Discipleship - Jesus’ take on Old Testament law Matthew 5:17-48
Jesus – what do you say have you provide incentive to follow God?
Well Jesus was talking to Jews that had the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and other laws and rules they followed to try to remain pure and atone for any sins they may have committed.
So Jesus doesn’t waste time, He addresses the old laws and that he came to “fulfill the law” Mt 5:17).
(Mt. 5:21-26) Commandment # 6 – do not kill – easy right? But Jesus adds more. IS this fair?
(Mt. 5:27-32, Mk 10:11, Lk 16:18) Commandment #7 – do not commit adultery – I can’t say that this is easy in this day and age. We have a bit too many distractions (work, TV, magazines, movies, etc) around to corrupt most people. It must be very difficult to stay on track.
(Mt. 5:33-37) Then Jesus pulls in a few other laws not in the 10 commandments. Jesus pulls from Lev. 19:12 & Num. 30:2 & Deut. 23:21-23 that mention the importance of Oaths. So do we or don’t we use them? How does Jesus address this issue? How many of us say things like “Good God” or “Oh, Jesus!” or other phrases that express emotions. Do we use them as exclamations to our God or just to voice emotions that are overwhelming us?
(Mt. 5:38-42) And here we have the “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” that many use to justify revenge (see Ex. 21:24 or Lev. 24:20). Yep, the Old Testament says one could go for revenge, but Jesus, who brings God’s love to us, says that this can no longer be the law. Go back and read Mt. 5:21-26 and you should see that Jesus says to resolve our differences, not take revenge because of an infraction. Which is easier? What examples can you think of when you took revenge? I think of heavy Atlanta traffic and how it can frustrate me to the point where I become more aggressive, wanting to “be first” and not to give an inch to let others in. Not letting the car weaving around traffic to be the “first there” (where ever “there” is) to cut me off or to allow them in front of me. How do you behave in heavy traffic? Where else do you tend to apply the “eye for an eye” principle? At work? At home? At school?
(Mt. 5:43-48) Just to wrap up that Jesus came to show God’s love and compassion to us AND to help us to live, loving those around us as God loves us (See Mt. 22:37-40). We are to love; above all else we are to love all creatures great and small. We are to love our enemies, our friends and our families.
This week there were many thoughts and issues that Jesus presented in this
passage, but I think Matthew 22:37-41 sums up what Jesus was trying to share
with His audience (NIV):
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus
replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment.
39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All
the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I like to think of this like this: God loves me, I Love God, I then love
myself just like God loves me (as I am), then I am to love others in the
same manner.
God -> me me->myself myself->others
Kind of a domino principle that most people have problems with, don’t
we? There is one other step that is not mentioned that comes into play (others
-> God). This last one has to do with being open about God and God’s
impact on our lives.
Next week we will work at the first part of Matthew 6.
alyce