Matthew 5
COMMENTARY:
: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (5526 “filled” [chortazo] means be full, satisfied, fed, content, fattened, or supply food in abundance.)
DEVOTION: Amos (8:11, 12) taught the children of Israel that there was going to be a time when they would be seeking guidance from the LORD but there would be none. People would search high and low to find someone who could give them instruction from the LORD but none would be found. Why? Because they had lived in sin until the LORD gave them over to captivity. They didn’t want the LORD in good time so HE sent them bad times, so that, they would appreciate HIS blessings.
Jesus is teaching another generation of Israelites that they need to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness or right living. They were under Roman rule and were letting society tell them what was right and wrong rather than the Word of God. The Old Testament had given them the standard for living no matter what country they were in and no matter what society was teaching.
HE wanted them to really want to learn to live by the right standard. HE was instructing them from the beginning of HIS ministry until HE died and even after HIS resurrection. HE wanted them to be satisfied with what nourishment HE was giving them.
Today it is the same. The disciples wrote to give us instruction on how to live righteous lives. They wanted all those who attended their churches to know the truth of the Word of God. They gave them the standard the LORD had given to them. Their prayers were that each generation after them would train the people to live by God’s standard and not by the standard of society. It is a problem today that many churches and pastors are trying to be Politically correct rather than Biblically correct and are teaching their congregations the same by their example and preaching. They are going to answer to the LORD for their teachings. Many will stand before the LORD at the Great White Throne Judgment and be told that they are not in the book of life but on their way to hell for eternity.
Are you and I filling ourselves with the teachings of the Word of God that lead to righteous living? Are we full yet? The answer to the last question is always going to be NO because no one has arrived at full obedience to the LORD. Once we reach full obedience we would be in heaven. Our life here on earth is one of maturity after salvation. We are to grow in the LORD daily, monthly and yearly. Do those around us see a difference in us this year compared to last year or are we satisfied with where we are at and think the LORD is satisfied as well?
CHALLENGE: Don’t lie to yourself that the LORD is satisfied with you where you are at. HE wants us to continue to press toward the mark of the high calling HE has given us.)
: 28 But I say to you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. (991 “looks” [blepo] means see, take heed, behold, to perceive with attention, see with mind’s eye or direct one’s gaze towards.)
DEVOTION: Today we find that the temptation to look at others on television or in the movies or in magazines can cause us to have unhealthy thoughts. This is not a new thing in this generation. Jesus instructed the people in his day that this could be a problem. Many women dressed to attract men even in HIS day. The disciples warned women on how to dress in church because there were those who didn’t dress the right way. They were causing men to look at them the wrong way. Many try to say that men shouldn’t even look but if a woman is dressed in an improper manner they will look. Dwelling on that look usually leads to lust which Jesus calls adultery of the heart. What can a man do today? He needs to look the other way as quick as he can. He needs to walk away. He needs to pray for the LORD to remove any improper thoughts from his mind. Is this just a male problem today? The answer is NO. Many women face the same issues with how men dress on the media they look at. They can’t dwell on pictures or images either. I have been told that young teen girls are looking at pictures that are improper on a regular basis more than young teen boys.
CHALLENGE: Our society is not concerned with keep a high moral standard but we should be in our viewing of material and thought life. God is not wrong in this warning because it can lead to real problems.
: 33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself. But shall perform to the Lord you oaths. (1964 “forswear” [epiorkeo] means to swear falsely, to knowingly tell an untruth while swearing an oath, to break an oath previously sworn, to perjure oneself, or make false vows.)
DEVOTION: Watch what you say to the LORD or to other people. Don’t give your word to the LORD or to others that you will do something and then not do it. Too often we say we are going to do something and then we forget or we just were saying it to please the person. We are not to be double minded individuals.
If we say we are going to do something we should be willing to follow up on our decision and do it. People need to be able to trust us to keep our word. God needs to be able to trust us that if we promise HIM something we are going to keep our word to HIM.
Too often when we are in trouble we will pray “Lord if you do this for me, I will….” We make a promise and then when the LORD delivers us out of that problem we forget our promise to HIM. It is better not to promise than to promise and then not keep our promise.
People in the Old Testament would vow to give something to the LORD and then not do it. Jesus is saying that this is wrong. HE gives a list of types of promises made in HIS day.
HE instructs us to let our yes be yes and our no to be no.
CHALLENGE: Try to remember this if someone asks us for something. Don’t lie. Don’t mislead. Tell them yes or no.
: 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (5046 “perfect” [teleios] means bring to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, or mature.)
DEVOTION: Christ is giving instruction to HIS disciples. HE takes them to a mountain side and start giving them their first year of training. HE starts with the proper understanding of the Ten Commandments from God’s perspective. They had to remember these instructions because there was no paper to write them down until later in their ministries.
First HE wants the disciples to realize that they can be happy or blessed in any circumstance. Too often people only feel blessed when things are going their way. That is not what the LORD taught the disciples. There are those who are poor in spirit. There are those who mourn. There are those who have to be meek. They have to show mercy to others. They have to hunger and thirst for righteousness. They are going to be persecuted. This is not the prosperity gospel. This is a gospel of suffering for their stand in the LORD. The disciples are the salt and light to the world. The world likes darkness rather than light. Why? Because their deeds are EVIL.
True disciples have to rejoice in all circumstances. True disciples have to have a righteousness that EXCEEDS the legalism of the Pharisees. They were religious but not disciples. They taught the Ten Commandments from their perspective not God’s perspective. Christ taught what they meant in everyday life.
True disciples watched their anger. We have met many individuals who say they are followers of the LORD that have an anger problem that they don’t want to deal with on a regular basis. Reconciliation is what the LORD wants between two true disciples. Too often there is a separation that lasts a lifetime.
Next HE deals with adultery. This includes, in our day, pornography. We need to watch what our eyes look at.
HE deals with divorce. This is something that is out of control in Christian circles. There is only one reason given for divorce and some question this one. Remember the LORD wants HIS true disciples to reconcile. There might be reason to separate for a while but always with the intention of reconciliation. The LORD can give everyone victory over any sin in their life, if they allow HIM too. There is only one unpardonable sin in the Word of God and that is rejection of Jesus Christ.
Next HE deals with our communication. Some people who claim Christ use some colorful language. Some even use the LORD’S name in vain. This should not be happening in a disciple’s life. Our language should be one that is pleasing to the LORD at all times. I have heard husbands say things to their wife that turns the air blue. It is wrong.
Finally HE deals with possessions. How tight do we hold on to our possessions? The LORD wants us to be willing to let go of all that we own. Some have a hard time letting the LORD have ten percent of their income each paycheck but still want the LORD to bless them. It is not the arrangement the LORD has with HIS disciples.
Christ’s goal in HIS instructions to HIS disciples is for them to mature in their faith beyond that of the religious leaders of the day. The standard is the HOLINESS of God. God is the standard that we are to try to reach. We cannot get close without the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives. HE not only teaches us today but HE gives us strength to overcome temptations.
They needed to hear this as the religious leaders of the day thought they had God’s perspective on things. They did NOT! The LORD wanted HIS disciples to be trained properly, so that, they could train future followers of HIM properly. HE wanted them to be mature in the faith before HE left the world. HE did tell them that the Holy Spirit was going to instruct them more. HE was giving the basics to get them started. They weren’t able to learn it all at once. Neither are we able to learn it all at once. The LORD does want us to strive to maturity. The Father knows it all. We can learn enough to be called mature – if we are listening. Are we listening to the LORD?
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD to help you in an area where you struggle in one of the areas mentioned in this chapter.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altarverses 23, 24
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Prophetsverses 12, 17
Lawverses 17, 18
Commandmentsverses 19, 27, 28, 33
You shall not kill ( Ex. 20: 13)
You shall not commit adultery (Ex. 20: 14)
You shall not forswear yourself
You shall love your neighbor
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Theos)verses 8, 9, 34
Father verses 16, 45, 48
Lordverse 33
Control of sunverse 45
Perfectverse 45
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
Jesus (Iesouis)verse 1
Taughtverse 2
Blessedverse 3
Fulfill the Lawverses 17, 18
Great Kingverse 35
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Judgeverse 25
Officerverse 25
Prisonverse 25
Neighborverse 43
Enemyverse 43
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Revileverse 11
Persecute believersverses 11, 12
Evilverses 11, 37, 39, 45
False witnessverse 11
Break the commandmentsverse 19
False teachersverse 19
False righteousnessverse 20
Killverse 21
Angry with brotherverse 22
Adulteryverses 27, 28, 32
Lust of the heartverse 28
Writing of divorcementverses 31, 32
Fornicationverse 32
False promisingverses 34-37
Sueverse 40
Curseverse 44
Hateverse 44
Despitefully use believersverse 44
Persecute believersverse 44
Unjustverse 45
Publicansverses 46, 47
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Discipleverse 1
Taught of the LORDverse 2
Blessedverses 3-11
Poor in spiritverse 3
Mournverse 4
Comfortverse 4
Meekverse 5
Inheritverse 5
Hunger and thirst after righteousnessverse 6
Mercifulverse 7
Pure in heartverse 8
Peacemakersverse 9
Children of Godverse 9
Persecuted for righteousnessverses 10-12, 20
Reviledverse 11
Rejoiceverse 12
Be exceeding gladverse 12
Reward in heavenverse 12
Prophetsverse 12
Saltverse 13
Lightverses 14-16
Good worksverse 16
Glorify Fatherverse 16
Do and teach the commandmentsverse 19
Righteousness exceed scribes & Phariseesverse 20
Give gifts to LORDverses 23-24
Reconcileverses 24, 25
Agree with adversaryverse 25
Perform your oathsverse 33
Proper communicationsverse 37
Resist not evilverse 39
Lend money to those who askverse 42
Love your enemyverse 44
Bless them that curse youverse 44
Do good to those who hate youverse 44
Pray for those which despitefully use youverse 44
Pray for those who persecute youverse 44
Children of the Fatherverse 45
Do goodverse 45
Justverse 45
Perfectverse 48
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Scribesverse 20
Phariseesverse 20
Jerusalemverse 35
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Heavenverses 10, 12, 16, 19, 20, 34, 45, 48
Kingdom of heavenverses 10, 19, 20
Reward in heavenverse 12
Judgmentverses 21, 22
Hell fireverses 22, 29, 30
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