Matthew Study 5: 5:13-42

Dear Student of the Word,

Time marches on, and so does our study of Matthew. This week we continue with a study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught His disciples how to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and religious leaders. This teaching must have taken the breath away of the listener, for Jesus moved them from the matter of external sin to internal matters of the heart.

This week I wrote:

Matthew 5:38-42 -- What did Jesus intend to do when He issued these statements?

1. Christians are to be different. They are to have different standards of behavior, especially when their rights and property are concerned.
2. Christians are to put their ultimate trust in God to protect their rights and property.
3. Christians are not to exert undue effort in maintaining their rights.
4. Christians are not to take their standards for justice from their culture but from God’s word.
5. Jesus was establishing the groundwork for His disciples to understand how He was going to respond when the Jews and Romans wronged Him.
6. Jesus was not asking His followers to do anything that He was not willing to do and model.

Those last two points are important, for Jesus modeled what He wanted His disciples to be during His own life and death. Perhaps it is proper to ask, when confronted with a tough choice of how far to go to defend yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Where do you need to ask and answer that question in your life today?

Feel free to add your comments to this week's study. You can do this and find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy and Mark's gospel on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Download this week's study: Matthew Study 5.doc

Comments

[Sandy]

In your study on Matthew, what do you mean that Christians are not to spend too much effort defending their rights? How did you extrapolate this from Jesus' sermon?
Blessings,

[John Stanko]

That's just it. Those directives are so vague, just like my interpretation -- what is "too much time" ? what are the rights we defend and when do we "turn the other cheek"? For anyone to feel that they have the ultimate or right interpretation here is just plain crazy. Applying these principles requires tough decisions that are both personal and highly subjective.

However, what prompts me to even raise this is what Jesus said:

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:25-26).

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:38-42).

Hope this helps. Write back if not.