Study in the Gospel of Mathew,5

Today we study the fifth chapter of the Gospel according to Mathew. There are many biblical principles and lessons in this chapter but I choose two biblical principles and their lessons which, I believe, they are useful in biblical counselling.

This Sermon on the mount is recorded in Mathew 5-7. This Sermon was not given as the way of salvation for the lost, but as the way of life for true children of the kingdom. It was the instruction for those who had responded to Jesus ‘invitation to repent.  Jesus clarified both the heart of the Law and the nature of God’s kingdom. In a sense He turned the Law, which was mainly negative, inside out to show its positive core. By the Cross and resurrection, Jesus provides, the believers in Him, a way of salvation that meets all the requirement of the Law.

After the Beatitudes, Jesus was questioning the interpretation of the Jewish scholars, not the Old Testament itself. For example, a man who gazes at a woman with the purpose of wanting her sexually has mentally committed adultery.  

Hate the enemy is not found in Moses’ writings. This was a principle drawn by the scribes and Pharisees from Lev,19:18. Jesus ‘followers are to be as perfect as God in the ways that they love not hate. God does not lower the standard to accommodate our sinfulness. He gives us the power to keep His righteous standard.

Structure:

Verses 1-12: the beatitudes.

Verses 13-16: believers are salt and light.

Verses 17-20: Christ fulfils the Law.

Verses 21-26: murder begins in the heart.

Verses 27-30: adultery in the heart.

Verses 31-32: marriage is sacred and binding,

Verses 33-37: Jesus forbids oaths

Verses 38-42: go the other mile.

Verses 43-48: love your enemies.

Principle 9, verse 5:37: ----"But let your Yes be Yes and your No, No , For whatever more than these is from the evil.”

Lesson 9: Jesus frowned oath-taking. We tend to break our oaths, and a broken oath reflects badly on God’s holy character. Our word should be as trustworthy as an oath.

Principle 10:48: -----” Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Lesson 10: The only way to be perfect as the Father is perfect is to be clothed, through faith, with the righteousness of Christ. This is necessary, for without Holiness, no one will see the Lord as in Heb. 12:14 says. 18/10/2026.