The Attitude Behind the Act B

It is the spirit of the law. That is the priority not the letter, the law, the law that is not mechanical. That's what Jesus is saying it is not simply functional is the sigh that God is concerned about. God is not looking for extra fees looking for change and he's always happy to serve others. Verse number two well.

He has lustful thoughts. He thinks evil of his boss and he wishes that people would just stop pestering him now consider this. Those two people are actually the same person. He looks great on the outside but is inward attitudes are anything but lovely to God that gets to the core of John MacArthur's current study, titled the sinfulness of sin. Simply put, it's a call to examine your heart attitudes. The breeding ground for sin. So to help you make sure you're honoring Christ on the outside and on the inside.

Here's John with today's lesson in Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 to 48 as our Lord gives standards for living in his kingdom as he redefines and reemphasizes the divine standard given in the law of God what he wants to say here is the inside is infinitely more revealing infinitely more important than the outside. What you are on the inside is what God is concerned with Jesus emphasized here in the sermon on the Mount, and frankly, throughout his whole ministry that external ceremony that external religious rights that certain works are not the whole issue that God is concerned with the heart and that is precisely the thrust of verse 20. Look at it, I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven on the scribes and the Pharisees had a righteousness that was external and what Jesus is saying is you must have one that exceeds that which is in internal God is concerned about what you really are not what you appear to be. It is the internal that is infinitely more important than the external that is essentially what verse 20 means the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was an external ceremonial, ritualistic, critical, legalism, and the righteousness that God demands a something internal. Look at verse 21 and watch this common occurrence. You have heard that it was said by them of old, thou shalt not kill.

And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment but I say on the you, that whosoever is angry with his brother with shall be in danger of judgment. Stop right there.

The key statement that we so I will see it all away through his Ye have heard that it was said by them of old verse 21 now there is a slight variation in the form but that's basically the way it is in each of the six incidents in a couple of them. It is abbreviated but it essentially says the same thing.

Now there are two possibilities with this. I want to notice the skittle Bible study here will be helpful. It could read Ye have heard that it was said to them of old or by them of old could be the way if it was to it probably will refer to the Bible. The law of Moses the Old Testament you heard that it was said to them of old, but you heard that it was said by them of old indicates that it isn't the Bible speaking to the people, but some antiquities some ancient people speaking by them of old. Frankly, I think by them is a proper rendering. I think the authorizes right and using that for several reasons. I don't think that we should make it the law of Moses, Jesus isn't saying you have heard that it was said to them of old by Moses or by God but I'm saying this or he be contradicting God he be contradicting Moses could be contradicting the Old Testament set aside the law set aside the prophets, and that would be ridiculous because in verse 17 he just said he wouldn't do that.

So it isn't Moses in the law that is referring to. By the way if it was Moses. I think he would've said you have heard that Moses commanded, or you have heard that it is written, because that's what he said in chapter 4, three times when he referred to the Old Testament and in chapter 8 of Matthew what he refers to the Old Testament. He says Moses commanded, so his way of referring to the Old Testament in the first eight chapters of Matthew is Moses said or it is written, this statement is not used to refer to the Old Testament and by the way, rabbis were called fathers of antiquity, or men of long ago that was a common term for Rabbi and that is what our Lord is referring to. You have heard that it was said by the rabbis of old.

In other words, this is a designation related to their oral teaching that glossed over the true law of God, but add their own thoughts to the revelation of the Old Testament.

So Jesus is not contrasting the New Testament with the Old Testament not contrasting his word with God's word but with the word of the rabbis and their traditional interpretation which had been given to the people when Israel had gone into captivity in Babylon when they went into the Babylonian captivity. They remained there 70 years and during that time.

Historians tell us, for the most part they lost the Hebrew language they ceased to speak Hebrew.

They picked up a language known as Aramaic, and so when they came back from captivity.

They spoke Aramaic in Jesus time they spoke Aramaic. Jesus taught, probably in Aramaic and of course the New Testament was written down in Greek but the people the Jewish people spoke Aramaic.

They were for the most part, completely unfamiliar with Hebrew as Jewish people are for the most part today, so the rabbis would come along. The rabbis would read the Hebrew which the people didn't understand the rabbis would interpret it. The people could not you because they didn't know what it said either and so they began to build an entire system based upon the ignorance of the people regarding the Hebrew text. So when the Lord says you have heard that it was said by them of old. He is saying the religion you have is the oral tradition of the rabbis, not the written word of God's very critical.

The embellishments and traditions and interpretations and deletions and additions which became the mission. The codification of oral law, the Talmud and all that other stuff which patted the truth of God into obscurity. Jesus says that's what you've been hearing them because they couldn't speak Hebrew. They couldn't verify what they were getting and so our Lord comes along and says I am here to loose the law of God from the shackles of rabbinic mishmash that most significantly, he attacks their emphasis on external works righteousness, and so he says you have heard it said by them of old and then he says in verse 22 but I say unto you, and beloved.

Here he sets himself up as the authority. This is tremendous is I tell you what God's law is this literally shattered the people they couldn't handle this. They were shocked. They said of him. He taught as one having authority, not as the scribes.

Mark 122 in Matthew seven as he concluded his sermon. They said he taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes twice that is said they couldn't believe that he would stand up and say that they were shocked for someone just set himself as equal to the law of God, oh my, you see, the Jews felt that this this traditional law which they believed to be the law of God was so sacred, Philo said, for example, quote, only Moses decrees are everlasting, unchangeable, unshakable. The rabbis said, quote, those who deny that the law is from heaven have no part in the world to come. So they believed this was the only law and that eternal destiny was dependent upon this law. And here comes Jesus along and he says I say yes and he never quoted a rabbi and he never quoted a group of rabbis and he never quoted anything but his own authoritative statement and they were literally shocked.

You know the first act of the synagogue.

If you were to go to synagogue in Jesus time to worship on the Sabbath. The very first thing the service would do you come and sit down men on one side woman on the other, and a man would go up to the front. He would scoop up all the scrolls of the Old Testament and he would walk all the way around the synagogue all the way around the synagogue in silence so that the congregation would reference the law of God, and Jesus stands up and says I say unto you, and they were devastated.

Who are you, the prophets always said, thus saith the Lord. The rabbis always said there is a teaching that says but Jesus said, I say unto you. William Barclay says clearly one of two things must be true either. Jesus is mad or unique. Either he is a megalomaniac for LC is the son of God, no ordinary person would claim what he claim" he claims the authority of God, devastating in each strips all of the garbage often lifts God's law back where it belongs. Only close this introduction by summarizing the key principles he's teaching in the passage principle one I want you to remember these are the things that are in the mind of Jesus in this whole section number one is the spirit of the law.

That is the priority not the letter is the spirit of the law.

That is the priority not the letter, the law of the love that is not mechanical. That's what Jesus is saying it is not simply functional is the inside that God is concerned about. You can be all white on the outside and a wretched file grave on the inside. It is not the letter. The letter kills is the spirit that gives life, God is not looking for extra rules. He's looking for change the hearts scribes and the Pharisees.the because they didn't murder. They were all right, but they hated and because they didn't commit adultery.

They were all right but they had evil thoughts, and their religion was legalistic, phony hypocrisy of the worst kind that damns the soul conformity to God's law is a matter of the heart, not simply a matter of the outside. Oh what a lesson this is for us who tend to to justify ourselves in Luke 1615 Jesus said to the Pharisees he are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is a highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God, man and God judged differently about you.

You can play the game talk the talk. Do the works in the energy, the flesh and justify yourself in your own eyes and the eyes of others and be an abomination to God because your heart is full of corruption. That's what he say it is the spirit of the law. That is the priority not the letter. Second principle, the law is not just negative it is also positive law of God is not just to prevent us from doing certain things.

It's real object is to lead us to write attitudes is a positive thing you're not justified by name doing certain things, but you are justified by thinking in certain ways. Positive righteousness. They were concerned. What they didn't do.

God was concerned with what they did do inside did they hunger after righteousness. Did they thirst after righteousness did they seek to be merciful were they pure in heart. Did they mourn over their sin. Were they poor in terms of spirit, were they peacemakers that's what God was concerned with this is spiritual character positive not just -3rd principle, the law is not an end in itself.

Get it.

The law is not an end in itself. It has a purpose. What is the goal of the law isn't just an end in itself was the Pharisees said the goal of the law is to glorify me when I keep the law. Look at me see how righteous I but the end of the law was to glorify God, don't ask yourself if I kept all the laws today.

Ask yourself of I glorified God in my spirit today of I glorified God in my desires today of I glorified God in my wants and wishes today have I been free from phoniness have I had a pure heart had no thought of evil or anger or hatred or bitterness or lust or unrighteousness to the glory of God the end of the law is not to justify me. That's the way the Pharisees audits to glorify God. John Calvin in his institutes makes this tremendous statement. Let us agree that through the law a man's life is molded not only to outward honesty, but to inward and spiritual righteousness.

Although no one can deny this very few duly noted. This happens because they do not look to the lawgiver, by whose character the nature of the law is to be appraised. Listen, if some King by edict forbids fornication, murder, or theft. I admit, says Calvin that Amanda doesn't commit such acts will not be bound by the penalty that is because the more lawgiver's jurisdiction extends only to the outward political order. But God, whose eye, nothing escapes and he was concerned, not so much with outward appearance. As with purity of heart forbids not only fornication, murder and theft, but last anger hatred coming in to see for since he is a spiritual lawgiver. He speaks no less to the soul than he does to the body."

What Calvin means is if you think God's laws are only external then you don't know the character of God.

1/4 principle God alone can judgment God alone can judge men listen. He alone sees the secrets of the heart. He knows you. He knows if you're really a Christian, or if your plan again. He knows if you're really carnal or spiritual as a believer. He knows he knows whether it's just a matter of acts or attitudes. He knows whether the heart matches the outside. Only God knows the secrets of the heart. In Hebrews chapter 4 in verse 12, the word of God is alive and powerful. And it says it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature not manifest in his sight.

All things are naked and opened under the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

God knows everything, but oh the next verse says we have a faithful sympathetic high priest and let us come boldly before the throne of grace, to seek mercy in time of need is a great God knows our hearts.

He knows if they're rotten, but he stands with his arms open as a sympathetic high priest ready to give us grace and mercy God alone can judge the heart and tell me this isn't true. Many a man and a woman can stand the judgment of men, but will fall before the discerning eye of God you better examine your own art final principal. Every person is commanded to live up to divine standards. That's right. Every person, every person is commanded to live up to divine standards, I say unto you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no case enter the kingdom of heaven. Chapter 5 closes with this be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect. Every person in the world is required to live up to that standard. So you gotta be kidding.

I'm not kidding. I'm not.

You mean I have the love that standard was a QR inside as well as a right outside.

Yes I say but I can, you're right. You are absolutely right, and that's why the apostle Paul gave us the solution in Romans chapter 3 Romans 310. There is none righteous, what's the rest of the verse know not one say John Rice set a standard I can attain. And so says Paul in verse 21. The righteousness of God is apart from the law manifested how even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe if you get you can't be that righteous.

But listen Christ is that righteous and he gives his righteousness to those who believe that great God sets a standard you can't live up to it and God says my son is not only the lawgiver but he is the Redeemer makes it possible for you to live on that level. Beloved.

It's a fantastic thing. The standard is so high we can attain it. Christ met the standard and imputes to us his righteousness apart from the law. We couldn't keep the law, all at a blessedly new look at your heart and you say the outside is not bad. The inside is rotten and if God did what was right. He would consume you and a blast of his fury, but because he's a merciful and gracious God. He makes his lawgiver, not just a lawgiver but a Redeemer and Jesus perfectly kept the law and imputes his righteousness to us so that when God looks at a believer.

He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ covering that person that I stand before God is righteous is Christ. Beloved, you can't even have that gift of righteousness. Unless you recognize that what you need is that gift of righteousness.

As long as you live your life justifying yourself on your external behavior will never come to the desperation that reaches out and accepts the gift of righteousness, the great preacher of many years ago, Henry Ward Beecher at a clock in this church didn't keep good time. It was always too fast or too slow and he fiddled with it month after month after month trying to get it right and it became kind of a standard topic of conversation in the church and finally in desperation, he put a sign over the clock. That said, don't blame the hands. The trouble lies deeper.

That's how it is in life is to blame the hands. The trouble lies deeper and until you they'll deal with the deeper trouble to change the hands but spring father. We know that only the righteousness of Jesus Christ can grant us the power to fulfill the law of God, only the righteousness of Jesus Christ can grant to us what we could never again what we could never standard is so high, which makes the gift so wonderful, or Jesus, help us to take that gift and then Lord us Christians help us to live without hypocrisy being on the inside what we feign to be on the outside and doing it all for your glory for Jesus sinfulness of sin.

That's John MacArthur study here on grace to you along with teaching each day on radio. John also serves as Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary now today John, you talked about how people in Jesus time depended on their leaders to explain the word of God for them. And of course we still rely on Bible teachers. Certainly the church you lead relies on your teaching. I rely on your teaching, but isn't it also true that where understanding Scripture is concerned. Your goal and even the goal of grace to you is to help people stand on their own.

Does this teachers and God has raised us up. He's given to the church pastors and teachers, and we understand that calling and that gifting we understand the responsibility to rightly divide the word of truth, because that's critical to the life of the church, but I've always believed Phil from the very beginning that it wasn't for me to tell people what the Bible meant it was always for me to show them why it had to mean that it's different. I could say will this verse means this and this verse means this and you can just believe me because I'm the expert or I can say look at this verse.

This way, look at how this compares to other verses look at the context of this and you can see that this is exactly what it means yourself right so that the the right kind of expository preaching makes the hearer part of the process. So if you prove, if you teach them what the process is then they can dig into the word of God on their own and that's what we've always endeavored to a Grace Church, but just having your Bible there.

You may say boy I wish I had a little more information about this or little more information about that and that's why 1225 years ago now. I wrote the MacArthur study Bible 25,000 notes on every page of the Bible, explaining some of the most important aspects of a given passage kind of a get you started with the right interpretation of that passage, the MacArthur study Bible has been going on out. As I said for almost 25 years and multiple translations, multiple styles available in the ESV, the new American Standard, which is what I preach from the new King James hard brown leather bound all kinds of choices it's a biblical library in one volume and if you want to know what the Bible means by what it says this is an initial resource.

This is your foundational resource. There are so many options so many available you can order yours today from Grace to you. You can write, you can call check the website. That's the best way to find out all the options and even all the translations of the MacArthur study Bible, is now available in and the MacArthur study Bible can help you understand practically any passage in God's word is a great resource for personal Bible study or for family devotions to purchase a copy. Contact us today.

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