Sermon on the Mount (5) – Righteousness Beyond that of the Pharisees and Law Teachers (1) (Matthew 5:17-48)

by Rev. Jeremiah Cheung

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These thirty-one verses in Matthew 5:17-48 tell us a very important truth, that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. The passage’s main point can be found in verses 17 to 20 and Jesus gave us 5 examples to illustrate this point in verses 21-48.

How can our righteousness surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law? Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” What does `fulfill the Law’ mean? What is `the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law’? What is `our righteousness’? We must first understand these before we can realize the true meaning of this passage.

The following pattern of discussion appeared five times in the passage.

v. 21 You have heard that is was said to the people long ago; v.22 But I tell you
v.27 You have heard that it was said; v.28 But I tell you
v.33 Again, you have heard that it was said; v.34 But I tell you
v.38 You have heard that it was said; v.39 But I tell you
v.43 You have heard that it was said; v.44 But I tell you

Here, we find there are two different kinds of standards, two different kinds of righteousness. “You have heard” refers to the righteousness of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, while “but I tell you” refers to the righteousness we should have.

When Jesus said `fulfil the Law’, he meant that the true meaning of the Law will be realized. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law added their traditions to God’s Law, making it lose its true meaning. Our righteousness is the true righteousness of the Law, the righteousness Jesus fulfilled for us.

Jesus gave five examples to illustrate his point: about murder (v.21-26) ; about adultery and divorce (v.27-32); about making oaths (v.33-37); about eye for an eye (v.38-42) ; about love for enemies (v.43-47).

I. About Murder (v 21-26)

Jesus explained the true meaning of the sixth commandment – do not murder. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’” When a man murders another man, he will have to face judgment. But Jesus tells us before a man becomes capable of killing another man, anger would have had taken hold of him first. Without feeling any anger, a person cannot kill another man. Murder is a visible sword, while anger is an invisible sword. Jesus wants us to be careful with our anger. May we be angry? Of course we may, for anger can be righteous too; but we must be careful, for ours often is not righteous anger. Righteous anger is being angry for God’s sake. However, our anger is often for our own selfish reasons, which may even lead us to commit murder.

Jesus said anyone who says to his brother, `raca’ (meaning empty) or fool (stupid), is subject to judgment. Why? Is it that serious an offense? Jesus tells us that many murders happen because the murderers hated the victims first. Man is created in the image of God and possesses the dignity and glory of God, yet we curse them. We curse our fellowmen saying ungodly, unmanly, weird, fools or stupid and the result? We find it easy to kill them. How easy it becomes to murder another when we no longer see them as humans, instead, as animals or beasts.

During the Second World War, Hitler killed 600 million Jews. But before he killed them, he first despised the Jews, saying they are the lowest kind of animals, their blood are the dirtiest of all, they are the stingiest people on earth, they are like vampires who suck money dry from other people. He gave people the idea that Jews are the worst people on earth, that they are the stingiest people on earth. For over hundreds of years, people have continued to despise the Jews, and denied the image and glory of God in them. When men are viewed as without such dignity and even less than animals, it becomes easy to kill them.

Jesus stressed on the importance of peace among brothers. The Lord said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” If we apply it to our present times, it means, when you are on your way to the worship service, and suddenly remember that you have offended a brother; first, go to your brother and be reconciled, then come and worship in church. To worship the Lord is important, of course, but to be at peace with your brother as you worship is more pleasing in God’s eyes.

To apply it further, when you wake up in the morning and prepare for worship, and remember how you had lost your temper and hurt your wife or your children; go first to your wife and children and apologize, then come and worship in God’s house. For when there is anger in a man’s heart, how can his worship be acceptable to God? Without anger, one cannot commit murder. If we recognize that men are created in the image of God, we will not carelessly curse them. Let us remember that murder is a distinctly shaped sword while murder is an invisible sword, they are both frightening.

II. About Adultery and Divorce (v.27-32)

The seventh commandment is `do not commit adultery’. Nowadays, one night stands are very common. Having two, three, or even four mistresses is becoming a trend. Not only do people feel no shame, they even boast about it. But God’s Word will never change to suit the trends. While man valued God’s standard less and less, the Lord Jesus strengthened the essence of God’s Law. He said that not only must adultery never be committed in our deeds, we cannot do it in our minds or with our eyes at all.

Jesus said: “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jesus is pointing out the importance of purity. What does looking at a woman lustfully mean? The word `look’ means to observe or watch carefully. When God created mankind, man and woman were created with natural attractions toward each other, this is very normal. When Adam saw Eve, he immediately said she is bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. Obviously, Adam was strongly attracted to Eve. Is this sinful? No. Jesus said we must not commit adultery in our minds, meaning, we must not violate women with our minds. When our minds violate women, we are breaking the 7th commandment `do not commit adultery’.

How do we solve this problem? Jesus said: “If your right eye causes you to sin, 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. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” If we really do these, then, I am sure many will have no hands or eyes once we meet up in heaven. But the Bible is not saying that we literally gouge out or cut off our body parts, instead, it is telling us to deal with the problem of lust by making a clean break, to cut it off with a strong determination. Determine to not even think about it, because no man can win in the face of temptation. It is not that I do not believe in you, I am not saying you are not morally upright, but what I am saying is that given a perfect scenario for sin, all of us will fall. We will not sin now because there are many eyes looking at us, but when we are alone and no one is looking, how do we fare?

Immorality brings trouble into marriages, so, Jesus said: “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” Jesus explains the true meaning of divorce. Deut 24:1 `If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house.’ In the Old Testament law, divorce is permitted, but what is `indecent’? This is a very unique word, it may be translated as unclean or excretions. It is something which one excretes in the restroom. It refers to something very filthy. Verse 32 tells us that divorce apart from marital unfaithfulness causes the wife to become an adulteress. Jesus meant that marital unfaithfulness is the only reason, the only indecent thing, for divorce to be permitted. If not for marital unfaithfulness, the man only causes his wife to become an adulteresss.

During Jesus’ time, there were too many reasons people divorced – because they attached too many meaning to the word `indecent’. When a wife burnt the food she was cooking, when she doesn’t know how to cook, they call these indecent and divorce the woman. Some divorce their wife because the dish she cooked was too salty, some because their wife couldn’t satisfy their sexual needs. All these were not reasons acceptable to the Lord. Jesus said: “Anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” What did he mean by this? In God’s eyes, a divorced woman (not because of adultery) continues to be the man’s wife; it is forbidden for a man to marry her, if he does, then he commits the sin of adultery.

You may argue that this is unreasonable, yet this is the truth, this is not man’s teachings. God never forced us to marry, marrying was our own choice. Once we decided to marry, then we must take responsibility for our decision; if we do not, we will surely fall into sins of immorality or adultery. Over and over, men were marrying and re-marrying, as a result the Lord sent the flood and destroyed the men of Noah’s generation. Let us be warned!