Is the Good News Really good news?
Jesus and the Pharisees - Part 1
Matthew 5:17-20
Ever wonder what it would have been like to have been part of that crowd, to have heard that extraordinary rabbi. Jesus' preaching seems so effortless, his words so clear, as though he is speaking directly to you.
Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
Blessed are the meek ...
Blessed are the merciful ...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ...
Blessed are the merciful ...
Blessed are the pure in heart ...
Blessed are the peacemakers ...
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness ...
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you ...
This sermon contains some of Jesus most challenging words. As you sit on the hillside with thousands of others, you listen carefully to what Jesus is telling the crowd:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
"Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."
(Matt. 5:17-20, 27-29).
I. Is the Good News really as good as we think it is?
A. Modern Christians cherish the notion that Jesus came to free us from burden of laws we cannot keep, but Jesus seems to be saying the exact opposite.
B. Rather than loosening things up, Jesus sets the bar higher and not lower is good news, once you understand what he was saying.
Matthew 5:18-19
"I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."C. The task of every Rabbi was to interpret just how the Law applies to daily life.
D. A rabbi's teaching shed light on "the path that one walks."
II. An important principle of rabbinic interpretation of Scripture involved "putting a fence around the Torah."
A. The rabbis reasoned that it would be easier for people to live within God's laws if they enacted rulings that prevented them from getting close to breaking them.
Jesus criticized some of their hairsplitting decisions:
"You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.' 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?" (Matt. 23:16-17).B. Jesus employed the rabbinic method of "fencing in" the Torah by telling the crowd that small sins lead to greater sins, advocating that you set up boundaries against great evils by avoiding small ones!
C. In avoiding the absurdities of legalism, we have delved into the equally dangerous permissiveness.
D. The GOAL is Christ-like righteousness. It is found in the desire to be as much like Christ as possible.
E. Christ-like righteousness is only achieved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who "purifies our hearts by faith" and fills us with the Fruit of His presence.