June 20, 2020
We are going to spend the next two weeks together as a church reading Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount! The Sermon on the Mount is the first of Jesus’ major teachings recorded in the gospel of Matthew. In it, Jesus explains the ethics and values of the kingdom of Heaven as opposed to the ethics and values of the world. The values and principles that are to govern our lives as followers of Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of Heaven are wildly different from those that govern the various cultures of our world, including the culture in which we live.
Over the next two weeks, allow the words of the Lord Jesus to challenge the way you think, expose the worldly and idolatrous values and desires of your heart, and transform you to live in the new way that He has laid before us!
In this passage Jesus takes two more commandments from the Old Testament and explains the implications for our lives that lie beneath the surface. The first of these commandments has to do with divorce; although God had made allowance for divorce in the Old Testament law, Jesus explains that this is only permissible in the case of sexual immorality.
Jesus would later go on to explain that God’s original intent in creation was that marriage should be a lifelong covenant, and that therefore God’s will is and always has been opposed to divorce (see Mark 10:2-12). Jesus calls His followers to hold the marriage covenant in the highest regard, and to refuse to allow anything less than a serious defilement of it by means of sexual immorality to dissolve it.
The second command Jesus seems to modify in this passage is that all who swear an oath to the Lord are to keep it. Jesus explains the original intent behind this law was not merely that the people of God should always keep their word; they should, but even more than that they should be people of such integrity that they don’t need to swear an oath at all. We need to be people whose “yes” or “no” can be trusted, to the point where we don’t even need to strengthen it with a promise or an oath!
Matthew 5:31-37
Divorce
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- What does it mean to be a person of integrity? How does that play into the way we use our words?
Oh, powerful and merciful Father, your desire is to have fellowship with your creation. I have been made in your image. You, LORD, have forgiven all my sins. I cannot go backwards but only forward. Father, you are my judge and your Son Jesus is my advocate. When you look in the book, all my sins will be blotted out, covered by the Blood of the Lamb. Only by your grace and mercy can I face today and do battle with the evil one. Fill me anew and afresh with your Holy Spirit. Use me, Father, this day and every day that you give me to fulfill your will – to help add one more to your kingdom. Thank you, Father. Jesus, thank you. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Word that is always so true and valuable. You say to be a person of ” your word” which means ” be a person of integrity”. When we say something it should be thought out and lined up with the standards You have laid out for us. There should be no question as to what we mean because we have always followed through with what we said. So many times we get in a hurry and say things first without thinking them through. Then later we find we can’t commit to our word. Help us to chose our words wisely so that they line up with Your teachings and character. In so doing, we will be found worthy of respect and we will have demonstrated Christ like traits…the way a true follower of Christ should act. Guide us to always be a light to others in this dark, dark world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yes Yes!!
Dear Jan: I know that you realize that we cannot line ourselves up with God’s word, always, and we cannot, always, think the thoughts that are pleasing to him. I mean before we even open our eyes in the morning we are already filthy rags before Him. So we are already defeated and if we think hard and long about that then we would never continue in our day but we know what God’s word says that he allows the sin in our lives to humble us He will not allow Satan to thwart the plans that He has for us but to refine us. But that if we come before Him with a repentant heart He will forgive us. Even when we do this daily and that’s what makes Him the most wonderful God that He is He forgives us, over and over again, daily, the sinners that we are and loves us, as the dirty filthy rags that we are. Just think the most high God loves us, sinners. Now that’s the true definition of awesome!!
Today I will strive to reflect your faithfulness in all my relationships.
I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
I pray that my thoughts, words, and actions are guided by the Lord who knows all things. Trusting in Him, acknowledging Him for wisdom and directions will surely help me to be a person of integrity.
Amen!!! Your prayer helps me to understand what the Lord needs me to do. Thank you for helping me know the way of what a Christian needs to do to stay on the right track.
I was saved in a tent revival the summer of 1954. The sermon that night was on the evils of alcohol. I responded to the altar call and was saved. I also made a covenant with God that I would never touch alcohol. That was 66 years ago and I have never broken that covenant. PTL