Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount: Exceeding Righteousness (6)

Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Sing joyfully Psalm 19.12-14.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

Read Matthew 5.1-48; meditate on verses 38-48.

Prepare.
1. What is necessary to enter the Kingdom of heaven?

2. Did Jesus think the scribes and Pharisees had what it takes to enter the Kingdom of heaven?

Meditate.
Righteousness is about being like God – like Jesus, Who is all righteousness. They who hunger and thirst after righteousness long to be perfect, as God their Father is perfect (v. 48). They will seek to learn what righteousness requires of them in every area of their lives, keeping their natural – and sinful – inclinations in check as they submit to the Law of liberty and love in God’s commandments.

Thus, they will not allow their hearts to make them vengeful, nor to bear a grudge (vv. 38, 39). Instead, they will exercise patience and generosity (vv. 40-42) toward those who mistreat or take advantage of them. The “eye for an eye” provision of God’s Law is not hereby nullified; justice must be served for righteousness to obtain in any society. In courts of law, retribution and restoration are still legitimate applications of justice. Jesus is speaking here more of matters of personal insult and injury. We must be willing to be wronged, but not allow wrongs done to us to deter us from patience and generosity. Jesus Himself would demonstrate just how far the righteous must be willing to go in satisfying the perfect demands of God. Persevering in righteousness is more important than “getting even”, holding grudges, clinging to fading material possessions, or resisting inconveniences.

In case the teaching of verses 38-42 was not sufficiently clear, Jesus continues by saying we must love our enemies and bless those who do us ill (vv. 43-45). This, after all, is what God the Father does – and aren’t we glad about that! Mercy and grace are the chief byproducts of a heart disciplined for righteousness, and, as God the Father shows us, we may not withhold these from anyone.

If we love only because we expect something in return, we’re no better than the unbelievers (vv. 46, 47). The love that Jesus enables goes way beyond what people experience in this world. It demonstrates a new kind of existence, and new realm of authority and power, and a new agenda for glorifying God. Christians are not perfect, but we must never cease striving to improve toward perfection, for thus we increase in the righteousness of God and of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflect.
1. We are not naturally inclined to the kind of love Jesus describes here, because of the law of sin that is at work within us still (Rom. 7.21-23). How do you see this law of sin at work in yourself?

2. What kinds of things get in the way of our showing love like the Father’s (Jesus suggests several things in vv. 38-42 and 46, 47)?

3. What are some ways that you can see God’s love for all people? How does this encourage you in your relationships, roles, and responsibilities?

The Lord has shown that we cannot have the good work of perfect love if we love only those from whom in turn we know the return of mutual love will be paid in kind. For we know that love of this sort is common even to nonbelievers and sinners. Hence the Lord wishes us to overcome the common law of human love by the law of gospel love, so that we may show the affection of our love not only toward those who love us but even toward our enemies. Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 21.2.1

Let Your love guide, fill, and use me today, O Lord, as I…

Pray Psalm 19.1-11.
Jesus is the light of every new day, shining like the sun to guide us along His path. Recommit yourself to reading, meditating in, and obeying the Law of God, and thank Him for this great gift of love, that shows you how to love Him and your neighbor (Matt. 22.34-40).

Sing Psalm 19.1-11.
Psalm 19.1-11 (St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The heav’ns declare God’s glory, the skies His work proclaim!
From day to day and night by night they shout His glorious Name!
No speech, no words, no voice is heard, yet all across the earth
the lines of His all-present Word make known His holy worth.

Behold, the sun arises, a bridegroom strong and bright,
rejoicing as he runs his course from morning unto night.
From east to west across the skies his circuit he completes,
And none can hide their sinful eyes or shelter from his heat.

The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

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).