Sermon and Scripture Slides

February 16, 2014

Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:21-37

21“You have heard that it was said

to the people long ago,

‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders

will be subject to judgment.’

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry

with his brother will be subject to

judgment. Again, anyone who says to his

brother, ‘Raca’ is answerable to the

Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,

‘You fool!’ will be in danger

of the fire of hell.

23“Therefore, if you are offering

your gift at the altar and there

remember that your brother has

something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the

altar. First go and be reconciled to your

brother; then come and offer your gift.

25“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.

26 I tell you the truth, you will not get

out until you have paid the last penny.

27“You have heard that it was said,

‘Do not commit adultery.’

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks

at a woman lustfully

has already committed adultery

with her in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin,

gouge it out and throw it away. It is

better for you to lose one part of your

body than for your whole body to be

thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to

sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is

better for you to lose one part of your

body than for your whole body to go

into hell.

31“It has been said,

‘Anyone who divorces his wife must

give her a certificate of divorce.

32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces

his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness,

causes her to become an adulteress, and

anyone who marries the divorced woman

commits adultery.

33“Again, you have heard that it was

said to the people long ago,

‘Do not break your oath, but keep the

oaths you have made to the Lord.’

34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all:

either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 or by the earth,

for it is his footstool;

or by Jerusalem,

for it is the city of the Great King.

36 And do not swear by your head,

for you cannot make

even one hair white or black.

37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’

and your ‘No,’ ‘No’;

anything beyond this

comes from the evil one.

New Rules

Matthew 5:21-37

February 16, 2014

Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

We have a glimpse of what it is like in

The Kingdom of Heaven

now we get to see the Kingdom of Earth

and how we get in trouble!

The Great Commandment:

“ Love the Lord Your God with all your strength, all your soul, with all your being and Love your neighbor

as yourself!”

Sin

• Anything that breaks

the Great Commandment

• ie. Anything that separates us from God or each other or causes us not to feel good about ourselves

• We sin by choice

Evil

• Evil is outside us

• Anything that tempts us to make a decision to sin

• Why we ask to be kept from temptation

There are no degrees of sin

• You do or do not

• Thinking about doing something leads to action

• When we think about sinning that is evil

Examples

• Few would think about committing murder but many get angry – Anger often results in the desire to harm another

• Particularly when allowed to fester

• Don’t provoke others, it makes them angry – It leads to evil action and revenge

• Reconciliation and compromise leads to peace

• Defending an indefensible position leads to anger or underestimation

Examples

• Few would think about committing adultery

– Many don’t think twice about looking and/or imagining lustfully

• Particularly if you do it more than once

• Jesus understands the power of the mind as a tool of evil

– Why pornography is so powerful

• The word for adultery in Greek is porneia

We need to separate ourselves from Evil

• If our hand or eye causes us to sin, it is evil

– Our computers??!

• Which would you rather have happen, lose a body part for a few years here on earth or spend and eternity separated from God?

Divorce

• Divorce is a combination of much of what Jesus just talked about

• Obviously an issue for Jesus and Matthew

– Two discourses in Matthew

• Divorce is by definition sinful

– Separation from others

– Makes us feel bad about ourselves

– Causes anger and resentment

Divorce

• Not just legal action – That is the first part

• Simple in Jesus time

• Simple in our time

– The legal action is only the final evidence of the breakdown

• Jesus is talking about the breakdown of the relationship

Don’t let it happen!

Divorce

• Results are painful and destructive

– For us

– Particularly for children

Divorce and Adultery

• For Jesus the legal document does not end the marriage – It is for life

– What God has joined let no human break apart • Question of has God really joined some couples together or

is it just permission by the state to sleep together – Which is why marriages are declining

• Therefore the marriage still exists and adultery is committed

• What we call divorce Jesus calls legal separation

Divorce and Adultery

• Forgiveness is available as with all sin

– Repentance is particularly necessary

• Not repent of the new marriage (ie divorce our new spouse) but remember

– Genuine attempt not to have it happen again

• Best if you don’t remarry

• If you do you must work hard at it and never forget what caused the first one

Oaths

• If you are a person of integrity and you have a reputation as one, there is no need

• Don’t pledge something that is not yours

• Don’t make God a cosigner without permission

• We are always subject to sin

– We have no right to implicate God

– Church accused of hypocrisy

Oaths

• If you are going to take an oath it becomes a covenant and therefore unbreakable

– Only replaceable by something better

• Which means if you are going to bind something, bind it in blood and then be willing to shed it if necessary

That is the point

• Jesus made a covenant

• Jesus was willing to die to see it realized

• Because of that we do not need to be afraid of evil or despair in our sin

What if we covenant to stay away from evil,

to do our best to join together by serving God and others

and therefore feel good about ourselves?

In other words, commit to doing our best to live up to

the Great Commandment and is so doing bring

the Kingdom of Heaven a little closer!