Thursday, August 4, 2011
What Jesus Said about Being Good Enough - Anger, Lust, Marriage, Divorce, Part 4 of 34
TEXT: "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:21-26).
IDEA: Jesus was both a conservative and a radical.
PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate how Jesus kept the values of the Old Testament but also went beyond them to the discomfort of everyone.
In our culture it is common to look at political figures and ask, "Is that person a 'conservative' or a 'liberal'?" What do you think people on the "left" mean by those terms? How about people on the "right"? Listen to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount about the law concerning murder given to the ancients (Matthew 5:21-26).
I. Do you think Jesus was a "liberal" or a "conservative"?
Was He a conservative? What was His attitude toward the Old Testament law?
Was He a liberal or "progressive"? How did He interpret the Old Testament law?
Does either label fit Him?
II. Jesus gives the Law a greater "inwardness."
The sixth commandment dealt with murder. If someone committed murder according to the Old Testament Law, how would he be dealt with? See Exodus 21:12-14, Numbers 35:30-31.
The Ten Commandments didn't say anything about judgment, but the Numbers passage prescribed the conviction process and the punishment.
The Teachers of the Law changed its emphasis from a moral law to a civil offense. The stress was on the punishment more than the deed.
Do you think Jesus was "soft on criminals"?
Jesus says that if the Jewish teachers concentrated on the legal side of murder, that is, judgment by magistrates, then anger should be dealt with in the local courts.
I may be better off if you hate me rather than kill me, but what about you?
