by melindasbaker

Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount

Growing to be like Jesus

Matthew 5:21-48

Jesus builds on the Beatitude “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” in Matthew 5:8. In this we are presented with the practical part of being pure in heart. Jesus presents several situations in which we can see the principle of being pure in heart.

  • Anger (Matthew 5:21-26)
    • Jesus says that rash anger is heart murder
      • Raca – empty fellow
      • Fool – reprobate
    • Situations in which you can be angry but not guilty of heart murder
      • Reconciliation
      • Settle matters quickly
  • Adultery (Matthew 5:27-30)
    • Adultery is even a part of pagan worship in the days of Jesus and the Apostles
    • Adultery is a scourge on our day
    • Jesus identifies the root of lust
      • Jesus identifies how easy it is to commit adultery of the heart
    • Jesus told us how to deal with the sin of adultery
      • Remove yourself from the temptation
      • Establish protections to avoid temptation
  • Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32)
    • God’s plan (Matthew 19:1-9)   
      • Moses’ provision
        • Permitted due to the hardening of the heart
      • Practice of Jesus’ day
        • Jesus was admonishing for marriage to be sacred and to be honored and respected
  • The oath (Matthew 5:33-37)
    • Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain
      • Using the name of the Lord as a means of convincing others of the truth of what we say
      • Caution regarding perjury
      • Our word/reputation is important
  • Retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42)
    • Man’s way (Matthew 5:38)
    • God’s way to stop a fight (Matthew 5:39-42)
      • Do not respond in kind
      • Show mercy and forgiveness
      • This does not mean to be mistreated
        • Do not respond in anger
        • Avoid escalation
        • Forgive!
  • Love (Matthew 5:43-48)
    • Love in the natural is loving those who love you
    • Jesus calls us to a higher order to love our enemies
    • Be perfect
      • Strive for righteousness and holiness
      • Do not pretend to be spiritual and holy
      • Grow closer to God to be more  Christlike

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