Who Are You Watching Watch You?

Matthew 6:1-8,16-18

In the closing verses of Matthew 5, Jesus challenged us to live in the “more”.  He began chapter 6 showing us how we are to do “more” – what doing more shouldn’t and should look like.  He used three examples: giving, praying and fasting. 

People have been giving and praying and fasting throughout history. Even pagans, in an effort to please their god’s did those things.  But, after Jesus came, the manner of which these things were done changed – at least among God’s people. 

The Jews viewed these three things as signs of spirituality They did all three to be seen of men.  The warnings of Jesus regarding all three are very similar.  In each we are told how we are not to be – pointing to the behavior of the hypocrites. Also, in each we are told how we are to be. 

Notice the words Jesus used to begin this section:  Take heed or beware; watch out.  We often say that to our children when there is a possible danger and they aren’t paying attention. We probably should be saying it more to one another.  This word beware is in the present tense. It means we’ve got to be doing it continually. If we don’t, we will find ourselves joining the camp of the hypocrites. Because, it is what we are naturally prone to do.

In each warning we find the similar admonition:   Do not do your charitable deeds (pray, fast) before men to be seen by them. The desire to be seen of men rather than do something secretly is normal thinking.  Jesus’ brothers quoted it like it’s just the way we are to do things when they encouraged Him to go to Jerusalem. John 7:4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly…

  

We have seen over and over again, Jesus focusing on our hearts and our motives, in this sermon.  He’s still there.  Now, notice, as Jesus speaks of doing charitable deeds, of praying and of fasting. He doesn’t say “if” you do these things, He says “when”.  These things should be a big part of our lives and a consistent part of our lives.  It was interesting to see how much time was spent by commentators, especially if they were pastors, on all the whys of giving to the church.  Jesus doesn’t address that here.  He expects it.

Now, notice – Jesus didn’t say, "Don’t let men see you do your charitable deeds."  Consider Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. So, which is it – do good works so they can see – or do good works and be sure no one sees it?  Jesus said them both and if we think in terms of Him preaching these words they are only about four minutes apart.

  

It’s all about who gets the glory.  If our motive is to make God more visible and known, we will not want to get in the way of that by doing something that draws attention to us.

Monday, we will look at how Jesus would have us give, pray and fast in a way that pleases the Father who sees us.  God is watching and people are watching.  Who are you mindful of pleasing?

Who Do You Respond To?

Two days ago I found myself back in Matthew 5 as a part of my daily devotions.  My first thought was, “this is so rich, but I’d really be surprised if I saw anything new here”.  But, I did.  As I read the first part of Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person, one word jumped out at me.  It was the word resist.  As we saw on Tuesday,  Jesus gave some specific responses that he requires of us when we think someone has treated us wrongly.  But, really, rather than concentrate on those responses, we simply need to be sure that we are not resisting, but instead, doing more by loving.

The definition of resist is  ”to stand against, to oppose, to set oneself against.”  In other words, resisting takes the form of doing or thinking or desiring something “against” someone.

Jesus was not providing for us a list of instructions such as: “If they do this, you do this”.  Jesus was trying to avoid that kind of thinking.  He was giving us examples.

Paul got it.  When I consider Paul, I think of someone who probably (in his life before Christ) had the power to put people in their place, the power to retaliate.  He had the intelligence, the religious training, and the authority.  Yet, as we look at Paul (in his life after Christ) we see a man who shunned retaliation, who shunned resisting others.

 Rather than resistance, read what Paul instructs the believer in Ephesians 4:32:  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.   Isn’t that just what Jesus was teaching?

Then, Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 what doing more entails:

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

One more:  Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  Resisting says “You owe me”.  Not resisting says “You don’t owe me”.  Love says “I owe you”  We are not to be a responder to the actions of others.  We are to be a responder to God.  We owe it to Him to love others.  That’s the MORE we can only do in the power of the Holy Spirit.

   

 

   

MORE!

Why?  Why in heaven’s name why?  Yesterday’s blog ended with those words.  Well, Jesus tells us why in the next three verses:

 1.  Because we are to represent God to people. Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

God treats everybody the same – He so agape loved the whole world that He sent His son.  He shows His agape love and His mercy towards both the just and the unjust. He cares about both the just and the unjust.  He desires good for both the just and the unjust. So should we.

 2.  We are to be about doing more.   [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

This, right here, is what has taken me to a new level with the Lord. it’s a memorial stone for me.  What do you do more than others?  Anybody can love those who love them. Anybody can be nice to their brethren (those they feel like they are close to and want to be close to).  Even the tax collectors, those the Jews would consider the real scum of the earth, do that.  Anybody can withhold bad.  Nowhere in Scripture does God view withholding bad as a really supernatural thing. Jesus is calling us to do more.  He’s calling us to do things that the world can’t do.  He’s talking about kingdom living. The blessed life is about doing more.

We live with all of these temptations.  And, too often, we settle for avoidance of sin.  Kingdom living is more.  It’s about doing good for others.  It’s about showing God to others.  We don’t do that by just not being bad or by just biting our tongue or not lashing out.  We do it by blessing, by giving, by sacrificing for the betterment of someone else.

Consider Jesus, sitting there on one of those hills on the shore of the Galilee and knowing the hearts of so many in his audience – selfish hearts – petty hearts, trying to determine just how they can make the law fit their lives.  And there’s Jesus, knowing He is soon to give all – to be cursed, to be hated, to be spitefully used and persecuted – to the very point of death. Jesus lived this sermon and He expects us to live it also.

This is God stuff. You see, if we listen to this sermon with our natural minds, it’s impossible.  The legalism in you might try, but you would hear it as just more rules and try to define them.  You’d end up missing the point and be no more God-minded or other minded than you were before.If you are prone towards leaning on grace, you may not even try.  You’d just tell yourself the blood of Jesus Christ covers all sin and you too would be no different.

But, something happens when we listen with our spirits, doesn’t it?  As hard and as impossible in our own strength these things are – there’s something in us that wants it, that bears witness to it.  There is something in us that says, “ this is really what kingdom living is”.  And,  you want it.  Remember the two people I wrote about in Monday's blog?  That’s what it was like for them.  When they said what they thought God would have them do – they were very aware of how it grinded against their flesh – but at the same time, there was this look on both of their faces that said – yeah – it would feel really good to do what God is asking – to do more than anyone would expect. And like I said – they discovered a piece of kingdom living – the blessed life. The life that satisfies the soul; the life that honors God.  Living in the kingdom realm is doing things you can do only because of God and want to do only because of God.  So the last verse of Matthew 5 isn’t intimidating at all.

Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Perfection for us, as it is defined here speaks of what Christian maturity looks like.  There were then, and there still are, a lot of opinions of what a spiritual Christian looks like.  This sermon straightens it all out.  This perfection, this maturity, that God is looking for in us is having the supreme goal in our life of becoming more and more like God. Considering that is worth any sacrifice God calls us to make.  Jesus gave all. Certainly we can give more!    

But I Say To You

Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

Whenever the Old Testaments speaks of this kind of thing, equal punishment for the crime, it is an instruction to the magistrates, those who would carry out the law. It is not an instruction for the people to administer toward those who have caused them harm.  Although, all too often, we gladly choose to apply this verse.

Rather, consider the verses that follow. The ”But I say” verses of Jesus.  They are some of the most difficult verses in all of Scripture.

[40] If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

[41] And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

[42] Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.  

[44] But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

Jesus tells us four things we are to do for those who would be called our enemies – which include those who curse you, hate you, spitefully use you and persecute you.  And notice – none of these speak of withholding bad – they speak of giving good.

We are to:

1.  Love them.  The word love here is agape.  Agape love is an unconditional love.  The other kinds of love are in one way or another a “because” kind of love.  Eros - I love you because I’m attracted to you.  Storge’ - I love you because you are family.  Phileo - I love you because you love me. But, agape love is God’s kind of love. It’s an “I love you, because God loves you” kind of love.  It has nothing to do with feeling and everything to do with action.  Agape love shows love.  Agape love will always do what is best for the other person.

2.   Bless them.    Bless those who curse you.  Speak well of       those who speak evil of you.

3.  Do good to them.  This takes us one step further into kingdom living.  We are not only to speak good to them but we are to do good to them. 

4.  Pray for them.  Not pray about them. Pray for them.  Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.  Remember one of the definitions of persecute?  To follow after to do harm.  We are to pray God’s best for them.  Oh – how we love God’s mercy for ourselves, but we first want them to pay for what they’ve done. Then, when they’ve paid enough, we’ll consider mercy.  No.  Jesus says, mercy first and only mercy.

Why? In heaven’s name, why?  Check in tomorrow for Jesus’ answer.  It has been, for me, one of the most life changing portions of this Sermon. Until then, consider the “But I says” of Jesus and our utter inability to do them without Him.

Cutting Off The Connection to Sin

Matthew 5:21-48 contains six statements that begin something like “You have heard” and are followed by Jesus saying, “But I say”.  Jesus covered the subjects of anger, adultery, divorce, making oaths, resisting an evil person and loving our enemies.  With each topic, Jesus requires a response which, often, if not always, grinds against our fleshly nature. 

Let’s look at the second one today.  Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  We would agree with that one – adultery begins in the heart – it begins with the thoughts.  Most people don’t tend to just decide to commit adultery one day. It happens when the thoughts go awry, doesn’t it?

Lust in the heart or in the mind, doesn’t usually stop there.  It progresses.  Yes, many of you stop it before you play it out in adultery.  But, really, where does it get you?  Just where in the whole process that begins with a lustful thought is it ever satisfying?  Jesus isn’t being harsh here.  He’s trying to save us a whole lot of grief.  He’s telling us – don’t go there.  It will do you absolutely no good.

Now look at His solution.  Matthew 5:29-30.[29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 

Now, this is not to be taken literally. Although, if it really is the fault of our eye or our hand, we maybe should consider it.  But, it never is, is it?  It’s the fault of the heart and mind and since killing ourselves is never what God requires, cutting out the mind or heart isn’t an option.

We live in these bodies that are so prone to fleshly desires – we are focusing on sexual desires, but this really applies to any desires.  How does it happen?  How do we so easily fall prey to sinning?  James explains it like this: James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Conception occurs when?  Conception occurs when two things meet.  In the case of sin, when temptation comes, (is set before us) and we are drawn to it, we connect to it . When that happens, we have created something – and that something is sin.  So, to prevent that from happening, we’ve got to use birth control – and the morning after stuff doesn’t work.  I guess we could call the morning after stuff confession and repentance. But remember, repentance is saying and realizing that if you had it to do over again, you wouldn’t do it.  Repentance involves regret.  All too often the morning after pill only deals with the consequences. 

Temptations will always be out there.  We can’t make them go away.  Our place is to prevent them from connecting to our desires.  So step #1 is keeping our desires down.  You see, the first thought is not our fault.  Satan is shooting these fiery darts of thoughts at us all the time, our environment puts thoughts before us, and we, being made of flesh, are just prone to fleshly thoughts – that’s the only kind of thoughts the flesh can think. 

So, first, we’ve got to minimize the size of the target – so the temptation has less to aim at.

Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved.  How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you? See that word lodge .  This verse describes so well what Jesus is talking about when He is talking about looking at a woman to lust after her.  It’s the second thought, it’s the dwelling on the thought, it’s the allowing the thoughts to lodge that Jesus is talking about.  We are totally in control of those actions.  Like the saying goes - you can’t stop a bird from landing in your hair but you can stop it from building a nest there.  You might have to say “shoo” several times and it often comes back to try again. But,  you can keep it from nesting.  If it is allowed to nest, it’s purpose is to give birth, isn’t it? And you are without excuse, because you have provided the nesting place.

#2 Cut off the connection.  You prevent conception by cutting off the source of connection.  Get rid of whatever it is that feeds your desires – you know – whatever you are exposing your eyes too, your heart to, that makes it harder to resist temptation – that’s what Jesus is saying here.  Cut it out – get it out of your house and out of your sight.

Let me give you one more #3 Keep yourself in the love of God.  Jude 1:21  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. I can’t think of anyone who has fallen that was doing well with Jesus when they fell.  So, Satan, before He pulls us into sin, pulls us away from Jesus.  When we are in love with Jesus, He is our desire and Satan just finds very little that his temptations can connect with.

Understanding God's Intentions

We will be spending the next few days looking at Matthew 5:21-48.  I think it would be helpful to read those verses before you read the rest of this blog.

When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan into the promised land, Joshua had them take twelve stones to be used as memorial stones, to remind the people (and the children who would be born after them) of what God had done.  Do you have memorial stones in your life?  Times when God has taken you from one spiritual place to a new level of understanding or devotion?  Studying this portion of the Sermon on the Mount was memorial stone time for me.  I didn’t expect it.  I mean how can six instances of Jesus saying, You have heard, but I say, have that much of an impact on my life?  It began when I was talking to someone about a situation they were in.  She had an opportunity to retaliate ad she did't take it.   She had every right to do so, but as we talked, she was challenged to bless instead of curse.  As we talked about what form that blessing might take, the answer she arrived at was definitely not one of the flesh – it was Spirit.  And I watched her countenance change as she entertained the idea of blessing rather than doing what was within her rights to do.  Then I watched, as the person next to her, was moved also – and she said something like – and for me, in my situation, it would be to… and she shared what would be beyond what anyone would expect of her.  I got to witness the Sermon on the Mount in action.  I want you to keep this is mind as we go through these six examples, this week, that Jesus put before those who would follow Him.

The other thing that got me going was what I realized when I closed the teaching of this lesson.  As we talked in the leaders’ meeting that Wednesday morning, we were discussing one of the questions that asked about Christians who were salt and light to us before we came to the Lord.  As I thought about it, the only person I could think of was my Grandmother.  I had known lots of Christians growing up, I attended church on a regular basis.  But, I really couldn’t think of anyone else who shined Jesus.  I thought about what I did think of Christians that I knew at the time – and if I had to fill in the blank Christians _________, I would have written the word “don’t”.  Christians don’t (or from a child’s perspective – aren’t allowed to) do bad things.  And I thought, no wonder so many people think that’s what getting into heaven is about – not doing bad things. Because, really, isn’t that the message that many Christians give by the way they live? 

Look at the verse that precedes the verses we are studying today.  Matthew 5:20  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Notice, the first I say unto you is in verse 20, not in verse 22.  Now, look at the last verse of our lesson Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Notice the word therefore in this verse.  Therefore – based on what Jesus just said.

So, sandwiched in between a call to a righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees and a call to be perfect, just as our Father in heaven, are these six clarifications of kingdom living. You might think, so why try. This is just absolutely impossible.  But, that wasn’t Jesus’ intent.  Oh, may we get a hold of His intent for teaching us what He did in this sermon.

This is ground breaking stuff Jesus has been declaring.  You see, Jews would have expected him to say things like “Blessed are those who do not murder” or  “Blessed are those who do not commit adultery”  But, Jesus wasn’t saying that. Yes, He expects His people to continue to abide by those laws.  He made that clear in the previous verses – but now He’s taking those laws and approaching them in an entirely different way than the people had been taught.

As we saw in yesterday’s blog, Jesus came to fulfill the law.  He came to live out God’s intentions.  Why do you think it’s so important to understand that God’s intentions for us are always good before we try to understand Jesus’ teachings in the sermon, especially as He presents what “He says” about the way the religious rulers had interpreted God’s laws?

This Morning's Message From Dale

Let's take today and reflect on this morning's message.  I encourage you to post a comment.  I love the way the Lord is using the comments.  Please keep posting - and thank you to those of you who are obeying God's "nudging".  Your comments have been a blessing. 


Dale mentioned that there are many verses declaring God to be our shield.  I couldn't resist looking them up!


2 Samuel 22:3

    The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;

    My shield and the horn of my salvation,

    My stronghold and my refuge;

    My Savior, You save me from violence.

2 Samuel 22:31

    As for God, His way is perfect;

    The word of the LORD is proven;

    He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

2 Samuel 22:36

    "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

    Your gentleness has made me great.

Psalm 3:3

    But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,

    My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Psalm 5:12

    For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

    With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 18:2

    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

    My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

    My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:30

    As for God, His way is perfect;

    The word of the LORD is proven;

    He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Psalm 18:35

    You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

    Your right hand has held me up,

    Your gentleness has made me great.

Psalm 28:7

    The LORD is my strength and my shield;

    My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

    Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

    And with my song I will praise Him.

Psalm 33:20

    Our soul waits for the LORD;

    He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 84:11

    For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

    The LORD will give grace and glory;

    No good thing will He withhold

    From those who walk uprightly.

 Psalm 91:4

    He shall cover you with His feathers,

    And under His wings you shall take refuge;

    His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Psalm 115:9

    O Israel, trust in the LORD;

    He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:10

    O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;

    He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:11

    You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;

    He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 119:114

    You are my hiding place and my shield;

    I hope in Your word.

Psalm 144:2

    My lovingkindness and my fortress,

    My high tower and my deliverer,

    My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,

    Who subdues my people under me.

Proverbs 2:7

    He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

    He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

Proverbs 30:5

    Every word of God is pure;

    He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

    

Love in Jesus,

cathy