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Having presented the fact that no man loved the truth more than Jesus Christ, we will now proceed to see how this supreme love for the truth manifested itself in His Life and Teachings.

The Sermon on the Mount is unquestionably a classic. It contains truths that are forever embedded in the minds of almost all civilized men, even those who do not know the origin of the truths they espouse. It begins with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings pronounced on those who are of a true heart and who truly seek to please God. However, let no one mistake the fact that the Sermon on the Mount contained contemporary controversy at the time it was delivered. Consider this statement as we do an overview of this Classic Sermon.

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5.20). This statement was made to would-be followers of Jesus and it was specifically intended to discredit the teachings of the ruling spiritual sects in Jerusalem (the scribes and the Pharisees). These religious elitists presented themselves as high up in the realm of the religious, but they were wrong! They may have ruled in Jerusalem, but they DID NOT speak for God! In fact, many of the things they said and did were contrary to the word of God! This deception which was being perpetrated and accepted by the common people had to be exposed, and Jesus was just the man to do it!

Having made the general case that the “righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” was in some way deficient, Jesus proceeded to point out the specifics of His charge. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'” (Matthew 5.21). Who had made these statements that were out and out error or even more dangerous half-truths? Why, it was the scribes and Pharisees, the people whose righteousness had to be exceeded in order for believers to be pleasing to God!

Note carefully the very next word in Jesus’ discourse! “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5.22). The construct of the statements might well be reduced to this: The scribes and Pharisees told you that BUT, I tell you this! There is a clear and unmistakable contrast drawn between the doctrine of the scribes and Pharisees and the doctrine of Jesus Christ! In teaching in this manner, Jesus effectively “took on” the entire religious establishment in Jerusalem!

Actually the scribes and Pharisees had already been “taken on” by John the Immerser. “But when he [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” (Matthew 3.7). When Jesus spoke as He did, He was simply taking up the case that John had already publicly brought to light. Knowing human nature as I do, it is highly likely that the words of John were just enough to get the scribes and Pharisees as mad as hornets, ready to sting anyone who dared cross their paths. Jesus loved the truth and refused to compromise for anyone’s sake!

Questions:

1. According to the parallel passages of Matthew 22.35 and Mark 12.25, what was another word that was used for the scribes?

2. Why is a half-truth some times more dangerous than an out-and-out lie?

3. According to the doctrine of the scribes and Pharisees, would it have been OK to hate your brother as long as you did not do him bodily harm?

4. How about hating your brother according to the doctrine of Jesus Christ? How big a difference is this?

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

The Season Of Giving