Matthew  5:17-48

The Attitude behind the Act

Most  people evaluate their lives and lives of others based on outward appearance. 

  Read:  1 Samuel 16:7  ….”man looks at outward appearance…and God looks at the heart”

                John 7:24  ….”judge not according to the appearance, but righteous judgment”…

                2 Cor. 10 … Paul…”Do you look on the things after the outward appearance?  We dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves…

God is most concerned with the Inside of us…thoughts, ideas,

1 Chron. 28:9 …. ….for the Lord searches all hearts and understands the imaginations of the thoughts”…

Prov. 16:3 …. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit”

Jer. 17:10 ….. God…”I the Lord search the heart, I test the conscious, even to give every man according to his ways….”

Rev. 2:23 ….  Christ…” I am HE who searches  the minds and hearts: and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds”

Look at Matt. 5:20 ….”unless your righteousness  surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees”…. 

Were they righteous?  Externally – yes…… Internally? ….???

Is your righteousness external? 

Do you come to church because your parent’s make you come? 

Do you do nice things to make you feel good about how good you are? 

Do you compare yourself to people who are worse than you….and that makes you feel like you’re good?

Do you try to find time to spend alone with the Lord? 

Do you grieve over your own disobedience or bad choices?

Where is your heart??  God knows!!  Do you??

V. 21-22  What does Jesus compare anger to?    Murder ….    Or calls someone a bad name?    Murder….

These 2 things are enough to send you where?  The fiery hell …… ugh !!

v. 27-29  What does Jesus compare looking at a woman with lust?  Adultery …..

v. 29 What should we do with our eye – if it causes us to sin?

v. 30 What should we do with our hand – if it causes us to sin?

V: 32 If you divorce your wife, you cause her to do what?

We are looking at 7 things:

1)      Murder

2)      Lust

3)      Divorce

4)      What you say

5)      Speaking the truth

6)      Retaliation

7)      Loving your enemies

Read Matt. 23:  25-28  Woe to you!!....

                Clean the outside of the cup ???

                Whitewashed tombs???

The Jewish people of that day spoke Aramaic after returning from captivity in Babylon.  The Jewish Scribes and Pharisees could read Hebrew and understand what the text said ….but since the people couldn’t read it…they had to trust what the leaders were teaching them.  Much like the Catholic Church Priests …before the Reformation.

They didn’t know the truth….they thought that the man made rules were part of God’s Law. 

Read  Luke 16:15  “you are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God know your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God”

Hebrews 4:12   “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword ….and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart”

Romans  3:10 ….”there is none righteous …”

Romans 10: 9 …. “but if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…….”

Christ met the standard and gave us His righteousness.   So we are able to stand before God, blameless – if we are TRUE Believers on the inside….not just the outside!

Ask youself:

                Have I glorified God in my wants and wishes today?

                Have I been free from acting like I’m really special for something I have or have done?

                Have I had a pure heart (no anger, bitterness, hatred)?

                What am I doing that glorifies God?