Matthew 5:21-48
Q.1. In what way did Jesus change the focus of the Law? Who should take the initiative in reconciliation? Where does God fit in? – (Mt.5:21-27,31,33,38,43)
Jesus transformed selected quotations from the Old Testament Scriptures – on murder, adultery, divorce, vows, vengeance, and loving others. He moved the focus from our outward actions to our inward motivations (Mt.5:21). He traced murder to the problem of angry thoughts and unguarded words. Our anger is enough to earn us the fires of hell (Mt.5:22). We tend to expect an offender to put things right with us. However, Jesus holds the person who is aware of an offence responsible, – 23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering (Mt.5:23-24). It is a mistake to just assume that an ‘offender’ is conscious of his or her offence against us. Rather, we must take the initiative in bridging the gap, and seek reconciliation. Jesus pointed out the danger of allowing unresolved conflicts to fester and urged us to – Make friends quickly with your opponent … (Mt.5:25). It is frequently when we worship, either privately or publicly, that God will convict us of broken relationships that we need to put right (Mt.5:23).
Q.2. Where does adultery take place? What does this reveal about the purpose of the Law? Why did Jesus advise such drastic action to fight sin? – (Mt.5:27-30)
We live in a culture where adultery and fornication are rife. Jesus stated that these sins of lust start in the heart – I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mt.5:28). By turning the focus from externals to internals, Jesus proved that all of us are hopelessly lost, under condemnation, and in need of a Saviour (Rom.3:23 c.f. Jn.3:19-20). Jesus used His analogy of drastic surgery in order to urge us not to make excuses for our sinful habits. This also highlighted the destructiveness of sin (Mt.5:29-30). If we stay a slave to sin, this has terrible consequences. (Mt.5:30 c.f. Rom.6:15-19).
Q.3. What did Jesus teach here about divorce? Why should we be cautious when making vows and promises? How should we choose to use our words? – (Mt.5:31-37)
Jesus turned back to the teaching on divorce in the Law of Moses, that protected the wife from unjust treatment in cases of divorce (Mt.5:31 c.f. Deut.24:1). Here, Jesus introduced the need for extending a heart of forgiveness when inevitable differences arise in marriage, rather than the choice to pursue divorce. He gave what is known as the ‘exception clause’ on the basis of sexual immorality (Greek: πορνείας – pornia). That is because having a sexual relationship with someone (apart from your spouse) makes you one with another, thereby breaking the marriage covenant (1 Cor.6:16 c.f. Gen.2:24). This teaching by Jesus assumed that divorce in that day would be followed by re-marriage, because there was no social welfare system. Divorcing a spouse when the covenant of marriage has not been violated, would involve the divorced person in adultery if he or she remarried. This is because God does not sanction re-marriage under such conditions. What seems to be a stricter version of His teaching on divorce in Mk.10:11-12 & Lk.16:18, must be seen in the light of Christ’s teaching here, including the ‘exception clause’. Apart from the Gospel, we are all without hope (Eph.2:12-13). Praise God for the Gospel of grace. (1 Cor.7:9-11). The Law warned against the thoughtless taking of vows (Mt.5:33 c.f. Deut.23:21-23; Ecc.5:1-7). However, Jesus extended this to all oaths where people use the Lord’s name (or some other significant place), to reinforce what they are saying. Rather – let your statement be, `Yes, yes!’ or `No, no!’; anything beyond these is of evil (Mt.5:37). We should take responsibility ourselves for whatever comes out of our mouths.
Q.4. What should be our personal response to conflict, and to our enemies? Why should we refrain from showing partiality? What is God’s goal for us? – (Mt.5:38-48)
The foundation for all God’s laws is justice – “You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ (Mt.5:38 c.f. Lev.24:17-22). This was the basis on which the judges were to apply justice in Israel. The Law did not sanction personal retaliation or vengeance. In fact, Jesus suggested a counter-intuitive way to deal with conflict, by ‘going the extra mile’ – Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you (Mt.5:42 c.f. Rom.12:17-21). The Law also encouraged Israel to love their neighbours. This had been interpreted as an excuse for ‘hating their enemies’ (Mt.5:43). Jesus pointed out that God shows His concern for all people – … for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Mt.5:45). To show that we belong to our Heavenly Father, we are called by God to – … love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Mt.5:44). We are chosen to stand out from the world, and we need to make it our goal – to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt.5:48). Without Christ, we could never fulfill this demand (c.f. Mt.5:17-18; 2 Cor.5:21; 1 Pet.2:24; 3:18).