The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 3

 

 

Central thought: The believer in Christ should go beyond fulfilling the law.

 

 

Text: Matthew 5:13-48

 

The series on the demands of the Kingdom are based on the Sermon on the Mount by the Lord Jesus Christ.  The first and second lessons dwelt on aspects of the beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-9, 10-12.  In them the Lord taught on the blessedness of the poor in spirit, of those that morn, the meek, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, those that are persecuted for righteousness sake and those that are revised and falsely accused for the Lord’s sake.  This lesson, the third in the series, deals on the identity of the New Testament believer, the demands of the Law of Moses as it contrasts with the demands of Christ on His disciples.  The Lord expects our righteousness to exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees and to be perfect as our heavenly Father.  This lesson also shows that much more is expected of the believers in Christ, who are described as the salt of the earth and light of the world.  While all these demands may seem unattainable by strength, we are more than able to meet them because of the power of the indwelling Christ.

 

 

1. What are the terms used by Christ to describe the New Testament believer?

In a world characterized by decay and darkness, Christ unveils the identity and character of the New Testament believer.  The Lord describes them as the salt of the earth and light of the world, Matthew 5:13-14.  This description clearly shows that believers in Christ are not part of the world’s corrupted system but rather, God’s agents or change.  They are not part of the problem but solution givers to the fallen race of Adam’s descendants.  Salt and light are two unique elements that have the ability to effect profound changes wherever they are introduced.  Salt stems decay by weaving its preserving power into the fabrics of the material threatened by decomposition or those materials that have already succumbed to it.  Through the power and life of the indwelling Christ, the Christian believer is uniquely equipped to arrest and reverse the decay caused by sin in the world at large, but particularly in the life of individuals enslaved by it.  Salt as an agricultural additive (fertilizer) enriches the soil to restore its lost productive capacity.  The Christian is also God’s agent of restoration.  When we minister the gospel to people and their lives are transformed, their lost potential for creativity is restored and they become an enormous blessing to society.  Salt is known also as seasoning; so the believer should always have his speech seasoned with salt, Colossians 4:6.  Light, wherever it appears drives away darkness and removes the enabling environment that gives sin the room and power to thrive.  The Christian is God’s light in the world.  The light in us is demonstrated by a Christ-like life and good works men see in us.  This is what they see and glorify God for our lives, Matthew 5:6.  This is what they see and also desire to turn over their lives to God.  When this happens we expand the scope of the kingdom of light.

 

2. To what extent are the demands of the Law of Moses different from the demands of Christ?

The Old Testament Law passed unto the children of Israel through Moses is also referred to as the Law of Moses.  The Law among others set forth the rules for interpersonal relationships in Jewish society.  The dos and don’ts were clearly spelled out.  It prescribes the punishment for every breach.  Christ’s teachings in Matthew 5 raised the bar higher than the demands of the Law as shown by the following examples:

 a. Murder (Matthew 5:21-22):

Under the Law, a man was only liable when he physically kills a fellow man.  In contrast Christ taught that anger against a brother without cause attracts the same judgment as the physical act of murder.  In other words, we are not even allowed to harbor ill feelings that may eventually lead to the physical act of murder.

 b. Broken relationships (Matthew 5:23-26):

Under the Law, a man may still offer his gift at God’s Altar even when he is in disagreement with his brother.  According to the Lord, our gifts to God must wait until we have reconciled with our brother or any other person with whom we have a strained relationship.  The Christian is admonished thus by Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18, “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”.  We should strive to keep healthy relationships.

 c. Adultery and Divorce (Matthew 5:27-28, 31-32):

Adultery is the act of having sexual relationship with someone who is not our spouse.  It is an unlawful act for which the convicted offenders are to be stoned to death.  This brings to mind the case of the woman whom the Jews claimed was caught in the very act, John 8:4.  While the Law waited for the act to be committed to register an offence, the Lord taught that looking at a woman lustfully was as good as the act.  The believer in Christ is not even permitted to entertain unholy thoughts, how much more to commit the act.

Under the Law, a man was allowed to divorce his wife for the flimsiest of reasons.  All he needed to do was give the woman a letter of divorce and the marriage was over.  In His teaching, the Lord set forth a new order: a man can only divorce his wife, only on grounds of fornication (adultery).  In other words, any other conduct by the woman does not warrant her being put away.  The Lord stated in Malachi 2:6 that He hated putting away (divorce).

d. Swearing (Matthew 5:33-37):

Swearing is that act of saying something on oath.  Often, it involves invoking the name of a higher being, a higher authority to bear witness to the fact that one is telling the truth.  That is why in Hebrews 6:16 Apostle Paul wrote, “for men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife”.  This had been the practice until Christ came.  He said to the disciples, “swear not at all”, Matthew 5:34, whether by heaven, God’s throne or the earth which is His footstool; neither by Jerusalem, the city of the great king nor by our head.  It is enough to affirm that we are telling the truth.  So our response in such matter should be a simple yes or no.

e. Retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42):

The Law permitted a man to retaliate when his fellow man inflicts on him an injury beyond remedy.  Thus it was of old “an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth”, Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20: Deuteronomy 19:21.  The Law of Christ forbids retaliation.  Instead he enjoins us to turn the left cheek if a man struck us on the right one.  If a man sued us in court and was granted to take our coat, we should offer the cloak as well. If we are compelled to go a mile, we should go the extra mile.  In these, we see Christ’s teaching against the tide of established norms and whenever we apply them they produce profound results. Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the civil rights movement in America, based his philosophy on these teachings of Christ.  The result was the abrogation of the discriminatory, radical laws in America.  If applied today, they still have the power to produce such results.

f. Relating to an enemy (Matthew 5:43-48):

The teachings in Matthew 5 end with the Lords injunction on how to relate to an enemy.  With the Law of Moses the matter was simple and straight forward: thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 23:6.  Now comes the most profound teaching of Christ on relationships: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you”.  This had never been taught before and to the audience that first heard it, this was hard but refreshingly different.  Come to think of it, if this were applied everywhere, much of strife and man conflicts around the world would immediately come to an end.  How many of the abuses and oppressions in our society will cease.  It was Gandhi who said “and eye for an eye only breeds a nation of blind men”.  When hatred is replaced by love, the world will certainly be a better and different place.

 

3. Which of the teachings in Matthew 5:13-48 would you consider most difficult to apply?

On this matter opinions will certainly vary.  It is always enlightening to hear individuals voice their opinions.  Therefore, it will be nice to hear the views of the class members. Hover, form a survey once conducted in America, many considered the teaching on loving and enemy as the most difficult.  When we think of an enemy, we always remember the evil they committed against us and the very thought of it brings back the pain we felt and still feel.  I met a Chinese lady recently who had just bought a German brand car.  Innocently, I queried her going so far when the Japanese, their close neighbor produce flashy and fuel efficient cars.  To this she responded, “I cannot buy a Japanese car, they killed my relatives in the Nanking massacre.”  The Second World War ended over 60 years ago but the memory of the events of the era lingers on.  It will take only the love of God and the power of the indwelling Spirit to forgive and reach out to our enemies.  Let’s admit it: it is hard but it is possible.  Once it is set in motion, we cannot yet begin to imagine what God can accomplish through it.

 

4. What quality of discipleship does the Lord expect of us?

The demands of the kingdom are very stringent.   It is not meant for half-hearted disciples.  It is meant for those who are willing to stake their all with Christ and give Him undiluted loyalty.  The selective application of His word we see among many believers today is what has watered down the power of the gospel.  If the world is to witness today the transforming power of God in individuals and society as Christ envisage, then we must return from our backslidings.  We must begin again to allow God have the final say.  We must have the mindset of the Hebrew children in Daniel 3.  They were ready to die for what they believed.  This is not mere fanaticism; it is unwavering loyalty to the King of kings.

 

 

Daily living application:

Righteousness under the Old Testament was based on strict observance of the Law.  The Jews were not only expected to live by it, they were to teach it to their children from generation to generation.  The law by itself conferred no power for righteous living and keeping to its demands was an uphill task.  From the teachings of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 5:13-48, it is obvious that He expects His disciples to more than keep the Law. We are to exert the positive influences of salt and light in the world.  Men should see our life style and have cause to glorify God.  Our righteousness must exceed that of those who have nothing but a nominal subscription to the Christian faith.  In essence, we are God’s standard in the world.  Although the Lords’ demands on His disciples seem unattainable, His indwelling presence gives us the enablement to meet them.  Therefore, whenever the challenge comes to forgive an enemy, go the extra mile or flee every appearance of evil, all we need to do is to ask for the needed grace to pull through.  His grace is always more than sufficient.

 

 

Memory verse

Matthew 5:43 – “Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”