A Look At The Savior's Mind
– Matthew Five –
Matthew
chapter five is part of that section of Scripture known as the "Sermon on
the Mount." This is the longest continuous sermon from Jesus that is in
our Bible. The Sermon on the Mount deals with practical things concerning every
day living. We learn from Jesus' sermon that there must be a willingness on our
part to be a doer of the word of God.
The mind of Christ is revealed in this great sermon. The Sermon on
the Mount is recorded in Matthew five, six and seven. The teaching of Jesus was
done with love and authority. In Matthew chapter four Jesus had declared that
the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In Matthew five He began to give a
description of what kingdom actions are to be like. Those in the kingdom must
(1) have certain character, (2) obey certain commands, (3) face certain
challenges, and (4) make certain choices. You can find the teachings of the
Sermon on the Mount in all the gospels but only Matthew records it as a continuous
message.
Jesus'
teachings about blessedness – Matthew 5:1-12: "And seeing the
multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came
to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying." (Matthew 5:1-2)
Jesus used a mountain as a pulpit
for this great sermon. His teaching was simple, powerful and tender. He spoke
to the hearts of His hearers. His message was designed to change people from
the inside out. He was wonderful in name, life, and message. (Isaiah 9:6)
Truly, He was and is the Son of God. The teachings of Jesus were pure
teachings, showing people how to have pure thoughts and how to live pure lives
The multitude was there but the lesson was given specifically to
the disciples of Jesus. A disciple is a learner. In some countries, those that
are learning to drive must have an "L" on the windshield of their
car. Followers of Christ need an "L" written on their heart.
Disciples are willing to receive instructions and humble enough to learn and
obey.
The attitudes of the
beatitudes make one teachable and useful to God. These attitudes will result in
a humble, serving life. The type of person that will inherit the kingdom of God
is (1) poor in spirit – one that constantly knows they are struggling spiritually,
(2) a mourner – one that is brokenhearted over spiritual failure, (3) the
meek/humble – those that accept and grieve over their failures, (4) hunger and
thirst for righteousness – in that hunger satisfaction comes, (5) merciful – we
become able to extend mercy to others, (6) pure in heart – authenticity all the
way through, (7) peacemakers – seek to end conflict, and (8) persecuted and
reviled – put down by the world.
Jesus' teaching about
influence and law – Matthew 5:13-20: Those that exhibit the characteristics of the beatitudes become the salt of the
earth and the light of the world. Those with humble and pure hearts can change
their world in a positive way for God. Those that hunger for righteousness and
show mercy are a bright light for a dark world. God's people are called on to
stand out from the world.
Concerning the Law Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to
destroy the law, or the pro-phets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17) The purpose of Jesus was to
"fulfill or accomplish what was in the law and the prophets"
concerning the Messiah. In the Old Law there were many predictions concerning
the coming, birth, life and death of the Christ. These were all to be fulfilled
by Jesus, His sufferings and death. Jesus said that not "one jot or one
tittle" (something like a period or comma) would disappear from the Law until it
all was fulfilled in Him. The righteousness of the Christian comes from their
heart, and is therefore genuine. This righteousness
must exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes. Their righteousness was
external, and was not true holiness.
Jesus' teaching about murder, adultery and swearing – Matthew 5:21-37:
In Matthew 5:21-26 we learn that the thought of hatred produces the act of
murder. Therefore, the thought is the act in the heart. Right actions grow out
of right thinking. Attitudes can be just as wrong as actions. (Matthew 5:27-30)
Lust is adultery in the heart. Our hearts must be brought into submission to
Christ. Wrong thoughts are just as evil as the wrong act. That is why
Christians must "bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ." (II Corinthians 10:5)
Attitudes also affect marriage relationships. (Matthew 5:31-32)
Divorce for any reason except sexual immorality leads to or causes adultery.
Right attitudes build good marriages. Today instead of respecting God's law of
marriage and divorce many in the church accept divorce and remarriage upon the
most foolish and frivolous pretenses. Did Jesus mean what He said? "But I
say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife,
saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and
whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." (Matthew
5:32)
Our attitudes also affect our words. (Matthew 5:33-37) There will be no swearing
from the faithful child of God. You can trust their words completely. Rash
swearing, about trivial matters must be avoided by God's children. As Christians
we must not forswear ourselves, but we should simply declare that a thing is
so.
Jesus' teachings about
retaliation and love – Matthew 5:38-48: Having the right attitude will
cause us to go the second mile. (Matthew 5:38-42) Do anything and everything
within your power to show the world what Christ is like. Go the second mile.
Right attitudes will cause love for enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48)
Those that learn to love learn to forgive. The only acceptable disposition for
the Christian in any circumstance of life is love. By inspiration Paul
expressed it this way, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst,
give him drink." (Romans 12:20) As a Christian you must love your enemies
and pray for anyone that mistreats you. When you love your enemies and pray for
those that mistreat you, "then you will be acting like your Father in
heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And He sends rain
for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong."
We must love our enemies. "For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the
same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye
more than others? do not even the publicans so?"
God expects the Christian to do more than others and to be more than others. He
expects us to be perfect. We must be sincere and upright in our love to all
men, as our heavenly Father is in His affections to them.
To become a Christian you must hear the word of God and believe
(Romans