CHRIST’S INTERPRETATION OF GOD’S LAW Matthew 5:21,22 The interpretation of the Pharisees and the religious leaders was limited and inadequate. They concentrated on the letter of the law and missed the spirit of the Word. By their interpretation, they appeared righteous before men and thought they were good enough for the Kingdom of God. Uninspired and unenlightened by the Spirit of God, they failed to realise that “[God’s] commandment is exceeding broad” (Psalm 119:96). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to open our eyes and give us proper and perfect understanding. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, ... But I say unto you ...” (Matthew 5:21,22). He was not a mere teacher; He was the Teacher come from God. He was not a mere man; He was the Man sent from God. He was not a mere expounder of the law; He was taught by God, the Father. He was not a mere prophet; He was the Prophet with the full and final Word in His mouth (Deuteronomy 18:18,19; Acts 3:22,23). He is infinitely greater than all teachers of the past, present and future. He is the Son of God interpreting the law of God as it was in God’s heart. He taught the timeless truth of God’s Word with eternal, not superficial, insight. His interpretation is valid at all times. He still speaks with divine authority and everything He says is of eternal importance to us. 1. SPECIFIC SIN CONDEMNED BY GOD Matthew 5:21; Exodus 20:13; Genesis 4:8-15; 9:5,6; Exodus 21:12-14; Leviticus 24:21; Numbers 35:12,16-25,30,31; Galatians 5:19-21. “Thou shalt not kill.” This is one of the Ten Commandments. This law, like all other moral laws, was known before the law of Moses. Centuries before the law was written and given to Moses to teach Israel, the sin of murder was a great sin that earned the murderers a severe punishment. In all societies, even among heathen tribes, the sin of murder was condemned and punished. This law which had been written in the heart and conscience of man since the time of creation is still in effect today. It was given before the Old Covenant; so, the abolition of the Old Covenant has not cancelled this law. Neither civilisation nor the New Covenant cancels the law: “Thou shalt not kill.” The dispensation of grace does not excuse the sin of murder or any other sin. The age or period of love does not condone the sin of murder or any other sin. The New Testament still condemns the sin of murder in clear terms (Matthew 19:18; Romans 1:29,32; 13:9; Galatians 5:21; James 2:11; 1 Peter 4:15; 1 John 3:15; Revelation 21:8). The age of enlightenment does not lessen the punishment of murderers; it increases it. 2. SPIRITUAL STANDARD CONFIRMED BY CHRIST Matthew 5:22; Genesis 4:5-8; 1 John 3:12-15; Esther 3:5,6; Genesis 49:5-7; 1 Samuel 20:30-33; Proverbs 19:19; 27:3,4; 22:24,25. The Pharisees and Scribes were shallow and superficial in their understanding of the law of God. Shallow understanding of God’s Word dulls and deadens the conscience. Superficial interpretation of God’s Word makes the guilty think that he is godly and going to heaven. Such limited understanding of Scripture is deceptive, dangerous and damns the souls of men. Christ came to give us the full revelation of God’s mind. He came to reveal the standard interpretation by which all men shall be judged when they stand before the impartial Judge of heaven and earth. “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” God judges the outward act of sin but He does not stop there. He searches the heart and sees the thought and the motive behind the act. Angry temper often leads to acts of violence. Anger, hatred and evil intention cause great problems in society, hurting others and leading to murder and destruction of property. To be free from condemnation, we must be free from both outward sin and hidden sin and evil in the heart. 3. SAVED SOULS CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:16,22-26; James 3:2; Proverbs 16:32; 25:28; 19:11; Psalm 37:7-9; Ecclesiastes 7:8,9; Romans 12:17-21; Colossians 3:8-15; Ephesians 4:30-32. Self-effort or personal struggles against anger and bad temper are not effective enough to keep us free from anger and angry behaviour. The first step towards real freedom is realisation of our state of mind and thorough confession to God and renunciation before God. We must be conscious of the terrible sinfulness of anger and hurtful temper before God, and pray for forgiveness, cleansing and freedom. We also need to bring ‘self’ to the Lord to be crucified and destroyed. Anger springs up in the heart when ‘self’ feels hurt, belittled, cheated, taken advantage of, deprived. With the death of ‘ego’ at the cross of Christ, we do not take whatever people do personally. We turn our lives to God and leave everything under His control. Whatever God gives, we accept; whatever He takes away, we give up. Living constantly under the control of the Holy Spirit, we live in love and we are free from anger.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 16:11:14 +0000
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