1. Matt. 5:21-48

2. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
I. CONTEXT
A. Jesus was preaching the Gospel (Matt. 4:23).
B. In The Context Of Living Under The Old Law (Matt. 5:17-20).
C. Thus, He Addresses The System Of Interpretations By The Scribes & Pharisees (Matt. 5:20).
a. “Hate thine enemy” (Mt. 5:43)?
b. Doing righteousness before men (6:1ff).

3. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
II. “Thou Shalt Not Murder…” (5:21-26)
A. The Rule Addresses A Specific Action – But Contains A Deeper Principle.
1. Murder.
2. Anger without cause (cf. Eph. 4:26; Mk. 3:5).
3. Raca = Expression of contempt, denoting senseless, stupid, shallow-brains.
4. Fool = more than lack of wisdom, the highest guilt, idolaters (Deut 22:21) and those guilty of great crimes.

4. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
II. “Thou Shalt Not Murder…” (5:21-26)
B. HATRED equivalent to MURDER.
1. Hate - motive behind murder (1Jn.3:11-15).
2. Tied to bitterness, wrath, anger, grievous yelling, evil speaking (Eph. 4:31).
3. Results in:
a. Defilement of self & others; loss of peace (Heb. 12:14-15).
b. Judgment by earthly rulers (Mt. 5:22).
c. Judgment by God (Mt. 5:23).

5. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
II. “Thou Shalt Not Murder…” (5:21-26)
C. The Solution To Transgressions (5:23-26).
1. Recognize your own faults (5:23). Easy to focus on others… hardest to look at self.
2. Do not think God will accept you without humility & repentence toward your fellow man (5:24)!
3. AGREE quickly, don’t let pride or anger turn this into further conflict (5:25)!
4. Understand you DESERVE consequences (5:26)!

6. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
III. “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery…” (5:27-32)
A. The Rule Addresses A Specific Action – But Contains A Deeper Principle.
1. Adultery.
2. Look to lust in heart (2 Sam. 11:2ff).
3. Seriousness of all sin (5:29-30).
4. You can be guilty of CAUSING another to commit adultery (5:32)!

7. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
III. “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery…” (5:27-32)
B. Hold Marriage In Honor (Heb. 13:4)!
1. Don’t Commit Adultery.
2. Don’t Lust After Others.
3. Don’t Commit Fornication.
4. SUCH IS NOT HONORABLE!

8. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
IV. “Thou Shalt Not Forswear…” (5:33-37)
A. The Rule Addresses A Specific Action – But Contains A Deeper Principle.
1. Breaking Oaths To The Lord (Dt. 23:21).
2. What of promises to men (Lev. 19:11-13)?
3. Don’t use “loop holes”.
4. JUST MEAN WHAT YOU SAY!
5. Anything else is “of the evil one” or “evil” (5:37; cf. 1 Tim. 5:11-12, 15).

9. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
V. “An Eye For An Eye…” (5:38-42)
A. Rule Is Against Personal Revenge (Ex. 21:22-25).
Yet Commonly Used To Justify Revenge.
B. Suffering Is Better Than Revenge!
1. Resist not (Acts 22:25; 25:11).
2. Turn other cheek (Jn. 18:22-23).
3. Give the more costly cloak (1 Pet. 2:18-23).
4. Go 2nd mile (rather than resist public authority, go peaceably twice as far).
5. Give to them that ask (2 Th. 3:10).

10. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
VI. “Love Thy Neighbor, Hate Thine Enemy…” (5:43-48)
A. Love (Lev. 19:18) & “Hate” (Dt. 23:6).
B. BUT Jesus Says:
1. Love your enemies.
2. Pray FOR them that persecute you.
3. Greet them.
4. Be sons of God, Be mature spiritually.
5. Parable of good Samaritan (Lk 10:27-37).

11. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES (MATT. 5:21-48)
CONCLUSION:
A. God’s rules give us PRINCIPLES to live by!
1. Principle of authority.
2. So that we can make correct application & abide in truth!
B. God expects us to BE SPIRITUALLY MATURE in day to day living.
1. “That you may be sons” (5:45).
2. “Ye therefore shall be perfect…” (5:48).
MEASURE YOURSELF BY THIS!