Strive for Godly Perfection - Matthew 4:17 - 7:29

The presidential campaigning is already in full swing. There are polls being taken every day to predict who the next president will be or at least who is in the lead at the given time. Sometimes these polls are remarkably accurate. There are scientifically prepared studies that are prepared to predict the behavior of rats and men under controlled circumstances that are also accurate in a high percentage of cases. Suppose such a study was conducted to compare your behavior as a professing Christian with the behavior of the average unsaved person in your community; would the results show that your life is different from that of lost people? Only you and the Lord know the true answer. However, others can judge you rather accurately by examining the fruit you bear. We should never think that we are fooling everyone all of the time.

Based on religious reports that have been made in recent years there is reason to believe that the behavior of professed Christians and unsaved people were all too similar. Based on these studies there is reason to believe that the standards of morality in the American society is declining, and the reason primarily is because of the low moral standards among professed Christians. Christians confronted with this charge against them are likely to try to defend their lack of Christ like behavior by saying, “I am just human, and every body makes mistakes.” Regardless of your age and experiences, do your STRIVE FOR GODLY PERFECTION? Are you part of the problem that causes sinners to accuse Christians of being hypocrites? If so, you have no acceptable excuse because Matthew 5: 48 tells us that we are to “Be perfect, therefore, as our heavenly Father is perfect.” We know that only Jesus Christ was perfect…without sin…but we are admonished to continually strive to be as perfect as he is perfect.

In the last lesson, September 9, we left Christ while he must have been at one of the lowest ebbs in his earthly life—without food or drink for the last forty days—without friends or supporters and all alone with Satan who proved to be the master of temptation. “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him [4: 11].” This experience was his final test of preparation for his earthly ministry. Matthew gives us both the message and ministry of Jesus—the new King—the prophesied Messiah in chapters 4 through 25. He features his sermons that show the greatest of all teachers using topical messages as they occurred from day to day and they are not necessarily in chronological order. The major topics that will be discussed are the Sermon on the Mount, his parables regarding the Kingdom and the end time and his teachings on forgiveness.
We must understand that Matthew is a true believer, with no doubts, and that his greatest concern is that his own people have, are, and will continue to reject Christ. He continues to use the prophecies of their Jewish ancestors to prove to the present generation that Christ is the promised Messiah. He says that Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, and because of the opposition that had arisen against John and his message regarding the coming Messiah, he moved from Nazareth to Capernaum just as Isaiah had predicted he would. Jesus began his ministry there—“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”’ Make note that this is the same message John was preaching when he was arrested. The Jewish leadership will treat Jesus with the same respect they showed John and they beheaded him.

Jesus was distressed because the people had rejected John’s message and would now have him killed, and he knew that he faced the same rejection and final crucifixion and he realized that he would have to select his disciples who could continue his work after his death. Therefore, as he walked along the sea shore of Galilee he chose four fishermen as his first disciples. His only promise was that he would make them to be fishers of men instead of fish.

You should be aware that these men did not blindly follow Christ because of some charismatic spell that he had cast over them. These men already knew him and had spent time with him as recorded in John 1: 35-42. When he called them into service, there was no hesitation. I have heard his call many times in my 83 years, and you should be honest and admit that you too have had ample time to hear his call on your life. It is so sad that we must admit that we have not made the strong commitment as the disciples did. I am trying now to help others see the beauty of and rewards for true commitment to Jesus Christ. It is so easy to say, ‘here am I send me.’ He will find a way to use you in his kingdom work, and his promise is to bless you. Why delay?

The last verses of the fourth chapter speaks of the expansion of his preaching and teaching throughout the Holy Land. His reputation as the amazing teacher traveled amazingly fast even as it was only by word of mouth and vast numbers attended and accepted his teachings. Jesus was amazed at the numbers and he had to search for a way to communicate with the vast crowds. In the beginning of the fifth chapter Matthew explains that he had to find a suitable mountain side, where he could situate himself above the crowd of people so he could teach and be heard. It was here that Matthew recorded one of the greatest parts of the New Testament known as the Beatitudes. There is no way for any commentator to improve upon the exact words of Jesus. You must go to Matthew 5: 3 and read them for yourself. If you have a desire to be blessed by God—read the Beatitudes. If you really have a longing in your heart to experience the blessings of God—PRACTICE THEM.

Oh that I could think of simple ways to make you understand the importance of God’s love for his people. The master teacher did it with parables that say little and speak loud and clear. Tomato season is about gone to my chagrin—I crave them in off-season. Just think about what a sprinkle of salt does for a red-ripe tomato—as well as many other foods. But if your salt has gone bland, what happens to the taste of the food? So, it should be discarded and walked on as sand on the seashore.

Many of our cities, even smaller towns at Christmas time, are show-places at night with lights of all kinds that light the way and show forth the prominent places, but if the breaker doesn’t work or someone doesn’t turn the switch on, all is dark and unseen.

God’s people are the salt and the light of this world, only when we are living and working in the will of our master. Without us the tomatoes and other foods are bland and even Las Vegas is a ghost town. If you are a Christian you are a light. If you are an obedient Christian you will let it shine…not for your gain…but for the glory of your heavenly father.

Matthew understood how his people believed in and depended upon the Law as their guide and he made sure that he quoted Christ as he explained that he did not come to do away with the Law but that he came to fulfill it…make it complete. Christ applauded those that would keep the commandments and said they would be called the greatest in the kingdom. Then he let them know that the law was not sufficient…it was not enough…only those whose righteousness surpassed that of the Pharisees and other teachers of the Law would be able to enter the kingdom of heaven [verse 20].

The central theme of the lesson today begins with verse 20, and it is here that he begins to explain the STRIVING FOR GODLY PERFECTION is more important than just the keeping of the law. The open visible keeping of a law, reveals your actions but does not reveal your inward feelings about having to do it. I wear my seat belt, but inwardly I resent having to do it. I feel that the law robs me of the opportunity I should have to make my own choice.

In verse 21, Jesus gave a much better example when he explained that one should not murder. Murder is punishable by law. Before one will murder another person there is a feeling of hatred in his heart; there is a desire to take revenge…to get even and that “feeling” is not punishable by law. Now look what Christ says: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Under law only the action is punishable; but under grace the sinful desire of the heart is subject to judgment. Moses, in Exodus 20 condemned murder, Jesus agreed, but added that hatred also was sin because it violates the commandment to love one another. Matthew is reminding the Pharisees they were condemned because they plotted to kill Jesus and were just as guilty as the Romans whom they tricked into killing him for them.

V-23—Making an offering or paying your tithe is a form of worship. Jesus says here that you can not worship him while you have enmity in your heart toward another person. It is a matter of urgency—don’t even leave an offering until you have solved the problem. If there is a problem with another that has not been solved…it must be solved before there can be true worship. Matters of disagreement must be solved immediately. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary…”

V-27—The OT condemned sexual acts outside of marriage. Christ did not do away with that Law; instead he added to it…made it stronger…fulfilled it, when he said that it was also wrong to look at a woman lustfully. A lustful desire is mental adultery—and Jesus is emphasizing that if an act is wrong—then the intention is also sin. The only difference in the sinful act and the lustful thought is that only the Christian sins in the intention, but if the act is carried out…then there are two or more involved in the sin.

V-33—The last example given in today’s lesson that stresses our need to seek or STRIVE FOR GODLY PERFECTION—plainly and simply emphasizes the need for truthfulness. In the early days of the last century there was a moral code that was often used by Godly people. Christians happily announced that “My word is my bond;” this and a friendly hand-shake were used to seal many agreements during the period of time between WWI and WWII. The decline in morality that came about during the last half of the century has forced honest people to break the commandment given in these verses. Jesus was emphasizing the importance of telling the truth.

The people of long ago in verse 33 were warned in [Exodus 20: 7, Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30: 1-2, and Deuteronomy 19: 16-20] were told that an oath made using the Lord’s name, must not be broken. When anyone swears falsely, with hand on the bible, there are two sins involved; first you have lied and even more important in the eyes of Christ, you have dishonored his name by using his Word to seal the oath. Your answer to a judge regarding your testimony should simply be “Yes” I will tell the truth—or “No” I will not lie.

There is a central theme that permeates the teachings of Christ revealed in this lesson that is aimed at all ‘better than thou’ Christians. Some Christians in malice—look down on those that commit murder, lie, steal and commit adultery when it becomes evident that their fellow man has committed one or more of these sins. Their response to and conversation about their guilty brethren indicates that these are atrocious sins that should not be tolerated in the church. In many cases they would be the first to initiate action against the guilty one. According to the message that Christ has given us in this lesson, the named overt actions are sin, but they are no more sinful in the Lord’s sight than those who have at one time or another embraced an inward feeling or attitude that was just as sinful as the act itself. May-be they have harmed another and failed to seek forgiveness; May-be they have gossiped, killing a good reputation and that is murder; May-be they have committed lust in their heart for another but no one else knows about it, and that is adultery; May-be they have lied, or withheld a truth that would have made a difference to someone. The overt sins are an example of breaking the Law. The evil desires of the heart are more important in Christ’s sight who says that a man is whatever his heart reveals. Remember to cast the mote from your own eye FIRST. Better still would be to just simply let Jesus do the judging.