Matthew 5: Jesus Teaches us a Better Way

 

Matthew 5: Jesus Teaches us a Better Way

There are many who still believe in following only the laws of Moses.  However, beginning with Matthew 5:17 clear through the rest of the gospels, Jesus makes it clear that He has come to teach a better and more detailed way.

Notice how often Jesus says, "Ye have heard that..." and follows up with, "But I say to you..."  

Jesus is not saying all the laws are wrong (although the majority have been replaced by the laws of Jesus Christ and not of man - with the exception of the Ten Commandments), but He has "come to... fulfill" the laws by teaching more about love, forgiveness, and patience than about ritual and revenge.  Jesus wants us to do things His way out of repentance and also out of love form Him and others.  His ways are laws of compassion and not merely of duty.

A Few Examples:

(Matthew 5:21-22) Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

(Matthew 5:27-28) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

(Matthew 5: 31-32) It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

(Matthew 5:33-34) Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

(Matthew 5:38-39) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

(Matthew 5:43-46) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, andhate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Matthew 5:14-16

 

(Matthew 5:14-16) "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 4: 1-11: The Temptation of Jesus

 

Matthew 4: 1-11: The Temptation of Jesus

When Jesus was "led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil," He was fully prepared.  He did not need to call on angel armies to force the devil to flee.  Instead, Jesus was fully armed with the words of His Father.  He rebuked the devil by quoting scriptures.  He battled Satan with wisdom.

We must also know the words of scripture so intimately that we can always cause the devil to flee by quoting it.  

James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  Of course, submitting to God and His holy ways is the key!

May I always be armed enough to cause the enemy to flee!

(Matthew 4:1-11) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 

And when the tempter came to Him, he said," If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

But He answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto Him, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him," All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.