Making the most of every opportunity, regardless of circumstances.

2011 National Collegiate Champion Anthony Robles 125lb. Weight class

The Sermon on the Kingdom “Kingdom Relationships”

Matthew 5:20; For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Pharisee “Righteousness” From Self For Self Outward Not really Righteousness Kingdom Righteousness From God For God Inward then Outward About Right relationships

Don’t think laws and rules Think “Kingdom Principles”

Don’t think laws and rules Think “the spirit of the law not just the law.”

Don’t think laws and rules Think “Kingdom Ethos”

“Kingdom Ethos” Ethos: The character or fundamental values of a person, people, culture, or movement

The Kingdom Present age Age to come Kingdom Ethos

KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS Matthew 5:21-26; 21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

1.Do not murder 2. Do not commit adultery 3. Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 4. Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you made 5. Eye for an Eye and Tooth for a Tooth 6. Love your enemy & your neighbor Six examples of Kingdom Relationships

“You have heard that it was said… but I tell you.”

Rabbis/ Teachers in OT times would say: “You have heard it said…….. (state the law). Rabbi Shammi, Rabbi Sheiltiel would restate the law they were relating to or teaching but they wouldn’t say, “But I tell you.” Jesus is calling us to a Higher Standard here! A Kingdom Ethos in our Relationships! Look at what Jesus says…. V21 & V22 “You have heard that it was said… but I tell you.”

1.Do not murder - Matt. 5:21-26; (Ex 20:13, Dt 5:17). Six examples of Kingdom Relationships V21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' V22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

2. Do not commit adultery - Matt. 5:27-28; 3. Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. – Matt. 5:31-32; 4. Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you made – Matt. 5:33-34; 5.Eye for an Eye and Tooth for a Tooth – Matt. 5:38-39; 6.Love your enemy & your neighbor– Matt. 5:43-44; Six examples of Kingdom Relationships

Of the 6 examples……Why does Jesus start here with the 6 th commandment? Exodus 20:13;"You shall not murder. Perhaps because murder is considered the worst sin in many circles. What do people who have messed up say to show they aren’t that bad? “At least I didn’t murder anybody” “I didn’t kill any body.”

Murder Murder is terrible. Ends all possibilities for the one murdered. Ends the life of one made in the image of God. Q. What causes people to murder? Greed, resentment, anger and jealousy. God is not just interested in stopping murder. God is interested in stopping things before a murder happens.

Q. Is God’s will done when I don’t murder………. but I harbor bitterness, not forgiving and resentment? Q.What beatitude can you think of when it comes to harbor bitterness, not forgiving & resentment?

There’s something at work here: When God gives a command he wants it fully obeyed from a pure heart (beatitude). What is the full obedience to command not to murder….go all the way to be merciful (beatitude). It Commands us not to do something… but calls us to go in opposite direction. That is the spirit all through this sermon. “Over the top obedience” Over & Beyond! The law is not a stopping place but a starting place.

Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder. Numbers 35:30 " 'Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. But Jesus goes deeper  Over the Top Obedience, Over & Beyond!

You have heard…anyone who murders But I tell you…anyone who is angry. Again…anyone who says, “Raca” But…anyone who says, “Fool”

Matthew 5:21-22; KJV Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:22; NASB But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. “With his brother” may be significant. There is a place for self-controlled anger. But anger at a person -- gets PERSONAL. It is directed toward the person. It violates the spirit of “do not murder.”

Raca This is a Syriac word (form of Aramaic), expressive of great contempt. It comes from a verb signifying to be empty, vain; and hence, as a word of contempt, denotes senseless, stupid, shallow-brains. Parents: What are your children learning from what they hear you say about others? Singles/ Campus: What kind of language do you use around others?

Fool Strongs 3474 mōrós (the root of the English terms, "moron, moronic") – properly, dull (insipid), flat ("without an edge"); (figuratively) "mentally inert"; dull in understanding; nonsensical ("moronic"), lacking a grip on reality (acting as though "brainless).

Example taking FPU: Dave Ramsey: I don't owe an apology at all. I've dealt with your company [big credit card company] for years, and I have a track record of dealing with enough of you to know that "morons and idiots" absolutely applies, so I do not owe you an apology--not even close. When your company-- that is so freaking upstanding--starts abiding by federal law called the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and starts treating its customers like people instead of yelling at them, calling them names, calling them 63 times in a day, and lying to them, then I'll quit calling your company morons and idiots. Part of our Class we called Dave Ramsey’s office to discuss this with him & sent an . Inappropriate language with the number of people he is influencing.

GHENNA OF FIRE, Fire of Hell After the return of the Jews from captivity, this place was held in such abhorrence that, by the example of Josiah 2 Kings 23:10, it was made the place where to throw all the dead carcasses and filth of the city, and was frequently the place of public executions. It became, therefore, extremely offensive; the sight was horrific; the air was polluted and pestilential; and to preserve it in any manner pure, it was necessary to keep fires continually burning there. The extreme loathsomeness of the place; the filth and putrefaction were well known.2 Kings 23:10

Summary The impact then, of this difficult and important verse is this: The Jews considered but one crime a violation of the sixth commandment, namely, actual murder But, Jesus says that the commandment is much broader. Jesus is teaching us that it relates not only to the external act, but to the feelings and words.

Matthew 5:23-24; 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (Asher) has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Asher

Spirit of the law -- the principle VS. Legalism Kingdom Ethos. Jesus calling Higher Standard

Matthew 5:25-26; 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.