Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount: Exceeding Righteousness (2)

Pray Psalm 97.10-12.
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Sing Psalm 97.9-12.
(Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King!)
All you who love the Lord, despise sin’s wicked ways!
Praise Him Who guides us by His Word through all our days.
Refrain v. 9
Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

Read Matthew 5.1-26; meditate on verses 23-26

Prepare.
1. What kind of relationships are indicated in these verses?

2. What does Jesus want from these relationships?

Meditate.
The righteousness which characterizes the Kingdom of God is real righteousness. It works from the inside-out, and goes beyond mere appearances and to bring the blessings of the Kingdom to the world. Where righteousness is at work, peace obtains, leading to joy (Rom. 14.17, 18). This is why it’s so important that Christians take their relationships seriously, and that they work, by the mercy and grace of the Lord, to maintain peace with the people in their lives.

We can’t expect our offerings – of prayer, worship, gifts, or efforts – to be acceptable to God as long as peace eludes our relationships, and there is something we should do to restore them. If we have offended a neighbor – if someone has reason to be offended by us, and we are aware of that – we must do whatever it takes to restore that relationship, so that peace can exist between us (v. 24). Jesus mentions especially a “brother”, but as peacemakers in the Kingdom, we must seek peace with all people. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have peace with everyone; but as far as we able to seek it, we must (Rom. 12.18)

And this includes even those we might regard as adversaries, as people who wish to do us harm (v. 25). The context Jesus describes sounds like a business or legal situation, which is headed to court. The one Jesus instructs to “agree” with his adversary seems to be the offender. He must try to reach agreement before legal action comes into play. We must try to do what’s right in every situation where relationships have been strained. It may not always be clear to us what steps we should take, but if we’ll wait on the Lord in prayer, He will direct our paths in the way of peace (Ps. 25.4, 5).

Peace – that overall sense of wellbeing and safety – is in short supply in our world. It takes people who hunger and thirst for righteousness to bring the peace of the Lord to relationships. We need to work hard to establish and maintain peace, especially with those who know the Lord (Eph. 4.3), for this advances the rule of the Prince of Peace on earth. Let our hearts be at peace with our neighbors, and we will know the peace of the Lord as well.

Reflect.
1. Why is righteousness so closely associated with peace?

2. Why do we have to work hard (Eph. 4.3) to keep peace among the brethren in the Lord?

3. Why is peace so much to be desired in the Kingdom of God?

He did not say, “If you have anything against your brother” but “If your brother has anything against you,” so that a greater need for reconciliation is imposed on you. As long as we are unable to make peace with our brother, I do not know whether we may offer our gifts to God. Jerome (347-420), Commentary on Matthew 1.5.23

Make me an agent of Your peace today, O Lord, as I…

Pray 97.1-9.
Where the King reigns in righteousness, His peace will obtain. Pray that Jesus will show His peace through you to the people you encounter today.

Sing Psalm 97.1-9.
Psalm 97.1-9 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King!)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! O earth, lift up your voice.
Be glad, you islands, shout and sing: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Refrain v. 9
Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

His just and righteous throne ‘mid clouds and darkness stands;
His fiery wrath consumes His foes in every land.
Refrain

Earth trembles at the sight of Jesus’ holy face;
the mountains melt before His might and praise His grace.
Refrain

The heav’ns above declare His glorious righteousness.
and tribes and peoples everywhere; His Name confess.
Refrain

While Zion gladly sings, let all be brought to shame
who to vain idols worship bring and scorn His Name.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).