New Heart Righteousness
Jesus' mission is to construct and fulfill the highest ideals inspired in human hearts or written by God's Spirit, and His kingdom has severe consequences for unwarranted anger.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes that Jesus' mission was to fulfill and elevate the law rather than abolish it, illustrating how He embodies the highest ideals of righteousness. He highlights the reverence Jesus had for the Old Testament, affirming its divine authority and the importance of its teachings in preparing hearts for His message. Meyer warns that in Christ's kingdom, even unwarranted anger and contempt are serious offenses, equating them to capital crimes, thus urging believers to cultivate a heart of love and righteousness.
Text
Matthew 5:17-26
Our Lord’s mission was not to destroy but to construct. As noon fulfils dawn, and summer, spring; as manhood fulfils childhood and the perfect picture, the rude sketch, so does Jesus gather up, realize and make possible the highest ideals ever inspired in human hearts or written by God’s Spirit on the page of inspiration.
Under the terms, “the law and the prophets,†our Lord includes the entire range of the Old Testament. See Luke 24:44; Acts 13:15. Nothing could exceed our Lord’s reverence for the oracles of God. He repeatedly refers to them as of divine authority. His words and teachings are the endorsement of the venerable Scriptures which had nourished His people, preparing them for His further instruction.
See Romans 3:31; Romans 8:4.
The local magistrates’ court had the power of life and death, which was inflicted by beheading; the Sanhedrin executed by stoning; the outrageous criminal was cast out to Gehenna, Matthew 5:22. In Christ’s kingdom unwarranted anger is equivalent to the first, contempt to the second, and vehement passion to the third. To allow hate to smolder is a capital offence.
Sermon Outline
- Our Lord's Mission
- Our Lord's View of the Law
- The Consequences of Unrighteous Anger
- Unwarranted anger is a capital offence
- Equivalent to beheading, stoning, or Gehenna
Key Quotes
“Our Lord's mission was not to destroy but to construct.” — F.B. Meyer
“To allow hate to smolder is a capital offence.” — F.B. Meyer
“Unwarranted anger is equivalent to the first, contempt to the second, and vehement passion to the third.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We must strive to construct and fulfill the highest ideals inspired in our hearts or written by God's Spirit.
- We must approach the Old Testament with reverence and respect, recognizing its divine authority.
- We must be mindful of the consequences of unwarranted anger and strive to control our emotions and actions.