Class Lesson February 28, 2016 Final Lesson in Series

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

In America today, we “love” everything. Think about all the ways you use that four-letter word during a given week. We love burgers, children, puppies, ice cream, college football, spring days, vacations, action movies, romantic movies, and gazillions of other things.



Isn’t it amazing that, with the wealth of words we have at our disposal in the English language, we use the same term to describe our feelings about a hot dog as we do to describe our relationship with our mothers? Surely we can’t feel the same way about a cat video on the Internet as we do about our own children.



Most of the time, we use the word “love” to describe anything that makes us feel good at a given moment. With that definition, it’s no wonder we fall out of love with people at about the same rate we fall out of love with certain kinds of food.



Jesus calls us to something more. As His followers, we are called to love in the way He does. That standard of love is unconditional and knows no limits.

In fact, He wants us to begin by loving our enemies!

Now that’s distinct!

 

Remember This Song?

 

 Click Here to Watch & Hear

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

...............

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?

.................

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”



Perfect (v. 48)—The term can mean flawless. It can also have the sense of mature, complete, or fully developed in a moral or spiritual sense. In reference to God’s people, “mature” or “complete” is the more likely meaning. 

 

Matthew 5:43-45

Most of the world operates by a simple premise: Love those who love you. In this worldview, people only get into relationships for what they can gain from them. Every relationship is self-serving; thus, if a relationship ceases to give you what you want, you simply move onto the next one.

The kingdom of God does not operate that way.

Jesus called us to love those who feel animosity and even hatred toward us. He gave us an example from weather: when the rain falls, the evil receive the benefit in the same way the righteous do. This is God’s “common grace.” It’s “common” because He extends it to everyone. This doesn’t mean God approves of everything that happens on the earth. It only means God’s love is completely distinct from our love. He extends His love to people not because they love Him, but because it’s in His character to do so.


Jesus gave us our marching orders: love and pray. And don’t just pray for people who wish you good; also pray for those who wish you evil.

• Prayer shapes our hearts. When we pray for someone who is difficult to love, we will find our hearts being bent toward that person. The reason is simple: it’s hard to hate someone you are asking God to bless and help.

• Prayer expresses our love. Prayer is one of the best ways we have to express our love for someone. We are asking the God of the universe to exercise His power on behalf of someone else, for his or her good. That’s powerful!

Matthew 5:46-47

If we only love those who love us in return, that’s easy. Tax collectors were locals who had gone over to the side of the Romans because of their own greed. They collected taxes for Rome, plus whatever additional money they deemed fit. Needless to say, the tax collectors were despised. But even they loved those who loved them.



Similarly, the Jews looked down on the Gentiles as irreligious people, pagan in both nature and customs. Gentiles didn’t have the first idea about who God is, and their actions showed it. But Jesus maintained that even the Gentiles greeted those they called brothers.



Jesus was not validating the contempt that flowed through the community toward the tax collectors and Gentiles. Instead, He was using the people’s own self-righteousness and judgment against them. Even the tax collectors and Gentiles loved in the easy way.



Jesus calls His followers to a harder kind of love. He wants us to put ourselves out there, risk rejection and ridicule, and then do it all over again—with no thought of reciprocation.



According to Jesus, the defining mark of His true follower is love. Love is the one element of discipleship that can’t be faked. Many people might perform miracles and do all kinds of other religious deeds, but that doesn’t mean they will enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 7:22-23). We can become very adept at “playing disciple” by sheer acts of will. But you can’t manufacture genuine love.



Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Let me say it again: love is the greatest defining mark of a Christian. Those who truly love demonstrate they have experienced the love of Jesus Christ and are growing in their understanding of the great love of God in Christ.

Matthew 5:48

When we see the word perfect, we tend to think of something flawless. Without error. Pristine. If that’s what Jesus meant in verse 48, it becomes an absolutely crushing statement.



Thankfully, that’s not the case. Jesus didn’t have that kind of perfection in mind. The word He used here wasn’t so much about flawlessness, but function.



Imagine you’re a young parent preparing to assemble a crib. You open the box and see a dizzying array of diagrams and parts. As you assemble the crib, you notice a set of screws that require a special tool to tighten them. Fortunately, the manufacturer included a tool that fits just right; the bed finally comes together. That tool was the perfect tool for its function. You might never use it again, but for that moment, and on that particular occasion, it fit just right. Was the tool absolutely perfect, in terms of its flawlessness? Probably not. But to do the job it was designed for, it was good and right. It was perfect.



We need to look at Jesus’ call to be perfect in terms of our function. Verse 48 reminds us that we are distinct among God’s creation. We were created in His image to relate to Him in a unique way.



To be created in God’s image means we were made to display God’s character and glory in every part of our lives. We should strive to be the kind of parent God is. And we should love like God does:

• God loves those who don’t acknowledge Him.
• God is generous to those who don’t recognize or reciprocate His generosity.
• God provides for those who are ungrateful.
• And we are to be like Him.

That’s what makes us distinct.

LIVE IT OUT

Showing love the way God loves is what makes us truly distinct. Let’s look for opportunities to stand apart from the rest of the world.

• Pray. Commit to pray every day for one person in your life who is difficult to love. Pray that God would bless that person. Notice how your heart softens toward that person.

• Thank. Have you ever been difficult to love? Think of someone who loved you during a time when you were hard to love. Make a call and express your thanks for the way his or her love reminded you of the way God loves all the time. 

• Sacrifice. Jesus loves us sacrificially. What is one practical way you can sacrificially love someone else this week?

It’s OK to love ice cream. And puppies. And college football. But don’t confuse all that love with God’s love—the love He calls you to walk in. God loves you. Now go and do likewise.


Our Lesson Today:

Video: Remember the Titans

Click Here to Watch




Jesus has been asking us to be and do some very abnormal things:

• Be more righteous than the religious of the day.
• Turn the other cheek
• Go the extra mile

This morning He wants us to Love everyone unconditionally – even our enemies!



I. Love Your Enemies - Matthew 5:43-45
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.


Your lesson this week said that most of the world operates by a simple premise: Love those who love you. That people only get into relationships for what they can gain from them. So, that makes every relationship self-serving; thus, if a relationship ceases to give you what you want, you simply move onto the next one. Jesus says that’s not the way the kingdom of God operates!



Jesus called us to love those who feel animosity and even hatred toward us. He gave us an example from weather: when the rain falls, the evil receive the benefit in the same way the righteous do. This is God’s “common grace.” It’s “common” because He extends it to everyone. This doesn’t mean God approves of everything that happens on the earth. It only means God’s love is completely distinct from our love. He extends His love to people not because they love Him, but because it’s in His character to do so.



An old fellow was being interviewed by a reporter because he had just reached his 100th birthday. “Yes sir,” said the centenarian, “I’m 100 years old today and I don’t have an enemy in the world.” “That’s wonderful,” replied the reporter, “you must be proud of yourself.” “Yes,” the old man said, “my last enemy died about a year ago.”



How would you define an enemy in your life?

The possibilities of having enemies on this earth are pretty good. We will have personality conflicts, the clashing of egos, will, philosophies, or goals, inevitably put us at odds—sometimes viciously with someone else. The fact is we probably wouldn’t be much of a person at all if we didn’t have some enemies.

The Muslims, Islam, ISSIS, Russians, Syrians???

Jesus had His enemies. He wasn’t crucified because He talked about the lilies of the field or the birds of the air. He was killed because His goodness and righteousness were a threat to those with mean and prideful spirits, the religious hypocrites, and unjust authorities. Again and again we see Jesus’ enemies trying to trap Him in debate, to humiliate Him, and destroy His credibility. When Jesus out-debated them and avoided their malicious schemes, they began to plot His death. They could not stand the light of His truth so they hoped to get rid of Him once and for all.



Jesus says to Love your enemies!


How do you love someone you don’t like?

Martin Luther King says, in order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self. “How is it that you see the splinter in your brother’s eye and fail to see the plank in your own eye?"

Discover the element of good in your enemy, and every time you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points. Each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality. There is this continual struggle within the very structure of every individual life. And this simply means this: That within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls "the image of God," you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there and there is your element of goodness.

When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy that is the time which you must not do it. There will come a time, in many instances, when the person who hates you most, the person who has misused you most, the person who has gossiped about you most, the person who has spread false rumors about you most, there will come a time when you will have an opportunity to defeat that person. It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job; it might be in terms of helping that person to make some move in life. That’s the time you must do it. That is the meaning of love. In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental something that we talk about. It’s not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love, but you seek to defeat the system.

Only with an agape kind of love. Agape is more than eros; agape is more than philia; agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men. And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likeable, but because God loves them. You look at every man, and you love him because you know God loves him.

It’s significant that Jesus does not say, "Like your enemy." Like is a sentimental something, an affectionate something. There are a lot of people that I find it difficult to like. I don’t like what they do to me. I don’t like what they say about me and other people. I don’t like their attitudes. I don’t like some of the things they’re doing. I don’t like them. But Jesus says love them. And love is greater than like. Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men, so that you love everybody, because God loves them. You refuse to do anything that will defeat an individual, because you have agape in your soul. And here you come to the point that you love the individual who does the evil deed, while hating the deed that the person does. This is what Jesus means when he says, "Love your enemy." This is the way to do it. When the opportunity presents itself when you can defeat your enemy, you must not do it.




Jesus said to: love and pray. And don’t just pray for people who wish you good; also pray for those who wish you evil. Why pray? (One changes them & one changes you!)

• Prayer shapes our hearts. When we pray for someone who is difficult to love, we will find our hearts being bent toward that person. The reason is simple: it’s hard to hate someone you are asking God to bless and help.
• Prayer expresses our love. Prayer is one of the best ways we have to express our love for someone. We are asking the God of the universe to exercise His power on behalf of someone else, for his or her good. That’s powerful!

Why should we love our enemies?

1. Hate for hate only intensifies hate. Martin Luther King says, the first reason that we should love our enemies, is this: that hate for hate only intensifies hate and evil in the universe. If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and go on, you see, it just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that’s the strong person. The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil. Hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. Last week’s lesson when I spoke of Jackie Robinson’s exchange with the club manager: “You want a player who doesn’t have the guts to fight back? No, I want a player who’s got the guts NOT to fight back.”

2. Hate distorts the personality of the hater. Your enemy really loses. We usually think of what hate does for the individual(s) hated or the groups hated. But it is even more tragic to the individual who hates. You begin hating somebody, and you begin to do irrational things. You can’t see straight, can’t walk straight, can’t stand upright, and your vision is distorted. There is nothing more tragic than to see an individual whose heart is filled with hate. He comes to the point that he becomes a pathological case. The person who hates sees a person that’s beautiful, and will call them ugly. For the person who hates, the beautiful becomes ugly and the ugly becomes beautiful. For the person who hates, the good becomes bad and the bad becomes good. For the person who hates, the true becomes false and the false becomes true. That’s what hate does. You can’t see right. The symbol of objectivity is lost. Hate destroys the very structure of the personality of the hater. Hate at any point is a cancer that gnaws away at the very vital center of your life and your existence. It is like eroding acid that eats away the best and the objective center of your life. So Jesus says love, because hate destroys the hater as well as the hated.

3. Love is the only redemptive response. Jesus says, "Love your enemies." Love has within it a redemptive power. It represents God’s love and there is a power there that transforms. If you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem or to transform. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. Just keep loving people, even though they’re mistreating you. There is a person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you. Just keep being friendly to that person - keep loving them. Don’t do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they’re mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says to love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.

Story of Redemptive Love: When Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States; there was a man who ran all around the country talking about Lincoln. He said a lot of bad things about Lincoln, a lot of unkind things. And sometimes he would get to the point that he would even talk about his looks, saying, "You don’t want a tall, lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States." He went on and on and on and went around with that type of attitude and even wrote about it. Finally, Abraham Lincoln was elected president, and had to choose a Cabinet. When time came for him to choose a Secretary of War, he looked across the nation, and decided to choose a man by the name of Mr. Stanton. And when Abraham Lincoln stood around his advisors and mentioned his choice, they said to him: "Mr. Lincoln, are you a fool? Do you know what Mr. Stanton has been saying about you? Do you know what he has done, and tried to do to you? Do you know that he has tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all of those derogatory statements that he made about you?" Abraham Lincoln stood before his advisors and said: "Oh yes, I know about it; I read about it; I’ve heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job."



Mr. Stanton became Secretary of War, and a few months later, Lincoln was assassinated. And if you go to Washington, you will discover that one of the greatest words or statements ever made about Abraham Lincoln was made by Stanton. As Lincoln came to the end of his life, Stanton stood up and said: "Now he belongs to the ages." He went on to make a beautiful statement concerning the character and the stature of Lincoln. If Abraham Lincoln had hated Stanton, if Abraham Lincoln had answered everything Stanton said, Abraham Lincoln would have not transformed and redeemed Stanton. Stanton would have gone to his grave hating Lincoln, and Lincoln would have gone to his grave hating Stanton. But through the power of love Abraham Lincoln was able to redeem Stanton. That’s it.



There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, "This isn’t the way."




II. Love as a Witness - Matthew 5:46-47
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?


How does Jesus differentiate love as a witness? (There is an easy love and a hard love!)

If we only love those who love us in return, that’s easy. Tax collectors were locals who had gone over to the side of the Romans because of their own greed. They collected taxes for Rome, plus whatever additional money they deemed fit. Needless to say, the tax collectors were despised. But even they loved those who loved them. Similarly, the Jews looked down on the Gentiles as irreligious people, pagan in both nature and customs. Gentiles didn’t have the first idea about who God is, and their actions showed it. But Jesus maintained that even the Gentiles greeted those they called brothers. Jesus was not validating the contempt that flowed through the community toward the tax collectors and Gentiles. Instead, He was using the people’s own self-righteousness and judgment against them. Even the tax collectors and Gentiles loved in the easy way.



Jesus calls His followers to a harder kind of love. He wants us to put ourselves out there, risk rejection and ridicule, and then do it all over again—with no thought of reciprocation. According to Jesus, the defining mark of His true follower is love. Love is the one element of discipleship that can’t be faked. Many people might perform miracles and do all kinds of other religious deeds, but that doesn’t mean they will enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 7:22-23). We can become very adept at “playing disciple” by sheer acts of will. But you can’t manufacture genuine love. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Let me say it again: love is the greatest defining mark of a Christian. Those who truly love demonstrate they have experienced the love of Jesus Christ and are growing in their understanding of the great love of God in Christ.





What’s the risk’s to embrace Jesus’ definition of love?

• We risk a good look at ourselves. Loving others begins with introspection.

What is the reward for loving others—even the unlovely?

• So that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
• God expands your boundaries – prayer of Jabez
• It identifies us as God’s people. Testifies to our Father. It shows the world our heart.

Jesus got specific on how we are to express this extraordinary response of love. If we consider Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, ““But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28 ESV).



Christians should express their love toward their enemies in 3 ways:

1. Christians love their enemies through deeds that surprise. “Do good to those who hate you.” To love our enemies is a surprise because it goes against the grain of society. This love is active not sentiment; it is service not syrupy. Alfred Plummer wrote, “To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine.”



2. Christians love their enemies through words that uplift. “Bless those who curse you.” Though your enemies may curse you, you respond by calling down heaven’s blessings on them.



3. Christians love their enemies through prayers that care. “Pray for those who abuse you.” Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “This is the supreme command. Through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God.” It is impossible to pray for someone without loving them, and it is impossible to go on praying for them, without discovering that our love for them grows and matures. Here we heed Jesus’ example. As his executioners were driving the iron spikes through his hands and feet, Jesus prayed for them. It was the supreme act of love.





Who do you need to show God’s love to? 

Followers of Jesus are to love all people unconditionally and behave differently than unbelievers.  This is distinct love - there is nothing unusual about loving someone who loves us.





III. Love Like God - Matthew 5:48
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”


Perfect (v. 48)—The term can mean flawless. It can also have the sense of mature, complete, or fully developed in a moral or spiritual sense. In reference to God’s people, “mature” or “complete” is the more likely meaning.




How do we love like God?

• He extends His love to people not because they love Him, but because it’s in His character to do so.
• Loving others is measured by God’s standard. (Agape Unconditional Love)
• Pay it Forward (Random Acts of Kindness)
• To be created in God’s image means we were made to display God’s character and glory in every part of our lives. We should strive to be the kind of parent God is.
• God loves those who don’t acknowledge Him.
• God is generous to those who don’t recognize or reciprocate His generosity.
• God provides for those who are ungrateful.

That’s what makes us distinct.



What are some opportunities we have as individuals to express unconditional love? What are some opportunities we have as a group?

“One day as Napoleon came toward the end of his career and looked back across the years—the great Napoleon that at a very early age had all but conquered the world. He stood back and looked across the years, and said: "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have built great empires. But on what did they depend? They depended on force. But long ago Jesus started an empire that depended on love, and even to this day millions will die for him."

Jesus shall reign wherever sun,

Does his successive journeys run;

His kingdom spreads from shore to shore,

Till moon shall wane and wax no more.

We can hear another chorus singing: "All hail the power of Jesus name!"

We can hear another chorus singing: "Hallelujah, hallelujah! He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah, hallelujah!"

We can hear another choir singing:

In Christ there is no East or West.

In Him no North or South,

But one great Fellowship of Love

Throughout the whole wide world.

This is the only way.

LIVE IT OUT
Loving those who oppose you is not easy. Though you may not actually feel love initially, you can still express love through how you act and your attitude. Your love will continue to develop as you pray for your enemies. Even if your enemy’s attitude never changes, yours will, and that is the only attitude for which you are responsible. When you pray, be open to hearing God’s solution for reconciliation, and be prepared to take the first steps. God loved you when you were still His enemy. He expressed that love when He sent Jesus to make reconciliation possible. As you surrender to God, He can give you power to love your enemies, too.



When you realize how much God has forgiven you, it becomes easier to forgive others. God can give you a forgiving spirit toward others. Your attitude toward your enemies should be the same as Jesus’ attitude. He said, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matt. 5:39). He also said that we should give more than what is asked of us (Matt. 5:41). No matter how much someone has offended you, God still asks you to forgive your enemies and even pray for them (Matt. 5:44).

Maybe you should just call someone to say I love you

Maybe you should just call someone to say how much you care

Maybe you should just call someone to say I love you

And mean it from the bottom of your heart

Prayer of Commitment
Father, help me to love others as You love - without any conditions. Amen.


Hope to see all of you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan

Class Lesson February 21, 2016

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

 

Some of us live according to “to-do” lists. Time management folks tell us these are a great way to keep track of and prioritize the things we need to accomplish. The blessing of such a “to-do” list is that you have a target to shoot for. The curse of a “to-do” list is that it can remind you of what you didn’t get accomplished—or what remains to be finished.

Unfinished “to-do” lists happen a lot. That’s not because the tasks weren’t important. It’s because things pop up every day you simply didn’t anticipate.


Interruptions.

We can’t stop the interruptions or demands other people make in our lives. But how we react to those interruptions is completely in our hands. Jesus is concerned about our reactions. Why? Because the ways we react in irritating situations will—or won’t—show us to be distinctly Christian. Jesus calls us to a standard that is consistent, honest, and filled with grace. 

Jesus’ theme of greater righteousness continues.

In the remaining examples, Jesus addressed subjects not specifically covered by one of the Ten Commandments, even though they are found in the Old Testament law. He continued to call attention to traditional understandings and confronted His hearers with His new and fresh perspectives. His word is not always easy, but it is the way people in the kingdom of God act. Such is the righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 5:33-42 (NIV)

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.



His footstool (v. 35)—When used literally, this term refers to an actual footstool (see Jas. 2:3). Here, the term is used figuratively—God has no need of a place to rest His feet. Thus, it represents the earth’s complete submission to God.



Swear by your head (v. 36)—It was a custom to guarantee the truthfulness of a statement by swearing or taking an oath by invoking God or some substitute for God; here, “your head” is that substitute.

Matthew 5:33-37

We’ve all felt the pain of a broken commitment or word. And we’ve all had our own share of failed commitments to others. It hurts in both directions. As we continue with the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus pushing us to examine our integrity through the lens of our words and the promises we make.


The Old Testament law repeatedly commanded people to keep their word and be absolutely truthful (see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-23). But by the time of Jesus, people were making distinctions in their promises and oaths: some were super serious, others were not so serious.


If someone made a promise using God’s name, he was bringing God into the promise; thus, it became a serious promise he must keep. But if someone simply gave her own word on a matter, it was considered much less serious. Jesus made the point that God is always involved when a person gives his or her word.


Whenever we make a promise, we are doing so in the presence of God.


Here are two things worth remembering:

• Be careful what you commit to. Many of us have a tendency to over commit ourselves. We may have the best of intentions, but at some point we have to develop the discipline of saying no. 

• Keep your word when you give it. God honors the person “who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind” (Ps. 15:4). Unforeseen circumstances can pop up that make it difficult to keep some promises. Even when it hurts to do so, however, the one who keeps his promises pleases God.

Matthew 5:38-39

The Old Testament records this “eye for an eye” law three times (see Ex. 21:23-24; Lev. 24:19-20; Deut. 19:21). But God’s intention was to limit vengeance, not give license to it. The law was meant to make sure that conflict didn’t escalate, but was kept within specific boundaries.


Furthermore, the wronged individual was never to seek justice or vengeance on his own. Instead, the law served as a guide for judges as they decided appropriate punishments through court proceedings.


Jesus, however, reordered our thinking. He told us we are not to retaliate when we are humiliated or insulted.


Because we’re born with the inclination of self-defense and retaliation, we are fighting against our sinful human nature when we follow Jesus in this distinct way. In other words, we must choose to deny ourselves in order to obey Jesus’ commands.

• We deny our rights. People usually believe they have something coming to them when we they’re wronged. Yet Jesus called us to deny our “rights.” We are to follow Him on the road of forgiveness and self-denial.

• We deny our entitlement. Closely akin to our rights is a sense of entitlement. Something rises up inside us that says, “I deserve better.” But any feeling of entitlement fails to recognize that all we are truly entitled to is death and hell. We experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because of His grace, not because we are entitled to them.

• We deny our pride. Often the worst part of what we experience at the hand of someone else is the blow to our ego. We feel humiliated and our pride is offended. We must let go of our inflated ego and release our pride in favor of following Jesus on the path of humility (see Phil. 2:5-8).

Matthew 5:40-42

As if it weren’t enough to say we should not seek revenge when someone does us wrong, Jesus went the extra mile in His teaching. He said we should do the same thing—go the extra mile—even for those who want to take advantage of us. According to Jesus, we should overwhelm such people with kindness.


We tend to think about obedience in terms of minimums. What’s the minimum amount of stuff I have to do to get by? That kind of attitude shows a heart out of touch with the grace God has lavished on us. Jesus’ point is that we shouldn’t focus on the minimum; instead, we should focus on how we can be a blessing to others.


To go the extra mile—above and beyond—takes more than willpower. It takes faith. We need to believe three things to go the extra mile:

• Believe God will provide. Going the extra mile is costly. It could be a coat; it could be some money; it could be our time. It will cost us something. We must believe in a God who will provide the coat, the money, or the time that we’ve given up for the sake of someone else.

• Believe God will rectify. When we give sacrificially for the sake of someone else, we might be tempted to treat it like a loan. We shouldn’t. Much in the same way that we don’t seek revenge because we believe God will set everything right in the end, we can freely go the extra mile without the expectation of payback. Trust in God, who knows what we’ve done. 

• Believe God will redeem. What if we go the extra mile and nothing happens? What if the person doesn’t recognize our gift or what it cost us? We might be tempted to become bitter and resentful, or to wish we never made the effort in the first place. But God redeems. Though it might seem like a waste at first, we trust God in His wisdom and power to redeem what we’ve done for His good purposes.

LIVE IT OUT

You’re going to be caught off guard this week; how will you respond? Here are some ways to be distinct in your reactions: 

•  Keep your word. What is one commitment you’ve made that you wish you hadn’t? Recommit yourself to keeping your word even though it’s going to hurt.

• Pray. Is one relationship particularly difficult for you right now? Pray and ask God to bless that person this week. Even better, write a note and let the person know you’ve been praying for him or her. 

• Go the extra mile. Think back over the past month. Have you missed any opportunities to do good for someone, an occasion when you chose to do the minimum? Go back and do something extra for that person this week.

Life is about reactions. Things will happen this week you have absolutely no control over, no matter how well you plan. The question is: what happens next? Will you practice grace and integrity when others make demands of you? Or will you hold tightly to your rights and privileges?




Our Lesson Today:

In 1982, the movie “First Blood” came to theaters. It was about a Vietnam War veteran named Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, who had become a drifter. He had come to a small town in the Northwest looking for an old army buddy. No one welcomed him. The town sheriff immediately treated him with suspicion and disdain and tried to kick him out of town. Because Rambo refused to go, he was arrested, beaten and humiliated. From that point on, Rambo took on his former persona and used his many and varied skills gained in the military to evade capture and eventually defeat the sheriff. When Rambo is contacted by his former CO to find out why he had started this one man war, he says, “All I wanted was something to eat. But the man kept pushing Sir. … They drew first blood, not me.” Some of you know a little bit of what Rambo felt. Everybody keeps pushing. It’s so easy to push back when you get pushed. It’s just the natural inclination.


Isaac Newton gave us this scientific principle: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That law works for science, but it is only partially true with people. Everything said or done to us will cause us to react, but how we react is totally in our hands.


Jesus calls us to a standard that is consistent, honest, and grace-filled regardless of what is said or done.



Jesus’ theme of greater righteousness continues.

• In the remaining examples, Jesus addressed subjects not specifically covered by one of the Ten Commandments, even though they are found in the Old Testament law. He continued to call attention to traditional understandings and confronted His hearers with His new and fresh perspectives. His word is not always easy, but it is the way people in the kingdom of God act. Such is the righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. 

• In Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus told his hearers to react distinctively. He stated the oldest law in the world, Lex Talionis, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” It was a common practice and a part of everyday life. It was stained with the blood of revenge and vengeance. Jesus now sought to abolish that law with a reaction so radical that it was totally unexpected. He painted three portraits to get the message across. 

 

 
 

I. Speak with Integrity - Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.


What motivates us to say, “I promise” or to ask, “Do you promise?”

• We’ve all felt the pain of a broken commitment or word. And we’ve all had our own share of failed commitments to others. It hurts in both directions. As we continue with the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus pushing us to examine our integrity through the lens of our words and the promises we make. The Old Testament law repeatedly commanded people to keep their word and be absolutely truthful (see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-23). But by the time of Jesus, people were making distinctions in their promises and oaths: some were super serious, others were not so serious. If someone made a promise using God’s name, he was bringing God into the promise; thus, it became a serious promise he must keep. But if someone simply gave her own word on a matter, it was considered much less serious. Jesus made the point that God is always involved when a person gives his or her word. Whenever we make a promise, we are doing so in the presence of God.

So, what is the big deal about making a promise?

• There are about 30 biblical references to vows, most of which are from the Old Testament. The books of Leviticus and Numbers have several references to vows in relation to offerings and sacrifices. There were dire consequences for the Israelites who made and broke vows, especially vows to God.
• The story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out of doors to meet him if he returned home as the victor. When the Lord granted him victory, the one who came out to meet him was his daughter. Jephthah remembered his vow and offered her to the Lord (Judges 11:29-40). Whether or not Jephthah should have kept this vow is dealt with in another article. What this account shows us is the foolishness of rash vows.
• Perhaps this is why Jesus gave a new commandment concerning vows. "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No ,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:33-37).
• The principle here is clear for Christians: do not make vows, either to the Lord or to one another. First, we are unable to know for sure whether we will be able to keep vows. The fact that we are prone to the errors in judgment which are part of our fallen nature means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity. Further, we don’t know what the future will bring—only God does. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:14), so to make a vow that we will do or not do something is foolish. God is the one in control, not us, and He “works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Knowing this, we can see that it is unnecessary to make vows and that it indicates a lack of trust in Him. Finally, Jesus commands that our word be sufficient without making vows. When we say “yes” or “no,” that’s exactly what we should mean. Adding vows or oaths to our words opens us up to the influence of Satan whose desire is to trap us and compromise our Christian testimony.
• If we have made a vow foolishly and realized we cannot or should not keep it, we should confess it to God, knowing that He is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” A broken vow, while serious, is not an unforgivable matter if taken to the Lord in true confession. God will not hold us to vows made imprudently, but He expects us to obey Jesus and refrain from making vows in the future.
• Christians should not make promises at all. It doesn’t matter if it’s to God, our friends, or our children. Sometimes people make promises and they can’t deliver or sometimes people just don’t want to when the time comes. How does that glorify God? You don’t know how your life will be tomorrow.
• You don’t know if you’re going to be able to keep your word. God will always be here for you. If you’re going to do something just do it. If you can’t then don’t. Don’t speak foolishly with your mouth. God is serious when it comes to vows to him or others. If you foolishly make a promise than you need to do what you said you would do. In the future do not make promises at all. If you have made one and you can’t keep it confess your sins and don’t do it again. 

 

 

1. Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it.

2. Proverbs 10:19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.

3. Ecclesiastes 5:6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.

4. Matthew 5:33-36 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

5. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

6. Proverbs 20:25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

7. Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.

8. Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.


Yes or no

9. James 5:12 But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

10. Matthew 5:38 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.


What was Jesus’ point concerning our speech?

• Jesus expects His followers to do what they say. We ought to be known for telling the truth, without a shadow of doubt.
• Jesus was emphasizing the importance of telling the truth. People were breaking promises and using sacred language casually and carelessly. Keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible. The Bible condemns making vows or taking oaths casually, giving your word while knowing that you won’t keep it, or swearing falsely in God’s name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:1, 2; Deuteronomy 19:16-20). Oaths are needed in certain situations only because we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust.
• Oaths, or vows were common, but Jesus told His followers not to use them – their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12). Are you known as a person of your word? Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end our statements with “I promise.” If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an oath or promise. 

 

 

II. Let it Go - Matthew 5:38-39
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

  

What traditional understanding did Jesus confront in these verses?

• An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Believers and unbelievers alike who are looking to justify some vengeful action can be heard to recite these words.
• Actually, this is only a portion of larger statements found in Exodus 21:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Known as the lex talionis – law of retaliation – it was not intended to be an authorization for vengeance without restraint but to put a limit on the degree of retaliation as applied by the legal authorities. The statement was part of a guideline for proportionate punishment in which the punishment fit the crime as opposed to a process marked by escalating violence. It was not intended to be a license for personal retaliation but was to be practiced by the courts and judges within the confines of the legal system.

What does Jesus mean when He says do not resist an evil person?

• Resist is to “set one’s self against” or “to oppose.”
• Some thought Jesus’ words were to be understood to mean, “Don’t resist evil with evil.” One evil act never cancels out another evil act. Still others think Jesus was forbidding ever taking an action to resist an evildoer.

Was Jesus calling us to be “passive” and is this a command against self-defense?

• What Jesus asks of His followers is not passivity, but surrender of the right to personal revenge.
• To "turn the other cheek," does not imply pacifism, nor does it mean we place ourselves or others in mortal danger. Like the principle of the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth in Matthew 5:38, turning the other cheek refers to personal retaliation, not criminal offenses or acts of military aggression. Clearly, Jesus did not mean to negate all God’s laws and injunctions protecting us against violent crime or invading armies. Rather, Jesus is speaking here of the principle of non-retaliation to affronts against our own dignity, as well as lawsuits to gain one’s personal assets (v. 40), infringements on one’s liberty (v. 41), and violations of property rights (v. 42). He was calling for a full surrender of all personal rights.
• Turning the other cheek means not to return insult for insult in retaliation, which is what most people expect and how worldly people act. Responding to hatred with love just might grab someone's attention and afford us a chance to share the gospel. When we respond in a manner that is unnatural, it displays the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus was the perfect example because He was silent before His accusers and did not call down revenge from heaven on those who crucified Him.

What was God’s intention with this new law?

• Let it go! God’s purpose behind this law was an expression of mercy. The law was given to judges and said, in effect, “Make the punishment fit the crime.” It was not a guide for personal revenge (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21). These laws were given to limit revenge and help the court administer punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient. Some people, however, were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others. People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by saying, “I was just doing to him what he did to me.”
• God’s intention was to limit vengeance, not give license to it. The law was meant to make sure that conflict didn’t escalate, but was kept within specific boundaries.
• Furthermore, the wronged individual was never to seek justice or vengeance on his own. Instead, the law served as a guide for judges as they decided appropriate punishments through court proceedings.
• Jesus, however, reordered our thinking. He told us we are not to retaliate when we are humiliated or insulted.

Because we’re born with the inclination of self-defense and retaliation, we are fighting against our sinful human nature when we follow Jesus in this distinct way. In other words, we must choose to deny ourselves in order to obey Jesus’ commands.

• Deny our rights. People usually believe they have something coming to them when we they’re wronged. Yet Jesus called us to deny our “rights.” We are to follow Him on the road of forgiveness and self-denial.
• Deny our entitlement. Closely akin to our rights is a sense of entitlement. Something rises up inside us that says, “I deserve better.” But any feeling of entitlement fails to recognize that all we are truly entitled to is death and hell. We experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because of His grace, not because we are entitled to them.
• Deny our pride. Often the worst part of what we experience at the hand of someone else is the blow to our ego. We feel humiliated and our pride is offended. We must let go of our inflated ego and release our pride in favor of following Jesus on the path of humility (see Phil. 2:5-8).

III. Go the Extra Mile - Matthew 5:40-42
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

What is Jesus asking us to do now after we have turned the other cheek?

• Go the extra mile! Show them unexpected kindness in return. These verses give three remaining examples of Jesus’ call for His followers not to refuse to retaliate or inflict evil for evil against those who insulted them or disregarded their personal rights. Be willing to do more than is expected with a willing spirit rather than a bitter attitude.
• When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive. This is not natural – it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to love as He does. instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Why is this so hard for us to do?

• We tend to think about obedience in terms of minimums. What’s the minimum amount of stuff I have to do to get by? That kind of attitude shows a heart out of touch with the grace God has lavished on us. Jesus’ point is that we shouldn’t focus on the minimum; instead, we should focus on how we can be a blessing to others.

To go the extra mile—above and beyond—takes more than willpower. It takes faith. We need to believe three things to go the extra mile:

• Believe God will provide. Going the extra mile is costly. It could be a coat; it could be some money; it could be our time. It will cost us something. We must believe in a God who will provide the coat, the money, or the time that we’ve given up for the sake of someone else.
• Believe God will rectify. When we give sacrificially for the sake of someone else, we might be tempted to treat it like a loan. We shouldn’t. Much in the same way that we don’t seek revenge because we believe God will set everything right in the end, we can freely go the extra mile without the expectation of payback. Trust in God, who knows what we’ve done.
• Believe God will redeem. What if we go the extra mile and nothing happens? What if the person doesn’t recognize our gift or what it cost us? We might be tempted to become bitter and resentful, or to wish we never made the effort in the first place. But God redeems. Though it might seem like a waste at first, we trust God in His wisdom and power to redeem what we’ve done for His good purposes.

What is so special about going the extra mile?

• Going the second mile is an unexpected service of love. True Christian love is never expressed in the first mile. That is expected. That is obligatory and mandatory. We must do that. Christian love is always expressed in the second mile. Loving and serving beyond what is expected.
• An amazing power exists in unexpected service. When we exceed the barest minimums of service, when we go beyond the call of duty, when we give more than is expected, it has a transforming, unforgettable effect on people. 

 

 

Integrity, grace, and kindness

What powerful words!

Integrity is the quality of being complete, undivided, and transparent. A person has integrity when what he or she says or does is consistent with what he or she claims to be and to believe. The people we respect the most are people with integrity.


Grace is the willingness to show favor to someone even when they are not deserving. A person insults you. He deserves some retaliatory action at least equal to the insult. To respond with grace is to refuse to retaliate and to be gracious in hope that a relationship can be restored.


Kindness is being disposed to be helpful, forbearing, gentle, and agreeable. A kind person thinks less about himself and more about another person.



Jesus was calling for His disciples to exhibit each of those qualities, even under the most difficult or trying circumstances. However, He not only demanded them from others, He modeled them in His own life and in His own relationships with others.

• Did anyone have greater integrity than Jesus? He was who He claimed to be and stayed true to His calling as God’s Son even when others rejected Him.
• Was anyone more filled with grace? In fact, He was the embodiment of divine grace in that He came to extend God’s favor on a world that deserved punishment but received salvation instead by Jesus’ gracious atoning death.
• Was anyone more kind than Jesus? Repeatedly, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus acted kindly toward those who were hurting, dealing with loss, and disenfranchised. He was even kind in His responses to the likes of Pilate and Herod who falsely judged Him, and to the Roman soldiers who ridiculed, abused, and executed Him. He did not retaliate, argue, or complain. In fact, even then He responded with the same kind of integrity, grace, and kindness He expected from His disciples.

If we want to have more integrity, grace, and kindness, we need to walk more closely with Jesus.


Conclusion: “First Blood” is the kind of movie that makes you want to stand up and cheer. It hits a chord with every person that has ever been pushed around. With every person that Rambo pummels, we see ourselves getting back at the people who have so unfairly treated us. It’s normal to push back when we are pushed. But Jesus calls us to something higher, and Jesus gives us an example of something more majestic.


He who could have pushed the hardest when pushed, chose to exercise grace and forgiveness. He calls us to nothing less.



LIVE IT OUT
You’re going to be caught off guard this week; how will you respond? Here are some ways to be distinct in your reactions:

• Keep your word. What is one commitment you’ve made that you wish you hadn’t? Recommit yourself to keeping your word even though it’s going to hurt.
• Pray. Is one relationship particularly difficult for you right now? Pray and ask God to bless that person this week. Even better, write a note and let the person know you’ve been praying for him or her.
• Go the extra mile. Think back over the past month. Have you missed any opportunities to do good for someone, an occasion when you chose to do the minimum? Go back and do something extra for that person this week.

Life is about reactions. Things will happen this week you have absolutely no control over, no matter how well you plan. The question is: what happens next? Will you practice grace and integrity when others make demands of you? Or will you hold tightly to your rights and privileges?

Prayer of Commitment

Lord Jesus, sometimes living according to Your expectations is hard. I want to be a person marked by integrity, grace, and kindness. You know I cannot do it on my own, so I turn to You for help and strength that I may be more like You. Thank you for being there. Amen.

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See you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan