This is part two of this sermon. Click here for part one.

Hot Topic #4 – V33-37

Four high schools boys were late to their morning classes one day.  They entered the classroom and told their teacher that they were detained due to a flat tire and not to any type of joy-riding or other activities associated with trying to get to school.

The teacher of these 4 fine students smiled knowingly and said, “You know you missed a test this morning but I’m willing to let you make it up if you can answer one question.”  “Sure”, the students replied.

The teacher then handed each a piece of paper and said, “Each of you go to a corner and write down for me which tire was flat. If your answers all match I’ll let you take the test.”

I think it was Paul Harvey who said, “As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.”

Oaths were very common in Jesus’ day and they were very much abused.  Remember when you were a kid and you had to make a promise or wanted someone else to make a promise?

What did we say?  “Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”  I think we said that and thought it was cool because it rhymed.  It sure wasn’t because we thought through what we were saying.

Think about that though folks. We were saying that we hoped we would be poked in the eye with a needle and then die if we didn’t keep our promise.

Of course we had a way out of those times when we didn’t keep our promise after reciting this supposedly iron-clad rhyme.  What was it?  “I had my fingers crossed.”  As if that invalidated the previous promise.

This is exactly what was going on in Jesus’ day.  Turn with me to Matthew 23:16-22 for some additional insight.

Here’s an example of how this would look today:

A middle class guy sells a tiny piece of property.  Its part of his family’s estate handed down to him but he needs the cash so he sells a small piece.  The buyer makes a small down payment on the property and promises to pay the rest in monthly payments.

The buyer begins to build a house of his recently purchased property.  Three months go by and the seller stops to see the buyer.  The seller says “It’s been 3 months since I’ve received a payment.  Is there a problem?”

The buyer, with a surprised look on his face says to the seller, “I think any business between you and me has already been completed.”

The astonished seller says, “What are you talking about?  You only gave me a down payment of $5000.  You agreed to pay me the balance of $45,000 over a 3 year period in equal monthly payments.  And we did a pinky swear to seal the deal.”

The buyer said, “I may have promised to pay you but I didn’t pinky swear.”  The seller says “we’re going to court to settle this.”  Once at the courthouse the judge asks the seller “Did the buyer promise to pay you?”  The seller affirmed that the buyer had promised to pay.  The judge then turned to the buyer and asked if he had promised to pay and the buyer said “yes but we didn’t pinky swear.”

The judge banged the gavel down and proclaimed “case dismissed.”  The seller was indignant and shouted, “How can you do this?  He promised to pay.”  The judge said “But he did not pinky swear and everyone knows promises are made to be broken.”

Does that not describe America today?  What Jesus is saying here is that God’s people must be people of their word.  We must not twist words or spin the truth.  We are to say what we mean.  Don’t say maybe if you really have no intention of doing something.

Hot Topic #5 – v38-42

Roman Law established the principle of “lex talionis” the principle that punishment must match the crime.  Phrases such as “tit for tat,” “quid pro quo,” and “eye for an eye” mean the same thing.

This principle has 2 basic purposes.  1) To curtail further crime (which always works by the way); 2) to prevent excessive punishment based on personal vengeance.

As with each of the previous “hot topics” however, Jewish law had twisted this truth as well.  Originally Jewish courts were responsible for insuring just punishment was carried out.

By the time of Jesus however, punishment had become revenge and was carried out by individuals and not the courts.  This naturally led to all types of abuses.

So when Jesus said “do not resist him who is evil” he is saying “Do not take personal vengeance or revenge.  Allow the courts to address the crime.”

Some have claimed that this passage teaches non-resistance but that cannot be supported by the text nor by the rest of Scripture.  Jesus and the apostles opposed evil in every instance.

I particularly like to point to Jesus’ cleansing of the temple as an example for a number of reasons.  First because it was very public.  Second because it was against the religious hypocrisy of the times.  And finally because it was against the established traditions and practices of the times.  The whole episode demonstrates the radical nature of the gospel and the subsequent relationship with God through faith.

Both Peter and James tell us to resist the devil.  When there is immorality in the church God’s Word tells us to “remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor 5:13).

When we see this passage correctly then, 1) turning the other cheek; 2) giving the shirt off our back; 3) walking 2 miles instead of 1; and 4) lending to those who ask, becomes clear.

Jesus is addressing the issue of basic human rights within a context of non-retaliation.  He uses 1) dignity, 2) security, 3) freedom, and 4) possessions as illustrations.

When Jesus says “do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” He is saying that we are not to seek revenge.

We read in Romans 12:17, 19, 21:

“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone . . . Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord. . . . Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Now I know as well as anyone the temptation to retaliate.  Sometimes you just want to squeeze someone’s face.  I remember reading about a truck driver who stopped for a meal one summer evening in Broken Bow, Nebraska.  He was tired and wanted to sit and relax for a while over a hot cup of coffee and a nice meal.

The waitress had just brought him his food when into the diner walked 3 big burly biker dudes who immediately spotted the trucker and decided to give him a hard time.

Not only did they verbally abuse him but one of the bikers grabbed his sandwich and took a big bite out of it and threw back onto the trucker’s plate, a second biker helped himself to the French fries, and the third biker drank his coffee.  All three of the bikers then stood there waiting for the trucker to say something so they could jump him.

When the trucker just looked at them with a blank look on his face the bikers went over to a booth and started to harass another customer.  The trucker quietly got up, paid his bill and left.  After a minute or two passed one of the bikers said very loudly for everyone in the diner to hear, “Well that trucker sure wasn’t much of a man was he?”

The waitress who was standing behind the counter looking out the big picture window into the parking lot said, “I don’t know about that but he sure is a terrible driver because he just ran over 3 motorcycles in the parking lot.”

I have a confession to make to you brothers and sisters.  I smiled when I read that and I thought “serves them right.”

The spiritual truth that Jesus teaches here certainly runs counter to what the world teaches and counter to our own thoughts many times.

One reason why we enjoy seeing people get their “just deserts” as they say is because we realize that every human being has an intrinsic right to be treated with dignity because we are God’s creation.

As Christians, when we are treated rudely, insulted, or offended, Jesus says that we are not to respond in like manner.

In verse 40 we read that if anyone wants to sue us we are to give them our shirt and our coat.  Let’s look at this more closely.  Shirt in this context is a type of tunic worn as an undergarment and coat was what we consider it to be – an outer garment that also served as a blanket at night.

Most people only owned 1 coat and maybe 2 shirts.  How important was the outer garment in those days?  Consider what the Mosaic Law required.  Exodus 22:26-27 says in part that a person who took another persons coat for whatever reason was to return it to its owner “before the sun sets, for that is his only covering, it is his cloak for his body.”

In a day when most of us have 2-3 dozen shirts and 4-5 coats, the significance of this teaching is often lost.  What Jesus is saying here is that Christians must be willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with an adversary.  We should be ready to go beyond what is merely required to what is right.

Verse 41 – “and whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.”

At issue here is our freedom, our liberty.  For Americans, this is a very important subject and because of the importance of freedom in our culture some may have a difficult time with Jesus’ meaning here.

Roman law in the time of Jesus gave its soldiers the right to force civilians to carry their pack for a mile.  Now, can you imagine a foreign nation occupying America with a battalion of soldiers right here in Lima?

Imagine being out with your family and encountering a group of soldiers who demand that you and your wife and children carry their equipment and weapons for the next mile.

Jesus says here that we are to be willing to forfeit our freedom beyond what might be forced upon you.  Instead of 1 mile volunteer for the 2^nd mile.  Again this is all within a context of not retaliating.

Verse 42 – “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”

The fourth right we are to surrender is that of personal property.  When we are encountered with a genuine need we should do all we can to help meet that need.  Now obviously there are some qualifiers to this.  For example what is the reason there is a need?  Are you obligated as a Christian to go buy food for a man who is an alcoholic and spent his pay check on booze?  Probably not.  Would God direct you to help his family?  Probably so.

Some hear these words of Jesus today and say “This is impossible to do.”  I’m sure many of the people sitting on the mountain side that day said the same thing.  The ability to live this way is not provided by our own determination but by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

And God has shown us this same spirit at work in His people throughout history.  It is the same spirit Abraham manifested when he gave the best land to his nephew Lot.

It is the spirit Joseph demonstrated when he embraced and kissed his brothers who had sold him into slavery.

It was this love for God that would not let David take advantage of the opportunity to take the life of King Saul.

It was this same obedience to God that led Elisha to feed the enemy Assyrian army.

And remember Stephen, the first Christian martyr?  He actually prayed for those who were stoning him to death.  The point is every believer, by the power of the Spirit of God can live out the truths Jesus is teaching.

Hot Topic #6 – V43-48

Let me remind you of the context for each of these 6 “hot topics” – verse 20.

Nowhere did the Pharisees’ humanistic, self-centered religion differ more from God’s revealed will than when it came to the issue of love.  You see, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day wanted everyone to think they were humble, meek, and pure of heart.  But their actions, particularly toward the Jewish people, revealed what was really in their hearts.

The Pharisees taught that it was a moral obligation to hate your enemies (much like the Koran teaches).  In the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites were commanded to return lost oxen, sheep, or donkeys to their neighbors because God said “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  God’s people were also instructed to do the same for an enemy.

Exodus 23:4-5 says:

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.  If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.”

And remember that Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s question of “who is my neighbor?” was “your neighbor is anyone in need that you meet at any time.”

So Jesus says:

• Love your enemies
• Pray for those who persecute you
• Show common grace as God does

I’ve got to admit I’m still learning myself.  Let me illustrate – I read about a bridge club in a nursing home.  All the members talked more about their ailments than they played bridge but it was a good time for all.

One senior citizen said. “My arms are so weak I can hardly lift a cup of coffee.”  Another one said “My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee cup.”  Still another person said “I can’t turn my head anymore because of the arthritis.”  The fourth member of the bridge club said “My new blood pressure pills make me constantly dizzy.”  There was a brief moment of silence as they all contemplated the changes brought about with age.  Finally one of them broke the silence and said “Hey, look on the bright side.  At least we can all still drive.”

God has been reminding me lately to pursue righteousness and extend grace to everyone – even the elderly drivers that somehow manage to end up in front of me at every turn; who always stop right in front of me for no apparent reason; who drive 10 miles an hour under the speed limit right in front of me . . . you get the idea.

Building on the truth of showing people grace, Jesus encourages us not to settle for a mediocre grace (v47-48).  That’s the challenge isn’t it?  Our standard of love must be God’s standard of love.

We must resist the temptation to wait for people to some how “shape up” before we love them.  We must go to them with an attitude and a determination to love not based on who they are or what they have done but as a person God loves.

Then Jesus says “You are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Well, here it is folks.  The bottom line to the Sermon on the Mount, in fact the teaching of the Scriptures is that God is reconciling and then perfecting people.

Perfect is from the Greek word “teleios” and is often translated “mature.”  Jesus’ point in this statement as well as in these 6 hot topics is to enable us to understand our need for a “beatitude attitude” that relies on Jesus Christ alone for the power to meet God’s standard of righteousness.

So having arrived at the end of chapter 5 we find ourselves facing the question – “What is God’s standard of righteousness and how do I achieve it?”

We know from Romans 3:10-12 that we cannot become righteous through our own efforts.

“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together that have all become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”

Ok, so no one is righteous on their own.  Yet Jesus has set the standard at perfection.  How do we achieve this righteousness then?  The apostle Paul gives us the answer in Romans 1:16-17.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’”

Having the righteousness of God; living righteously before God is done in and through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is by our faith in Christ that we receive His righteousness.  This is what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers.

“God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

What this means is it is not enough to merely believe facts or information about God.  Many people believe that they are Christians that they are ok with God because they believe He exists.

Some people believe that if they try to live a good life that God will ultimately accept that when they die.  Some people believe because they’ve gone to church their whole life and took all their church’s required classes to learn about God and then undergo some form of church ritual, they secure their place in heaven.

The Bible says something different.  You must place your faith in Jesus Christ as God’s perfect sacrifice for your sins.  Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the law as only He could.  Because Jesus did fulfill all that God required, we can be forgiven of our sins.

We must come to the place where we trust God with our lives like the little boy in this illustration.

A group of botanists and scientists were exploring remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers.  One day they saw a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable.  The problem was it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides.  To reach this rare flower someone would have to be lowered over the cliff with a rope.

A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below.

The boy took a look over the side of the cliff and said, “Ill be back.”  A short time later the boy returned followed by a gray-haired man.  Approaching the scientists the boy said “I’ll go over the cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope.  He’s my dad.”

Folks, you can trust God because He’ll never let go of you.

*This is from my Matthew series taught at Calvary Chapel of Lima from 2006-2008. I am currently teaching through Matthew again. This will be the 2015-2016 series and will be available in audio format soon. Look for those teachings on my teaching ministry site – The Transforming Word.

The Sermon on the Mount picture from Vinelife UK.