Pure Eyes and Clean Speech
Jesus teaches that purity of eyes and speech are essential to a life of faith and obedience.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of purity in both sight and speech, illustrating how Jesus transcends the old laws by addressing the heart's intentions rather than just actions. He warns against allowing lustful thoughts to take root, urging believers to redirect their gaze towards God for cleansing. Meyer also critiques the casual use of oaths and swearing, highlighting the need for sincerity in our words and the gravity of invoking God's name. The sermon calls for a proactive approach to sin, advocating for the prevention of temptation before it manifests into actions.
Text
Matthew 5:27-37
The legislation of the old time insisted that no member of the commonwealth should commit adultery, and enforced terrible penalties. See Deuteronomy 22:22-24. But the Divine Man, who reads the human heart with perfect accuracy, goes behind the deed to its premonitory stages, legislates about the look that may inflame passion, and condemns the soul that does not instantly turn the eye from that which allures it, to the All-Holy, asking to be cleansed not with tears only but with blood. The first act in the religious life is to detect right and wrong in the thought or intention. If the tempter is arrested there, He is powerless to hurt. Kill the snake in the egg!
The prohibition against swearing does not deal with taking an oath in the law court.
During His trial by the high priest, our Lord did not resent being put on His oath. On rare and solemn occasions we may have to bare our heads before God and ask Him to corroborate our word. But how different is this from the frequent and flippant use of expletives and extravagances of speech.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Pure Eyes
- The Consequences of Impure Speech
- Jesus prohibits swearing, not taking oaths in court
- Flippant use of expletives is different from taking a solemn oath
Key Quotes
“Kill the snake in the egg!” — F.B. Meyer
“The first act in the religious life is to detect right and wrong in the thought or intention.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We must be mindful of our thoughts and intentions, as they can lead to sin.
- We should strive for clean and respectful speech, avoiding flippant language and oaths.