Matthew 5:13-20
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
A. \\#Matt 1:1-2:23\\ The Offering of the King
1. \\#1:1-17\\ The King is Offered to the Reader
2. \\#1:18-25\\ The King Is Offered to Joseph
3. \\#2:1-12\\ The King Is Offered to the East
4. \\#2:13-23\\ The King Is Offered to Herod
B. \\#Matt 3:1-17\\ The Announcement of the King
1. Announced by John
2. Announced by the Father
II. \\#4:1-7:29\\ The Person of the King
A. \\#Matt 4:1-4:29\\ Powerful but humble
1. \\#4:1-11\\ Powerful but humble before Satan.
2. \\#4:12-17\\ Powerful but humble before government.
3. \\#4:18-22\\ Powerful but humble in the selection of His
disciples.
4. \\#4:23-25\\ Powerful but humble in ministry.
B. \\#Matt 5:1-7:29\\ Wise and Godly
1. \\#5:1-2\\ The Setting
2. \\#5:3-12\\ Be All You Can Be
3. \\#5:13-16\\ Do the Work
4. \\#5:17-19\\ Honor the Law
5. \\#5:20-6:18\\ Do It Better-Grace Always Exceeds the Law.
a. \\#5:21-48\\ Grace exceeds the Law in our dealings with people.
b. \\#6:1-18\\ Grace exceeds the Law in our dealings with God.
I. \\#Matt 5:1-7:29\\ Wise and Godly
A. \\#5:1-2\\ The Setting
B. \\#5:3-12\\ Be All You Can Be
C. \\#5:13-16\\ Do the Work-The work of the Christian is described in two
ways.
1. \\#13\\ "Ye are the salt of the earth"
a. Although not described, salt has several abilities.
(1) Salt is a preservative and stops corruption. So the
Christian’s job is to stand against sin, holding it back and
working as a preservative in this world.
(2) Salt seasons or flavors food. So the Christians’ job is to
flavor this world with the taste of God.
(3) Salt is an astringents.
(a) It contracts the tissue and used to protect a wound and
help it to heal; hence, although it burns when applied,
salt is a healing agent.
(b) So the Christians’ job is to help heal this world of the
wounds of sin. Although our presence may cause the
world some pain at first, in the end, our presence
closes the wounds and heals.
b. What is described is what happens if salt has lost its "savour"
or flavor or effect.
(1) First, a question is asked.
(a) If the salt is no longer salty, what will be used to
salt it?
(b) The answer, although again not given, is obvious. If
the salt is no longer working, there is nothing that
can be done to give it back its flavor.
(c) When Christians quit doing their work, the task of
reviving them is most difficult if not impossible.
(d) Certainly, if it is to be done at all, it will have to be
done by God.
(2) Second, the value of saltless salt is described
(a) When salt loses its flavor, it is "good for nothing."
(b) Christians who do not salt the world are worthless.
(c) They have failed in their duty.
(d) They will "be cast out, and… trodden under foot of
men."
(e) Interestingly, the men of this world that the saltless
Christians sought to be like will be the very ones who
will stomp them into the ground.
2. \\#14-16\\ "Ye are the light of the world"
a. Yet again, although not detailed, light has several functions.
(1) Light illuminates.
(a) It makes the unseen things visible.
(b) So Christians are to make the unseen presence of God
and His truths visible.
(2) Light vanquishes the darkness.
(a) When light comes, darkness disappears.
(b) So Christians are to put the kingdom of darkness in
retreat.
(c) As the church goes forth, the kingdoms of darkness are
to quake and flee.
Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
b. \\#14-15\\ What Christ does mention is the fact that light is
intended to be used, not hid.
(1) \\#14\\ Christians, like "A city that is set on a hill,
cannot be hid."
(a) Christ not only states that a Christian’s effect is NOT
to be hid, He states that it CANNOT be hid.
(b) If Christ is on the inside, those on the outside will
see it.
(2) \\#15\\ Neither do Christians put their light "under a
bushel, but on a candlestick."
(a) Christ’s intent for Christians is not to hide them, but
to put them on display before the world.
(b) It is His desire that we be light to the remainder of
the world (house).
c. \\#16\\ So Christ gives a command.
(1) "Let your light so shine before men"-Christian, be the kind
of Christian that men…
(2) "may see your good works"-…can see the kind of effect
Christ has had within you…
(3) "and glorify your Father"-…and glorify God.
(4) "in heaven"-Since God abides in heaven and is not visible
to the world, it is important that Christians live such a
life before men that they can see God through them.
D. \\#5:17-19\\ Honor the Law
1. \\#17-18\\ Christ did not come to destroy or cancel the Law.
Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets…."
a. \\#17\\ Christ did not come to either demolish the Law or to tear
it down.
(1) The word "destroy" means to demolish, disintegrate, destroy,
or throw down.
(2) Neither was it Christ’s purpose to tell us that God had
changed His mind about what was right and wrong.
(3) Things that were right under the Law are still right, and
things that were wrong under the Law are still wrong.
(a) Right and wrong do not change.
(b) God does not change His mind.
b. \\#20\\ We will see that instead of removing the Law, Jesus
is actually speaking about "exceeding" it.
2. To help understand the church’s role in the Law, let’s divide the Law
into three parts.
a. There are the rites and rituals which include the sacrifices,
cleansings, holy days, dietary commands, and the commands for
dealing with the clean and unclean.
(1) These religious rites and rituals somehow pictured the person,
the coming, or the work of Christ.
(2) All of these have been set aside for now because Jesus
FULFILLED what they pictured.
(3) This is what Jesus said in the remainder of the verse.
"I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
(4) Other Scriptures teach this as well.
Ro 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.
Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,)
to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for
sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the
law;
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(5) The Jew does not keep the rituals and rites of the Law.
Indeed, they CANNOT for soon after Christ’s death, God
removed the temple and the priesthood.
(6) Gentiles were never under the Law and so were never required
to follow the rituals and rites.
b. The civil laws of the Torah are not kept today.
(1) The civil laws are those which describe crimes and
punishments for the Jewish society. Essentially, they make
up the criminal code for Israel.
(2) Obedience to these laws was stopped because the Jews entered
into judgment.
(a) The Jews stopped keeping these laws when they were
scattered.
(b) As they moved into other lands, they became subject
to that land’s laws.
(c) Since they have returned to the land, they have
established their own laws, but their system of justice
is not what was described in the Torah.
(d) Whether this is right or wrong for the nation of Israel
during this time is hard to say.
i. Theologically, since God has set Israel aside during
this time, the covenant is not in effect and the
Jews are not obligated to obey these laws.
ii. Even so, Orthodox Jews desire to take Israel back
under the civil law. Presently, they do not have
enough support to do so.
(3) Here, again, the Gentiles were never required to heed the
Old Testament penalties for stealing, rebellion, adultery,
and so forth.
(4) Regardless, even for the Jews, the earthly penalty for
breaking the Law may have been fulfilled by Christ.
(a) The basic penalty for breaking the Law is death.
i. Not always but often.
ii. Paul refers to it as such.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
(b) But Christ has paid the death penalty!
Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Ro 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us.
(c) It is understood that Jesus’ death opens the door for
mercy to be applied. Whether this would have any
bearing on unsaved Jews who might be under the Old
Testament civil law or not is unclear.
(5) It does appear that the Jews and the world will be under
the Law during the millennium and that, although there
will be death in the millennium, it will be greatly
diminished.
Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that
hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the
sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
(6) For the Christian—Jew or Gentile—the penalty of death seems
completely and totally revoked.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(a) The Christian does not face death now or in eternity.
(b) In fact, Paul says even the conviction and decry of
sin is removed.
(c) Since the Jewish nation will have accepted Christ during
the millennium, I do not think they will need worry
about the penalties of the Law either.
c. The last section of the Law are the moral laws.
(1) Moral laws describe what is right and wrong, what is sinful
and what is not.
(2) My belief is that the moral law is binding upon all people
during all time periods.
(3) Things like murder, lying, stealing, nudity, incest, divorce,
adultery, and so forth, are wrong and always will be.
(4) The passages that define wrong and command people to abandon
these kinds of actions are still binding to all, although the
penalties do not apply during this age of grace.
3. \\#18-19\\ Christ tells us that the Law will stand until His plan and
work are completed.
Matt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
a. The "jot" and "tittle" are small marks made to letters and words
in the Greek and Hebrew languages (like the dot above the "i" or
the crossing on the "t."
(1) "til all be fulfilled"-Everything that God has in store for
man and his redemption.
(2) This means that not even the smallest part of the Law will be
done away with until God’s promised plan is complete.
b. \\#19\\ Christ pronounced a curse on any who would who would
break the Law and teach others to do so.
(1) You might notice that this curse is for the believer.
(a) If one does these things, "he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven…."
(b) If one does not, "the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven."
(2) Both relate to heaven’s kingdom and indicate that there will
be much confusion concerning the Law at some point in the
future.
4. So should the world (and the church) be under God’s Law during the
period of grace?
a. As detailed in the previous section, probably not.
(1) While the Law has not been destroyed, Gentiles were never
under it, and the Jews are not presently required to obey it.
(2) Christians do not become Jews at conversion and are not bound
to keep the civil laws or to comply with the rite and rituals
of the Law.
b. However, God will reclaim Israel one day.
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am
an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather
through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to
jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of
them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree,
wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the
olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root,
but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not
thee.
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest
ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of
Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
c. Once the Jews accept Christ and are restored, they will once again
be placed under at least some of the elements of the Old Testament
Law. At this time, God’s design for the Law will be fulfilled.
Eze 43:19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of
Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young
bullock for a sin offering.
Eze 44:11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates
of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering
and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister
unto them.
Eze 44:29 They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the
trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
Eze 45:15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat
pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace
offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 45:17 And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat
offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the
sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin
offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings,
to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
5. The New Testament church had to deal with this issue.
a. \\#Acts 15:1-21\\ They held a counsel to discuss how the Law
related to saved Gentiles.
b. Their conclusion was that Gentiles should "abstain from pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and
from blood." \\#Acts 15:21\\.
c. In addition to that ruling, Paul continued to preach and teach that
breaking the moral laws of Bible was sinful.
1Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.
d. Paul’s writings go on to clearly teach that no measure of
righteousness (which would include salvation) could ever be
merited through the Law.
Ga 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
6. Paul further indicates the church is not under all of the Law’s
elements by warning that some who will attempt to force portions of
the Law upon the church.
1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received
with thanksgiving:
7. So it would seem that Jesus’ words are not meant to put the church
under the bondages of the Law. Rather, the moral laws (those which
teach right from wrong) are still valid, but the rituals, rites,
civil laws, and penalties are not binding upon the church.
E. \\#5:20\\ Do It Better - Grace Always Exceeds the Law.
A. I believe this verse serves two purposes.
1. It goes with the preceding verses \\#Matt 5:17-19\\ to show how
some will break the Law for their own purposes.
a. "scribes and Pharisees" - The scribes and Pharisees are an
example of those who broke the commandments and taught others
to do so.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees were religious groups with
different beliefs. While we might think of them as
working in unison to kill Jesus, they were most often
on opposite sides.
(2) Neither of these groups would have openly taught that a
command was to be broken, but they lived in such a way as
to encourage the breaking of the commands they outwardly
seemed intent on upholding.
(a) While the scribes and Pharisees do not seem to have
been stirred up yet, in time they will lie about
Jesus, seek to entrap Him, and ultimately even pay
others to lie for them.
(b) In addition, they will take money from the temple’s
treasury to pay for Judas to betray Jesus, even
though they know what they are doing is an unholy
act. \\#Matt 27:6\\
(3) Their disrespect for the Law will put them at odds with
Jesus.
Matt 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not
ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
b. This is the first time Matthew mentions either of these
religious groups.
2. This verse also establishes a train of thought that will run
through much of the Sermon on the Mount.
a. "except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees…"
(1) Jesus expects more of those under grace than those under
the Law.
(2) This will become apparent through the remainder of this
chapter.
(a) Jesus will declare a religious command or custom of
the day, then He will demand more.
(b) We will see that in regards to:
i. Anger \\#Matt 5:21-26\\
ii. Marriage \\#Matt 5:27-32\\
iii. Promises \\#Matt 5:33-37\\
iv. Revenge \\#Matt 5:38-42\\
v. Dealing with enemies \\#Matt 5:43-48\\
(3) In doing this, Jesus will exalt Himself above the Law. He
will make Himself the Law Writer.
(4) However, at this point, it is enough that we understand
GRACE demands MORE not LESS than the LAW.
b. "ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
(1) If graces does not produce more righteousness in the life
of the believer than the Law, you are not be saved.
(a) This passage alone will not resolve the issue of
whether this person NEVER got saved or GOT saved and
the LOST it.
(b) However, it does make it clear that those who are
truly saved will not be interested in committing
as much sin as they can get away with.
(2) Those who are saved will have lives that manifest that
salvation.
(3) Grace will always exceed the demands of the Law.
B. So instead of grace being an excuse to sin, Jesus is actually teaching
that grace demands more.
1. Too many want to sin and then hide behind the cloak of grace.
2. Grace is a through cloak! It will not protect you from willful
sin or willful ignorance of sin.
3. Our Lord warns that He expects better from us that He got from
the scribes and Pharisees.
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