Living Righteously: The Heart of Jesus' Teachings

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delved into the profound and challenging teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 5:17-30. This passage is a call to righteousness, urging us to live lives that reflect the holiness of God. Jesus emphasizes that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. This fulfillment is not about mere external adherence but a deep, internal transformation that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus challenges us to go beyond the surface, to examine our hearts and attitudes, and to live in a way that truly honors God.

The Sermon on the Mount is meant to unsettle us, to shake us from complacency, and to make us reconsider how we live and think. Jesus uses strong language to illustrate the seriousness of sin, not just in actions but in thoughts and intentions. Anger and lust are not merely private matters; they are spiritual issues that can lead us away from God. Jesus calls us to a higher standard, one that requires us to be vigilant about our inner lives and relationships.

Moreover, Jesus highlights the paradox of righteousness—it is both a blessing and a danger. Pursuing righteousness can lead to persecution, yet it is also the path to true fulfillment. We are called to be lights in the world, to let our good works shine, but not for our own glory. Our righteousness should be a testament to God's transformative power in our lives.

In this journey, we are reminded of our dependence on Christ. We cannot achieve this righteousness on our own; it is through His grace and the work of the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified. Baptism symbolizes this dependence, acknowledging that we need to be cleansed by Another. Jesus came not for those who believe they are righteous but for sinners who recognize their need for a Savior. As we strive to live holy lives, we do so not to earn salvation but to reflect the new life Christ has given us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus emphasizes that He came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it. This fulfillment calls for a righteousness that surpasses mere external adherence, urging us to examine our hearts and live in a way that truly honors God. [01:17]

- The Seriousness of Sin: Jesus challenges us to consider the seriousness of sin, not just in actions but in thoughts and intentions. Anger and lust are spiritual issues that can lead us away from God, and we must be vigilant about our inner lives. [03:21]

- Righteousness as a Blessing and Danger: Pursuing righteousness is both a blessing and a danger. It can lead to persecution, yet it is the path to true fulfillment. We are called to be lights in the world, letting our good works shine for God's glory. [08:26]

- Dependence on Christ: We cannot achieve righteousness on our own; it is through Christ's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified. Baptism symbolizes our dependence on Him, acknowledging our need for cleansing and new life. [33:05]

- The Call to Holiness: Jesus calls us to live holy lives, not to earn salvation but to reflect the new life He has given us. This call is serious and requires us to be deeply thoughtful and reflective about our lives, striving to glorify God in all we do. [37:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - The Church of the Beatitudes
- [01:17] - Fulfillment of the Law
- [02:45] - Reconciliation and Righteousness
- [03:21] - The Heart of Adultery
- [04:04] - Call to Righteousness
- [05:53] - Surprising and Unsettling Teachings
- [06:44] - Hunger for Righteousness
- [08:26] - Righteousness: Blessing and Danger
- [10:06] - Visible and Secret Righteousness
- [11:47] - Understanding the Commandments
- [13:35] - Pharisaical Misinterpretation
- [15:20] - Spiritual Depth of the Law
- [17:35] - Anger and Judgment
- [22:21] - Adultery of the Heart
- [25:21] - Radical Call to Holiness
- [29:14] - Harmony of Grace and Holiness
- [33:05] - Baptism and Dependence
- [37:32] - Seriousness of New Life in Christ
- [40:33] - Joseph: A Model of Righteousness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:17-30

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean when He says He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish them? [01:17]

2. How does Jesus expand the understanding of the commandment "You shall not murder" in His teaching? [17:35]

3. What are the consequences Jesus describes for those who harbor anger or insult others? [18:35]

4. How does Jesus illustrate the seriousness of sin in relation to lust and adultery? [22:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does Jesus emphasize the need for righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees? What does this imply about the nature of true righteousness? [01:59]

2. How does Jesus' teaching on anger and reconciliation challenge the way people typically handle conflicts? [19:20]

3. In what ways does Jesus' teaching on lust and adultery call for a deeper examination of one's thoughts and intentions? [24:18]

4. How does the concept of righteousness being both a blessing and a danger manifest in the life of a believer? [08:26]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be adhering to the "letter" of the law but missing its deeper, spiritual intent? How can you address this? [16:04]

2. Think of a recent conflict or disagreement you had. How might Jesus' teaching on reconciliation and anger change the way you approach similar situations in the future? [19:20]

3. Jesus calls us to be vigilant about our inner lives. What practical steps can you take to guard your thoughts and intentions, especially regarding anger and lust? [25:21]

4. How can you be a light in the world, letting your good works shine for God's glory, without falling into the trap of seeking personal recognition? [10:06]

5. In what ways do you depend on Christ for your righteousness? How does this dependence manifest in your daily life and decisions? [33:05]

6. Jesus' call to holiness is serious and requires deep reflection. What specific area of your life do you feel called to examine more closely in light of this teaching? [37:32]

7. How can you cultivate a hunger and thirst for righteousness in your life, and what might be some practical ways to pursue this? [07:43]

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart of the Law
Jesus calls us to a deeper understanding of the Law, one that goes beyond mere external adherence to a profound internal transformation. He emphasizes that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, urging us to examine our hearts and live in a way that truly honors God. This fulfillment is about embodying the spirit of the Law, which requires a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. It is a call to reflect God's holiness in our lives, challenging us to align our thoughts, intentions, and actions with His will. [01:17]

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you move beyond external religious practices to cultivate a heart that truly seeks to honor God today?


Day 2: The Inner Battle Against Sin
Jesus challenges us to recognize the seriousness of sin, not just in our actions but in our thoughts and intentions. He highlights that anger and lust are not merely private matters but spiritual issues that can lead us away from God. This teaching calls us to be vigilant about our inner lives, understanding that sin begins in the heart. By addressing these internal struggles, we can prevent them from manifesting in our actions and damaging our relationship with God and others. [03:21]

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recurring thought or attitude that you struggle with. How can you invite God into this area to transform your heart and mind?


Day 3: The Paradox of Righteousness
Pursuing righteousness is both a blessing and a danger. While it can lead to persecution, it is also the path to true fulfillment. Jesus calls us to be lights in the world, letting our good works shine for God's glory, not our own. This paradox highlights the tension between living a life that reflects God's transformative power and the challenges that may arise from doing so. It is a reminder that our ultimate goal is to glorify God, even in the face of adversity. [08:26]

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you let your light shine in a way that points others to God, even if it means facing challenges or opposition?


Day 4: Dependence on Christ
We cannot achieve righteousness on our own; it is through Christ's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified. Baptism symbolizes our dependence on Him, acknowledging our need for cleansing and new life. Jesus came not for those who believe they are righteous but for sinners who recognize their need for a Savior. As we strive to live holy lives, we do so not to earn salvation but to reflect the new life Christ has given us. [33:05]

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on Christ's grace and the Holy Spirit's work rather than your own efforts?


Day 5: The Call to Holiness
Jesus calls us to live holy lives, not to earn salvation but to reflect the new life He has given us. This call is serious and requires us to be deeply thoughtful and reflective about our lives, striving to glorify God in all we do. It is a journey of transformation, where we continually seek to align our lives with God's will, allowing His holiness to be evident in our thoughts, words, and actions. [37:32]

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your conduct with the holiness that God calls you to?

Quotes


"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." [00:01:33]

"Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." [00:01:54]

"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. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison." [00:02:38]

"Jesus by this sermon, I think, really intended to shake us up and to say to us, 'You need to think and live differently, certainly differently from the way in which the world lives, but maybe you need to think and live differently from the way you are inclined to think and live.'" [00:06:00]

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled." Well, that certainly encourages us to think that righteousness is a good thing. It is something we should desire, something we should pursue, something we need to think about. What is the righteousness for which we are hungering so that we might know when we have been filled, when we have been satisfied?" [00:07:27]

"So I am to pursue a righteousness that will be satisfying and will lead to my persecution. So righteousness is both a blessing and a danger. We are beginning to sense that, aren't we, in the contemporary world in which we live, that if you stand up for righteousness it may be dangerous." [00:08:31]

"Your righteous life needs to be shining in a dark world. Others need to see it to see your good works. And then in Matthew 6 verse 1 He says, 'Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.'" [00:09:56]

"The law was intended to be much more than that. The law was intended to be much more searching than that. The law was intended to be much broader than that, looking into our lives of relationships much more generally. The law was intended to be spiritual and searching and exposing of the hearts and lives of God's people." [00:14:52]

"Jesus is saying the attitudes of the heart play out in the life and in the face and in the relationship. And it is hard to think of many societies in the history of mankind that need this commandment and this explanation more than ours does." [00:23:47]

"Jesus wants to challenge us in a fundamental way and say to us, 'What is going on in your heart? What is going on in your attitudes, not just who are you in bed with, but what is the character of your life in relation to the opposite sex?'" [00:24:28]

"Jesus calls you to be a righteous man and a righteous woman, not in your own strength, not to save yourself, but so that you would be a light shining in a dark place, not to glorify yourself, but to glorify God who is in heaven." [00:43:09]

"Let's pray together. Father, we are humbled by the call to righteousness. We are so conscious of how far short we fall. We are so thankful that we have a Savior who saved sinners, but our earnest prayer is that as He has saved us, so by His Spirit He will sanctify us and help us more and more to pursue the righteousness that would glorify You, our Father in heaven." [00:43:30]

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Transcript
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