1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,240 And Junior Church, you can be dismissed at this time. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:04,480 And as they're making their way out, 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,920 if you would find in place in scriptures in Matthew chapter 4 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:34,920 5. 5 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,280 Excuse me. 6 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,520 In Matthew 5, our text for this morning 7 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,280 is found in verses 21 through 26. 8 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,160 Jesus speaking, he said, you have 9 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:54,160 heard that it was said to those of old, that is the ancients, 10 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,840 that you shall not murder. 11 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,920 Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. 12 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,160 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother 13 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,680 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 14 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,120 And whoever says to his brother, Raqqa, 15 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,720 shall be in danger of the council. 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,160 Whoever says, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 17 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,240 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar 18 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,680 and there remember that your brother has something against 19 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:24,200 you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. 20 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,980 First, be reconciled to your brother. 21 00:01:26,980 --> 00:01:29,400 And then come and offer your gift. 22 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,720 Agree with your adversary quickly 23 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,760 while you're on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver 24 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,640 you to the judge and the judge hand you over to the officer 25 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,000 and you be thrown into prison. 26 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,200 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means 27 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,560 get out of there until you have paid the last penny. 28 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,320 Let's pray. 29 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,600 Oh gracious Father, Lord, would you help us understand 30 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,400 your word this morning? 31 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,120 Father, may we sense the urgency. 32 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,480 And Lord, may we also understand the spirit 33 00:01:58,480 --> 00:01:59,880 in which it was given. 34 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:01,080 Lord, we need you this morning. 35 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:02,360 Help us, Father. 36 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,560 And we ask this for the glory and honor of Christ 37 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,040 in whose name we pray. 38 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,040 Amen. 39 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,600 Recently, Sandy and I were talking 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,800 and she was telling me of an incident that occurred 41 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,240 with our oldest daughter, Adara. 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,440 Adara is a wonderful girl, but she's a handful right now. 43 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,240 And we love her, but she's making us pray. 44 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,040 And we say that often. 45 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,880 But our son Ezra, he always has notebooks with him. 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,800 And he likes to write. 47 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,800 He loves to practice letters and he loves to draw. 48 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,080 And Ezra is very particular about his things. 49 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:34,800 He's particular about his notebooks. 50 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,040 And he does not like for any of his sisters to touch them. 51 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,800 So one day, Ezra came to Sandy and he 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,040 was upset because Adara had taken one of the new notebooks 53 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,600 and had scribbled on every page practically 54 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,320 of this new notebook. 55 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,240 And Sandy had even seen Adara scribbling, 56 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,520 but she didn't know and she was unaware that it 57 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,680 was one of Ezra's notebooks. 58 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,760 So then Sandy goes to Adara and she questioned 59 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:57,720 Adara about scribbling. 60 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,000 And Adara denied it. 61 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,120 And she said, then Sandy's getting aggravated. 62 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:06,800 She said, Adara, I saw you scribbling. 63 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,000 And Adara says, I was not scribbling. 64 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,560 And then, so Sandy's getting more mad. 65 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,720 She said, I saw you do it. 66 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,960 And Adara said, no, I wasn't scribbling. 67 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,800 Scribbling is like when you do this. 68 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,080 I was drawing circles, which is when you do this. 69 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,400 So scribbling is this action and I 70 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,000 wasn't doing that technically. 71 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,800 And if you know Adara, that is her. 72 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,440 And she comes by it so naturally, just like her mother. 73 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,760 No, I'm kidding. 74 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,760 So anyway, she was trying to uphold her innocence 75 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,520 by a technicality. 76 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,840 Technically, in the strict sense of the law, 77 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,480 she had not scribbled. 78 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,680 And yet, she knew what her mother was referring to. 79 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,880 But this is how some people, even of ancient, 80 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,440 tried to interact with God's law. 81 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,320 They would maintain their innocence or their righteousness 82 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,200 by saying, technically, we have kept the law, 83 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,320 but they ignored the broader intention and the spirit 84 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:01,800 behind it. 85 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,880 In verse 20, which we started with verse 21, 86 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,960 but we ended up last week, Jesus said these frightening words. 87 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,520 He said, unless your righteousness 88 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,200 exceeds that of the Pharisees and scribes, 89 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:19,680 you will in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 90 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,560 Heaven is shut off to you. 91 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,060 And then today, he's going to tell us, 92 00:04:23,060 --> 00:04:26,960 if you call someone a fool, you're in danger of hell. 93 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,560 Now, one must keep in mind, when Jesus said that your righteousness 94 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,200 must succeed theirs, the scribes and Pharisees 95 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,200 were the most important people and the most 96 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,840 righteous people of the day. 97 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:40,640 They were the ones held in high regard, high esteem. 98 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,640 The problem was they were hypocrites. 99 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,080 Yes, they were righteous, but they were self-righteous. 100 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,680 They were purporting to have kept God's law. 101 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,680 And yet, the whole time, they were ignoring 102 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,760 the true and broader intention. 103 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,000 Now, in verse 21, it starts a new section of scripture. 104 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,520 It goes all the way to verse 48. 105 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,080 So verse 21 through verse 48, six times our Lord 106 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:05,920 will use this phrase. 107 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,080 You have heard, but I say to you. 108 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,240 He's showing how the Pharisees were mishandling and actually 109 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,680 misinterpreting the law of God. 110 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,280 So really, this section, verses 21 through 48, 111 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:20,260 is meant to be read as a whole unit, 112 00:05:20,260 --> 00:05:22,680 showing what Jesus words in verse 20. 113 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,080 He's showing you how your righteousness must 114 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,400 exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees 115 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,240 if you're to enter in the kingdom of heaven, 116 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,240 if this is meant to be lived out. 117 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,200 Now, again, keep in mind, the religious leaders, 118 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,360 they're experts. 119 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,880 They're experts in the letter of the law. 120 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,900 And yet, they were woefully deficient 121 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:42,760 in their understanding of the spirit of the law. 122 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,200 So they had rabbinical traditions 123 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,640 that had been passed down from ages. 124 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:51,060 They had reduced God's law to a manageable religious system 125 00:05:51,060 --> 00:05:53,280 that they could keep, and that would even 126 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:55,560 foster pride in them. 127 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,560 Then the more Jesus came out of nowhere, out of obscurity, 128 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,080 he comes on the scene, and he begins 129 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,280 to challenge their teaching. 130 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:06,960 He was not challenging the law of God, 131 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,840 but he was challenging the interpretation of it. 132 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:12,900 And he was going to show what God's true intention was that 133 00:06:12,900 --> 00:06:18,120 lie behind the law and how that your righteousness must 134 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,160 go deeper than your actions. 135 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,920 Now, look at verse 21. 136 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,560 You have heard it was said to those of old, 137 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,320 you shall not murder. 138 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,840 If you do, you're in danger of the judgment. 139 00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:31,800 Jesus is simply quoting the Decalogue. 140 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,080 He's quoting the sixth commandment here. 141 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,560 Exodus 20, verse 13, you shall not murder. 142 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,060 Now, if you have a King James Bible, 143 00:06:39,060 --> 00:06:41,240 it'll say, thou shall not kill. 144 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,320 But the Hebrew word is actually not just killing. 145 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,040 It actually is the word murder. 146 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,400 And that's an important distinction, because not all 147 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,120 taking of a life is sin. 148 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,720 For example, you can have capital punishment, 149 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,760 just war theory, accidental deaths, 150 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,120 accidentally killing someone, and self-defense. 151 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,720 They were not considered in this commandment. 152 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,560 One of the arguments that sometimes you'll hear 153 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,320 people who are supportive of the abortion industry, 154 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,120 they will say, if you guys were consistent, 155 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:13,740 how do you oppose abortion, and yet you're 156 00:07:13,740 --> 00:07:16,200 OK with capital punishment? 157 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,880 Because both of those are killing. 158 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,320 And the Bible says, thou shall not kill. 159 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,000 Well, they don't understand the Hebrew word is murder. 160 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,640 And the reason that we would be in favor of capital punishment 161 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,320 is because God was. 162 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:32,840 Genesis 9, verse 6, whoever sheds man's blood by man, 163 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:37,360 his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God he made man. 164 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,960 So if one had broken the sixth commandment, 165 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,200 you were in danger of capital punishment. 166 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,880 In fact, this is your danger of judgment. 167 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,720 What's Jesus talking about here? 168 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,000 It's not a vigilante system. 169 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,480 It's actually a court system. 170 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:53,920 They would go to court. 171 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:55,600 The court would seek witnesses. 172 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,620 And they would find them guilty. 173 00:07:57,620 --> 00:08:00,200 And the punishment would be death. 174 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,520 The very first crime that we see mentioned in the scriptures 175 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:04,920 is murder. 176 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,760 Cain killed his brother Abel. 177 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,680 So from the beginning, sadly, murders have always been 178 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,160 and always will be a part of our fallen world. 179 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,120 And this is true in part because the world right now 180 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,920 lies under the influence of Satan. 181 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,440 And Jesus said in John 8, 44 that Satan was 182 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,760 a murderer from the beginning. 183 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,040 So what that means is murder in any form is satanic. 184 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,440 Satan hates mankind. 185 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,720 Why? 186 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Because mankind was created in the image of God. 187 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,680 And this is an important point worth distinction, church. 188 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:42,320 All humanity bears what's called the imago 189 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,160 de, the image of God. 190 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:49,240 The imprimatur of God is upon each man or woman. 191 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,240 And Satan loves nothing more than to destroy that image. 192 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,200 This is why I say with absolute certainty, 193 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,600 the abortion industry is satanic. 194 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,200 It is satanic. 195 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:05,520 It seeks to end human life before they ever exit the womb. 196 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,760 Now some of us are sitting back very smug, almost self-righteous, 197 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,440 fair-sacred. 198 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,840 I've never murdered anyone, pastor. 199 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:14,680 I'm innocent. 200 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:18,480 I'm free of the sixth commandment. 201 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,040 Go back to the words of Jesus, verse 22. 202 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,400 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother 203 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,680 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 204 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:30,680 And whoever says there's brother Raka 205 00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:33,080 shall be in danger of the council. 206 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,160 But whoever says you fool shall be in danger of hellfire. 207 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,400 Friends, these are sobering words. 208 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,080 They're said, they come from the mouth of the Son of God, 209 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,920 the one who has all judgment committed unto him. 210 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,520 He says, you have heard, but I say. 211 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,480 Again, you're going to see this phrase six times 212 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,280 over the next 27 verses. 213 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,560 Now the pronoun I is what we call an emphatic pronoun. 214 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:59,600 And it literally means I myself say to you. 215 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:00,720 Why that is important? 216 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,960 Because if you go back to the Old Testament, the prophets, 217 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,520 how would they start a declaration from God? 218 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,440 Thus saith the Lord. 219 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:13,240 But Jesus, the God man, simply says, I say to you. 220 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,800 Christ, of his own divine authority, 221 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:17,720 he doesn't quote rabbis, he doesn't 222 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,040 quote other ancient sources, but rather he 223 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:25,760 speaks authoritatively, giving the true interpretation 224 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:27,240 of the law. 225 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,600 And by the way, he ought to know the intention of the law 226 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,200 because it came from him. 227 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,040 He's the great law giver. 228 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,120 Now what Jesus is telling us in this passage, 229 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,560 he's not merely concerned with actions. 230 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:41,480 Of course our actions matter. 231 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,880 But he's very much also interested in the actions 232 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,160 and motives from which the actions flow. 233 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,320 Matthew 15 verse 19, out of the heart 234 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:58,760 proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, 235 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,280 thefts, false witnesses, and blasphemies. 236 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:03,920 Before you will ever sin with your hand, 237 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,200 you will first sin with your heart. 238 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,960 In other words, your righteousness 239 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,560 has not exceeded the scribes and Pharisees 240 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,960 simply because you have not committed homicide. 241 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:19,520 The root of murder comes from an angry heart. 242 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:24,520 The evil of murder is not simply that you took the life, 243 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:28,280 but the heart that led one to take the life. 244 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:29,280 This is where it starts. 245 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:30,480 It's in a heart. 246 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,160 See, the problem, if you look at scripture, 247 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:33,240 it's very consistent. 248 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,480 The problem with mankind is not out there. 249 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:36,520 It's not external. 250 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,480 It is internal. 251 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,360 The problem, as I said, it's not in our hands. 252 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,240 It's in our heart. 253 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,480 So you can't say that you are blameless simply 254 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,520 because you have not lifted up your hand against another 255 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:49,880 person to kill them. 256 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,080 But that's exactly what the religious leaders were teaching. 257 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,000 It was just very mechanical. 258 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,880 It was reduced, reductionistic. 259 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,320 It was reduced to if you have not committed homicide, 260 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,480 then you are innocent of the Sixth Commandment. 261 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,440 You're blameless. 262 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,480 And Jesus said, no, you're not. 263 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,040 You're not blameless because God's 264 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:09,360 not going to judge your actions. 265 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,440 He's also going to judge your heart. 266 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,280 So they were very careful, scrupulous. 267 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,040 They were kept to the strict letter of the law. 268 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,080 And they had all these rabbinical traditions 269 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,160 that told you what that should mean. 270 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,000 And since they were so proud of having kept the law, 271 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,720 they became self-assured. 272 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,240 Self-assured of what? 273 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,080 Their own innocence. 274 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,280 And yet, in their own self-righteousness, 275 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:36,320 they never stopped to examine their own hearts. 276 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,720 Because again, what Jesus is saying, 277 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,840 it's not just the action, but the anger 278 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:47,600 that fuels the action that is also prohibited by God. 279 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,080 Yes, murder clearly is prohibited. 280 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,400 But murderous anger, which lies in the heart, 281 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,720 is also prohibited. 282 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,240 Have you ever been simply angry with another in your heart? 283 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,120 Have you ever mouthed the words, I'm so angry 284 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,440 I could kill someone? 285 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,880 Have you ever called someone a fool, a moron, 286 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,320 a brainless idiot? 287 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:11,840 Maybe not out loud. 288 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:13,600 But have you ever thought it in your heart 289 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,520 when someone cut you off in traffic? 290 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,520 So we know that God's not only judging actions. 291 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:19,480 He's judging the heart. 292 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,120 And this is what the Lord is wanting us to understand. 293 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,560 This is the judgment, Jeremiah 17. 294 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:28,200 I, the Lord, I search the heart. 295 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,560 I test the mind even to give every man according 296 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:34,960 to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. 297 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,320 First Samuel, for the Lord does not see as man sees, 298 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:38,820 for man looks at the outward appearance, 299 00:13:38,820 --> 00:13:40,760 but the Lord looks at the heart. 300 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:46,520 Psalm 7, 9, for the righteous God, that is the Holy One, 301 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,480 he tests the hearts and the minds. 302 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,240 He weighs them. 303 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,640 So when God judges, he judges absolutely. 304 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,480 Not just your actions, that's easy. 305 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,560 But the thoughts and motivations behind your actions 306 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:01,960 will be judged as well. 307 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,880 And that poses a big problem for us. 308 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,800 The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, 309 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,040 only concerned themselves with the letter. 310 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Just like Adorah, she wasn't scribbling technically. 311 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,560 And they became proud of having kept the law. 312 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,600 And it's the height of irony. 313 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,320 And it's the height of arrogance that these religious leaders 314 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,720 that boasted they had kept the sixth commandment 315 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,160 would later prove themselves to be guilty of the murder 316 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,400 of the Son of God. 317 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,920 These are the ones who delivered Christ up to be crucified. 318 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,760 Boasting how righteous they were, and yet in history, 319 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,320 they stand guilty of the murder of God's Son. 320 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,680 Verse 22, I say to you that whosoever is angry 321 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:49,240 with his brother without a cause shall 322 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,160 be in danger of the judgment. 323 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,520 Notice it does say without a cause, angry without a cause. 324 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:58,800 So that means there is an anger that does have a cause, which 325 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:00,440 is what we would call righteous anger. 326 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,800 And some of us probably think too highly of ourselves 327 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,360 and we think that our anger is always righteous. 328 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,680 But righteous anger is anger directed at sin. 329 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,600 It is right to be angry at the abortion industry. 330 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,240 It's good to have righteous anger there. 331 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,440 Now that doesn't mean you direct it toward people, 332 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,960 but it's the satanic industry. 333 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,960 Or that which prompts us to defend ourselves 334 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,920 when attacked or to defend our families from evil. 335 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,160 It's the anger that is aroused when people seek to disparage 336 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:28,120 and dishonor God. 337 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,520 When you hear someone take your Savior's name in vain 338 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,480 or disparage your Savior and you kind of get angry inside, 339 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,960 that's a good anger. 340 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,840 But that's not what Jesus is talking about. 341 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:40,640 Here's an anger. 342 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,720 It is a selfish, seething anger, a feeling 343 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:49,200 that would lead us to murder if it were acted out fully. 344 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,200 Now the word angry here is the Greek word or gitso, 345 00:15:53,200 --> 00:16:00,920 become enraged, provoked, brooding, simmering anger. 346 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,400 And you just allow it to fester. 347 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,160 It doesn't die. 348 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,280 It's when you hold a grudge. 349 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,040 You will not forgive. 350 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:10,880 William Farley says, we note in passing 351 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,400 that Christ deals here not with the emotion of anger, 352 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,920 but with the willing acceptance of it in one's life. 353 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,680 It is a longstanding grudge, not simply 354 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,800 the feeling of irritation, which is in view. 355 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:25,760 You just rehearse it. 356 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,480 You meditate upon what was done. 357 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:29,840 And what our Lord was doing, he's 358 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,240 teaching to the people gathered. 359 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:32,640 This is a sermon on the Mount. 360 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,800 Lots of people, his disciples, and by extension, 361 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,000 a great crowd is there. 362 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,520 And he's wanting to destroy the illusion of self-righteousness 363 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,600 so that you might cast yourself upon the mercy of God. 364 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,120 Is the sixth commandment still valid? 365 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,760 Absolutely. 366 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,280 But it's not just a strict legalistic interpretation 367 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:53,480 of the literal act. 368 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,000 That's rejected. 369 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:01,880 You and I have no chance at justifying ourselves. 370 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,600 God is going to judge our hearts and our hands. 371 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,720 And the sin of murder, like every other sin out there, 372 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,400 will begin the heart before it ever 373 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,440 finds fruition in your actions. 374 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:12,320 The Lord continues. 375 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,760 He doesn't let us off the hook even that easily. 376 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:16,880 He warns us to be careful against sinful anger, 377 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,080 but also to be careful with expressions of contempt. 378 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:22,560 Why? 379 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,560 When we speak contemptuously of others, 380 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,280 it reveals a seething anger. 381 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,520 Whoever says there's brother Raka, 382 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,360 you're going to be in danger of the council. 383 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:34,760 That's probably the Sanhedrin there. 384 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:35,760 Raka, what's it mean? 385 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,200 It's a worthless, empty-headed man, literally brainless 386 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,840 idiot. 387 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,240 You're witless. 388 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,400 You're foolish. 389 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:46,920 This is a term of malice. 390 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:47,960 There's slander here. 391 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,280 There's derision. 392 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,360 But underneath it lies a contempt 393 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,560 for another human being. 394 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,040 You're speaking contemptuously. 395 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:02,760 You are speaking contemptuously about another fellow image 396 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,320 bearer of God. 397 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,360 It's very serious. 398 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:09,920 In fact, it's terrible in God's sight. 399 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,720 Again, I want to quote Farley here. 400 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,320 What is envisioned is a contempt that 401 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,040 would write the other person off entirely. 402 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,440 What Christ condemns here is the rage 403 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,080 that implicitly denies the personhood and dignity 404 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,240 of the other. 405 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,800 Carl, when you say someone's worthless, 406 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,600 others are worthless. 407 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,680 It's an affront to the creator who created that individual. 408 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,360 To say that someone is worthless is criticizing the creator 409 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:40,280 that created that worthless one. 410 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:45,000 Contempt and derision for another is the very spirit 411 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:49,840 that leads to murder, whether you carry it out or not. 412 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:56,040 You and I, we have destroyed others with our tongues. 413 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:01,400 We have ruined others and killed their reputation. 414 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,680 Do you still think that you will stand before God innocently? 415 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:09,360 God's justice and his judgment is exacting. 416 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:10,960 It's comprehensive. 417 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:12,560 It's precise. 418 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,800 There's no wiggle room. 419 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,400 But Jesus continues. 420 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,720 He said, if you say you fool, you're 421 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,720 going to be in danger of the fire of hell. 422 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:25,920 Fool is moros. 423 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,960 It's easy to see where we get our word moron from, right? 424 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:33,200 Slow, stupid, dull. 425 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,480 It's to accuse someone not just being stupid, but godless. 426 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,560 Again, worthless, moros. 427 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:44,320 For you to call someone that shows a bitterness 428 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,360 and a hatred within your heart. 429 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:50,120 And what's in your heart comes out of your mouth. 430 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:52,480 For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 431 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,120 So when you're calling someone a fool, 432 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:58,160 Jesus said you're in danger of the judgment of hell. 433 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,080 Are you still thinking you're innocent and righteous 434 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,200 before God? 435 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,160 Do you still boast that you've kept the sixth commandment? 436 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:07,720 Martin Lloyd-Jones, he said, what 437 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,080 is the state of your heart? 438 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,240 How do you react to things that happen? 439 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,440 Do you find yourself flaring into a raging temper 440 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,440 when a person has done something to you? 441 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,920 Or do you sometimes feel anger against a person who's really 442 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,000 done nothing to you at all? 443 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,240 These are the things that matter. 444 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,800 It is that which God meant when he said thou shall not kill 445 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,680 and God sees the heart and he's not concerned only 446 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,680 with external action. 447 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,160 You think about what Lloyd-Jones said. 448 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,760 I think about traffic. 449 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,960 I talked to some of you two weeks ago. 450 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,160 I wasn't going to say this because confession 451 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,040 is good for the soul. 452 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,640 But not last Saturday, Saturday before. 453 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,440 We were coming back from a soccer game 454 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,880 and I was trying to go to get the van in a car wash 455 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:56,480 and a man cut me off in traffic. 456 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:57,480 He didn't cut me off. 457 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:58,360 He just wouldn't let me over. 458 00:20:58,360 --> 00:20:59,800 And I had Sandy and the kids in the car. 459 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,200 And I mean, there's plenty of room. 460 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:02,160 He could have slowed down. 461 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:03,040 I couldn't slow down. 462 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,960 Someone behind me, I need to make this turn. 463 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:06,320 And he would not let me over. 464 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:07,800 He sped up. 465 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:09,640 And he's a brand new Subaru Forester. 466 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,040 So I'm laying on my horn and I'm sure 467 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,480 that I'm calling him an idiot. 468 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,520 I don't know that I did, but I'm sure that I did. 469 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:17,440 And he wouldn't let me over. 470 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,640 So finally, I just let him go and then I get behind him 471 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,200 and he goes to the same car wash I'm going to. 472 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,960 And I'm boiling. 473 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,480 Sandy's very good at playing the Holy Spirit in my life. 474 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:27,560 She's very good at that. 475 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,560 And she's just telling me, calm down, calm down. 476 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:30,440 And so I'm looking over. 477 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:31,800 I'm hoping he'll make eye contact. 478 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,160 He wouldn't, because he got stuck. 479 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,400 And I thought that was God's justice at that time. 480 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,120 And so I'm going through. 481 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:38,400 And I remember I'm calming down. 482 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,640 I told Sandy, I just need to calm down. 483 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,840 And so I'm in the car wash. 484 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:43,920 Van's in the car wash. 485 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:45,520 And so we're going through there and I'm just calming. 486 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:46,720 I'm like, OK, I just need to calm down. 487 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:47,280 Fine. 488 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,520 So I start to get out and I go to the vacuum 489 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:50,720 and trying the car off. 490 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,880 And they're probably four minutes behind us. 491 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:54,160 And all of a sudden, they come out 492 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:55,840 and they make eye contact with me. 493 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:57,880 And I am furious all over again. 494 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,080 And I throw my rag down. 495 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:00,960 I'm just shaking my head like, what's up? 496 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:02,720 And I couldn't believe it. 497 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,160 And I'm feeling myself out of control. 498 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,800 I walk toward their car and ask them to roll down the window. 499 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:09,840 And I tell them exactly. 500 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,440 I didn't cuss them. 501 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:12,960 I can't claim innocence because it's 502 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:14,880 like it wouldn't have been better. 503 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,640 But I looked at them and told them that they 504 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:17,920 were what's wrong with the world. 505 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,800 I said, you, sir, you are the type of people 506 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,720 that's a problem in the world today. 507 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,520 And then I don't know what else I told him. 508 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,880 And I said, I was an idiot. 509 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:27,320 And I just said, I have four kids 510 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,200 and hope none of them grow up to be like you. 511 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:30,800 None of them. 512 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:31,960 All against it. 513 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,960 He then got smart and said, well, congratulations 514 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,000 on the four children, which made me more mad. 515 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,640 And I'm like, and Sandy's over here. 516 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:39,920 And she's grabbing my arm. 517 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:41,640 And she said, stop, Ryan. 518 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,240 What are you doing? 519 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:44,960 Come back over here. 520 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:46,040 And I'm just furious. 521 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:46,880 I mean, I am. 522 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:47,960 And I don't know why. 523 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,200 He cut me off in traffic. 524 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,680 And she said, what are you going to do, Ryan, 525 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,600 if those people show up in church one Sunday? 526 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,080 And how are you going to greet them? 527 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,520 I said, probably with an apology. 528 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,120 But I remember the truth is, and this 529 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:01,240 is honest before God. 530 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:02,520 And I share this with other people 531 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,480 because I'm like, y'all need to pray for me. 532 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,880 I found myself really super angry. 533 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,160 But as soon as I got back to the van, 534 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,480 the Holy Spirit jumped all over me. 535 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:15,480 And I remember reading. 536 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,560 Do you remember when Saul goes into the cave in Getty 537 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:19,360 and David cut off his robe? 538 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:20,560 So he did cut off his robe. 539 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:21,760 And then Saul walks out. 540 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:22,360 And David walks out. 541 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:25,080 And he's like, look, I could have killed you if I didn't. 542 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:26,440 And the Spirit of God got on David 543 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,920 and said, you shouldn't even cut his robe off. 544 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,560 This was what I mean, I'm telling you, 545 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,880 I felt like the worst just, Lord, forgive me. 546 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:37,120 I don't know what I was doing. 547 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:38,200 I was out of control. 548 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:39,640 And I went back to that same car wash yesterday, 549 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:40,600 hoping to see them. 550 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,920 Not to tell them anymore what I thought. 551 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:43,880 But I really was. 552 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:44,920 I was praying, like, let them see there, 553 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,040 because the next time if I see them, 554 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,320 and I'll remember who they were, I want to apologize to them. 555 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:50,920 I was wrong. 556 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:52,200 And do you know what was worse? 557 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,200 You know what I was studying? 558 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,480 Matthew 5. 559 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:57,760 See, we're not to be angry. 560 00:23:57,760 --> 00:23:59,640 I think condemn there. 561 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,320 We're not to be angry in a sinful manner. 562 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,000 We're not to use contemptuous speech. 563 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,480 We're not to tell people they're the problem with the world. 564 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,600 You know what the problem with the world is? 565 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,480 I am. 566 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:10,520 I am. 567 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,160 See, the command is not murder. 568 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,120 Yes, but it's also, it goes beyond that. 569 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:15,400 So that's the negative aspect. 570 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,160 But every negative command has a positive application. 571 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,240 It means to take steps to make sure that you're 572 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,080 right with your brother. 573 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,840 When God prohibits one thing, by extension, he enjoins 574 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:29,640 or he commands the opposite at the very same time. 575 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:30,560 So what does that mean? 576 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:31,600 Look at verse 23 and 24. 577 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:32,720 It's what he's doing. 578 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,640 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, 579 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,240 and there you remember that your brother has something against 580 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,360 you, well, leave your gift before the altar and go your way. 581 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:44,960 First, be reconciled to your brother, 582 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,000 and then come and offer your gift. 583 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:47,640 Don't murder. 584 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,440 OK, he says, but don't stop there. 585 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,680 Be reconciled to those with whom you are 586 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,640 estranged or at odds with. 587 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,880 You have to go further, Christian. 588 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,320 You have to actually remove the barrier between you 589 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,040 and your brother. 590 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,200 You may not murder. 591 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:03,920 You may not say unkind things. 592 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:10,240 You may even try very hard to have no ill thoughts. 593 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:15,600 But you ought to go further and seek peace and reconciliation. 594 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,760 You ought to have shalom, wholeness in your life. 595 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,400 Sinclair Ferguson, he talks about this, 596 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,520 and the quote I'll get to in a moment. 597 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:25,680 He says, picture a man in church. 598 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,520 You're about to express your devotion to the Lord in worship 599 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,320 by giving an offering, but you have not 600 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,560 been enjoying fellowship with your brother. 601 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,360 There's disharmony in that relationship. 602 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:38,840 Jesus says, you should leave your offering, 603 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,400 go home, be reconciled to your brother, 604 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,680 and then return to worship God with a clear conscience 605 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,640 and a full heart. 606 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,560 Now, is Jesus saying that the only important thing in worship 607 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,360 is right relationships with our brothers? 608 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:51,840 No, hardly. 609 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,520 He recognizes our relationship with God is primary, 610 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,920 but we will always appear before God 611 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:03,600 as those who are related rightly or wrongly to our fellow man. 612 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,920 What we are before God, Ferguson says, 613 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,560 involves how we are related to others. 614 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,280 If you and I are enmity with others, 615 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,880 how can we come into the Lord's presence with clean hands 616 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:15,720 and a pure heart? 617 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:17,480 It is monstrous to think that he will 618 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,920 find our hypocritical offering acceptable. 619 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,040 Obedience is better than sacrifice. 620 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,960 The principle is clear. 621 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,560 Right relationships with others are 622 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:33,280 part of the meaning of the commandment to not murder. 623 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,880 They are essential if our righteousness 624 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:40,080 is to go deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees. 625 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,640 It is interesting in this example our Lord uses. 626 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:45,040 He said, you're bringing a gift. 627 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,440 And in this context, the temple is still standing. 628 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:48,600 It's a sacrificial animal. 629 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:49,680 You bring it to the altar. 630 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,440 You're coming to worship God. 631 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,520 And many times what we find when someone does wrong 632 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:55,860 and they're convicted of it, they 633 00:26:55,860 --> 00:26:58,440 try to atone for their sin themselves. 634 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,040 Well, I'm just going to overcome evil. 635 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:01,960 I'm going to do more good. 636 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:03,720 So we know that we've done wrong, 637 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,800 or we know that we have a problem with someone else, 638 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:07,920 but we try to salve our own conscience by, well, 639 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:09,320 I'm going to go to church. 640 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,280 I'm going to work in a Juana. 641 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,120 I'm going to work in the youth group or sing in the choir. 642 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:15,840 It doesn't work. 643 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:20,080 You cannot atone for your sins to religious involvement. 644 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:21,680 It will not work. 645 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,960 If you know that there's disharmony with another, 646 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,000 get it right. 647 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,120 You can't try to make up for the evil by doing good. 648 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:30,760 It's not going to work before God. 649 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,320 And Jesus said this, and this is what I find very, very sobering. 650 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,040 Before we can truly worship God, we 651 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,640 must be reconciled to our brother. 652 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,680 There is no true worship as long as we are harboring 653 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,620 known sin in our lives. 654 00:27:45,620 --> 00:27:47,600 There's none. 655 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,080 For instance, God's judgment's exacting. 656 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:50,000 It's precise. 657 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:51,680 There's no wiggle room. 658 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:55,160 He gets us in the corner, and he doesn't let us out. 659 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,080 You and I cannot be right vertically 660 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:02,320 if we are not right horizontally with our brothers and sisters. 661 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,040 Again, I want to quote Martyn Lloyd-Jones here. 662 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,240 If you are in a state of conscious enmity 663 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,040 against another, if you're not speaking to another, 664 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,600 if you're harboring unkind thoughts and a hindrance 665 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,480 and an obstacle to that other, God's word assures you 666 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:20,280 there is no value in your attempted worship. 667 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,200 It will value nothing. 668 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,920 The word will not hear you. 669 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:25,240 According to our Lord, the matter 670 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,880 is so vital that you must, as it were, even keep God waiting. 671 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,560 Go and put it right. 672 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,800 He says you cannot be right with God 673 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,600 until you put yourself right with man. 674 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,480 Get right with the person. 675 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,960 Then you can be made right with God. 676 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,400 Taking the first step in reconciliation 677 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,520 is our responsibility as Christians. 678 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,800 Friends, this is hard to do. 679 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,120 This is really hard. 680 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:51,720 And there are many reasons and excuses 681 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,720 why we shouldn't do it. 682 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,120 For example, I'm not mad at them. 683 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:56,760 They're mad at me. 684 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:58,560 It's her problem. 685 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:00,360 They need to deal with it. 686 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,440 But look carefully at the text. 687 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,840 If you're offering your gift and you remember your brother has 688 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,320 something against you, it doesn't 689 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:11,320 say if you remember you have something against your brother. 690 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:17,240 God's desire is for us to do everything in our power 691 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:21,360 to remove the offenses between us and other Christians, 692 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:23,000 remove the barriers. 693 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,000 If not, our worship is hollow. 694 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,640 That ought to be motivation enough to seek peace, right? 695 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,960 What our Lord is asking of his people is tough. 696 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,280 It's so very difficult to set aside the issue of blame. 697 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,520 But I was not wrong. 698 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:42,160 When we feel we're innocent, we want justice. 699 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,360 It's only when we know we're wrong we cry out for mercy. 700 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:46,900 You're like, yeah, but that person, 701 00:29:46,900 --> 00:29:48,080 you don't know how they're going to respond. 702 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:51,080 You're not responsible for the response of anyone else. 703 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:51,920 They may react well. 704 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:53,160 They may not react well. 705 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:56,520 Your job is to seek a peaceful resolution as much 706 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:58,240 as lies within you. 707 00:29:58,240 --> 00:29:59,840 That's it. 708 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,560 At the end of the day, they will bear the responsibility 709 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,320 for how they responded. 710 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:05,780 And by the way, as we close here, 711 00:30:05,780 --> 00:30:07,240 there ought to be an urgency in all this. 712 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,560 Let's look at the last two verses here. 713 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,320 Agree with your adversary quickly 714 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:12,560 while you're on the way with him, 715 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:14,680 lest your adversary deliver you to the judge. 716 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:15,840 The judge hand you to the officer, 717 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,360 and you'd be thrown into prison. 718 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,920 Assuredly, I say to you, you will not get out of prison 719 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:22,480 until you've paid the very last penny. 720 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,120 Jesus is referring to a common practice at the time, 721 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,560 a person be imprisoned for an unpaid debt. 722 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,400 It's called debtor's prison, in fact. 723 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,840 So Roman law would allow a plaintiff, 724 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,640 they could bring the person with whom they have the odds 725 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,240 to court with them to face the judge, all right? 726 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,840 But on the way to the court, excuse me, 727 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,200 the two people could settle the matter out of court 728 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,160 and there'd be no problem. 729 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:50,040 But after the court became involved, 730 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,320 once you got to the court, it was too late. 731 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,040 The court then took matters into your hands 732 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:55,840 and you couldn't back out. 733 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,560 It was better if you owed someone something, 734 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:00,800 make it right on the way there, 735 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,440 so you would not then have to go face a judge in court 736 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:05,920 and possibly thrown into prison. 737 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:06,920 That's what's happening here. 738 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:08,720 That's what Jesus is saying. 739 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:10,240 And again, what's the point? 740 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:11,960 MacArthur said it well. 741 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,240 The illustration is a picture of sin against another person. 742 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,640 Such sin must be resolved to avoid having to face a sentence 743 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:20,200 from the divine judge. 744 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,200 The basic teaching is plain and unmistakable. 745 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,520 We are to make every effort with no delay 746 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,840 to make our relationship right with our brother 747 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,440 before our relationship can be right with God 748 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,400 and we can avoid chastening. 749 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:39,280 I must be willing to do all that I can to remove that barrier. 750 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,160 I must be willing to humble myself 751 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,360 and I must be willing to look foolish if need be. 752 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,640 And that goes against our fleshly pride. 753 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,120 It goes against our sense of rights. 754 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,760 It goes against our entitlement. 755 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:54,720 I'm talking to the church today. 756 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,200 But for Christ's sake and for the sake of fellowship with him, 757 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:00,000 will you do it? 758 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,520 See, we're going to come to the table in just a minute. 759 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,040 You should not partake of the elements 760 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:06,080 if you have something against your brother. 761 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:06,800 You should not. 762 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:09,760 It's one of the reasons it's urgency to get it right. 763 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,400 When I was in college, I knew someone 764 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,200 had something against me and we were taking communion. 765 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:14,160 I had to go ask them. 766 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:14,720 It was very awkward. 767 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:15,800 I said, I need to talk to you. 768 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:17,120 I know you have this against me. 769 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,640 Can we resolve this before we go to worship this evening? 770 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:22,640 See, the time to be reconciled with your brother 771 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,360 is right now. 772 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,640 So let's do the bottom line then here. 773 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,760 Just because you have not committed homicide 774 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:34,680 does not mean you are innocent of the Sixth Commandment. 775 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:38,960 Unjustifiable anger, estrangement from others, 776 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,440 is also forbidden by the Sixth Commandment. 777 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:46,560 So now the question is, who is guilty? 778 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,840 And the resounding answer is, we all are. 779 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:52,680 Every one of us. 780 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:57,920 That's why we need a Savior who obeyed this law completely, 781 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,920 fully, perfectly. 782 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:03,560 If you and I were to only be judged by one commandment 783 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:06,000 that we thought we could find blamelessness in, 784 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:07,400 if God said, pick one commandment 785 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,360 and I'll judge you by that and I'll let you into heaven, 786 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:10,880 I would probably have picked the Sixth Commandment. 787 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:12,280 Thou shalt not murder. 788 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,920 I'm like, not murdered so I can get in. 789 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:17,800 Based on what we've heard this morning, 790 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,120 we would still be found guilty and cast into hell. 791 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,040 We need the deliverer. 792 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:25,400 We need the one who can deliver us 793 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,160 from the weighty demands of the law. 794 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,520 Do you see, friends, do you see the righteousness 795 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:35,440 and heart attitude that God not only desires but commands? 796 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,520 Can you see where you're guilty? 797 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:40,680 If you do, here's what I know you'll do. 798 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:44,320 You'll cast yourself upon the mercy of God. 799 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:46,600 You will run to Christ. 800 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,520 You'll cast yourself upon Him. 801 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,080 Jesus began this great sermon opening up 802 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:56,120 with the blessing of the spiritually bankrupt man. 803 00:33:56,120 --> 00:34:00,080 If you understand your own spiritual poverty, 804 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:05,120 run to Christ and there find grace and mercy. 805 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:06,920 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 806 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:08,720 That's bankrupt in spirit. 807 00:34:08,720 --> 00:34:11,960 For theirs, the kingdom of heaven belongs to those people. 808 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:13,200 Blessed are those who mourn. 809 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:14,080 Mourning over what? 810 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:17,160 Your own bankrupt position. 811 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:19,040 For they are the ones who'll be comforted. 812 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:21,240 There's a great reversal coming, friends. 813 00:34:21,240 --> 00:34:23,680 And it's all owing to the grace of God. 814 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:25,920 Today, celebrate Christ. 815 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:28,440 And if you're here today and you don't know Christ, 816 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,280 you've never repented of your sin. 817 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:32,680 You have never bowed the knee to the King Jesus. 818 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:34,920 Today is the day of salvation. 819 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:35,840 Run to the Lord. 820 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,440 Confess Him right now. 821 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:39,600 And if you want to know more about that afterwards, 822 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:40,000 I am here. 823 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:41,600 I would love to talk to you about that. 824 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,200 What does it mean to have Christ as Savior? 825 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:45,800 Let's pray as we prepare for the table. 826 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:52,800 Father, Lord, I come to you today. 827 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,200 And Lord, I am guilty, Lord. 828 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:56,320 I've confessed that to you. 829 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,480 I confess that to my brothers and sisters here this morning, 830 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:00,480 Lord. 831 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:03,320 It surprised me how angry I was. 832 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:04,520 But Lord, I can't change it. 833 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,200 Lord, I can't go back in a tone for it. 834 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,000 But I cast myself upon the mercy of Christ. 835 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,520 And Lord, there you meet us with mercy. 836 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:14,040 You meet us with grace. 837 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,720 Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters this morning. 838 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:19,160 No doubt there are some who are strange from others. 839 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,600 There's obstacles. 840 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,640 There are barriers. 841 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:25,520 They need to be taken down if possible. 842 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:27,920 And Lord, your word tells us as much as lies within us 843 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:29,440 live peaceably with all men. 844 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:31,160 Sometimes we understand it's not possible. 845 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,960 But Lord, God, I pray that we would do everything in our power 846 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,880 as the people of God to live peaceably with our brothers 847 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:38,960 and sisters and with our neighbors, 848 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:40,440 help us to be peacemakers. 849 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:42,280 Blessed are the peacemakers. 850 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,640 And Lord, God, we ask this, Lord, in the name of Jesus. 851 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,800 Lord, we ask that you would cleanse us this morning 852 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:48,320 as a body. 853 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:49,320 Would you forgive us? 854 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:52,000 Lord, we confess our sin before you. 855 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,600 And the way forgiveness is found is 856 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:56,880 in the bloody death of Jesus. 857 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:58,800 It's in his broken body. 858 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,760 And it's in his shed blood that we find life. 859 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:03,920 And Lord, this morning, we thank you for that. 860 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,240 We thank you for the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus 861 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:10,160 in where we find eternal life. 862 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:11,760 What a great God you are, Lord. 863 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,000 Thank you, Lord, for not casting us off. 864 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,520 And thank you for not treating us as our sins deserved. 865 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:17,920 What a wonderful Savior you are. 866 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:19,920 And we come to you in the name of Jesus now. 867 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:20,880 Amen. 868 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,080 Blessed deacons, if you're going to come to the table 869 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:23,880 at this time, please. 870 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:27,160 And this is the time of communion. 871 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:28,640 So if you're here joining us, we're 872 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:45,300 going to make sure that you're watching our video and Thou