Anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation and loving our enemies — these are the 6 antitheses that Jesus picks up in Matthew 5. The formula is “you have heard that it was said” and then Jesus goes to explain a bit more. He is dealing with the Pharisaical expansions to the law. Jesus also typically gets to the heart of the Old Testament law. When he does it, it should make us sense the ethical burden of this law. If we understand the heart of the OT law, we will see the need of the gospel.
(A) Faithful people (Matt 5:33-37)
In this section, we will examine the second set of three “you have heard” statements in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus references the Old Testament commands that states that they were not to swear falsely (Matt 5:33) but the people seemed to swear by heaven, earth, by their head or by Jerusalem.
To swear and to make an oath is an incredibly powerful thing! In making the oath, the individual binds himself or herself to that person and is committing the future version of yourself to the present version of the other. Thus, there is a sacred, binding character to an oath, and it is not one that we should enter into easily. Yet, the Israelites tried to get around the command not to swear flippantly by God’s name (and to tarnish His name) by swearing on everything else.
How does Jesus transform the command made here? In Matthew 5:34-37, Jesus points out that the whole point is that we are to never break any oaths when we make it! The whole earth is the Lord’s! Heaven is the throne of God and earth is His footstool. Their head is not theirs either, for they cannot make their own hair white or black
Jesus is saying that people of God should be known for their faithfulness! They should be known for their binding promises. Woe to the Pharisees for playing with words. Are you known for the promises you make? Do people know you to be the kind of Christian who is a person of your word?
If you are married, those are binding promises that you have made, to forgive, bear with, be faithful to your spouse. If you are church members, you have promised that these are God’s members that you have committed yourself to. Are you faithful in church, faithful in prayer, committing, tithing? Are you known for the promises you make?
Are you faithful to your employer? Do you keep your promises and deliver the work you’ve said you will? Are you faithful to your children and friends? When you say you’ll pray for them, do you? When you invite someone to meet up or grab a coffee, do you follow through?
Every word spoken from our lips reflect whether or not we believe God’s teaching. Let your promises be kept!
(B) Forgiving people (Matt 5:38-42)
Jesus also spoke on the Old Testament teaching, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (c.f. Exo 21:24). By the time of Jesus, the Pharisees had abused and twisted here to justify retaliation (Matt 5:39-42).
Before we dismiss the initial Old Testament law completely, let us consider what happens if this rule is not in place? The society will not be ruled by justice. Lamech’s proclamation in Genesis 4:23 is an example of how human sin and corruption is shown early on in Genesis. Lamech was a man of great appetite for anger and he boasted in his violence. Here in Genesis, Lamech was exacting revenge and his actions were not proportional to what he experienced — “I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me”.
Thus, the Old Testament Law sought to establish a principle of commensurate justice: fair, no more and no less. This principle is not meant to promote violence! The law is not to entitle you to vengeance, but to hold back bloodthirsty desire for a self-defined understanding of justice.
The law, properly understood, is to promote mercy and restrain violence. The sinner who calls for justice is often calling just for vindication. And our call for vindication is often just based on our flawed sense of self. The gospel transforms our heart such that we now desire true justice. True justice is always restorative.
Jesus goes on to use three instances to make His point (Matt 5:39-42). Read these verses again. Why would someone offer the other cheek? It comes from seeing no need for self-preservation. It also leads to a generous heart! It is one who is in some way, completely invincible — who sees no need to defend himself or herself. This person is also at peace and can absorb the cost.
Is this how we think about our relationships with other people? And if they hurt you, are you ready to absorb the cost? These are hard words, but Jesus is saying that those who are in His kingdom are capable of this! They understand something of themselves.
If Jesus has washed you clean and declared that you are righteous, who are you? If this identity in Christ is so secure, we have the ability to forgive others! We are empowered by the som of God to bear up the cost of forgiveness. Everything we owe has been charged to Him and we have a huge account. Understanding the gospel transforms and changes everything! We are at peace because we are so secure in what we have in Christ.
If you understand yourself to be a forgiven sinner, we can do all these things that’s written about here. People can slap our cheek, take our cloak and we can go beyond what’s required of us because we have inexhaustible riches and resources in Christ. In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus says something similar when He met “a woman of the city, who was a sinner” (c.f. Lk 7:37). She wept and washed His feet, and the Pharisees who saw it disagreed with her actions. In response to them, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (c.f. Lk 7:47). Forgiven sinners, forgive. How about you today? How do you respond to those around you?
(C) Flawless people (Matt 5:43-48)
Jesus refers to a sixth and final statement Jesus refers to. Scripture says they are to love their neighbour and hate enemy (Matt 5:43). This was from Levitcus 19:18, which said, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD”.
The Pharisees took it to mean that they are to love only those who reciprocate, and hatred of the enemy is justified. The Pharisees also added the command to “hate the enemy”! In Leviticus, it was stated plainly that they are not to execute vengeance and hate even from the heart. This is a complete abuse of the original command in Leviticus 19! The Old Testament command in fact encouraged the people to pursue peace and be committed to restoring relationships when a conflict arises.
Thus, the heart behind this principle is to pursue and preserve peace. How can we practice this today? It means that we are bound to Leviticus 19:18 in our family, church, even in our breakups. The late Timothy Keller also has a practical suggestion for us to pray for our enemies. In his book “Forgive”, he writes, “It is hard to stay angry at someone if you are praying for them. It is also hard to stay angry unless you feel superior, and it is hard to feel superior if you are praying for them, since in prayer you approach God as a forgiven sinner.”
Jesus says something similar in Matthew 5:45. Those who love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them show that they are “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.
This idea of son is not that of a biological offspring but speaks of fidelity. God shows common grace, by pouring out blessings on both Christians and non-Christians. He does not show discrimination when it comes to tsun and rain. When you see the sun and rain, remember that the Sun is given to those who love God and also to those who hate HIm; the rain is given to cool the earth to both those that recognise His rule and also those who reject it.
Thus, we have no right to only love those who love us! We are to greet not just brothers but also strangers! All this because the Father is perfect, and therefore, we are to be perfect.
Jesus also goes on to show us what falling short of His kingdom ideals look like. In Matthew 5:46-48, we see that Kingdom living is nothing short of flawless living. THis is shown in terms of love for neighbour — not only loving those who love us, but even enemies. To love those who love us is what the tax collectors can do. To greet only brothers is what even the Gentiles do. Jesus says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48)
This shows us the ethical burden of the law, the moral hypocrisy of the Pharisees and does leave us crushed because we don’t live in this way. We don’t keep our promises and we are not this forgiving! Even today, we’ve already lost our temper at those who have irritated us. This day alone, how have we failed.
These should make us think about how amazingly perfect Jesus Christ is on our behalf. Peter writes something similar in 1 Peter 1:13-21. He links our redemption to holy living. Our call, therefore, is to rest in this Jesus, who was perfect in every way and ransomed us from a way of life where we broke oaths, hated our enemies and were unable to forgive. Matthew 5 teaches us that if we add to these laws, we will be unable to keep it. Only Jesus fulfils the laws and in Him we find our righteousness and salvation.
As you read these verses, what is God saying to you today? Here are some reflection questions as we finish this study:
Are you known for being a faithful person? Why or why not?
Do you struggle with forgiveness and how does that struggle reflect an understanding or lack of understanding of the Gospel?
What have you learnt about our perfect Saviour today?