Righteousness of the Kingdom

Matthew 6:1 to 7:12

The first half of chapter 6 deals with our worship of God.

Jesus deals with giving, praying, and fasting [particular areas of Pharisaic abuse]. The principle is given at the outset in verse 1:

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding."  

The second half of chapter 6 deals with the intentions and ambitions of our heart. The emphasis here is on our focus in life and how we expend or invest our energies. The principle here is given in verses 19-20:

Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or — worse! — stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars.

 

In 7:1-12 Jesus deals with how we treat others. We are not to be judgmental especially with regard to fellow believers, yet we are to exercise discernment concerning unbelievers. Jesus is not simply saying “do not judge.” His point is that we are to judge wisely. Just as the earlier principle is to invest wisely. Where does one find such wisdom? He must turn to his heavenly Father . . . and ask (7:7-11).

Finally, in verse 12, the intent of the OT law is summarized in the golden rule:

"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get."  

Jesus began his teaching on kingdom righteousness in 5:17 with, "Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God's Law or the Prophets."  and now concludes it by saying, "Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get."

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The nature of the Kingdom itself

Matthew 5:17-48 (MSG)

Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working. Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.'  I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail.  If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.

You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.'  But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt. Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

 

Remember the Scripture that says, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights'?  Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are 'legal.' Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you're responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you're automatically an adulterer yourself. You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

Kingdom Living

Matthew 5:3-16 (MSG)

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Jesus with these words paints a picture of the kind of people who would populate his kingdom - in this beautifully poetic way - he wants his audience to see the character traits of kingdom citizens.

Jesus also wants his audience to see that these qualities come with great blessing — taken together, we see that these kingdom citizens possess the kingdom of heaven - they inherit the earth - they are comforted and satisfied - they receive mercy - they see God - they are called sons of God. All these blessings belong together.

Just as the eight beatitudes describe the qualities of every citizen of the kingdom - so the eight blessings belong to each of them.

Jesus goes on to teach the role of Kingdom citizens in an un-believing world:

Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Carry the flame

A great song we used in worship of Sunday!

Carry the flame
Of the God of creation;
Tell of His majesty
Power and love.
Declare His name
And His plan to all nations,
Point them to glories
In Heaven above.

Carry the flame
To a world that is weary.
Carry the flame
To a world in despair.
Tell them that Jesus
Is waiting to help them.
Tell them there's hope,
That His people still care.

Carry the flame
Of the suffering Saviour,
Who brought our sinful
World to the cross,
He has provided
Eternal salvation,
Teaching us how
To gain victory through loss.

Carry the flame
Of the life-giving Spirit,
Showing the world
Where true peace is found.
Where God is leading
Us we gladly follow;
Where sin is strong,
God's grace does abound.

Carry the flame
To the next generation.
Help them rekindle
Transforming fire.
Point them to deeper
Commitment and service,
Pleasing the Lord
Their continual desire.

Carry the flame
In Jesus' name.
Carry the flame
In Jesus' name.
Amen!
 
© 2000 R. Thomson, William Himes / The Salvation Army