27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:27-28
Last week we introduced our new series by considering together the importance of recapturing our identity as disciples of Jesus Christ. We also considered that repentance was the foundation of being a disciple, looking at passages from Matthew 3-4 and observing that it takes courage to both recognize and confess our sin to God. This week we to think about the courage that it takes to be taught. To allow someone to teach us is to recognize that person as possessing some level of authority. This was just as true for those in biblical times as it is for us today. Before we consider the implications of Matthew 5:17-30 for our understanding of discipleship, we must first remind ourselves that God has always intended for His people to be those who are willing to be taught.
The establishing of God’s formal relationship with Israel is detailed in Exodus 19. That was not, however, the beginning of the relationship. God had made certain promises to Abraham and had come to deliver his enslaved descendants from Egypt in order that He might fulfill them. In that sense, God had already established Himself as Israel’s authority through the events of the Exodus. Nevertheless, He invited them to submit themselves to Him (Exod. 19), something they willingly did, before He taught them what it would mean for them to live as His people (Exod. 20-23).
If we consider the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) with the above in mind, we will immediately recognize both similarities and differences. First, in both cases, we have God meeting with His people on a mountain in order that they might be instructed. Next, we notice that in both cases, there is a mediator who represents God (Moses/Jesus), a group of leaders who are allowed more intimate access (Aaron & his sons and the 70 elders/the disciples), as well as those who are kept far off (the rest of Israel/the crowds). What is unique about the Sermon on the Mount, however, is that the mediator is no mere man, but is instead Yahweh Himself, teaching the people in a way that can be received by them rather than in a way that instilled fear within them.
Within our text for Sunday, we will notice that Jesus begins by stating that He has not come to abolish the Law, but instead both as the ultimate expression of the righteousness that it envisioned as well as the means by which its promises might be accomplished. His words also demonstrate His authority to teach His people in that He clearly equates Himself with Moses. Controversially, He also equates Himself with Yahweh by not simply repeating the commands, but expanding their meaning. Although He certainly affirms the commands in order to regulate the behavior or God’s people, He expands the scope of the commands and personalizes them for each individual.
For us to live as Jesus’ disciples, we must recognize His authority to teach us. We must come to Him, as did these first disciples, and give ear to the Word of the Lord in order that we might be instructed as to how we are to live as God’s people. When we do this, we will find that the righteousness that we need must exceed the righteousness that the world around us calls us to exhibit. Unless our righteousness exceeds that of those who virtue signal on social media, or those boycott or take part in marches, or those who cheer at political rallies, or those who are adamant about their political or social causes, we are not true disciples of Jesus. Thanks be to God that He sent Jesus not merely as a Teacher, but also as a Savior who would die in the place of the unrighteous in order that we might be declared righteous. More than that even, He has given to us His Spirit as the means by which we might actually live out the righteousness that is ours in terms of our position!
Join with us this Sunday as we give ourselves to the study of these things as well as to singing, prayer, and fellowship!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas