Beautiful Sermon

This section of the sermon belongs to the row of law and poor in spirit. It is the application of the law to the life that makes the soul aware of its poverty. Only by seeing the high standard of the goodness of God can a person recognize their poorness of spirit, motive, and behavior. In this section, Jesus raises the bar from a mere legal courtroom interpretation of behavior to an inner application to the heart. He is showing us that we might be found innocent by a judicial process or have a respected reputation in the church, but these are shallow measurements. He wants us to look deeper into our souls and higher into the universal principles. We may be legally right, but spiritually wrong. We may have acceptable behavior for society or church, but companionship with the angels in heaven requires a perfectly selfless heart towards God and people.

Eternally great law

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For truly I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)

The universe is created and maintained in such a way that only those are happy who always act in harmony with its operations and love its perfection. Any tiny bit of selfishness, like a pinhole in a boat, will flood the universe with evil. The poor in spirit sense their responsibility is infinite and they will not evade it.

From the obscuring distance of time it is easy to stereotype the scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees as cartoon villains, as if they were destined to be enemies of Jesus and of righteousness. However, they were the normal church members and leaders of their day. In their committee and board meetings they were trying to hold the nation together and protect the church from fanatics and heretics. Their main problem was not with their intentions, but with their methods.

Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. He made that statement immediately after telling us that the moral law of the universe would never change—the only law that can never change. The problem with the Pharisees was not the law, but how they used it to feel righteous. Their hypocrisy was a problem, but that was unrighteousness. Here, Jesus has a problem with their “righteousness.”

When you look at the examples of this subsection, note that they are taken from the ten commandments and from Moses‘ law. (No problem there!) Notice also that the Jews interpreted them in judicial, legal terms as if they were in a human court of law. With that method of interpretation they were able to “measure up” to attain righteousness, but it was a shallow, cold sort of righteousness. It was only behavioral and external. It was not the love that suffers long and is kind and endures all things and prays for enemies.

Unwittingly, by their “obedience” to the law they were actually breaking The Law. They had so many laws to make sure they did everything by “the book” they were actually breaking the teachings of The Book. They thought this was pleasing to God and would secure national blessings, but it displeased Him and ultimately led them to national failure.

By their earthly views and external policies, by their human efforts to secure uniformity in the church, they were cutting themselves off from the Spirit. They could not become poor in spirit, which comes only from comparing themselves to God’s law, because they were proud in spirit, which comes from comparing themselves to man-made interpretations of His law.

Law says reconcile with your brother

“You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, 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 ought against you, Leave there your gift 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 in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Truly I say unto you, You shall by no means come out from there until you have paid the uttermost farthing.” (5:21-26)

A college roommate of mine once told me that it was easy to keep the ten commandments. After all, he hadn’t murdered or stolen or other things like that. Well, things did not end well for him, because merely avoiding extreme negative behavior does not instill a pure positive attitude. He was violating the law of poor in spirit. He was looking only at superficial outward behavior. He missed the positive spiritual meaning. When the commandment says, Thou shalt not kill, then it means, Thou shalt give life. Thus, Christ points out that the slightest taking of life, physically or emotionally or spiritually, introduces death into the universe, and death itself must be eliminated.

Heaven means living for others. We can avoid murder and still be selfish, and selfishness leads to bad attitudes and behaviors, which will ultimately lead to murder, directly or indirectly. Living in heaven means heaven lives in us. We don’t seek obedience to the spiritual law merely to prevent evil behavior. If our hearts, if our way of viewing life and God, if our priorities are out of harmony with eternity, then it will kill us. We must sincerely love our brothers and sisters or heaven will crush our souls.

Law says do not lust or improperly divorce

“You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye offend you pluck it out, and cast it from you, for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand offend you cut it off, and cast it from you for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. It has been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.” (5:27-32)

The Pharisees were confident that their treatment of women and divorces were by the book. However, to adulterate means “to corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance.” Anything that comes between an honest, loving, transparent relationship between marital partners, family members, or friends adulterates that relationship. The impurity may be public or private, in the behavior or in the thoughts. The foreign substance may be sexual lust or material greed or chasing fame or plans of disloyalty and betrayal. All of those lead to behaviors that degrade and destroy the relationship, directly and indirectly. Even if certain behaviors are avoided, negative, selfish thoughts are proportionately robbing the partner of positive love. The poor in spirit begin to see that true respect for a person begins in the thoughts and feelings. The spiritual hand—the brain habits—must be cut off.

Law says do not swear

“Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not break your vow but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatever is more than these comes from evil.” (5:33-37)

To be poor in spirit is to admit one’s limitations. Humans have no power over tomorrow. We have no right to promise that which we cannot control. “Go to now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Because you know not what shall be the next day. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now you rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:13-17)

Law says turn the other cheek

“You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away.” (5:38-42)

Eye for eye is fair in a court of law, because it has the responsibility of controlling behavior and maintaining an equitable society. However, the power of retaliation and revenge is not ours personally to exercise. The kingdom of heaven is grace and grace means giving to the unworthy, ungrateful, and wicked.

Law says love all people always

“You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (5:43-48)

The legal view of life is wiped away with these final words. Those who love their enemies as our Father loves His enemies do not keep score, do not retaliate, do not put rules above people. If God treated us as we treat others, then we would all be lost without hope. The Father lives the law of heaven which says much more than be perfect in behavior. It says be perfect, be wholehearted, in your love to all people at all times. It says go beyond the measure of the legalities and do good to those that hate you, to those who are your enemies. It says to genuinely care for them. That eternal law, which is above and beyond all law and can never be destroyed, is what towers above the sinner and convinces him that he is very poor in spiritual love. The Pharisee who becomes poor in spirit now bows down and confesses the emptiness of his heart in spite of “good” behavior.

There is a new pattern in this section, “They have their reward but your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Jesus shifts the emphasis from King commanding law to a Father personally comforting His children. The theme is that true mourning is blessed with true comfort, while false humility and repentance receives only false earthly comfort.

Do your charity to God, not for publicity

“Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.” (6:1-4)

The poor in spirit give offerings to further God’s cause, not their cause. They do not consider themselves worthy of praise for doing their duty. They mourn because of all the past actions they took against the Father and His children. They are now trying to redeem the time. As they do that, their Father comforts them with the consciousness that they are doing good.

Pray to God, not for publicity

“And when you pray you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say unto you, They have their reward. But you when you pray enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not you therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.” (6:5-8)

There is a vast difference between reciting prayers versus talking with, and listening to, God as a Father. When we speak with a friend we do not use a script. Instead we interact sincerely and openly. That energizes and encourages us. This is why we find comfort in our friends. Those who repeat scripts cannot find comfort in God as a Father.

The Lord’s Prayer

“After this manner therefore pray you, Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (6:9-15)

Contrary to popular practice, Jesus did not give us this prayer for a script, but for a model. Later we will see how it contains all the principles of the Beatitudes. Praying within these principles guarantees access to God. Many people repeat this formula and take comfort that they have earned some kind of reward for themselves or for someone else, but we do not get points for scripts. Real comfort can only come from sincere two-way communication with God. Repeating words is vain.

Fast to God, not for publicity

“Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Truly I say unto you, They have their reward. But you when you fast anoint your head, and wash your face; That you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.” (6:16-18)

The hypocrite cannot possibly find comfort because they are in perpetual conflict and contradiction within themselves. Like the sun in the sky, God is continually sending forth blessings, but the hypocrite or the shallow Christian or the superficial repenter is continually turning away from those blessings, and the greatest blessing is the sincere commitment to righteousness because it brings everything else with it.

One Master, one treasure in heaven

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and material gain.” (6:19-24)

It is commonly thought that the meek are wishy-washy and easily intimidated. However, true spiritual meekness is firmly and completely committed to God. Heaven’s priorities have replaced worldly priorities. There is no god nor materialistic idols between the meek and God. There is no created thing between them and the Creator. Their eye, their spiritual window to the soul, is fixed unswervingly on the Light. Therefore, they are full of light. The conscience is clean and the life is consecrated. They are fully invested in eternity, hold nothing back, and have no reservations or backup plan. The riches of the New Earth can be entrusted to the meek and evil will not rise the second time.

Seek spiritual, not material, needs

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take you thought for clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Therefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil of it.” (6:25-34)

Because of the total commitment that they made, the meek may wonder how their earthly needs will be supplied this side of heaven. Jesus answers, Your Father will provide. We are bidden to seek first the kingdom, not only each day, but each moment. We seek first in time and first in priority. The hunger and thirst for worldly security and riches is replaced by hunger and thirst for spiritual assurance and power.

We are commanded to “take no thought.” So how can I possibly provide food, clothing, and shelter for me and my family? By believing that the kingdom of God, not my paycheck, provides these things. I work at the hospital, factory, farm, or office because God led me there by faith. My work does not guarantee me a paycheck, but my obedience through faith guarantees God is keeping me in the right place so I can receive His blessing, how little or how much it may be.

We only need to seek God’s will so we know the right thing, then He fills us with righteousness, which is the ability to do the right thing. We hunger for earthly resources only so we can satisfy our constant craving to accomplish spiritual service.

Enter in at the narrow gate

“Enter you in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” (7:13-14)

The natural world offers many ways with many distractions and temptations to encourage our selfishness and to cause us to forget God. There is only one gate to the sanctuary and one door to the holy place by which we can enter to see God. As we approach closer to the Holy One we are purified more and more. Purity enables us to approach, and drawing near Him purifies us further. The pure in heart are purified from their selfish baggage and so the narrow way is wide enough, strong enough, and joyful enough for them. When selfishness is left behind, there is plenty of room at the narrow gate for the saints to press together.

Heaven’s way is stark, barren, and unappealing only to the carnally minded. The pure in heart see truth in abundance, beauty overwhelming, and spirituality rich in variety and significance all along the narrow way. They do not feel confined. They are focused. They do not want the other ways and gates. They do not want to go down to the broad plains of sloth and temporary pleasure. They seek their own personal mountaintop experience with Christ. As they climb, the mountain narrows and guides them. They worry less and less about getting lost because they see their Goal more clearly.

False prophets known by selfish fruit

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” (7:15-23)

Most times the false prophets do not know how false they are. They are enslaved by the deceitfulness of sin and draw others into their slavery. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) They are so accustomed to the double life that they cannot discern between truth and error anymore. They misinterpret their ravenous appetites as hunger for righteousness. Nonetheless, evil fruit doesn’t purify from sin. It leads to destruction.

Peacemakers know that there is no true peace without putting God’s will above self’s will. Unity without moving forward in Christ’s mission is mere coexistence. True peacemakers are children of God seeking to save children of God. Therefore, they teach not only the ultimate and complete destruction of evil in the future, but overcoming evil by the indwelling goodness of God in the present. This is the basis of judgment, because it is this life that is reviewed to see if “the will of My Father” was done. Celebrating and praising, teaching any compromise with sin, is false fruit. The Father loves all of His children, but approves only those with good fruit.

Building on rock or sand

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (7:24-27)

In one sense, everyone is persecuted, because all suffer from the cause and effects of evil, and from the wiles of the devil. It is only the trusting and obedient Christian, though, that stands steadfast against the onslaughts of evil. Those who are founded on Christ and hidden in Christ, keep their wits together when all the external forces are trying to blow them apart. The circumstances of life in this world are trying to kill us, but we are offered all the promises and powers of heaven that we may remain true to the end.

People astonished at His doctrine and authority

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (7:28-29)

The sermon on the mount presented the same principles as the thunder on Mount Sinai. Although the people did not clearly understand all the connections at that time, they felt them. Instinctively, under the moving of the Holy Spirit, they felt they were in the presence of the same Person who spoke on that mount long ago. They trembled at that Authority as if they were at Sinai, but they also felt drawn to the Savior of the sermon. Old and new, powerful yet gentle, commanding yet wooing, they had never experienced such a blend before. They were astonished in a good way, and this glorified God.

As we look back and compare the Beatitudes with the sermon, and later look at the ten commandments, we also are astonished in a good way. That which appeared random and arbitrary is now seen to be wisely organized by a Father who knows us. His teachings are not an artificial list, but an outgrowth of His love and wisdom. And that love and wisdom astonishes and amazes us, because He could have chosen any one of many other less perfect alternatives. We bow in awe at His goodness and His decided purposes to help us. We give God glory even though we do not understand all that He teaches.