You Have Heard… But I Say…
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. – Matthew 5:21-22
Immediately after telling his followers that their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees Jesus begins to explain what he meant.
The Pharisees were good men who were trying to live out a faith that was impossible to live.
Again Jesus is showing that there is a distinction between religion and kingdom life.
The only way our righteousness can exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees is to undergo heart surgery.
The world has said, “Thou shalt not,” but Jesus has said, “Even that is not enough; you must rid your heart of all malice.”
Affirmation: I am able to keep a pure heart only by the working of Holy Spirit in me. It is the grace of God that gives me the opportunity to have a pure heart.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to keep my heart free of religion and submitted to you. Help me to have a clean and pure heart. Grant me your righteousness. In Jesus name, amen.
To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume One JUST CLICK HERE
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. – Matthew 5:21-22
Immediately after telling his followers that their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees Jesus begins to explain what he meant.
- The Pharisees taught the tradition of retribution for killing another without cause, but they did not address the cause of the murder.
- They taught judgment for murder while carrying bitterness and hatred toward others in their own heart.
- Jesus was teaching that the deed committed was no worse in the eyes of God and in the kingdom than the malice that was in the heart.
The Pharisees were good men who were trying to live out a faith that was impossible to live.
- They had so finely defined the law that there was no room for tolerance
- and their own failure to live by their standards was a glaring witness to the inadequacy of the system.
Again Jesus is showing that there is a distinction between religion and kingdom life.
- Religion sets the rules but offers nothing to enable a person to live by them while offering condemnation for those who can’t.
- In the kingdom we are given the answer; deeds come from the heart and the challenge to have a clean heart is greater than the challenge to act right.
The only way our righteousness can exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees is to undergo heart surgery.
- That is what Jesus is talking about in the Sermon on the Mount.
- All that the Pharisees were missing was a heart transplant, but it was their religion hardened heart that prevented them from seeing what Jesus was offering them.
The world has said, “Thou shalt not,” but Jesus has said, “Even that is not enough; you must rid your heart of all malice.”
- The kingdom demands what the Pharisees couldn’t offer; and what Jesus makes available to all who believe.
- Jesus was offering a pure heart which comes through being born again.
- If you have embraced Christ and still carry hatred and bitterness toward others, you may need a new touch of the Holy Spirit.
Affirmation: I am able to keep a pure heart only by the working of Holy Spirit in me. It is the grace of God that gives me the opportunity to have a pure heart.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to keep my heart free of religion and submitted to you. Help me to have a clean and pure heart. Grant me your righteousness. In Jesus name, amen.
To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume One JUST CLICK HERE
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