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You have heard – Matthew 5
You have heard – Matthew 5
Beginning in Matthew 5:21 we read about Jesus' discussion on various aspects of personal conduct which include
· Murder / anger - 21
· Adultery / lust - 27
· Marriage 31
· False vows - 33
· Personal revenge - 38
· Hate enemy - 43
This section is prefaced with Jesus' statement that ‘your righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees” (5:20). WHAT was their standard of righteousness like? I understand that we see Jesus showing how they ‘expounded’ the law. ‘You have heard that it was said’ is not the way of introducing an Old Testament quote but rather shows the common way of their teaching the law. They sometimes were literally correct and hence some of these quotes are from the law. The problem is that it was only correct as far as they were willing to apply it, but they are shown to miss the intent of the law.
With a strict ‘do not kill’ application of the law, you could beat a man to a pulp as long as you left him breathing, and not be guilty of transgressing this law. With adultery you could, according to a ‘strict literal’ interpretation, look and gaze and ‘wish’ all you wanted as long as you didn’t touch. Divorce? Just make sure you do the paperwork. Vows? SOME were binding, hence knowing WHICH ones you had to keep was paramount (cp. Matt. 23:16-23). Revenge? They applied that which was the criterion of the judges handing out a sentence to their own personal acts of getting even. Hate your enemy? There simply was no such law. They WERE to be separate from the people of the land, yet God legislated even that conduct. (cp. as a nation not seeking their peace or well-being in Deut. 23:3-6). To take such and apply it personally, and that to you spiritual brother, was not correct. In fact, on a personal level they WERE taught to love their enemy even under the old law - Ex 23:4, 5. Le 19:18; Psa. 7:4, 35:13-14; Pro. 25:21, 22.
In all of these we see Jesus going to the heart of the issue. That leaves us with trying to decide if these are ‘old testament laws’ and thus no longer applicable to new covenant people OR are the principles expounded by Jesus the same in both covenants? The murder/adultery theme is picked up and taught by John in 1 John XXXX. The adultery / lust concept is expounded in the straightforward teaching on marriage and sexual excess as in Gal. 5:19-21, etc. The fidelity to marriage is seen in the new covenant teaching on loving and honoring your mate (cp. Eph. 5 and Hebrews 13:4, etc.). The element of false vows is covered with ‘speak the truth’ (cp. Eph. 4:25, and James 5:12). Paul revealed the difference between personal revenge and God’s way of vengeance using the powers that be (Rom. 12 - 13). We are explicitly told to love our enemy and do good unto those who spitefully use us (study Lk. 6:27, 28, 34, 35; 23:34; Acts 7:60; Rom.12:14, 20, 21; 1 Cor. 4:12, 13; 13:4-8; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9.)
My understanding on this section is that it both expounded a much deeper understanding and application of the first covenant, while it also sets the standard for those who are in the kingdom of God.
Hugh DeLong
