Matthew 5:17-37
Matthew 5: 17-37 (NLT)
"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even if it is your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, `By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, `By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, `By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, `By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, `Yes, I will,' or `No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
Devotion (by Chris Bunch)
Chapters 5-7 are referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus gave this teaching on a mountainside. This teaching probably covered several days. Jesus’ central thought was to explain that the key to following God is not legalistic observance of the laws (rules)-------but it is an obedient relationship of loving and living for the one who knows you best and loves you most.
In this section of verses 17-37, the most difficult part for me to obey has been the section on anger (21-26). One of the biggest wrecking balls in the world is anger. It can tear some stuff up. It’s been known to tear up drywall, and doors and cars and clowns. It has been known to tear up families, and friendships and marriages. Companies and even churches. And you know what friends? It always flows from somewhere beneath. But, when it comes to the surface, it can become a lethal weapon.
Jesus understood this and that is why he shared these words on the mountainside: You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!
Jesus put anger and murder in the same category. He saw a direct connection that we usually deny. Whether we like to admit it or not, anger leads quickly to a whole range of emotions and actions. It can destroy anything and anyone against which it is directed------that is why the correlation to murder makes sense.
Have you been carrying any anger lately? Have you held a grudge longer than overnight? The Bible says this: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26). In other words, don’t go to bed with anger in your heart. Why not let go of your anger today and experience God’s peace?
Prayer:
God, thank you for not holding any anger toward us. Help us to release our anger to you and receive your peace. Give us the strength to do it this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even if it is your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, `A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, `By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, `By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, `By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, `By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, `Yes, I will,' or `No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
Devotion (by Chris Bunch)
Chapters 5-7 are referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus gave this teaching on a mountainside. This teaching probably covered several days. Jesus’ central thought was to explain that the key to following God is not legalistic observance of the laws (rules)-------but it is an obedient relationship of loving and living for the one who knows you best and loves you most.
In this section of verses 17-37, the most difficult part for me to obey has been the section on anger (21-26). One of the biggest wrecking balls in the world is anger. It can tear some stuff up. It’s been known to tear up drywall, and doors and cars and clowns. It has been known to tear up families, and friendships and marriages. Companies and even churches. And you know what friends? It always flows from somewhere beneath. But, when it comes to the surface, it can become a lethal weapon.
Jesus understood this and that is why he shared these words on the mountainside: You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!
Jesus put anger and murder in the same category. He saw a direct connection that we usually deny. Whether we like to admit it or not, anger leads quickly to a whole range of emotions and actions. It can destroy anything and anyone against which it is directed------that is why the correlation to murder makes sense.
Have you been carrying any anger lately? Have you held a grudge longer than overnight? The Bible says this: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26). In other words, don’t go to bed with anger in your heart. Why not let go of your anger today and experience God’s peace?
Prayer:
God, thank you for not holding any anger toward us. Help us to release our anger to you and receive your peace. Give us the strength to do it this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
posted by Mikey | 10:41 AM
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