Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 10}

Jesus was clear that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and because He accomplished all He said He would, we are no longer bound to the Old Covenant–no longer obligated to law, but freed to live by the Spirit. We have been given a New Covenant, one that moves us from death, and gives us life.

But sometimes in our human nature, we prefer to have things laid out for us in detail. We like things clear-cut and black and white, and we restrict ourselves from experiencing the life we’ve been given to live and walk in the Spirit.

I’ve been reading the book, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. His words have been informative, challenging, and inspiring all at the same time. And he teaches and firmly believes that what follows in Matthew 5:21-22 and on, is Jesus giving illustrations and expanding on principles that we should apply in every situation of our Christian lives. Not Jesus simply giving a new list of detailed rules to follow.

“The Sermon on the Mount is not meant to be a detailed code of ethics; it is not a new kind of moral law which was given by Him … He is out to delineate a certain order and quality of life … so we must hold on to the principle without turning the particular illustration into a law … the gospel of Jesus Christ is not another law, but something which gives us life. It lays down certain principles and asks us to apply them.”

~D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

And because it’s our tendency, we often regress and look at the words of Jesus as a new list of rules … more definitions of do’s and don’ts … more for us to keep track of … more for us to get right, but also more for us to feel guilty about when we get it wrong.

But that wasn’t His intention at all.

Here in the rest of Matthew 5, Jesus communicates principles that He wants us to apply to every situation…

Jesus wants us to understand the spirit of the principles and illustrations He gives.

For example, in this week’s passage, He doesn’t want us to simply avoid killing someone or being angry with someone, but in every situation He wants us to have an attitude of grace and love toward our brother. He doesn’t want us to build contempt and bitterness in our hearts at all. Ever.

He wants us to realize that it’s not ever just our actions that matter, but our thoughts and motives too.

He wants us to be motivated to actively do right, not just avoid doing wrong.

He wants His directives to open our eyes to the joy-filled life that comes by following His way, not for them to oppress or restrict us.

Jesus never meant for His directives to be an end in themselves, but always a process, a new chance to come to know Him more, and be becoming more and more like Him each and every day.

And so as we continue to learn and meditate and memorize His words, may it be so for us all, is my prayer.

P.S. My recitation of Matthew 5:1-22 (ESV)…

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)…

{WEEK 11}

 

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

 

s i y a o y g a t a a t  r t y b h s a y l y g t b t a a g f b r t y b a t c a o y g

Other posts in this series:

*Photo Credit: Martyn @ Negaro, Flickr Creative Commons

**Linking with Do Not Depart, The Wellspring Playdates, Soli Deo Gloria, A Holy Experience, Good Morning Girls

Related posts:

When You Long to Be Satisfied and Supremely Happy :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 3} For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 5} Selfishness is Sin, But Grace Gives Life :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 18 & 19}