Your Anger Leads to Danger!

(122) The Sermon on the Mount from the Chosen - YouTube (Mostly chapter 6)

(122) Teaching With The Chosen: Jesus Teaches the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7 - YouTube (5) (stop at 0:42)

(122) The chosen || season 2 || Sermon on the Mount. - YouTube (Jesus Entrance) (play before sermon)

(122) The Chosen series season 2 ep 8 Jesus and Matthew TALK about what to put in the BIBLE‼️ - YouTube(matthew salt of the earth)

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I (Jesus) have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ declaration that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish them, obviously contains two statements in one. There is something Jesus did and something He did not do. At the same time, Jesus emphasized the eternal nature of the Word of God.

Jesus goes out of His way to promote the authority of the Law of God. He did not come to abolish the Law, regardless of what the Pharisees accused Him of. In fact, Jesus continues His statement with a commendation for those who teach the Law accurately and hold it in reverence: “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

1) The Word is everlasting; it will outlast the natural world.

2) The Word was written with intent; it was meant to be fulfilled.

3) The Word possesses authority; even the smallest letter of it is established.

4) The Word is faithful and trustworthy; “everything” it says will be accomplished.

Consider what Jesus did not do in His ministry. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was not to abrogate the Word, dissolve it, or render it invalid. The Prophets will be fulfilled; the Law will continue to accomplish the purpose for which it was given (see Isaiah 55:10–11).

Next, consider what Jesus did do. Jesus says that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was to establish the Word, to embody it, and to fully accomplish all that was written. “Christ is the culmination of the law” (Romans 10:4). The predictions of the Prophets concerning the Messiah would be realized in Jesus; the holy standard of the Law would be perfectly upheld by Christ, the strict requirements personally obeyed, and the ceremonial observances finally and fully satisfied.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Prophets in that, in His first coming alone, He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies concerning Himself (e.g., Matthew 1:22; 13:35; John 19:36; Luke 24:44). Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law in at least two ways: as a teacher and as a doer. He taught people to obey the Law (Matthew 22:35–40; Mark 1:44), and He obeyed the Law Himself (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22). In living a perfect life, Jesus fulfilled the moral laws; in His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial laws. Christ came not to destroy the old religious system but to build upon it; He came to finish the Old Covenant and establish the New.

Object Lesson of Not to Abolish but to Fulfill (Stepping Into A New Outfit!)

So then here is an example…

Here is the law, here is Jesus fulfilling the law

Anger

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother^[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults^[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell^[e] of fire. ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶ Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.^[f]

Here, Jesus is specifically talking about the sixth commandment:

In the Old Testament, it wasn’t only the ten commandments that spoke about murder, but the Mosaic laws and rules that governed Israel said that a person who murdered someone had to appear before the court and be judged for their actions—usually leading to their death (Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 24:17; Deuteronomy 5:17). Even before that, in Genesis 9:5–6, God reminds Abraham and his family that:

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6 ESV)

This statement from God begins to get at the problem. “For God made man in his own image.” Is murder merely about an external action without any reference to the character and heart of the murderer? Without anything said about what murder is really doing, besides stopping a life. Isn’t something more at stake? What is it that lurks in the heart of someone who finally acts out in rage and kills another person? Isn’t it anger—a dark shadow across the soul of a person who finds their contempt for another so great they are willing to remove them, erase them as it were from their life? Jesus says that both murder and anger are the same—they both at their core an attack against an image bearer of God. To be angry at someone and to murder them both means we have to set aside their image bearer quality—their being a son and daughter of God—and treat them as no better than an animal or other non-spiritual being like a plant or dirt.

Jesus’s correction is that anger was always the goal of the sixth commandment. We were not meant to focus only on an external action, but see the corrupting nature of the soul when it is flooded with anger, hate, contempt. Anger is condemnable in the kingdom of God.  Jesus says it clearly:

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:22-23 ESV) 

Much has been written about these three statements. Some try to see a gradation of angers, as if you are just angry you will be judged (in court?), but if you insult you go to the council (maybe a religious court), if you say “You fool,” well, now you go to hell. It doesn’t appear Jesus is really trying to find distinctions in these levels, but rather, as a good preacher, he is making his point for his audience—his disciples—and making sure they feel the full weight of the point. Anger is condemnable no different than murder, in fact all commands against murder were pointing to the real problem, your anger. 

“You think you aren’t included,” Jesus might be imagined to be saying. “You think you are morally superior to a murderer?” Have you ever hated anyone? Have you ever wished someone were dead? Have you ever stooped to contempt, name calling, or character assassination? All these examples, and often times any time a list like this is made in Scripture, is meant to make any thoughtful person realize they cannot escape from this statement. We have all been angry, we have all insulted someone, and we have all shown outright contempt for others with our words and declarations. 

This is about our relationships with our brothers, sisters, other image bearers of God on this planet. When we conflict with one another, anger is not an option. We can be angry at sin, but not people.

Anger in personal relationships is a sign that I have forgotten that the person I am angry with is a broken image bearer of God in need of Jesus as much as me.

This person is an image bearer of God

They are made in God’s image and therefore they deserve as much respect and care as I would want to have shown to me. They are valuable to God because they bear his image so they should be valuable to me. 

This person is broken.

Additionally, they are broken, just like me. They are sinners. They and I do not image God the way we should. Even for those saved in Jesus Christ, we are still marred with sin in this lifetime.

So What Do You Do?

(122) Teaching With The Chosen: Jesus Teaches the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7 - YouTube (5) (stop at 0:42)

The first image should be striking:

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24 ESV)

Jesus puts the on us on you and me not only to not be angry, but if we ever remember someone may have a claim against us—we were angry with them—it is our duty to pursue them and seek reconciliation. This is so important, that Jesus says we are to leave our gift before the altar and go. 

The imagery here is that of someone who is in the temple. They have brought the right animal, purified themselves so they can enter the temple, the priest is readying the sacrifice before the altar. And even after that much preparation, perhaps even a long journey to even get to Jerusalem and the temple, God says reconciling with those you have wronged in anger is necessary. 

Jesus’s concern seems to be that we would value looking right on the outside instead of being right with others. The appearance of external holiness while internally we are hiding or avoiding real conversations. Going to church and Life Group and ignoring a problem with a friend. Knowing that whenever you see someone’ you have an intense feeling of frustration or anger, but never making time to talk to them directly.

You are responsible for even this! As Don Carson says: “Men love to substitute ceremony for integrity, purity and love; but Jesus will have none of it.” D.A. Carson, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, 53–54

Who do you need to run towards, even now? I would encourage you this morning, as you contemplate communion later, should you remember the grace and mercy your God has had for you and then turn and run after church today to find the person you need to talk to? Why wait? 

Do Whatever It Takes

That really is the point of Jesus’s second application comment.

“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” (Matthew 5:25-26 ESV) 

The imagery here is one of debtors court. Throughout much of history people could be thrown into jail because of the debt they owed someone. It was an extremely difficult situation because they couldn’t be released until their debt was paid, but they couldn’t work while in prison. This meant their family and loved ones had to contribute on their behalf until they were released. 

Because of the idea of getting someone released, If we rightly understand judgement and our sin, we will never be able to pay back our God for our offenses against him. An infinitely righteous God has been infinitely offended by even our smallest and most momentary sin. 

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to reconcile over anger?

To go back to someone even though it seems awkward.

 To have long conversations, many conversations?

Will you not rest until you have peace with your brother or sister?

What real changes are you willing to make? 

Conclusion

We all need a change in perspectives. Like children who have been misinformed, we need to have our vision reoriented and realigned to God and his word. We are the sons and daughters of God, those who admit their anger is the problem, not just an eventual outworking of it through murder. Those who put down others, insult them, carry internal hatred and disdain with no active participation in reconciliation are guilty of the same damning sin as the most hated murderer in prison.

Ultimately, do we really believe that everyone is made in the image of God and worthy of our love and care? Even when we feel attacked, even when it feels personal? Do we see that our Savior’s passion was not for his own personal comfort, but for the righteousness of God? And thank God he didn’t live just for his comfort, otherwise we would not have enjoyed the blessing of his cross. Praise God that he took the wrath and anger of God and instead, gave us his righteousness and mercy. We should desire to do the same. 

Summer on the Mount Series

Blessed Prosperous Happy and Abundant!!

The Sermon on the Mount comes from when Jesus was just beginning his early ministry after being baptized by John and was traveling through Galilee. On a mountainside, not far from Capernaum, Jesus stopped to give his longest and most popular sermon, giving this event the name "Sermon on the Mount." Jesus' teachings in this message include what's known as the Lord's Prayer as well as the Beatitudes. The focus of the Sermon on the Mount was how to live a life pleasing to God and the characteristics of Christian discipleship. The scriptures often associated mountains with deeper revelations of God and His Character

Abraham – Mount Moriah offers His son Isaac as a sacrifice.

Moses – Mount Sinai he receives the 10 Commandments, instructions on how to follow the Lord.

Elijah – Mount Carmel calls down fire from heaven and God responds.

So, mountains are bridges to hear form the Lord and Jesus delivers his first sermon from there!

It’s interesting in Matthew who writes to the Jews of his time convincing them that Jesus is the Christ the one they have waited for and is a better Abraham, Moses, and Elijah and speaks from a mountain where Luke’s similar sermon is from the plains.

By contrast, in Matthew the ascent of Jesus to a hillside to address his early followers is taken to ring a bell in the minds of many of the gospel’s early readers, and to recall how on an earlier famous occasion in the history of Israel a mountain was the setting for the people of God to assemble and receive from their leader the revealed law of God.

Jesus as a new Moses was presenting the new Israel with a new Torah, or divine law, from the mount, and the section containing this particular sermon of Jesus was being presented as ‘a symbolic Sinai’, 

(110) The Chosen Scene: Jesus Gives the Beatitudes - YouTube (show video at this time)

The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:1-12

5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Beatitude - Blessed Prosperous Happy Abundant

Oh how we love those words!! 

But Jesus was coming to present an upside down kingdom!!

A different attitude and way to be blessed prosperous and abundant!

Instead of list of thou shall not he uses phrase of what we should become. 

Each of these speak to who the person is and not just a checklist to follow.  Jesus teaches that it is not through wealth or power, or strict obedience to the law, it by becoming meek and lowly a peacemaker. 

It becomes who we really are and not just what we do!!

This sermon was a revelation through Jesus to His people. It served as a radical wake-up call for Christians to live wholeheartedly for God through faith, not simply through external actions of keeping the law. Our Savior used this passage to teach us how to live with the Kingdom of God in mind. The Sermon on the Mount is not simply a list of rules to follow, it is an invitation to live under grace and experience blessings and rewards from a living Christ-like. 

The Beatitudes

² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The phrase "poor in spirit" speaks of a spiritual condition of poverty. It describes the person who recognizes his or her need for God. "The kingdom of heaven" refers to people who acknowledge God as King. One who is poor in spirit knows he or she is spiritually bankrupt apart from Jesus Christ.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who humbly recognize their need for God, for they will enter into his kingdom."

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Those who mourn" speaks of those who express deep sorrow over sin and repent from their sins. The freedom found in forgiveness of sin and the joy of eternal salvation is the comfort of those who repent.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who mourn for their sins, for they shall receive forgiveness and life eternal."

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Similar to "the poor," "the meek" are those who submit to God's authority and make him Lord. Revelation 21:7 says God's children will "inherit all things." The meek are also imitators of Jesus Christ who exemplified gentleness and self-control.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who submit to God as Lord, for they will inherit everything he possesses."

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

"Hunger" and "thirst" speak of deep need and driving passion. This "righteousness" refers to Jesus Christ. To "be filled" is the satisfaction of our soul's desire.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who passionately long for Christ, for he will satisfy their souls."

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

have received great mercy will show great mercy. Mercy is shown through forgiveness, kindness, and compassion toward others.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who show mercy through forgiveness, kindness, and compassion, for they will receive mercy."

⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

The "pure in heart" are those who have been cleansed from within. This is not outward righteousness that can be seen by men, but inward holiness that only God can see. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14 that without holiness, no one will see God.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who have been purified from the inside out, being made clean and holy, for they will see God."

⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons^[a] of God.

The Bible says we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Reconciliation through Christ brings restored fellowship (peace) with God. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 says God entrusts us with this same message of reconciliation to take to others.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and bring this same message of reconciliation to others. All who have peace with God are his children."

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,

Just as Jesus faced persecution, so will his followers. Those who endure by faith rather than hide their faith to avoid persecution are genuine followers of Christ.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those daring enough to openly live for Christ and suffer persecution, for they will receive the kingdom of heaven."

¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What a way to start!

To introduce Himself!

To bring in His Kingdom!

And if we want to rule and reign with Him, we must become like Him.

Who was the ultimate example of

Who humbly recognized His need for the Father….Jesus was.

Who submitted to God in everything as we as meek…Jesus was.

Who passionately longed for righteousness….Jesus was.

Who was a peace maker…Jesus was.

Was persecuted.

Made fun.

Spit in His face.

Mocked Him.

And ultimately died.

Jesus was!!

So He preaches the very thing that he is!!

Want to be blessed, happy, abundant, and prosperous.

LIVE LIKE HIM!!