July 09, 2023
Matthew 5:31-48 (READ AS WE GO)
Matthew 19:1-11

The title of the sermon is "A Greater Righteousness."¹

We are working our way through the Sermon on the Mount. The most powerful words of discipleship ever spoken. In the words recorded by Matthew we have Jesus raising the bar on His audience in the first century. They had been living the Mosaic Law for over 1500 years, but Jesus, God the Son, was giving the standard for New Covenant living here, “a greater righteousness.” This righteousness, should have been the target for all Christians everywhere throughout the ages, but instead, much of the Church has often soften these words by interpreting them away and ignoring them all together. But in the following words, we find the Jesus’ standard of holiness and life. ¶ These commands seem beyond us, out of reach, and they are. But we know from John’s account that if we remain in Jesus we can do all things in the kingdom as we remain in the vine. So Jesus continues this morning, explaining, commanding, compelling, and willing us into holiness into the greatest righteousness until we look, exactly like Him. For “it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” (Matthew 10:25a)

The OUTLINE breaks down into Jesus three points stated in the negative:
1 We are not to divorce.
2 We are not to take oaths.
3 We are not to retaliate.

READ | Divorce
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

• From 1425 BC or so --the time of Moses through the first century in Israel, a man could divorce his wife simply by giving her a written statement indicating that he divorced her. This was based on Deuteronomy 24:1-4.
• “In fact current Jewish law (e.g. Mishnah Yebamoth 2:8; Sotah 5:1) demanded the termination of a marriage if either premarital unchastity or adultery was discovered …; in Old Testament times the penalty in either case was death (Dt. 22:20-22), but under Roman rule this could not be enforced.” (France, The Gospel According …, p 123)
• So in first century Israel, divorce “was a domestic matter, not something that went through the courts, and it was quite common. In most cases, a divorced woman would remarry, to another man, often for her own security.” (Constable)
• In Matthew 19 Jesus taught that Moses allowed the lesser standard, but Jesus cited the way God had originally set things up was one person for life. He went back of course to the Garden --pre-fall-- to explain the reset He was instituting.
• “Jesus introduces the new and shocking idea that even properly divorced” (under the law of the day) commit adultery. [545, partial quote from Hagner, Matthew 1-13, p. 125; shortened for accuracy]
• Marriage was [is] meant to establish a permanent relationship between a man and a woman [cf. Gen. 2:24], and divorce should therefore not be considered an option for the disciples of the kingdom."[545, Hagner, Matthew 1-13, p. 125; edited for accuracy]

APPLICATION

• 1 We need to raise the bar where it should be and keep it there. And teach others to do the same.
  • God’s ideal and plan = one and done.
  • But one would never know God’s standard by looking at the Church: Christians divorce at the same rate of unbelievers.
  • Jesus’ standard: divorce = having an affair with another married woman.
  • Church members have lowered their standard regarding divorce. We must put it back.
• 2 Get it right the first time.
  • Apart from being born again through faith in Jesus, marriage is the next most important decision for humankind as a whole.
  • Date to marry. Christian “dating” should be an interview on both side: What does your devotional life look like? Tell me your testimony. What is God doing in your life right now? How many kids do you want? How should a rebellious child be disciplined? Would you allow a teenager to be on the internet in their bedroom? What do you consider to be a good home?
  • Red flags? Walk
• 3 God gives exactly one exception for a divorce: adultery.
  • Do you want to cheat on your spouse and bring disgrace into the community and into your family?
  • Guard your heart.
  • We need to guard ourselves against the flirting, adulterous eyes, porn, etc. Last week, porn is adultery.
• 4 We need to stop sinning in our marriages that we do have.
  • There is so much divorce even with the American brand of Christianity because there is so much carnality, or base living, in the home.
  • Christians are indwelt by the Spirit. They should be able to stay happily married.
  • But most Christians are walking according to the flesh.
  • Let’s face it. Does the American Church look more like the Sermon on the Mount or the Church at Corinth? I rest my case.
• 5 We need to get help when we need it.
  • Marriage conferences.
  • Marriage books, sermons, podcasts.
  • Marriage counseling if needed. Not from some pastor or counselor who will not tell you the truth either.
  • I have seen seemingly committed Christianity continue in their sin and refuse to admit their wrongs. COMMENT
  • But I have also seen marriages completely healed in a couple of weeks.
• 6 Marriage is easy when love is present.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

ILLUSTRATION

Imaging if I say these things about my wife:

• She is patient.
• She is kind.
• She does not envy.
• She does not boast.
• She is not proud.
• She does not dishonors me.
• She puts me first.
• She does not anger easily.
• She has no record of my wrongs.
• She does not delight in evil.
• She rejoices with truth.
• She protects me.
• She trusts me.
• She hopes in me.
• She preservers.
• Her love has not failed.
• Can you imagine me having a complaint about my marriage if this be true? COMMENT
• Marriages fail because Christians walk in evil instead love.

This next section is beautifully placed by Matthew. The next section deals with Oaths and Christians often take oaths at weddings.

READ | Oaths
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 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 take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

• What was said from old? "Leviticus 19:12, “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.”
• To take an oath and not keep it was to take God’s name in vain. (cf. France, The Gospel of …, p 215)
• Oaths were common in the OT. But here we see Jesus raising the bar again. >>
• Jesus starts a new command with prefacing it with the repeated phrase, “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old.”
• The Church’s standard? No oaths at all.
• Here Jesus gives us the benefit of His explanation:
  • 1 We are not to swear by Heaven because God owns it and makes His rules from there. This carries the idea that God is in charge of our life as well.
  • 2 God is using earth as a footstool. It belongs to Him. It is His property so man cannot exchange it if he breaks his oath. The same goes for Jerusalem.
  • So what did Jesus mean? People cannot deliver God’s property in exchange for an oath gone poorly.
  • 3 We should not swear by our own bodies or its parts, for we have so very little control over our lives. Jesus uses the ILLUSTRATION the color of one hair. One.
  • What was Jesus saying? Since we don’t have power over one hair, humans lack any willed power to guarantee the future’s circumstances to ensure an oath’s reliability and outcome.

APPLICATION

• The standard?
  • "… God requires truthfulness. A simple Yes or No should be all that is needed."¹²⁷ (France, The Gospel of …, p 215)
  • We see a priority with this truth as explained by James, Jesus’ half-brother when he wrote to the Church, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” (5:12)
  • To take an oath is evil and it has negative consequences.
  • Kent identified the problem: “By adding oaths to our statements, we either admit that our usual speech cannot be trusted, or else we lower ourselves to the level of a lying world, that follows the evil one (ASV).”[553, Kent, “The Gospel …,” p. 938] >>
• Are there any exceptions to this?
  • Now Constable, Calvin, Barclay, and others believed that oaths are necessary at times in life and cite Jesus’ trial and Paul’s letters as evidence. >> (See Constable; Calvin, 2:8:27; 556, Barclay, 1:160)
  • For example, Caiaphas the High Priest placed Jesus under oath during His trial (see Matthew 26:63-64). Paul called on God to be his witness in his at least three of his letters to the churches (see Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 10). (Constable, cf. Calvin, 2:8:27)

APPLICATION

• Indeed, in court, one may be required to take an oath before testifying.
  • Explain the standard of Christ to the court. Ask for a slight change in wording or a religious exemption. Explain that a “yes” is reliable. In other words, explain what Jesus said to the judge.
  • Yes, I will tell the true, the whole truth, and nothing but the the truth, so help me God. >> “Yes” or “I do” or “I will.”
  • We are required to submit to authorities, so should we submit to authorities if they demand an oath and if no religious exemption is granted? You decide.
• We also see oaths taken at Christian weddings.
  • So what should we do at weddings?
  • Reading of vows in a marriage should not happen.
  • Make sure the pastor doesn’t use a vow or oath statement.
  • “I, Monte, take you, Debra, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
  • Or its asked in the form of a question: “Will you Monte, take Debra to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part? I will.”
  • “Yes” is giving your word at your wedding. It should be absolute in its meaning of “yes.”
  • Instead of writing or reading any kind of vows. Just make them statement of “I will.”
• Yes = do it = character
  • The standard: Yes. No. Take it to the bank.
  • Our reputations should speak for themselves.
  • We should be using phrases like, “Perhaps I will” or “I will consider it” and “No” much more.
  • So saying things like “I swear” is forbidden. (cf. France, The Gospel of …, p 215) As soon as one buttresses their “Yes” or “No” with an oath in order to persuade others to believe what is said, “transparent truthfulness” has been undermined. (France, The Gospel of …, p 216)

CARRY CAVEAT
READ | Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

• The OT rule of “An eye for eye” is decommissioned here.
• NOTE: Jesus is not commenting on the appropriateness of judicial laws in societies, but instead sets a new standard for the people of God.
• Jesus gave a summary a simple statement for the new standard in v 39: “But I say Do not resist the one who is evil.”
  • Here Jesus sets a new bar, and “Jesus’ position is shockingly radical: not only no retaliation, but even no resistance to one who is admittedly ‘bad.’” (France, The Gospel of …, p 217)
  • Almost all English translation went with resist at the ESV.
  • Resist: "to set oneself against, oppose (Thayer). I like the LSJ’s “match with, compare.” To don’t make behavior. Our behavior should not compare to the one who is mistreating us.
  • The CEV translation is helpful here: “But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you.”
  • and the GNT: “But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you.”

ILLUSTRATION

• Inside of us all is enough retaliation to become a society of Hatfields and McCoys. One act of wrong is met with another act of evil and the cycle continues.
• We are to be the people who always break the cycle of evil.
• Do we know of anyone who could fight evil back but didn’t? Who is our supreme example.
  • Did Jesus not say when someone drew the sword to protect him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? " (Matthew 26:52b-53)
  • Were not the words of Isaiah 50:6 fulfilled at Jesus’ trial, “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.”

Jesus used several ILLUSTRATIONS stating in the middle of v 39. I will summarize them:

• Assault? Turn the other cheek.
• Lawsuit? Take more!
• Insult? I will go pray for them.
• Forced work? Give double.
• Beggars and borrowers of money ? I give.

APPLICATION

• We are in a dispensation of the Jesus living. This is radically different than what the audience was taught for 1500 years.
• Sadly, the much of the Church has not adopted the Sermon on the Mount commandments. Instead, we find ways to diminish Jesus’ commands of change and therefore diminish the commands to become exactly like Him.
• We cannot become like Christ if we will not fully embrace His commands.
• The Jesus living calls for citizens of the kingdom to adopt a passivity towards evil (note: this does not address the government’s responsibilities).
• Christians are to have an ever more trusting confidence in God as we live here.
• In Jesus’ standard, retaliation has no place in the lives of the kingdom’s members. Repaying evil for evil is forbidden.
• Do you know what Jesus is calling for in the Sermon on the Mount? To live life like Him in every way.
• I now believe it is likely that Matthew put what we refer to the Sermon on the Mount at the beginning of his account of the gospel to not only set His standard to Jesus’ hearers, but to proved that these are exactly what Jesus lived out while He was here in the physical. Then Matthew topped it off with the Great Commission at the end of His account for the Disciples to teach everything that Jesus did to the disciples of the future.

Notes

^{Notes from above may not be in numerical order.}

¹ Title taken from R. T. France’s, The Gospel of Matthew (W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007) p 218.

Works Cited

Scripture quotations [unless otherwise noted] are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Click here to access the works cited web-page for this document, save those marked as “Notes” or “Other Works Cited”–if any. Most of these cited works correspond to the verses they are outlined with. In the case of general background information and references, one will find cited material with the Bible books the citations are associated with. ¶ Furthermore, there may be numbered notes that are URL linked; these are usually retained numbered notes from Thomas Constable’s, “Dr. Constable’s Expository (Bible Study) Notes.” These links are preserved “as is” at the time of this work’s formation and I usually include other citation information from Constable as well (e.g. author s’ names).

Other Works Cited

^{Note: Not all of the resources below were used in this particular sermon outline.}

Augsburger, David. Dissident Discipleship. Brazos Press, 2006.

Blomberg, Craig L. Matthew. New American Commentary, vol. 22, ed. David S. Dockery, et al., Broadman Press, 1992. May be sourced from archive.org.
(https://archive.org/details/matthew0000blom)

________. Preaching the Parables: From Responsible Interpretation to Powerful Proclamation. Baker Academic, 2004. Sourced from archive.org.
(https://archive.org/details/preachingparable0000blom/page/82/mode/2up)

Bruce, Alexander Balmain. The Training of the Twelve. Ed., A.C. Armstrong and Son, reprint 1984, Kregel Publications, 1971 edition.

Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. Our Daily Bread Publishing, Online ver.

Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. David C. Cook, 2008.

Evans, Craig A. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew-Luke. Victor, 2003. Sourced from archive.org.
(https://archive.org/details/bibleknowledgeba00crai/mode/2up)

France, R. T. The Gospel According to Matthew. W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1985.

France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007. Sourced from archive.org.
https://archive.org/details/gospelofmatthew0000fran/page/n6/mode/1up

Harrington, Daniel J . The Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina Series, vol. 1, A Michael Glazier Book, Liturgical Press (publ.), 1991. Sourced from archive.org.
https://archive.org/details/gospelofmatthew0000harr/mode/1up

Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. Baker Book House, 1984.

Phillips, John. Exploring the Gospels: John. Loizeaux Brothers, 1988.

Platt, David. Follow Me. Tyndale, 2013.

Yancey, Philip. The Jesus I Never Knew. Zondervan, 1995.

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