A Killer's Heart
Date: 6 September, 2015
Text: Matthew 5:21-26
Title: But I Say Unto You
Theme: Jesus look internally where the law looks externally.
Introduction:
We ended last week with Jesus defense of the law.
- He had come to fulfill the law.
- Not the smallest marking would be removed.
- Believers who despise his law on earth will be lowly in the kingdom of Heaven.
- Those who exhalt his laws on earth would be exhalted in the kingdom of Heaven.
- But, keeping the law is not the way to righteousness.
ill. Witnessing to a young lady in Princess St. Gardens this week and asking her if she had ever sinned. She said, "No, I never sin" she said proudly. I said, "So you are right and the Bible is wrong?"
Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ro 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
JESUS is going to expound on this subject in this part of His Sermon on the Mount. He is going to show that where the law dealt with externals, THE LAW GIVER (JESUS) IS GOING TO DEAL WITH INTERNALS.
I. Example 1: Thou Shalt Not Kill.
A. The law deals with externals.
1. This was a historic position.
21 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,
exp. He is going back over 1300 years ago to Mt. Sainai and Moses. The children of Israel have come out of Egypt after 400 years of bondage. They are led by God as a pillar of fire and a pillar of smoke. They have a human leader Moses who is God's voice to them.
Ex 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
exp. Moses had a very special relationship with God as His spokesman.
Ex 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.
quest. How did God give his law to Moses and the children of Israel?
a. With an aweful realization of His power.
Hebrews 12:18 ¶ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
question: Have you ever been in awe of a storm? Last year this month we were up in MI. We had an awesome lightning storm pass through. I was watching the storm upon the water and marveled at the awesome POWER OF GOD. Can you imagine if that experience was accompanied by trumpets, a powerful voice, and fearful commands. (Don't go near it or you will die - even animals.)
exp. God helped the people physically by putting them in fear of Him. How is that?
ill. Job - Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Solomon - Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
app. One of the great problems of our generation is that they don't fear God - AND THEY SHOULD. Ps 36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
note: Because they don't fear God they transgress his laws not realizing the HORRIBLE consequences. (They are damned already.)
b. With an awesome realization of His presence.
Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
exp. God's law is still as applicable today as it was over 3,000 years ago when it was given. Why? Because it is from God. If it was just from men, it would change. But, it has stood the test of time. What did it say?
2. Do not murder.
Thou shalt not kill;
exp. This law actually was given thousands of years before this in Genesis as recorded later by Moses.
Ge 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
ill. The first murder took place in the first family. Adam's son killed his brother.
Ge 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
3. If you murder, you will be in jeapardy of judgment.
and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Numbers 35: 16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.
22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
exp. People will agree or disagree with corporal punishment. However, nobody would say that a murderer should go free. All of us would raise our voice in anger against the injustice of setting free a person who has taken someone's life.
ill. Reading the statement from a family who had a child murdered, "You have robbed us...."
note: You can't steal this and give it back. It is a horrible crime of irreplacable consequences.
B. Jesus SAYS mankind has murder in their hearts.
22 But I say unto you,....
exp. He who knows man's hearts is going to reveal the root of murder.
1Sa 16:7 ....for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
exp. Jesus isn't just concerned with murder. He is concerned about the source of murder.
1. Unreasonable anger is murderous.
That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:
question: Was Able worthy of death because he obeyed God and offered an acceptible sacrifice? Notice that the seed of unreasonable anger bred the act of murder.
question: Have you ever read about why someone murdered someone and said, "You're kidding." (You have to check to make sure you didn't someone get a fake newspaper or blog post.)
ill. Tyler Blansett killed his mum, Sherry Blansett, because of an argument over his grades a the university of Alabama.
app. Have you ever gotten really upset over something really stupid? Careful. Unreasonable anger comes from a murderous heart. God says that when that creeps into our hearts we are in danger of the judgment. (Same words as those used for committing the crime of murder.)
2. Name calling is murderous.
and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:
exp. Raca was an armaic term meaning "Empty One." Believer's Bible Commentary
saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." We all know that words do hurt. But, have you ever considered the consequences to the one who says them?
question: Does God care what I say?
Mt 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Ex 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
exp. "The council" was the Sanhedrin. They were the jewish law enforcers. If there was a murdered he would be tried by them. They could pass the sentence of death but it would have to be confirmed by the Roman Procurator.
app. Jesus audience ought to be feeling a bit convicted. They weren't murderers, but Jesus was reavealing murder in their hearts. We ought to be a bit convicted as well. Careful what you say about others, God is a witness against you. Name calling is a root of murder in our hearts.
3. Cursing anger is murderous.
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
exp. Again the Believer's Bible Commentary says, "Here the word fool means more than just a dunce. It signifies a moral fool who ought to be dead and it expresses the wish that he were." It is like our word "damn."
ill. Sadly, I have heard this more often than I care to as we live across from a pub. It is vile and it is from the Pit of Hell! There is murder in their hearts!
question: Is their murder in your heart?
Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
app. Remember what JESUS SAID? Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. Now, He is taking the searchlight of His holiness and shining it into our sinful hearts. We would say, "I'm a good person. I've not done something really bad....like murder." Or have you, have I?
C. Don't try to worship God without repenting of the murder in your heart.
1. Bringing your gift to the altar is worship.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,
exp. They want to worship God. Great! But, you can't worship God if your heart is not right with God?
ill. Saul thought worship always pleases God. HE WAS WRONG.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
exp. God didn't want external worship from a wicked heart. He wanted internal worship from a clean heart.
app. We could be in church and look externally good but outward worship does not necessarily please God.
2. The Spirit of God will remind you of your failure.
and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
exp. There is something about walking into the presence of a Holy God that reveals problems in our sinful hearts.
ill. Spending a week in the Boundary Waters. I felt pretty clean until we went into a restaraunt to eat. The cleaner the environment the more our uncleaness is revealed.
app. When God reminds you of filth that needs to be taken care of, you need to obey.
3. Leave and get right, then serve God.
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
ill. Jewish translator that worked for James Stewart in his meetings in Europe. He disappeared for a few days and Missionary Stewart was upset with him. But, he had been convicted of wrongs and he had to go and get them right.
app. God wants you to worship him. But, before you do, he wants you to deal with your heart.
D. Deal with your sin before it condemns you.
exp. Some people in the congregation on that mountain were still sitting there and they should have gotten up to go make things right. (By the way, I've heard of times when people have gotten right in the middle of a service.)
app. If you are not right with your parents, you need to get right. siblings - get right. neighbors - get right. friends - get right. Why?
1. If not, they were in danger of judgment.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
exp. You won't get away with your disobedience to God's command to get right. They will condemn you before the judge someday.
ill. Getting in trouble at work and having to humble myself to apologize FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST.
app. It may not be all my fault, but I am probably ALWAYS partly at fault and I ought to be humble enough to get right - or face God someday about my proud unrepentant heart.
2. If not, they were in danger of punishment.
and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
exp. Once you get to the judge, there is punishment coming.
question: Have you ever faced a judge?
ill. I feel bad for those who make foolish decisions that rob them of the rest of their lives. This young man that murdered his mother over his grades, should have dealt with murder in his heart. Because he didn't, it festered and he is going to reap extreme punishment and his life is in shambles.
app. You can't harbor sin in your heart and not suffer for it. God, the righteous judge, will not spare if you enter into His courts unrepentantly.
3. When judgment comes it is EXACT. (NO MERCY.)
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
exp. There comes a point where it is too late to repent and ask for mercy.
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
ill. The rich man in hell wanted to be comforted with a drop of water from the filthy hand of the leprous beggar Lazarus. But, it couldn't be given.
app. Don't think that you can get away with the murder in your heart. If you aren't right with someone, the best thing you could do is go get right and then come and worship God with a clean heart.
conclusion: Are you trusting in your goodness to get you to Heaven? After all you have never murdered someone? Or have you?
1.) Have you ever been UNREASONABLY angry with someone?
2.) Have you ever called someone a name?
3.) Have you ever curesed someone?
Those are the roots of murder in your heart and the Holy God sees it for what it is? Won't you humble your heart today and get right with God and right with others?
II. Example 2: Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.
A. The obvious reading of the law.
27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
ill. Woman taken in adultery.
note: REMEMBER WHAT WE SAID ABOUT MURDER - You can't steal this and give it back. It is a horrible crime of irreplacable consequences.
B. But, sin begins in the heart.
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
James 1: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
C. Sin in whatever form needs to be dealt with severely.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
