Category: Sermon on the Mount

Matthew’s version of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mountain.

16 “…let him have your cloak also.”

Matthew Sermon on the Mount 2 Comments

Give him my cloak too?  Does Jesus mean that I should give away all my possessions to bullies?!

Command 16: “…let him have your cloak also.”

REFERENCE:  

Mt 5:40  also Lk 6:29

RECIPIENT:   To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain

Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount 

Mt 5:38-39 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.‘  39But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

COMMAND FULL TEXT:  

Mt 5:40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.”

RESULT:  

No stated result except for two chapters later when Jesus came down from the mountain

Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

COMMENT:  

The saying, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH,’ comes from Old Testament law (Ex 21:23-25, Lv 24:19-20, Dt 19:18-21).  In the previous post (BLOG 14 & 15) I pointed out that the context was of judicial proceedings but the saying was being misapplied to personal attitudes.  This command is about the threat of imminent judicial ruling and again has implications about personal attitude.

There is no indication that this opponent is going to law unrighteously.  There are a few potential implications if I’ve wronged someone:

1.  My attitude should be humble and not defensive.
2.  I should more than satisfy the restitution I owe.

If however, your opponent is going to court using lies, deceit or forgeries against you, consider the cost of going to court in a counter-suit to recover what is rightfully yours. Worse damage may be done to your family and fortune if you pursue the counter-suit.  It might be better to simply buy another coat and shirt and be at peace with the matter. Jesus did not mention what to do if your opponent was demanding your house or business. These items matter to your family and livelihood and you might need to approach such a problem differently.

DEFINITIONS:  Key Greek Words

sue:  G2919  κρίνω  kree’-nō   —  Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish

take:  G2983  λαμβάνω  lam-ban’-ō  — A primary verb:  to take

have:  G863  ἀφίημι  af-ee’-ay-mee  — To send forth

PERSONAL APPLICATION: 

 If I’ve wronged someone, my attitude toward them should be humble.  I should more than satisfy my debt to them.

© 2018 Christopher Carlson

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB

Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.

12 & 13 “…make no oath at all… But… “yes” or “no”

Matthew Sermon on the Mount 1 Comment

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12  “… make no oath at all …”
13 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ {or} ‘No, no’…”
REFERENCE:  Mt 5:34-37 

CONTEXT: 

Mt 5:31-33  “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;  32but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for {the} reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
33”Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’“

RECIPIENT:   To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain,

Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…

COMMAND FULL TEXT:  

Mt 5:34-37 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.  36Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  37But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ {or} ‘No, no’…”

RESULT:  

Mt 5:37 “… anything beyond these is of evil.”

After Jesus concluded the sermon, two chapters later:
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

COMMENT:   The verses immediately preceding this command are talking about marriage and divorce which is the breaking of a vow.   Leviticus 19:12 and Numbers 30:2 state that a vow made to God is to be fulfilled. This command is further instruction not to make promises with an oath because such an oath is ultimately tied to God and may be impossible to keep due to circumstances.  Although this verse is not about business contracts, the principle of following through with business promises is certainly applicable.

Lv 19:12 And you shall not swear by My name to a falsehood; nor shall you pollute the name of your God; I am Jehovah.

Nu 30:2 When a man vows a vow to Jehovah, or has sworn an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do all that has gone out of his mouth.

DEFINITIONS:  Key Greek words

oath:  G3660  ὀμνύω  om-noo’-ō  —  to swear, that is, take (or declare an) oath

statement:  G3056  λόγος  log’-os  —  something said (including the thought)

APPLICATION: This is my own personal application of these commands.
When I say that I will do something, then I must make all reasonable effort to fulfill my words.  I will become known by friends, business associates and even family members by how well I follow through with actions.  No oath will suffice for action; so do not use an oath.

© 2018 Christopher Carlson

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB

9 “Make friends quickly …”

Matthew Sermon on the Mount 1 Comment

COMMAND 9: “Make friends quickly …”
REFERENCE:  Mt 5:25; Also see Lk 12:58 which is a similar command in a different context.

RECIPIENT:   To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain.

Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…

CONTEXT:  A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount: 

Mt 5:21-24 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be  guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother,  ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says,  ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty {enough to go} into the fiery hell.  23Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

COMMAND FULL TEXT:  See RESULT

RESULT: 

Mt 5:25-26 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  26“Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.”

After Jesus concluded the sermon, two chapters later:

Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

COMMENT:  Command 9 is part of the same paragraph as commands 7 and 8 and has important added instructions for reconciling with others.  

This is practical information.  When I’ve wronged someone trust is broken so that my words and promises become meaningless unless there is proof of my sincerity.  Reconciling with some people will likely involve asking forgiveness and restitution or some other kind of tangible consideration if property or money was involved. Restitution may have many forms.  If the offense was a relationship issue then humbly seek forgiveness.

DEFINITIONS:  Key Greek Words

make:  G2468  ἴσθι  is’-thee  — an imperative, be thou  

friends:  G2132  εὐνόεω  yoo-no-eh’-ō  — to be well minded

quickly: G5035 ταχύ  takh-oo’  — shortly implying without delay, soon or suddenly

opponent at law:  G476  ἀντίδικος  an-tid’-ee-kos  —  an opponent in a lawsuit

 GENERAL APPLICATION:  There is an old saying that, “Actions speak louder than words.”  I should be prepared to “make friends” when I go to reconcile with someone in the form of tangible proof of the sincerity of my words with a gift or restitution.

© 2018 Christopher Carlson

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

2 “Go, Satan!”

Matthew Sermon on the Mount 4 Comments

Personal note: When I first started recording these quotes, my main purpose was to make them applicable to me, today. This was only the second command and in it Jesus rebukes The Devil. After reading it I sat back in my chair and said to myself, “Really; what possible personal application could there be for me with this!” But, after I asked myself that question, in the very next moment, an application came to me!

2 “Go, Satan!”

REFERENCE: Matthew (Mt) 4:10

RECIPIENT: Satan (The Devil himself)

CONTEXT: Immediately after being baptised (a ceremonial immersion in water) by John the Baptist and before Jesus began speaking publicly, Matthew records a very strange dialog between Jesus and Satan. Luke also records this dialog in Luke 4:1-13.

Mt 4:1-10a Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'”
5Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'” 7Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'”
8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus *said to him…

COMMAND FULL TEXT: “Go, Satan! For it is written, `YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’ “

RESULT: Mt 4:11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

COMMENT: A main purpose of Jesus’ life on Earth was to live a perfect life without violating any of God’s laws. Violating any of God’s laws is sin. Christianity teaches that God is perfect.  God’s perfection demands perfection in conduct and a physical death sentence was pronounced on humanity because of the conduct of the first man and woman (see Genesis 3) and every person since then.
Christianity also teaches that God has immense love for every person so that Jesus was sent by God to Earth to live a perfect life and to pay the penalty of death as a substitution.  Although everyone will experience physical death, true Christians avoid spiritual death and are awarded eternal life.  God’s justice is satisfied and His love is manifest.
If Satan could temp Him into any sin then Jesus’ life purpose would be demolished. Satan attacked Jesus first with persuasions to listen to him in order to satisfy human physical need and psychological desires. The final persuasion was an appeal to human lust for power and to actual sin by worshiping anything other than God (see Exodus 20:3). They battled using as weapons God’s own words, the Bible’s Old Testament scripture. Satan distorted God’s word but Jesus used it rightly. Jesus rebuffed Satan three times before finally commanding that Satan depart.

GENERAL APPLICATION: Spending your time and energy thinking about and doing what is good and right is perhaps the best way to avoid temptation to do what is wrong. However, temptations will arise. You know your weaknesses. Avoid those places and circumstances where you know temptations will be overwhelming. Be proactive by preparing ways to strengthen yourself against persuasions to give in. Read helpful books or memorize an appropriate proverb. Be persistent in learning to resist.

WHAT WILL YOU DO? Please share your application or comments.  Perhaps you can help others by sharing your strategies to overcome temptations.

© 2018

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB

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