BUT I SAY TO YOU
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. But I Say To You
a) In Matthew 5:20-22, Jesus begins a series of statements that have this pattern: "You have heard... but I say to you..."
b) Jesus meant that the old fashioned, long-taught rules of righteousness, which the scribes and the Pharisees strictly followed, were not good enough for the kingdom of God. He was setting a new and much higher standard to follow.
c) Even the standard for the second greatest commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself", has been raised. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34; Matthew 22:34-40). Instead of self being the standard, now it is Christ.
d) Saying nasty, unjust things, losing your temper when you speak, is now the punishable offense. This sets a standard well above the old commandment, ""You shall not commit murder"" (Exodus 20:13). Now the commandment is that you shall not be angry with your brother without cause (Matthew 5:21).
e) Under the new standard, Christ controls attitudes and feelings of the heart rather than physical acts (anger rather than murder, lust rather than adultery). This new standard requires one to work on trust, love, and peace, not on legal rights and processes (divorce certificates, cleverly worded vows, lawsuits).
f) So the "I say to you..." boils down to this: Christ’s followers must, by his power, change their hearts to a heart like His (Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 3:14-20).
The End ...
1. But I Say To Youa) In Matthew 5:20-22, Jesus begins a series of statements that have this pattern: "You have heard... but I say to you..."
b) Jesus meant that the old fashioned, long-taught rules of righteousness, which the scribes and the Pharisees strictly followed, were not good enough for the kingdom of God. He was setting a new and much higher standard to follow.
c) Even the standard for the second greatest commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself", has been raised. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34; Matthew 22:34-40). Instead of self being the standard, now it is Christ.
d) Saying nasty, unjust things, losing your temper when you speak, is now the punishable offense. This sets a standard well above the old commandment, ""You shall not commit murder"" (Exodus 20:13). Now the commandment is that you shall not be angry with your brother without cause (Matthew 5:21).
e) Under the new standard, Christ controls attitudes and feelings of the heart rather than physical acts (anger rather than murder, lust rather than adultery). This new standard requires one to work on trust, love, and peace, not on legal rights and processes (divorce certificates, cleverly worded vows, lawsuits).
f) So the "I say to you..." boils down to this: Christ’s followers must, by his power, change their hearts to a heart like His (Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 3:14-20).
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