THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 2
The Law, Relationships – Reaching for Perfection
Beginning with verse 17, Jesus makes clear that He is not changing or abolishing the Law of the Torah, but that He is the fulfillment, the living demonstration of the Law, and that the time is coming when He will ascend to the Father’s Right Hand, and this New Covenant will no longer be written on tablets of stone, nor just on the pages of a scroll, but that His Spirit will rule within us, in our lives, from the inside-out.
(Commentary Break: What you are about to read, is the way. It is the way Jesus taught. It is the way Jesus lived. If you or I are to follow Jesus, and call ourselves Christian, then this is the way, and the only way. It is how we are to think and to conduct our lives.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. (End Commentary Break).
Matthew 5:17, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. Verse 18. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not [footnote ‘g’] the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Verse 19. Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [footnote ‘h’] others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [footnote ‘i’] keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 20. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Commentary Break): Again, Verse 20 delivers an ominous warning. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).
Personal Relationships – Murder, Slander
Verse 21. “You have heard that [footnote ‘j’] the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ Verse 22. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[footnote ‘k’] You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [footnote ‘l’] the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [footnote ‘m’] fiery hell. Verse 23. Therefore, if you are presenting your [footnote ‘n’] offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, verse 24, leave your [footnote ‘o’] offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [footnote ‘p’] offering. Verse 25. [footnote ‘q’] come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Verse 26. Truly, I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [footnote ‘r’] quadrans.
(Commentary Break: These words, Jesus’ words, are words of life. They are the hidden pathway around the obstacles that will impede your service to Him and your entry to the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we realize these words of Jesus are not metaphors or hyperbole. As harsh as they may seem to the natural mind, they are true and accurate as spoken. They are the way to life and life eternal. (End Commentary Break).
Adultery
Verse 27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; Verse 28. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Verse 29. Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, [footnote ‘s’] than for your whole body to be thrown into [footnote ‘t’] hell. Verse 30. And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you [footnote ‘u’] to lose one of the parts of your body, [footnote ‘v’] than for your whole body to go into [footnote ‘w’] hell.
(Commentary Break: First, it is vitally important that we remember that these words were being spoken to the house of Israel in the context of the Torah or the Law, “You have heard that the ancients, (those of the Old Covenants), were told”, etc. And that Jesus is explaining the ‘fulfillment of that Law’ which is the New Covenant sacrifice of His death and resurrection.
Secondly, remember that Jesus has said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, which, again, means He will satisfy the requirements of the Law – pay the penalties of sin – through His death and resurrection.
Still, these can be seriously dangerous verses if understood as literal. You should and must ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding. I understand that if your house was burning to the ground and death were imminent, you might risk jumping from the third floor, risking injury to escape certain death. Or, if you were aboard a burning and sinking ship, you might risk jumping overboard into turbulent and icy waters to escape certain death. But, if your eye offends you, should you literaly pluck it out?
These verses are presented as metaphors within a simile. They warn of the penalty of sin, which is eternity in the lake of fire which is hell, and eternal separation from God. And, they are comparing the passions and desires of the flesh (fleshly sins) to spiritual remedies. The comparison of cutting of your hand or plucking out your eye if they offend you are similes, are like, or the same as removing the offense from your eyes and hands at any cost.
They are not, however, saying you are to maim yourself in order to remove the offense at any cost. He is saying that Jesus has paid that awful cost. Cut off the desires of the eye and of the hand and throw them away from you. Give yourself to Him. This is the extreme measure. Die to self, take up your cross and follow Him!
Pray on these things and decide, and if you need, call on the Elders of the church for prayer, anointing with oil and counsel. (End Commentary Break).
Divorce
Verse 31. “Now it was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; verse 32, but I say to you that everyone who [footnote ‘x’] divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [footnote ‘y’] divorced woman commits adultery.
(Commentary Break: For Christians, marriage is a covenantal contract with your spouse and with God. If you break that contract, you are violating your oath with your spouse and with God. No matter how dire you consider your situation, you will face serious repercussions throughout the rest of your life. If you need safety from harm, seek it. If you need relief, get it. If you need forgiveness, pursue it. But, your contract of marriage remains and your responsibilities are grave. This is the price of being a Christ follower. (End Commentary Break).
Making Vows, Promises, Contracts, Covenants
Verse 33. “Again, you have heard that [footnote ‘z’] the ancients were told, ‘[footnote ‘aa’] YOU SHALL NOT [footnote ‘ab’] MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR [footnote ‘ac’] VOWS TO THE LORD.’ Verse 34. But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, verse 35, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor [footnote ‘ad’] by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Verse 36. Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Verse 37. But make sure your statement is, ‘[footnote ‘ae’] Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these are [footnote ‘af’] of evil origin.
(Commentary Break: A quick background here is that Jews in Jesus’ time, would use vows ‘in the name of heaven’ or ‘by the throne of God’, (i.e., I swear by the throne of God, or I swear to God), in order to exaggerate their claim and to make their vow sound lofty and serious, when in fact, they were only looking for advantages.
For the contemporary Christian, it is simpler. Make your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’, mean ‘no’. Anything more, is evil. These are words of captivity and darkness or words of freedom and light. Choose wisely. (End Commentary Break).
Revenge, Vengeance, Reciprocity
Verse 38. “You have heard that it was said, ‘EYE FOR EYE, and TOOTH FOR TOOTH.’ Verse 39. But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. Verse 40. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [footnote ‘ag’] tunic, let him have your [footnote ‘ah’] cloak also. Verse 41. Whoever [footnote ‘ai’] forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Verse 42. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
(Commentary Break: These may be some of the most difficult teachings to understand, accept and to employ. They are counter-intuitive. Put simply, unless you are completely submitted to God, knowing and trusting Him with a “faith that is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen”, (see Hebrews 11:1), then this is folly for you. If, however, you want to remove obstacles to your faith and the ability to walk in the Spirit of God, and gain your inheritance of the Kingdom, then you must know that God will repay. You must know that if you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be provided to you. See (Matthew 6:33). (End Commentary Break).
Love, Hate, Reward
Verse 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ Verse 44. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, verse 45, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Verse 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? Verse 47. And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same?
(Commentary Break): These written words, when put evidenced in the life of a believer, become the most powerful and convincing witnessing and disciple-making testimonies. The cost is enormously high and sacrificial, but the rewards are Kingdom sized.
Jesus never said following Him would be easy. In fact, He said it would be hard, requiring great sacrifice, but bearing the greatest of rewards. Nothing can compare.
Finally, what is occurring in this book of Matthew is beyond amazing and mysterious. There are few words to adequately describe what Jesus is doing, saying and teaching. Having already pierced the veil, He is now breaching all the natural laws.
Jesus, in verses 21 through 48, begins what was considered His radical re-teaching of Jewish law – the Torah. But, greater than that He is teaching His disciples how to walk in the power of supernatural faith; how to walk in the Spirit and to overcome the flesh.
This teaching, at a minimum, does three basic things: (1). Jesus reveals and points to the portal into the Kingdom of Heaven, and unlocks its mysteries. (2). He leads you to the foundational Truth of how to walk in His steps, to do the works He has done and even greater works. (3). He will inform you about the necessity of being transformed by presenting your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, and thereby, being transformed. This occurs by the renewing of your mind, thereby demonstrating and proving what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
These things will not come easily if you are to obtain your inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Your faith, which is more precious than gold, will tested by fire, and you will be greatly distressed by various trials. In this, you will rejoice greatly because the outcome of this testing will result in the revelation of Jesus Christ in your life. You will rejoice with joy inexpressible joy, full of glory, obtaining the salvation of your souls as the outcome of your faith.
Verses 21 through 48 also give a list of examples of the obstacles to entering the Kingdom of Heaven, which are murder, anger, offenses, adultery, divorce, making vows, revenge, retribution, love versus hate and the attitudes that accompany these sins. This goes deeper than the resulting behaviors of sin. These sins, originate in our minds and hearts, which are the real obstacles to our entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
We must allow God, through His use of all sorts of trials and tribulations, to create within us a clean heart and remake us into a new creation. It is the only way. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 48. Therefore, you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Commentary Break: As I have pointed out at various intervals, this is our Journey to Perfection, “For by One Offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14. (End Commentary Break).
Jesus continues to prepare us for our mission and our calling and our preparation for the end of this age. Please, let’s pray and practice these teachings together.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: (coming soon). THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 6, Giving, Praying, Fasting, Peace
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