Mat 5:21-48; Take the Time to Understand the Heart of God.

Tuesday June 18, 2024

Idea: Everything the believer does is to come from the core of his heart based on his true character. 

Intro:

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all, Mar 10:13-16. 

Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. It is only received by faith as a child trusts his father. God wants us to have trust in Him like a child. Knowing how limited, finite, without wisdom in ourselves alone. God also wants us to know all that is knowable about what He is doing and what the reality of history, our society, our church, our family, our home, our own heart.  

The theme of the Gospel of Matthew is that the King was presented to Israel, they said no but that did not undo God’s unconditional covenant with them or with the house of David, so the King and His kingdom were delayed until a time unknown, and in the meantime, what are we believers and what do we do? 

Jesus wants us to explore the commandments, digging down to their foundation. 

“You have heard it said” (ekousate) – (other than “hate your enemy”) every one of these (6 in all) are directly from the Hebrew Bible, so of course they have heard them all their lives. But do they understand them? 

See the heart at work in the remainder of the Sermon. 

Jesus taught in His great Sermon on the Mount that kingdom people live by a moral code that far exceeds mere formal adherence to the law. Christ’s disciples obey their King because they are committed and loyal to Him—the One who has conquered their whole hearts. True kingdom servants seek to follow God’s instruction to its deepest heart application. They don’t merely satisfy the bare minimum requirement.

For instance, “You shall not murder” was the letter of the law (Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17). But Jesus dug down to the heart matter of the command, which was hatred. Members of God’s kingdom must do away with all hatred and anger (Lev 19:17; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8). Jesus set forth the example of a believer needing to reconcile with another believer:

The heart of the matter shows itself in the rest of His instruction: 

Adultery goes to lust of the heart. 

Marriage goes to commitment for life. 

Vows become all your words every day, which come from the heart (Mat 15:1-14). 

Just recompense for an offense becomes an offer of repentance (I know what they deserve judicially opens up the heart to know what they need). 

Love your neighbor becomes divine love for everyone. 

Giving, prayer, and fasting become a personal worship of God from the heart that no one sees (6:1; “in secret” 6:3, 6, 18.). 

All earthly treasure is overwhelmed by treasure in heaven (6:21, where your heart is so is your treasure). 

Everyday needs become a childlike trust (6:33 seek first His kingdom and righteousness). 

Desire for justice (judging) becomes concern for another’s good (7:5). 

Seeking in life becomes seeking in prayer (7:8). 

Others come to be seen in the same manner as self (golden rule: 7:12) 

Beware of false prophets (7:15)! Why? They can put falsehood in your heart. 

The righteous heart will produce the fruit of righteousness (7:24-27). 

True kingdom servants seek to follow God’s instruction to its deepest heart application. They don’t merely satisfy the bare minimum requirement.

It is much easier to do the minimum or to act the part overtly rather than take the time and inventory to cleanse our hearts. 

The clear eye of the heart is the one singularly devoted to the King in all of life.