Live like a King Matthew 5:3-48
Introduction This most famous sermon is preached more than practiced. The need is for interpretation. But the greater need is for implementation. In this sermon Jesus teaches us how to live like a king. In Matthew, Jesus is portrayed as the Son of David. Here is part of how royalty lives. To live a “cut above the world” we must live out the greater, fulfilled, real righteousness called for in this text. I. Real Righteousness Is Described ( vv. 3-12)
. A. These revolutionary aphorisms congratulate the opposite of what the world applauds
. B. These revolutionary aphorisms promise God’s assistance—if not now, then someday.
C. These revolutionary aphorisms have a sense of progression but not one that is hard and East. II. Real Righteousness Gets Exercised ( vv. 13-16).
A. The irony is that the beatitude people have clout and sway.
B. The call is for the beatitude people to genuinely influence their world. There is a difference between separation from unholiness and separation from unholy people (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:10). C. The scope for the beatitude people is universal—salt of the earth and light of the world. III. Real Righteousness Is Examined ( vv. 17–20). A. It is directly related to Christ (v. 17). B. It takes God’s commands very seriously (vv. 18-19). C. It goes beyond surface requirements (v. 20). IV. Real Righteousness Gets Illustrated ( vv. 21-47). The six great antithesis are practical, proverbial, and check out a person quite completely. A. Anger is on par with murder (vv. 21-26). B. Lust is on par with adultery (vv. 27-30). C. Divorce at all is on par with granting a divorce certificate (vv. 31-32). D. Simple honest words are on par with taking oaths (vv. 33-37). E. Kindness to enemies is on par with the law of fair play (vv. 38-42). F. Loving enemies is on par with loving neighbors (vv. 43-47).
Conclusion The ultimate challenge comes in v. 48. Essentially the call to serious discipleship is the call to be like God! The only way to really live like the King is to heed the teachings of the King.
Illustrations Real righteousness is just that—real. In the old television show, “Leave it to Beaver,” there was a classic hypocrite. His name was Eddie Haskell. He was the guy everyone loved to hate. Invariably he was the one responsible for getting Wally and Beaver in a heap of trouble. Beaver’s naive loyalty was abused by Eddie. Mr. Cleaver would enter the room, and Eddie would respond in some kind of sick line like, “Hello, how are you today Mr. Cleaver, Sir?” Mr. Cleaver was wise to Eddie, but he was gracious and would respond kindly. After Mr. Cleaver would leave the room Eddie might say something to Beaver like, “Hey, what is your old man all bent out of shape for, Beaver?” One thing that the Sermon on the Mount will do if we have ears to hear is to body-slam our hypocrisy to the mat of God’s grace. Can being salt and light ever get us in trouble? “Both metaphors of salt and light raise important questions about Christian involvement in society regarding all forms of separatism or withdrawal. We are not called to control secular power structures; neither are we promised that we can Christianize the legislation and values of the world. But we must remain active preservative agents, indeed irritants, in calling the world to heed God’s standards. We dare not form isolated Christian enclaves to which the world pays no attention” (Craig Blomberg, p. 103).
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