Summary of Matthew 5:13-48

Tod Kennedy, April 27, 2005

Historical background to Matthew 5-7

What was the context of this sermon by Jesus? The Jewish community was regulated by the oral law, and this oral law was oppressive and works oriented. Jesus’ main audience in this sermon was his disciples (5:1-2). He would soon send them out to preach the kingdom of heaven to Israel (10:1-11:1). Therefore he instructed them in the Word of God in contrast to the oral law. The frame of reference for Jesus and his disciples was the Old Testament and its promise of a coming Jewish Messianic kingdom. So, when he gave these instructions, he directed them to this group of people. We in the church also gain principles from his sermon for our lives, but we must be careful to apply them correctly. We live under a different economy—the church age.

Summary of Matthew 5:13-48

1.          Matthew 5:13. Jesus began this part of his message by highlighting the disciples place in the world. He said that his disciples were the salt of the earth. Salt preserves and enhances. The figure of salt tells the disciples that they are the people who can preserve, guard, display, and give out God’s word so that others are blessed. If they become diluted with the world’s viewpoint, they will not do what they were meant to do. Paul wrote a similar charge to church believers in Colossians 4:6.

2.          Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus also said that there were the light of the world. The figure of light tells the disciples to make something known to others—God and God’s word. If they cover their light, the world will stay in its darkness of sin and world viewpoint. The application to us is that we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8) and lights in the world (Philippians 2:15) and we are to show forth God to others.

3.          Matthew 5:17-20. Jesus viewed the Old Testament as accurate, perfect, and without any mistakes. He said that he would accomplish everything the Law required. No one else is able or has the authority to accomplish and complete the Law. Furthermore, God will not accept the human law righteousness that the scribes and Pharisees show off.

4.          Matthew 5:21-22. Jesus wanted them to know that not only was the actual act of murder sin, but the hatred behind the act was also sin. “Angry,” is a mental attitude sin—rage and hatred; while “good for nothing” is a verbal attack on one’s intelligence motivated to hurt the person; and “fool” is a verbal attack on the moral character on another because of hatred and desire to damage the person. Mental and verbal sins like these are even enough to bring one under God’s judgment.

5.          Matthew 5:23-24. Jesus warned them against concentrating on their own grievances against someone else and forgetting all about their rightful grievances against them. Jesus reminded them and us that it is often more important to clear up someone’s anger for cause against them.

6.          Matthew 5:25-26. Jesus took this idea a little farther. It is far better to solve a disagreement out of court, especially if you are the guilty party. Otherwise, you will end up in jail and still have to pay the damages.

7.          Matthew 5:27-28. Jesus clarified the law about adultery (Strong’s 3431, moicheuo) found in Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18, and other Scripture by teaching that adultery is not just physical, but also the mental attitude of lust.

8.          Matthew 5:29-30. Jesus taught at times by overstatement to stress a point. He did so in these verses. Every sin deserves God’s judgment. Better to lose an eye or a hand than to be under God’s judgment. God is holy. Every sin is against him, so avoid sin even though God will always forgive sin because Jesus Christ took the judgment for every sin.

9.          Matthew 5:31-32. Jesus taught that divorce is not the solution to marriage problems. A couple should stay together if at all possible. He voided the conception that some had that if the wife displeased the husband, he could divorce her. Jesus allowed divorce for immorality. Proper divorce allowed remarriage. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7, added that desertion by an unbelieving spouse allowed remarriage.

10.     Matthew 5:33-37. In Jesus day, the Pharisees made many vows, but found ways around keeping them. Jesus taught his disciples against careless oaths. They were not to swear that something is true when one knows that it is false, and when one promises something under oath one should fulfill the oath. He did not disallow oaths in law courts. Jesus (Matthew 26:63-64), Paul (Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:12), and James (James 5:12) allowed correctly given oaths. Church age believers ought not to make promises to God; we can only please him through abiding in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:5).

11.     Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus’ disciples would run into much opposition and harassment when they proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave four illustrations of kinds of incidents they would face: slap, take your shirt, go two miles, and borrow some kind of personal wealth. He taught them that for the sake of the gospel they should not retaliate; they should not be distracted by demands on their possessions, time, or money, but should be flexible, helpful, and generous.