Keith Battle - What Did Jesus Say?- Part 3

Matthew chapter 5. If you have a Bible or a Bible app, turn to Matthew chapter 5. This is part 3 of a series we are in called «What Did Jesus Say?» I know what you say, I know what she said, I know what Cardi B says, but what did Jesus say? I know what they said on Fox News, I know what they said on CNN, I know what the Huffington Post says. What did Jesus say? I could settle some arguments right there. I think if we are following Jesus, we should know what our leader has to say. In part one of this series, we looked at what Jesus said about how to be blessed as we examined the Beatitudes. In part two, we looked at what Jesus says about how to make an impact in the world, how to make a difference in this world by being salt and light. In part three today, we’re going to look at what Jesus says about how to have harmony with others. It’s about relationships. Relationships are hard, man! It’s like there’s no course for it. We’re really not skilled for it, so we have our own relationship theology. Here’s our relationship theology: If you make me happy, we’re good; if you get on my nerves, you’re going to get out of my house—mi casa! That’s the reality for most of us. We have a trail of damaged relationships because someone made us upset and didn’t do what we wanted. God’s standard for relationships is so much higher than ours. I feel like it’s hurting me to preach it because I have to go through it, too—like, how am I supposed to apply this? It has to be more than just a nice message. What is it supposed to do in my life? So that’s the goal here: to find out how God wants to transform my life.

I’m in verse 21. This is called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has gone up into a mountain, and a crowd has followed Him there. Some of them He has already distinguished as His disciples; the rest are just in the crowd following Him. He sits down and starts teaching them, and we pick up the sermon in progress at verse 21 of chapter 5. The New Living Translation says: «You have heard—this is Jesus—you have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say—this is what Jesus says—if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court, and if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.» I just want to say I’m sorry to everybody I have cursed. If you hear me right now and I have cursed you, I really am. I don’t want this; I don’t want any trouble ever.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person, then come off your sacrifice to God. When you’re on your way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly; otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you’ll be thrown in prison. If that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you pay the last penny.

Drop down to verse 43. In verse 43, He continues this dialogue or this part of His message about getting along with others. Verse 43: «You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say, ‘Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.’ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives sunlight to both the evil and the good; He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you ought to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.» Everybody say «Amen.» I know it’s hard. Let’s unpack this.

I want to give you four applications from this—four principles, or four points, if you will—about how we live in harmony with others. The first comes from verse 21. Jesus says, «Listen, y’all have heard from your ancestors that if you murder, you’ll face judgment.» Right? He says, «But I say,» and when He says «But I say» in verses 22 and 44, He’s not trying to say that what you heard is a lie. He’s saying, «I’m about to give you how it applies to you,» because Matthew 5:17 says, «I didn’t come to abolish the law; I came to fulfill it. I came to bring it to pass.» So I want you to know that because Jesus was there. He was part of the Godhead who gave the law to Moses in Exodus on the mountain of Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments. Now, on the Mount of Beatitudes, He is unpacking them and teaching us how they are supposed to be applied to our lives. So He says, «You’ve been told if you murder somebody…»