Believers Are Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Salt burns if it gets into a wound. Christians are to take the commands of God and to share them with the World. If they strike a nerve it will be like salt in a wound. The lost will not enjoy having their sin highlighted to them and will often lash out in response.
We have the gospel of Jesus Christ, the light of the World. We as believers are not to hide our knowledge of the Light under cover. We are not to be chameleons and to blend in, rather, we are to get to the highest point where everyone can see us and proclaim the truth of the gospel.
We are to behave in righteousness and not continue in the ways of the World. This is so that Christians are seen as being trustworthy people who keep the Law of God. People who have love and share their love with all mankind.
Christ Fulfills the Law
17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Here Jesus is saying that he did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it. The Law is enduring and Heaven and Earth pass away the Law will not change at all. The scribes and pharisees need to be aware of the danger of changing even the least aspects of the Law for if they do so they shall be called the least in Heaven. Whereas, those exult the Law shall be called great in the Heaven Jesus is indicating that we need to aim to more that just fulfill the Law but rather make it out heartfelt endeavor to honor God through continual obedience to his will and achieving the ultimate level of fulfillment of the Law.Murder Begins in the Heart
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Christ Jesus here brings to the attention of those who would consider themselves righteous to the actual standards by which God judges their actions. To have anger against another is abhorrent to God and to abuse your brother is serious enough to bring you before the courts in the view point of God. To call your brother a fool is serious enough to bring danger of ending up in Hell itself.
So Christ Jesus, advises us to put right our personal grievances with those whom have transgressed against us before we make our gift to God. If you owe someone then pay him quickly before he seeks legal action against you and you are put in jail for what you owe him. Guard your heart and watch over your conduct carefully so that your life may be in accordance with the precepts of God.
Adultery in the Heart
27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
So, to look upon another person with lust is to commit the sin with them even though there is not physical action only a mental one. If you cannot control the members of your body that lead you into sin then Jesus suggests it is better to rid yourself of those physical members than to let the members of your body lead you into Hell Fire for Eternity. He tells you clearly here that this is possible?
Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
31“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Jesus is speaking to the Jewish practice to divorce your wife by giving her a certificate of divorce. You can imagine how this was used against older women by men seeking to get younger and more attractive wives. He was speaking to this terrible practice in the eyes of God and telling the religious leaders that in reality when they divorced their wives they pushed them into sin and the person who formed a new relationship with the divorced woman was pushed into sin as well. Not to mention the fact that we are to have one wife for life and if we divorce her in favor of someone else we are also committing adultery.
Jesus Forbids Oaths
33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Jesus says here that in plain and humble speech we should conduct our lives. He says that of all the various types of oath that were countenanced in the Old Testament. We should do away with all of them. Neither swear to anyone nor swear by anything. Just be truthful to those around you and let your “Yes be yes,” and your “No be no.”
Go the Second Mile
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Here Jesus speaks of ultimate forgiveness
and ultimate generosity. He advises you that, whatever your neighbor
does to you. You should always forgive your neighbor and be prepared
to allow your neighbor to have what it would seem to others to be
completely foolish for you to give them. Always go the extra mile and never shrug from generosity.
If someone is violent toward you them allow them to be even more violent if that is what they intend to do. Make peace at all costs in order to keep the peace. Give vengeance to the Lord and make no effort to take revenge on anyone. Total forgiveness on your part and complete sovereignty on the part of God.
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
This is God’s Law of Love based around the great commandment of Mark 12 verses 29 – 31 “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Love God with all that are and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Pray for those who persecute and hate you and bless those who curse you. In this way the Kingdom of Heaven is spread abroad in the World and in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth – Jesus the Son of Man – Jesus the Son of God – Jesus the Messiah – Immanuel – God who is with us. That the World might know who we are and to whom we belong – Yahweh Elohim!
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