The Sermon on the Mount - Part 5

The Authority of Christ

Matthew 7:28-29 – “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

The People Were Astonished

At the close of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ left his audience in awe. This is not an isolated occurrence. In John 7, the chief priests and Pharisees sent soldiers to arrest Christ. The soldiers went to arrest Christ, but came back empty handed. “Why have ye not brought Him?” the Pharisees asked. “Never a man spake like this man,” they replied.

In Matthew 22, Christ is repeatedly tempted. He is questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees, as they were expecting to entangle Him in His talk. His answers so soundly silenced them that they “durst [dared] not ask Him any more questions!”

The Reason for their Astonishment – Authority

We are told explicitly why the people were astonished – “For He taught them as one having authority.” The scribes simply expounded on the Law of Moses; but Christ was able to go further than that.

It is vital, at this point, to clearly define authority. A related term is “power.” Though “power” and “authority” are related, they are not synonymous. Power is ammunition. If I have a gun on my side, I have power. However, when I pull out the badge, I am then showing that, not only do I have power, but I have the authorization, or authority, to use that power. Webster defines “authority” as “legal power, or a right to command or act.” Christ could say, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” But Christ also had every right to use such power. He never usurped authority; it was rightfully His.

Christ’s Authority Expressed

What was it that Christ said in His Sermon on the Mount that proved His authority to the people? Which statements was it that caused the jaws of the hearers to drop? Christ showed His authority clearly at least six times in this historical sermon.

Six times, all in Matthew 5, Jesus said, “Ye have heard…” He would then tell them something that they had heard in the Old Testament Law of Moses. Then He followed that statement with the words, “…but I say unto you…” Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with the Old Testament scripture. The fact that we are not under the Law of Moses is a truth indeed. But the reason we are not under the law is not because the law is bad. Everything written by Moses was inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16). Paul said that the law is good (I Timothy 1:8) and the commandment is holy (Romans 7:12).

Imagine if I were to get up and say, “The Bible says…but I say…” What do you think would happen? I would get opposition, to say the least. Those who heard me make such a statement would answer, “Who do you think you are?” Christ, however, has the authority to make such statements, for He is the One who inspired Moses to write the law.

Christ did not claim that the law was wrong, or that the words of Moses were faulty. He does, however, show that the words of Moses should be applied to the heart, not just to deeds or actions. For example, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said in the law, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ But I say unto you, that he who is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of the judgment.” The Old Testament dealt with the ACTION of murder. Christ, however, deals with anger in the heart. The man who is seething with anger has the same thing in his heart that the murderer has in his.

Christ, in Matthew 5:27-28, says, “You have heard it said, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ But I say unto you, that if you look on a woman with lust, you have committed adultery in your heart.” The man who looks with lust has the same impurity in his heart that the adulterer has in his.

Oh, the wisdom of Christ! Christ knew that if His principles here would be followed, so many heartaches would be prevented! Christ was not trying at all to be mean, but He was making an attempt to prevent a catastrophe! You see, if a man can conquer his problem with lust while it is in the form of lust, he will not have to repair a broken family later! If a man can conquer his anger while it is anger, he will never sit in a prison cell wondering how he lost his cool to the point of murder! This wisdom and authority left the people in utter amazement!

Christ’s Authority Demonstrated

While on the mountain, Christ SPOKE with authority. In Matthew 8, Christ finishes His sermon, and comes down from the mountain. Oh, how we’d love to stay on the mountain with Christ. But we are not granted that privilege. At times, we have mountaintop experiences, and thank God for them. We have times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord. We have times alone with God when it seems that our troubles are diminished. There are times when we go to God’s house and the worship and the preaching refreshes us. Thank God for these times! But if we are followers of Christ, we cannot stay there, for Christ always comes down off the mountain. Peter, James, and John were with Christ on the mountain when His face shown and He spoke with Moses and Elijah. “Let us build three tabernacles,” Peter hurriedly spoke. But the Lord would hear nothing of it! One preacher said that the man who wants to build three tabernacles has never financed one! Christ did not authorize a building project on the mountain. Dear friends, as long as we’re in this world, we are not moving to the mountain!

So Christ descends from the mountain to where the people live. I am so glad that what we received on the mountain will work in the valley! Everything Christ preached on the mountain can be put to the test by those in the valley – and it was!

In Matthew 8, the first trouble Christ encounters is a diseased man – a leper. This leper’s flesh is being consumed with leprosy. The leper takes the initiative to speak to Christ. “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Christ answered, “I will; be thou clean.” And immediately he was healed. Christ has authority over the diseased.

Then Christ meets a soldier whose servant was sick. The soldier bids Christ to speak the word only, and his servant would be healed. Again, Christ showed that He not only speaks with authority; but He also acts in authority. Christ spoke the word, and the servant was healed. Again, it is clearly seen that Christ has authority over disease!

Then, our Lord comes to the house of Peter, whose mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Christ heals her, again affirming His authority over sickness.

Christ then bids his disciples to enter a ship to “go over to the other side.” After boarding the ship, a storm arises. We know that Christ has authority over disease, but what about disaster? By this time, our faith is enriched as to Christ’s authority over sickness, but what about storms? Christ stilled the winds and waves, and again, the people were amazed because Christ has authority, not only over disease, but also over disaster!

When Christ and the disciples arrive on the other side, there is a man possessed with devils. We have seen Christ’s authority over disease and disaster, but about devils? Christ cast out the devils!

Friend, there is no enemy over which Christ does not have authority! You can trust Him with disease, disaster, or devils! His authority is over all!

The Sermon on the Mount - Part 4

Verses Misused and Abused – Continued

Together, we have studied two verses in the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew, in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, that are very often misused. Those verses are Matthew 5:17 and Matthew 5:20. The former is misused in order to place the believer under the Old Testament law; the latter is misused in order to teach a works-based salvation.

Today, I wish to examine a verse misused by believers and non-believers alike. This verse is the first verse of the seventh chapter of the book of Matthew.

Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

Whether it is a believer or unbeliever misusing this verse, there are some common facts regarding that individual. First, those who misuse this verse often know little about the Bible. I am in no way trying to sound arrogant. There are Bible passages I do not understand. There are questions concerning the Bible that I cannot answer. There are verses in the scripture of which I simply do not know the meaning. If any individual in the world needs to gain a better understanding of the Bible, I will be the first in line. I say that honestly and with a pure heart. But those who misuse Matthew 7:1 usually know little or absolutely nothing about the Bible. Second, most people who quote Matthew 7:1 usually cannot quote another single solitary scripture. Third, most people who know Matthew 7:1 usually know nothing else Biblically.

Matthew 7:1 is usually quoted in a heated discussion about the scriptures. Usually, the verse is pulled out when a certain SIN is being discussed. When a person becomes uncomfortable about their activity being called a sin, then they pull out Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

How Matthew 7:1 is Usually Presented

The words of Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” are most likely the most misused and abused words of scripture. Those who quote it most have a very twisted understanding of its meaning.

To the ones who often quote Matthew 7:1, this verse means that several things; first, that no preacher should preach against sin, for naming specific sins is judging; second, that no Christian should make any judgment regarding what is right or what is wrong; and third, that preachers and teachers should not be identified as true or false teachers. You can see clearly that, usually, those who use this verse do not want sins, wrongdoings, and false teachers exposed. However, all of these conclusions contradict Biblical truth regarding making judgments.

The Bible Commands us to Judge!

Let us see what the Bible says to us about making judgments.

First, the Bible teaches that the preacher, the man of God, is to rebuke sin! This means that any activity that is condemned by the Bible is to be openly named and rebuked by the man of God. II Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, REBUKE, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” The word, “rebuke” means “to reprehend for a fault.” Before a fault can be corrected, it must be judged and identified as a fault! As a pastor, I cannot correct the actions of Christians sitting on the pews until I judge those actions to be wrong! It’s not rocket science. The preacher who will not judge an activity, naming it sin and correcting it, is not a man of God.

Second, the Bible teaches, not only that ministers are to judge sin and rebuke it, but also that those who sit under a minister are to judge the message of that minister. II Peter 2 and the book of Jude were written to identify false teachers. Paul said in I Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” The only way a person could have obey Paul’s command, “Follow me as I follow Christ” is to JUDGE whether Paul was following Christ. In the same chapter where Christ said, “Judge not,” he also commanded the people to know who the false prophets were by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-16)! If an individual is a false prophet, Christ expects you to identify them as such by examining their fruit, and avoid them.

Third, Christians are commanded in I John 4:1 to “try the spirits” to see “whether they are of God!” The word, “try” means to “put on trial!” Put those spirits on trial, and see if they are of God or not! When an evangelist comes to town prophesying and blowing on people, claiming that he does so under the influence of the Holy Ghost, you are not to run to the meeting and hear everything he has to say. On the other hand, when you hear what such evangelists are doing, you are to determine whether the activities of such evangelists are Biblical or not. Once you discover that the words, “slain in the Spirit” are nowhere in the Bible, you should stay away from places that practice such.

Fourth, Christians are commanded to discern (judge) between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). The Christian, if he is living by the Bible, will do some things because he has discerned, or judged, them to be good things to do. He will avoid some things because he has made a judgment that those things are evil. This is not suggested for a Christian to do; this is COMMANDED for a Christian to do. Amos 5:15 tells us to “hate the evil, and love the good.” How do we know the difference? We are to make a judgment!

Fifth, when a young man is interested in finding a wife, how should he go about doing so? He should read Proverbs 31, where Solomon paints a picture of the virtuous woman, and see if the prospect measures up! He is to make a judgment! Young ladies thinking of marriage should do the same. They should read the book of Proverbs regarding the sluggard and so forth, and see if their prospect measures up! A lot of marriages have ended in divorce because someone wanted to refrain from being “judgmental.” So, “no judgment” was preferred over “good judgment” and it resulted in “bad judgment!”

Sixth, the Bible continually commands us to judge. Read the following verses very carefully.

John 7:24 – “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

I Corinthians 2:15 – “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

I Corinthians 6:2 – “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”

I Corinthians 6:4 – “If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.”

So, it is clear that the individual who refuses to participate in judgment is living contradictory to scripture. We are make solid, sound judgments in the living of our daily lives.

The Meaning of Matthew 7:1

When Jesus said, “Judge not,” He was not at all meaning that we should not judge right and wrong. He was not asserting that we should not put a minister’s message to the test, to see whether or not it aligns with scripture. He was not suggesting that we make life-changing decisions without making solid judgments. Anyone who interprets this verse in this manner is ignorant of many Biblical teachings.

The meaning of Matthew 7:1 is simple – it means what it says, as all scripture does. Now, let us look at what Matthew 7:1 SAYS, but let us not look at this verse alone. Let us read the whole passage, and see what this verse says along with the four verses following it. Please read the following very slowly and carefully.

Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

You will notice near the end of the passage, Jesus speaks directly to the hypocrite. “Thou hypocrite,” He says. The hypocrite is the one who has a beam blocking his own vision, but he is concerned about the small speck in his brother’s eye! He will condemn someone for not eating healthy while he cheats on his wife.

If you think that I am judging by rebuking sin, or that I am judging for I identify what is good and what is evil, then you are the hypocrite to whom Christ is speaking in these verses. You have no right to judge anyone! If you point your finger at me and say that I am doing wrong because I am judgmental, then you are a hypocrite because you just judged me! You are upset because I make judgments, so you call me “judgmental,” making a judgment about me! Why is it wrong for me to say that homosexuality is wrong but it is okay for you to say that being judgmental is wrong? I am calling an activity (homosexuality) wrong. You are calling an activity (being “judgmental”) wrong. Why is it okay for you to make a judgment about my activity of being judgmental, but I am sinning by making a judgment regarding someone’s activity? The only answer is that the person who calls a person judgmental is a hypocrite. According to this passage, Christ teaches that the hypocrite who judges someone else will be judged in the very same manner. The person who has a beam in his own eye has no right to point his finger at the person who has but a speck in his eye. He will be judged as harshly as he judges. C.H. Spurgeon, concerning Matthew 7:1-2, said, “When I stand before God, can I honestly say, ‘Lord, judge me just exactly like I judged everyone else’?”

The Sermon on the Mount - Part 3

Verses Misused and Abused – Continued

Having looked at Matthew 5:17, a verse misused very often, I wish to now look at another such verse in the fifth chapter of Matthew.

Matthew 5:20 – “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Here is a verse often misused by those who preach salvation by works. Here, it is plain that Christ teaches us that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Those who misuse this verse do it in the following way. First, they point out that the scribes and Pharisees were strict, and they are correct in that observation. Second, they assert that the scribes and Pharisees, though they were strict, were lost. This observation is also correct. Third, they then conclude that, if you and I are going to be saved, we must be stricter than were the scribes and Pharisees. Here is where the misuse lies! Allow me to show clearly the meaning of this verse.

The Scribes and Pharisees Were Strict

First, it is necessary to understand how strict the Pharisees and scribes were. It is doubtful that no one reading this post is as strict as they were. Matthew 23 shows clearly how strict they were. They prayed often (usually to be seen, but often nonetheless). They wore long garments. They tithed from their smallest possessions. They have so many regulations and rules that Christ said that they bind heavy burdens on men’s shoulders. They were so devoted to Old Testament scripture that they killed anyone whom they thought to speak contradictory to it. In terms of strictness, the scribes and Pharisees had it!

The Scribes and Pharisees were Lost

Second, it is essential to recognize that, though the scribes and Pharisees were strict, it is just as needful to see that the Pharisees were lost. It is doubtful that no one reading this post is as lost as they were. Perhaps the reader has trouble with me declaring the scribes and Pharisees to be lost. I never made such a judgment; Jesus Christ made that judgment!

Matthew 23:15 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

“Child of hell.” That was Christ’s own judgment concerning the scribes and Pharisees. And make no mistake about it – Christ’s judgment is true!

John 8:16 – “And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.”

Since it is true that the scribes and Pharisees were as lost as they were strict, the reader would be wise to notice that “salvation” and “strictness” are not synonymous.

Righteousness Not Attained by Being Strict

Those who misuse our verse of discussion say that if we expect to have enough righteousness to go to heaven, we must be stricter than the scribes and Pharisees. I have actually heard it preached this way on multiple occasions. It is sad indeed that grown men standing behind a pulpit have no more knowledge of New Testament righteousness than that! The act of being strict does not, has never, and never will produce righteousness!

When Jesus Christ said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, He was not calling us to be stricter than were; He was calling us to be more RIGHTEOUS than they were, which is a completely different calling. There is only way to be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, and that is to be MADE righteous (Romans 5:19) by placing your faith solely in Jesus Christ for salvation (Romans 3:22). When you believe on Jesus Christ for salvation, you are then clad in the righteousness of Christ Himself! Christ’s righteousness alone exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Becoming stricter will not do the job; it takes Christ and His righteousness!

*For more information regarding HOW to become righteous, go to Righteousness Forever - Part 1 and Righteousness Forever - Part 2