Dealing With Sin Text: Matthew 5:27-32 Series: Sermon on the Mount (#7) Pastor Lyle L. Wahl October 29, 2017 Theme: Radical righteousness defeats sin. Introduction The greatest problem the world faces today is not terrorism, war, famine or pandemic disease as great as those problems are, but sin. Sin is at the root of our troubles, failures and frustrations. All too often, even routinely, we don t understand and respond to sin as we should. The Bible reveals the great, terrible sinfulness of sin. Many people treat this threeletter word as if it were a four-letter word not to be spoken or heard in polite conversation. Basic questions about our faith point out the sinfulness of sin. Why did Jesus, God the Son, humble Himself to come to earth as one of us and allow that cruel crucifixion? 1 Why did Jesus tell us that being born again is required to know God and enter His kingdom? 2 Why does God tell us in the Bible that There is none who does good, No, not one.? 3 Why did the apostle Paul emphatically write Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. 4 Why? Because of the sinfulness of sin. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes the way for the people of God, for those who are in His kingdom. God is holy and righteous, and so His people must be holy and righteous. But, as we have just heard, There is none who does good, No, not one. We cannot make ourselves righteous. But God can and does on the basis of Christ s death and resurrection when we place our faith in Him. 5 Being made righteous through faith, we are to live righteously. Jesus paints a picture of true righteousness with short, sharp brushstrokes in His sermon. This was not new. In the Old Testament God commanded His people to love Him with all their heart, soul and might. 6 He tells us in Proverbs that as we think so we are our inner thoughts and motives are our
true character. 7 So then, we are to diligently guard our hearts. 8 The Psalm writer tells us that God is good to those who are pure in heart, 9 and so King David cried out to God, Create in me a clean heart. 10 Jesus tells us later here in Matthew s gospel that the words that come out of our mouths come from our heart. Unrighteous thoughts and motives are sinful and the source of our sinful acts. 11 Jesus sets out this true righteousness, this radical righteousness in sharp contrast to the external, self-made righteousness of many in that day and in our day as well. Look back up at verse 20 here in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus said, For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. The contrasts begin in verse 21 with You have heard but I say to you, as He draws the truth that murder begins in, is in the anger we have against others. In the following verses Jesus uses the same language five more times to contrast inadequate, self-made righteousness with true, radical righteousness. We see two of them this morning in verses 27-32. With this Jesus also gives us the good news that radical righteousness defeats sin. Wrong desires are sin, not just wrong acts. We need to start with correcting the common misconception that only what we say and do is right or wrong, that our thoughts and motives can t be held against us. This is so deeply ingrained in some cultures that people are not considered guilty and so some then do not feel guilty of wrongdoing unless a wrongful act is proven, or unless they are convicted of a crime. Understand clearly, wrong desires are sin, not just wrong acts. The contrast between self-made and true righteousness is clearly seen in the view of many of the Scribes and Pharisees. The had an external view of righteousness. They prayed in a way so they would be heard by others. They gave in a way so they would be seen and praised by others. They went to the Temple in a way so they would be noticed by others. They dressed in a way so they would be respected by others. Many of the religious leaders in Jesus time on earth saw righteousness as the visible, external things they did. They also had an external view of sin. They knew the Law. They carefully interpreted God s commandments with detailed statements of what it took to both keep and break them. So, by their external descriptions they could say they kept God s commands, because they 2
had not called on any false god. They had not bowed before idols. They had not taken God s name in vain. They had not violated the Sabbath. They had not disrespected their parents. They had not murdered anyone. They had not committed adultery. They had not stolen. They had not told lies before the court. They had not envied their neighbor and what he had. This was the kind of thinking a young man had who came to Jesus one day. Turn ahead to Matthew chapter 19. Starting at verse 16. Now behold, one came and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? So He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to Him, Which ones? Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to Him, All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack? Notice Jesus response, verse 21. If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. The account continues, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Jesus went straight to the sin that had a stranglehold on this man s heart he loved his wealth more than God. It is not sinful to be wealthy, but it is sinful to place it before God and so to worship it. It was and is first a matter of the heart. With that foundation, let s move to a specific example Jesus gives us starting in verse 27 of chapter 5 faithfulness in marriage. Every Jewish person knew the letter of the law about this, about adultery. Verse 27. You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery. As with Jesus statement in verse 21 that we looked at last week, You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment, those hearing Him would have felt comfortable at this point. Jesus destroys their smug, false comfort. Verse 28. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Jesus words looks at a woman with lust for her indicate more than a passing glance but 3
continuing to look at, to think about with desire, entertaining, feeding sensual, sexual desire. Wrong desires are sin, not just wrong acts. The Scribes and Pharisees wouldn t want to hear this! And many today don t want to hear it either. There are two extreme responses to avoid here. First, As long as you don t commit the physical act of adultery, it s no big deal, it s not really sin. Some take it even farther, That desire is simply being human. The second extreme to avoid is, If thoughts of adultery are sinful, why not go ahead and commit the physical act? Jesus is restoring the true meaning of the seventh and tenth commandments, the commandments of adultery and coveting. 12 Both thoughts and acts of adultery are sin. They are two different sins. The first in the thoughts leads to the second of action. Both have their own consequences because both are sin. Wrong desires are sin, not just wrong acts. That is true of marital faithfulness and all areas of life. It is important to diligently guard our hearts, which includes taking care in what we look at, see, read and watch, focus on, think about. Sin brings destructive results. Wrong desires and acts are sin. Sin, in all its forms, brings destructive results. Building on His clarification of unfaithfulness in marriage, Jesus continues on and briefly but pointedly notes some of the destructive results, specifically in divorce. Verse 31. Furthermore it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Jesus words here, obviously, are brief. The you have heard statement comes from instructions God gave in Deuteronomy chapter 24 verses 1-4. Later in this gospel Jesus speaks about marriage again in chapter 19. There are other Old and New Testament references to divorce, but our look this morning is brief and focused on Jesus main point in these words the destruction that the sin in divorce brings. 4
Let s start with some background on the Old Testament world where women often were treated as or not much more than property. If a man woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or the dinner was burned, or he was bored, or saw a younger or more attractive prospect, in some cultures he could easily and quickly divorce his wife. While not always the case, this often left a cloud over the woman who could by rejected by her family. The Old Testament Law corrected and prevented those sinful abuses. It gave causes for divorce and required a certificate of divorce. Both parties then were free to remarry. But be very clear, in every age whenever divorce occurs sin is involved. There are no exceptions. During Jesus time on earth there were great differences between experts in the Law of what the legitimate grounds for divorce were. Jesus restates God s intent and standard for marriage. Just as He repeats the foundation of marriage going back to creation in Matthew chapter 19, so here He also goes back to the exclusive one man one woman bond for life that is created in marriage. Permanency is God s design, ideal and standard for marriage for all people in all places at all times. The two-become-one union is broken by death. The Old Testament Law allowed it to be broken by some indecency or infidelity. Jesus sharply condemns the contrived and convenient views many men had of breaking their marital union. Shallow and sinful views of marriage are the norm today. Over thirty-five years ago one writer commented, We rent wedding rings, 13 as he commented on our shallow views of marriage. The first no-fault divorce laws in the United States and Canada were introduced in the late 1960s and now are common in many western countries. 14 In the eyes of God who created marriage, there is no such thing as a no-fault divorce. Lawmakers in Mexico City introduced a bill in 2011 that would allow marriages to expire after two years. At the end of the two years the couple could either terminate the bond or commit for life. One sponsor of the bill said it would mean that people wouldn t have to go through the messy hassle of divorce. The bill did not pass. 15 Any and every shallow and sinful view of marriage and divorce carries far reaching implications. All sin brings destructive results. For better only marriages, for better only obedience to God in any and every area of life brings destructive results even though we may not realize them fully at the time. 5
The consequences are long-lasting as well as far-reaching. The seriousness of this is seen in verse 32. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. What Jesus wants us to focus on here is not the exceptions, but that when the bond of marriage, the two-become-one union, is not broken by death or the limited causes God allows because of the hardness of people s hearts, 16 it, that bond, is not really broken. Yes, there are far reaching, long lasting destructive results. The prophet Malachi declared, For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce (2:16). We don t have time today to explore in depth the word Jesus used which is translated as sexual immorality, or unfaithful, unchastity or fornication in other English versions. It is a broad term. Among the Jews it did not include adultery, because the penalty for that under Old Testament Law was death, even though the death sentence was not routinely carried out when Jesus was on earth. When used in other cultures or settings it included adultery. Overall it could include any sinful physical contact which often begins by flirting with, focusing on, being occupied with thoughts of sinful physical/sexual activities. Think of the destructive results we know and can easily see. Integrity, honesty and trust are at risk, are lost. There is brokenness, pain, hurting that radiate out farther, deeper and longer than people imagine. The preventative and cure of radical righteousness. So what are we to do? What s the cure or antidote? Better, what are we to do to prevent the devastation of sin? Jesus gives us some startling and hard to understand words. Verse 29. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell (verses 29-30). We know that Jesus is not telling us to literally tear out an eye or cut off a hand. Jesus strong, dramatic words of overstatement are not, as one writer puts it, a call to literal self- 6
maiming, but a ruthless moral self-denial. 17 After all, if you succumb to lust because of what your right eye sees and so tear it out, you still have your left eye which sees and can lead to lust. If you steal with your right hand and cut if off, you can still steal with your left hand. This is overstatement to get our attention, to make the point. This ruthless moral self-denial requires spiritual discipline. We can identify with the apostle Paul when he said, I don t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don t do it. Instead, I do what I hate (NLT). 18 Knowing what to do or not to do, wanting to do or not do; wanting to change, being angry with ourselves, asking God to change us must be, I repeat, must be accompanied by a ruthless self-denial powered by God through spiritual discipline. God used the apostle Paul to make and emphasize this point repeatedly in his letters. Let s turn to and look at Romans chapter 6 for an extended section on this. First note that this moral self-denial and spiritual discipline is based on what God has accomplished in us when He saved us. Beginning at verse 3 in Romans chapter 6. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin (verses 3-7). Drop down to verse 18. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. The truth here is not theoretical or potential, it is what God accomplished in every believer when He saved that person. Then, with the Holy Spirit within us, we are to respond with ruthless moral self-denial and spiritual discipline which God will direct through His Word and enable through the Holy Spirit. Go back up to verse 11 here in Romans chapter 6, Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Reckon, consider, account yourself as, see yourself as dead to sin. 7
Go on to verse 13, And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. There again is our action, do not present and present. Now notice the summary starting at verse 22, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God [notice the contrast: we were slaves of sin now we are slaves of God we no longer have to serve sin, we can serve God], you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Later in chapter 13 of Romans Paul directs, don t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires (NLT). 19 We have choices to make, actions to take. We can t do it on our own. We know that. In Ephesians chapter 6 Paul reminds us all of life is a spiritual battle and that we are to put on the full armor of God. Armed and relying on God each one of us can know the reality of Paul s testimony in Philippians chapter 4, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (verse 14). The battleground is in our mind. Our old, sinful nature pulling and pushing, rationalizing and deceiving, egged on by Satan s forces. Remember, what you think in your heart, in the private recesses of your mind, what you give place to there is what you are, is your true character. 20 Paul s words to the church at Philippi are challenging, Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you (NLT). 21 Yes, God will give you the strength. But you need to make a considered decision, exercise spiritual discipline of ruthless self-denial. 8
Conclusion. Radical righteousness defeats sin. What has God brought to your mind as you have listened? Whatever it is, whatever area of life or specific sin, now is the time for you to act. No more excuses. No more putting it off. No more buying Satan s lie that it is not really a big deal. No more buying Satan s lie that you can t have victory, that you will never be free from this. Jesus tells you, promises you that radical righteousness defeats sin. Face and confess your sin. Decide to turn from it. Decide to walk the path of spiritual discipline. Thank God and count on the truth that His radical righteousness will defeat your sin. 1 Philippians 2:5-8; John 3:16. 2 John 3:5-8. 3 Psalm 14:3; 53:1-3; 143:2; Romans 3:10-12, 20, 23; Galatians 2:16. 4 2 Corinthians 13:5. 5 Romans 3:21-26; 4:3-8; 10:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9. 6 Deuteronomy 6:5. 7 Proverbs 23:7. 8 Proverbs 4:23. 9 Psalm 73:1. 10 Psalm 51:10. 11 Matthew 15:16-20; see also, for example, Galatians 5:19-21; James 1:13-15. 12 The commands about adultery and coveting, Exodus 20:14, 17. 13 Charles R. Swindoll. Strike the Original Match. Portland: Multnomah Press, 1980, page 18. 14 Douglas W. Allen. No-fault divorce in Canada: Its cause and effects. <www.sfu.ca/~allen/no-faultcan.pdf>. 10 June 1996. Accessed 20 October 2017. 15 Sarah Fentem. What If Marriage Were Temporary? The Atlantic. <http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/03/what-if-marriage-were-temporary/27 4189/>. 20 March 2013. Accessed 20 October 2017. 16 Matthew 19:8. 9
17 John R.W. Stott. The Message of the Sermon on the Mount. Downers Grove (ILL): Inter-Varsity Press, 1978, page 89. 18 Romans 7:15, NLT. 19 Romans 13:14, NLT. 21 Proverbs 23:7. 22 Philippians 4:8-9, NLT. 2017 Lyle L. Wahl Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 10