A Deeper Love
Read More About Our Latest
Sermon
Pastor Beau Waldrep, September 15, 2024
Part of the Listen & Learn series, preached at a Sunday Online service
Matthew 5:21-48
Anger
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Lust
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 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 take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon Notes
The way of Jesus models a love deeper than any love on display in this world.
Law – some might be able to follow
Heart of the Law – none can live up to
Heart of Jesus – allows all who fail to succeed in Him
Treat others the way Christ has treated you
Christ’s love helps us view all relationships as His. vv. 21-32
All the people God has placed in your life are not for YOU – they are HIS.
Reconcile broken relationships – do not let anger get a foothold in your heart
Emotional condition of your heart leads to the actions of your body.
Anger is such a foolish thing. It makes us destroyers instead of builders. It robs us of freedom and makes us prisoners. To hate someone is to commit murder in our hearts
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 23.
What would it look like if we left worship right now to reconcile? We might be empty in here, right? Some of you might take your spouse out of this room right now to make right an offense this morning.
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 1 Jn 2:9.
James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Focus on God– keep your focus on God
So many things designed to steal our gaze from God and hurt our lives
Cut out the sin- go to the next level to get rid of it
Colossians 3:2-3 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Commit to your spouse – prioritize your marriage
Jesus is trying to show the people that just because the cultural laws allow it or even spiritual laws allow it does not mean it’s what God wants or doesn’t have problems associated with it.
Instead, he says some things that may cause us pause and cause us trouble – but he says it to remind us that we are ultimately called to prioritize our marriages and stay faithful to them.
So, rather than focus on divorce, I will encourage you to focus on commitment, which is what Jesus is talking about. He wants us to commit ourselves to our spouse – why is this? Certainly it can fulfill us, bring stability in society, and foundations for our kids.
BUT – the main reason? Because it is a picture of the Gospel in this broken world. True, healthy vibrant Godly marriages are fresh water in a world thirsting for healthy, loving relationships.
Christ’s love empowers us to keep our word. vv. 33-37
Go beyond the law
Oaths are a poor substitute for integrity.
Keep your promises
Jesus kept His promises and wants us to model Him
Christians should be the most trusted people on this planet
Speak plainly
Think clearly about the things you say you will do
Ecc. 5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
STORY: Romania missions and “coming back next year”
TRUST FALL with Shiloh
Christ’s love overcomes evil and hate in our hearts and lives. vv. 38-48
Trust God to repay wrongdoing
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Jesus’ words strike at the very core of human selfishness, summoning us to value others above ourselves in concrete and consistent ways. Some misread this text as if it says not to oppose injustice; what it really says, however, is that we should be so unselfish and trust God so much that we leave our vindication with him.
Craig S. Keener, Matthew, vol. 1, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), Mt 5:38–42.
There is a cost to seeking your own justice.
Is God asking you to get involved in helping Him right wrongs?
Is your motivation purely for yourself and your feelings or is God calling?
Love your enemies
Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Rom. 5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them. It takes the “poison” out of our attitudes.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24.
Deep end = striving
Perfection is not about already arriving but setting a goal to become like Christ who was perfect.
To set this kind of perfection before his followers means that Jesus saw them as always having something for which to strive. No matter how far along the path of Christian service we are, there is still something to aim for. There is a wholeheartedness about being Christian; all that we have and all that we are must be taken up into the service of the Father.
Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Remember that you do not strive alone- Jesus left us help in the form of the Holy Spirit.
SWIM in the Deep End Today