to be clear on Jesus’ application.  The “But I say to you” heart level part.

The people listening to Jesus -  and we - might be tempted to say, “I haven’t cheated.  I’m not guilty of breaking the commandment.”

But, Jesus is teaching about what?  Our heart.  About Adultery and Lust.  How God looks at what’s going on in our heart. 

Ultimately Jesus isn’t teaching about momentary thoughts about sex.  He’s not talking about seeing a person walking by and turning our heads to look.  He’s not speaking about the temptation to think lustfully.  He’s talking about how we respond to those temptations.

A number of years ago - back when we had our red van - I was taking one of our children to school.  We were on Childs Avenue - over by the fairgrounds - just as it comes to 59.  With all the rain we were having  - Childs - was covered with water.

I had a moment of decision - keep going - or turn around and go another way.  I could see it was pretty deep.  Turning around would have been the wise thing to do.  But, I’m a guy.  So - I kept going.  “We can make this.”

I sensed we were in trouble when we passed a car that was stalled - just kind of floating on the side of Lake Childs.  I could have turned back.  But the challenge was there.  Turning around meant admitting failure.

The water started coming up over the hood - spraying over the hood.  I’m thinking to myself, “You know we might not make this.”  I talking to the van, “Come on baby.  You can make it baby.  Just a little bit more.”  

When the van finally stalled the water was up over the door.  I know that because when I opened the door the water started pouring in.  There we were - right in the middle of Lake Childs - listening to the gentle lapping of water on the sides of the van.  And I’m thinking, “What kind of idiot would do something like this?”

Have you been there?

Hold onto this:  We’re bombarded with temptation all day long.  What Jesus is talking about is our response - our choice - the decision to give that temptation its way in our mind.

To click there.  To fix on a person and fantasize about them.  What would it be like to be in a physical or illegitimate relationship with them.  To replay the scenarios over and over again in our minds.  The lustful experiences of being with someone who isn’t our husband or wife - perhaps the husband or wife of another.

Verse 29:  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 to into hell.

Point being:  The consequences of adultery are huge.  The consequences of lust are devastating.  We need to learn to make different choices.  To choose to cut off the sources of temptation.

Get the internet filter.  Stop the subscription.  Don’t go there.  Leave behind those people.  Change jobs.  Seek accountability.  Do whatever it takes.  Guard your heart.  Put up boundaries.  Failure is not an option.  Choose to cut off the sources of temptation before we have to ask ourselves, “What kind of an idiot would do something like this?” 

Bottom line:  We’ve all broken the seventh commandment - even in thought.  This isn’t just a guy thing.

Look where Jesus goes with this.  Divorce and marriage.

Verse 31:  It was said - back to the pattern - Jesus is quoting from the law of Moses - It was 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,

Sexual immorality translates the Greek word “porneia” from which we get the our word - what?  Porn.  “Porneia” described someone acting like a prostitute - fornication - sex outside of marriage.

everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery.

Why?  Because when she marries again - which in that society was almost a certain necessity for survival - because if she wasn’t acting immoral - when she get’s married again she will be living in adultery - and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Which means she’s not going to be able to marry because whoever marries her is going to be committing adultery.  Which means - when it comes to her being able to survive - she’s in serious serious trouble. 

Let’s be careful here.  We need to be clear on what God is saying and where God’s people had taken God’s instructions.

In Genesis - God tells us that its not good for man to be alone.  God makes Eve out of Adam - brings Eve to Adam - as a helper fit for him.

Adam - when he sees Eve - Adam says, “This at last is bone of my - what?  bones, and flesh of my - what?  flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23)

The Hebrew word for man is “ish.”  The word for woman is “isshah” - the feminine form of “ish”  Adam called the woman by his own name - identified her as the corresponding female version of himself.  God brings the two together into the covenant of marriage.

Genesis 2:24 - “Therefore a man shall leave his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”  (Genesis 2:24,25)

There’s nothing that keeps Adam and Eve from oneness.  “Leave and cleave”  There’s no in-laws.  There’s nothing between them - no shame of sin to keep them from total openness with each other.  It’s God’s ideal for marriage - the ideal partnership - a heart level depth of relationship - oneness - knowing and being known - that we all crave.

Grab God’s perspective of marriage.  Marriage initiated and brought together by God unites two people - equally created in God’s image - unites them in a partnership on every level - physical - mental - spiritual. 

The sexual energy of that union - bringing us together in oneness is powerful.  Sex is powerful.  If it wasn’t, none of us would be here.  God could have designed us as a silicon based life form.  We might grow and grow until the next generation just sort of breaks off.

Sex is more than just a physical act that initiates reproduction.  Sex as God intends it - sex is never trivial - recreational - casual - hooking up - just a selfish physical act.  Sex joins us with the other person.  If we’re Christians - Scripture tells us - that even the Holy Spirit is present with us in that sexual relationship. (1 Corinthians 6:1-20)

God designed sex to be powerful - power with purpose - with great potential.  Sex brings us together - uniting mind - body - soul - heart in a profound oneness.

Reading through Scripture - God uses the covenant of marriage to illustrate His covenant relationship - His unique oneness with His people - a relationship that for us begins with the extent and depth of God’s love offered through the death of Jesus on the cross.  God knowing us - all that we are - as if we’re naked before Him - nothing hidden.  God committing Himself to us - to love us - even dying for us.

Are we together?

To the crowd Jesus is teaching - there on the mount - Jewish marriage was not a commitment made between equals.  A woman didn’t marry a man.  She was “given in marriage.”  A wife couldn’t divorce her husband.  She could go before the court and force him to divorce her.  Marriage in Jewish society was about the man - not the woman.

In the law of Moses there was the provision that allowed for divorce based on proven adultery.  Mosaic law defined why and how divorce was to be done.  The New Testament adds “abandonment” by an unbelieving spouse.  (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; 1 Corinthians 7:12-16)

The Mosaic law on divorce was designed by God to protect women and God’s purposes for marriage.  Jewish patriarchal society had come to view that provision as “an escape clause” that was a far cry from God’s purposes.  They’d come up with laws that tilted in favor of the man.  The so called “Burnt Toast Clause” of marriage.  If a wife spoils her husband’s meal he has grounds to divorce her.

Imagine a polygamist society where a man could marry and divorce a woman - any number of women - with very little grounds for that divorce.  Women were treated as a convenience for the man - even being exchanged back and forth between husbands like slaves.

In Matthew 19 - when Jesus is questioned by Pharisees about marriage, divorce, and adultery Jesus responds that even the law of Moses permitted divorce because of hardness of heart - meaning that the issue is not “Under what circumstances can I divorce my wife” but “Under what circumstances am I to remain committed to my wife?”  (Matthew 19:3-12)

The issue isn’t divorce but the sanctity of marriage - the protection of the wife.  The issue isn’t even adultery but our own hardness of heart. 

Put bluntly:  What kind of husband throws his wife out on the street to become a prostitute?  What’s really going on in his heart?  How can He claim to be Godly?

At the heart level - Jesus is calling God’s people to something completely different.  The seventh commandment - put positively - sounds like this:  “You shall be committed to marriage.” 

When we reject our commitment to marriage - commit the sin of adultery - we reject all that God offers us - even the testimony of God’s love in Jesus.  Adultery - when we focus on ourselves and meeting our needs by illegitimate means - we destroy the oneness of marriage.  It would be better for us to enter heaven blind and lame than to commit adultery.

“You shall not commit adultery” is a challenge for us to renew our commitment to marriage and the pursuit of all that God offers us in marriage.

Murder and anger.  Adultery and lust.  Divorce and Marriage.

Processing what Jesus is saying here - as we get ready to head out into Merced - if we’re hearing Jesus - there are some unnerving implications in what Jesus is teaching - especially at our heart level.

What Jesus is getting at is a whole lot like cheating at solitaire.  Ever done that?  Who’s fooling who? 

Spiritually speaking - when it comes down to it we have a penchant for cheating.  That may not be intentional.  Might even be some subtle at the heart level self-deception.  But what it adds up to is that we tend to see the big sins and miss the little stuff of the heart that Jesus is cutting to the core of in our relationship with God and with others.

It would be so easy to say, “That commandment doesn’t apply to me.”  To be comfortable where we’re at.  To let ourselves off the hook.  To look at ourselves and the things we do - and say to ourselves, “I’m not that bad.  I haven’t done violence to anyone.  At least nothing more than anyone else is doing.”  Or, maybe it was justified - my attitude - my words.  Or, “I’m not really an adulterer.  I’ve got it under control.  It isn’t gonna happen again.” 

Same self-deception as the Pharisees who outwardly had all the trappings of legendary righteousness but inwardly - at the heart level - were empty of a true relationship with God.

Two implications - two challenges for us.  First - We need to be honest.  With ourselves.  With God. 

Its way to easy to try to control our hearts - our attitudes - our actions -  without ever letting God deal with our heart.  And completely miss the conclusion Jesus takes us to.

There is a reality to our struggle - our sin - our guilt - that exists whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.  It still exists.  One way or another it will be dealt with - either in self-destructive behavior that keeps us from living as we desire live with God - or the destruction of our homes - or in the weakening of our usefulness in God’s service - or when we stand before God in judgment.

Reality number one - at the heart level we need to come clean with God.  To be honest.  We are guilty.  Period.

Second implication - challenge for us - a bottom line reality actually:  We need forgiveness. 

At a time when whole nations - including God’s people - were coming under the judgment of God for their sin.  A time of impending doom.  God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah.  God says this, “Behold days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people… for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  (Jeremiah 31:31,33,34)

That incredible relationship with God is ours today.  God who establishes our relationship with Him through the broken body and shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  God, Who wants us to get this.  Who desires to forgive our sins and remember them no more.  To write His law on our hearts - at the core of who we are to recreate us - to enable us to live - at the heart level - at the core of who we are - to live as the people He has created us to be.

When we come before God in honesty - asking His forgiveness - He gives it.  Asking Him to change our hearts - He will do it.

_______________

1. Quoted by Steve Zeisler, sermon “Respect For Life”

2. Rappin’ With Jesus - The Good News According To The Four Brothers, African American Family Press, Multi Media Communicators, Inc, New York, NY, 1994