1. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 5 – 7
Study VI

2. Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)

3. This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).

4. This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” KJV

5. This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
This 3rd contrast (about divorce) follows the 2nd (about adultery).
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” KJV
See a fuller exposition on divorce in Matthew 19:3-9.

6. Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
The Pharisees were preoccupied with the grounds for divorce; Jesus with the institution of marriage.

7. Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
The Pharisees were preoccupied with the grounds for divorce; Jesus with the institution of marriage.
The Pharisees called Moses’ provision for divorce a command; Jesus called it a concession to the hardness of human hearts.

8. Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
Note how Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees:
The Pharisees were preoccupied with the grounds for divorce; Jesus with the institution of marriage.
The Pharisees called Moses’ provision for divorce a command; Jesus called it a concession to the hardness of human hearts.
The Pharisees regarded divorce lightly; Jesus took it so seriously that, with only one exception, he called all remarriage after divorce adultery.

9. Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV

10. Moses emphasized that vows were sacred:
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
Moses emphasized that vows were sacred:
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7, the third commandment).
“You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God” (Lev. 19:12).
“When a man vows a vow to the Lord,…he shall not break his word” (Nu. 30:2).
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be slack to pay it” (Deut. 23:21).

11. Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
Note how the Pharisees shifted attention away from the vow itself to the formula used in making the vow.

12. Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
Note how the Pharisees shifted attention away from the vow itself to the formula used in making the vow.
They said that the law did not prohibit taking the name of the Lord in vain, but taking the name of the Lord in vain.

13. Thus, “false swearing” meant profanity, not perjury.
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
Note how the Pharisees shifted attention away from the vow itself to the formula used in making the vow.
They said that the law did not prohibit taking the name of the Lord in vain, but taking the name of the Lord in vain.
Thus, “false swearing” meant profanity, not perjury.

14. Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
Jesus expressed his contempt for this pharisaic doubletalk in Mt. 23:16-22.

15. If swearing is forbidden, why has God himself used oaths in Scripture?
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
If swearing is forbidden, why has God himself used oaths in Scripture?

16. If swearing is forbidden, why has God himself used oaths in Scripture?
Study VI
A Christian’s Righteousness Part III: faithfulness in marriage and honesty in speech (Matthew 5:31-37)
“Again you have heard…do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” NIV
If swearing is forbidden, why has God himself used oaths in Scripture?
If swearing is forbidden, is the prohibition absolute?

17. End of Study VI