TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 5:13–20; 43–48
Influence your Culture (13–16)
In Matthew 5–7, we find Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5 takes us to the hillside along the Sea of Galilee. As the multitude is seated, Jesus shares the Beatitudes (or “Attitudes to Be”). The word translated “blessed” is best understood as, “oh, the contentment of …”
Contrary to our culture’s perspective that encourages us to chase the blessings, Jesus taught that blessings chase those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are peacemakers and who are merciful.
Christ-followers with that perspective can have a significant impact on culture. Jesus used salt and light to illustrate their potential. Before refrigeration, salt functioned as a preservative. In the same manner, when believers stand for morality, they serve as a preserving agent in a decaying and fallen world. Salt enhances the flavor of food. In a way, Christians enhance culture with their enthusiasm and zest for life.
Salt also promotes thirst. The life and testimony of believers should make nonbelievers thirsty for Jesus, the Water of life. However, Jesus also has a warning against salt that loses its taste as it is contaminated with other minerals. In the same way, Christians can lose their influence as their lives become contaminated by sin.
Jesus also speaks of the impact of light. Light reveals and exposes. Light illuminates the path. For believers, light represents manifesting Jesus Christ through their lives. We need to shine brightly for Jesus so that the culture sees our good works and glorifies God.
Obey your Father (17–20)
Even though the teachings of Jesus seemed radical to His listeners, Jesus made it clear that He didn’t come to replace or dismantle the law but to fulfill it. The scribes and Pharisees had taken the Ten Commandments given to Moses and expanded them into 613 commandments from the Torah, but they had missed the spirit and original intent of God.
Jesus made it clear that nothing in the law of God would pass away. He also cautioned against thinking that personal, relative righteousness would measure up.
We should be thankful that the imputed righteousness of Christ meets God’s standard of holiness on our behalf.
Love your Enemies (43–48)
Jesus’ message was countercultural. In verses 21, 27, 31, 38 and 43, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said …” He’s basically saying in those passages that it’s not about outward actions, but it’s a matter involving the motivation of the heart. Murder is the outward expression of an inward anger. He continues by teaching that adultery is the outward expression of inward lust. He addresses the righteous reasons for divorce and finally deals with reciprocity.
We usually love those who love us. But how do you treat those who mistreat you? Jesus is saying that how we respond in these difficult relationships gives a great testimony to an unbelieving world. If we only love those who love us, then we’re no different from unbelievers. By loving and praying for our enemies, we show the world that God is our Father.
Romans 5:10 reminds us that “while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.”
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
