PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

“If you think the Law of Moses was tough, wait until you hear what I got to say!” I used to read the Sermon on the Mount with that trepidation. “If you even think something wrong, then you’re going to hell!” I soon learned Jesus is doing what Pharisees didn’t. He is teaching how not to sin with my hands, by first not sinning in my heart. That was already taught in the Law of Moses, but apparently not taught enough. But there is another lesson too Jesus is teaching, one that is just as practical. Have we noticed it before?

• Don’t murder and don’t even hate. Why?
• Don’t commit adultery and don’t even lust. Why again?
• Don’t divorce my wife without just cause. Why so strict?
• Don’t swear an oath, just say yes or no. Are words that important?
• Don’t refuse your coat to someone who want to sue you? What’s the point?
• Don’t refuse to go an extra mile if forced to go one? Why the extra trouble?

There is something shared in these various instances far deeper than a set of Do’s and Don’ts. Here is the lesson: The Sermon on the Mount is teaching us that being in Kingdom of God means not abusing and using people the way that the world does, including those whose righteousness is no greater than the scribes and the Pharisees. God’s people, who seek to be perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:28), will always be taken advantage of – even God is taken advantage of causing it to rain on the just and the unjust without receiving His glory.

• Don’t even hate, you turn them into objects for your festering ill will.
• Don’t even lust, you turn them into objects of your unlawful desires.
• Don’t divorce wanting someone new, you turn your wife into your victim.
• Don’t swear, you turn people into something less valuable than your words.
• Don’t be like those who want your coat, they are using you for their own benefit.
• Don’t be like those who force others to carry their load, they are using you for their ease.

The Sermon on the Mount is about becoming more like God, and not like those who use others. Let’s make the world notice!

Tags: Sermon on the Mount

This entry was posted by PHall on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Matthew. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.