Follow Jesus’ directions for life
Matthew 5:21-42
There are some general directions that apply to every car journey. They are the rules of the road. Jesus’ directions in the Sermon on the Mount are like a ‘highway code’ for a life of blessing.
Following Jesus’ directions involves a radical lifestyle. He challenges us to be ruthless in dealing with every wrong attitude, thought, word and action.
Our words should be words of blessing, not anger. Do not speak angry words against your brothers and sisters (v.21–22). ‘The simple moral fact is that words kill’ (v.22, MSG). But, words can also give life. Choose today to speak life-giving words of wisdom, encouragement and blessing.
We are called to do everything within our power to bless those we have fallen out with (v.23–26). If we remember a ‘grudge’ a friend has against us, we should go to the friend and try to ‘make things right’ (v.23–24, MSG). If we encounter an ‘old enemy’ we should ‘make the first move; make things right’ with them (v.25, MSG).
We need to guard what we do with our eyes and our heart. If we allow them to become corrupted then, far from being a blessing to others, we will be rotten ourselves.
Take radical action. When teaching on adultery, Jesus says it is not simply about the physical act: ‘Don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices – they also corrupt’ (v.28, MSG).
Jesus speaks of the eye as the starting point of adultery. Take radical steps to avoid such a course (vv.29–30). As Job said, ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl’ (Job 31:1).
Marriage is intended to be a place of blessing one another and a source of blessing for others. This means a life of radical faithfulness within marriage (Matthew 5:31–32). Jesus speaks against using divorce as ‘a cover for selfishness and whim’ (v.32a, MSG).
We are to live lives of radical integrity in which we say what we mean, and mean what we say: ‘Simply let your “Yes” be “Yes”, and your “No”, “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one’ (v.37).
Blessing others means blessing even those who do bad things to us (v.38–42). ‘Don’t hit back at all… No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously’ (vv.39,42, MSG). To return evil for good is demonic. To return good for good is human. To return good for evil is the way of Jesus.
