1. The Life of Christ – Lesson 7
June 6, 2018
Matthew Chapters 5-7
Luke 6:20-49
The Life of Christ – Lesson 7
The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5:21-48
Jesus’ standard of righteousness

2. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
Jesus on “righteousness” – we must …
Hunger for it. (Matthew 5:6)
Be willing to suffer for it. (Matthew 5:10)
Practice it for the right reason. (Matthew 6:1)
Seek it above all else. (Matthew 6:33)

3. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
“I say to you …” – Jesus exercising His authority.
First used in verse 18, nine times expressed in this chapter – fourteen in Matthew 5 and 6.
Again, who is the “you”?
The scribes and the Pharisees had established their own standards of righteousness. Matthew 15:1-3; Romans 9:30-32; 10:1-4
Jesus is now establishing His standard!

4. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
“But I say to you” – Jesus establishing the authority of His covenant (Matthew 7:28-29; Mark 1:27) and the standard of righteousness in His kingdom. Anyone desiring to be a citizen in His kingdom. Is it doable? Can we achieve Jesus’ standard of righteous? Matthew 5:48

5. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
How is our righteousness to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees?
Not our own. Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9
Not hypocritical. Matthew 23:1-4
More than that, it’s submission to the Lord’s standard of righteousness in His kingdom.
What did He mean by "one of these least commandments"? The rabbis had traditionally divided the Old Testament law into 613 commandments-248 positive and 365 negative. Lengthy debates were held as to which were lighter (less important) and which were heavier. There were two things wrong with this: they made these distinctions in order to disregard some laws (cf. Matt. 23:16-24) and they had no divine authority for their divisions (cf. Deut. 29:29). Jesus Himself, while refusing to recognize the traditional distinctions of the scribes, did teach that some laws of God were of greater import than others (Matt. 22:34-40; 23:23; Mk. 12:28-34). We all realize, as a common and simple principle of justice, that some laws are weightier than others.

6. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
Defined by Jesus Christ. His segue to Matthew 5:21-48 … as Jesus addresses standards of righteousness in His kingdom in regards to:
Anger (verses 21-26)
Lust (verses 27-30)
Marriage (verses 31-32)
Oaths/commitment (verses 33-37)
Revenge (verses 38-42)
Love (verses 43-48)
“And things like these … such things” (Galatians 5:21, 23)
What did He mean by "one of these least commandments"? The rabbis had traditionally divided the Old Testament law into 613 commandments-248 positive and 365 negative. Lengthy debates were held as to which were lighter (less important) and which were heavier. There were two things wrong with this: they made these distinctions in order to disregard some laws (cf. Matt. 23:16-24) and they had no divine authority for their divisions (cf. Deut. 29:29). Jesus Himself, while refusing to recognize the traditional distinctions of the scribes, did teach that some laws of God were of greater import than others (Matt. 22:34-40; 23:23; Mk. 12:28-34). We all realize, as a common and simple principle of justice, that some laws are weightier than others.

7. Righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees
“You have heard it said” – refers to the oral law established. Jesus didn’t say “you have read”!
Jesus often went back to the original language of the Law; verse 27; Exodus 20:14)
Sometimes Jesus referred to what was not in the Law; verse 43; hating your enemies found nowhere in the Law.
In both instances, Jesus responded with His authoritative teaching re: righteousness in His kingdom.

8. Anger – Matthew 5:21-26
“You have heard that the ancients were told ‘you shall not commit murder.” (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)

9. Anger – Matthew 5:21-26
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”