Modern-Day Dismantling

In Matthew 5 we witness Jesus slowly dismantling multiple misunderstandings about the law. The religious leaders, and many of the people under them, held to a religious practice that placed incredible emphasis on the externals while seeming to neglect the heart issues. Therefore, in his sermon on the mount, Jesus begins several sections of his teaching with the words “you have heard it said…but I say to you.”

Step by step Jesus begins pointing past the religious and cultural beliefs of the day to the holy standards of God Himself. It’s not just the outward presentation that God is interested in – he’s also concerned with our deepest affections and desires. Are they godly desires for him or selfish desires clothed in false piety?

It’s not just the outward presentation that God is interested in – he’s also concerned with our deepest affections and desires. Are they godly desires for him or selfish desires clothed in false piety?

In our context today we don’t necessarily wrestle with the Old Testament laws like the Jews did in the first century, yet we have our own societal “religious” practices and beliefs that influence our way of thinking about what is good, right, and even godly. That being the case, could a dismantling of our own cultural beliefs be helpful for seeing things more clearly?

Consider this modern-day dismantling:

You have heard it said, “hatred is justified for people on the other side of the political aisle” but Jesus says to us “whoever says ‘you fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt 5:22) and “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt 5:44)

You have heard it said, “all sexual imagery and activity is good, right, and worthy of celebration” but God’s word says that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,” (1 Cor 6:9)

You have heard it said, “expressing yourself, your truth, and your desires is the height of human existence” but Jesus says, “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24) and “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3)

You have heard it said, “true freedom comes when we throw off the shackles of a biblical worldview” but Jesus says, “if you abide in my word…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Jesus has come to challenge our broken way of thinking and to help elevate our view of God and his holiness. He doesn’t do this out of anger or spite but out of love. A profound love that seeks our freedom from the bondage to sin and death.

Whether we realize it or not, the world is constantly asking us to believe in a different gospel. Jesus has come to challenge our broken way of thinking and to help elevate our view of God and his holiness. He doesn’t do this out of anger or spite but out of love. A profound love that seeks our freedom from the bondage to sin and death. Jesus desires that we would see the impossibility of gaining righteousness on our own merits and instead look to the cross where he destroyed our sin and now offers his righteousness.

You have heard it said, “you must do good works in order to enter heaven” but the scriptures say, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) and “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Rom 10:10)

Therefore, as we consider the challenging words of Christ from Matthew 5, let us not remain crushed under the weight of God’s holy standards. Instead, let us turn to Jesus and rejoice in the glorious love of our Savior who perfects us by his blood, and shows us a better way to live – all while providing the grace and the power to pursue it.