2009-09-02

Motley Crew

September 2, 2009

Happy 16^th Birthday Samantha Brooke Scheler

(Pray for Mom and Dad)

Matthew 5:31-32

1. Why the exception?

Matthew 5:33-37

2. What is swearing by God's name?

3. When are we permitted or even required to swear by God's name?

4. This is a great place to practice our principles of Biblical interpretation because Jesus says don't do it. If we took Jesus literally it would put Jesus at odds with Romans 13:1; Hebrews 6:16; and Himself in Matthew 26:63-64 where He allowed Himself to be put under oath and answered under oath.

[The “Principles of Biblical Interpretation” are reproduced below]

5. So when is swearing forbidden?

Matthew 5:38-42

6. This is the fifth of six times in this chapter Jesus says, “You have heard it said...”Why does He keep saying this?

7. Does this verse mean that criminals should go unpunished?

8. Jesus says do not resist an evil person. How do you do that?

Matthew 5:43-48

9. How's that working for you?

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Principles of Biblical Interpretation

1. Scripture interprets Scripture. We use the clearest and strongest passages of Scripture to help clarify the harder to understand passages.

[The language of Jesus are the clearest and strongest passages.]

2. Any interpretation of Scripture MUST be in accord with the context of that section of Scripture.

[And in context with other Scripture.]

3. God is the Author of Scripture; therefore Scripture cannot and does not contradict itself.

[Do not engage in negative Peter vs. Paul discussions. Read all Scripture passages in harmony with other Scripture passages.]

4. No external evidence may be used to change the meaning of Scripture.

5. All interpretation must be in accord with the general purpose of both the Old and New Testaments, namely to bring all people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Answers

Motley Crew

September 2, 2009

Happy 16^th Birthday Samantha Brooke Scheler

(Pray for Mom and Dad)

Matthew 5:31-32

1. Why the exception?

Because once the marriage bed has been violated by adultery – the one flesh union which means the marriage has already been ended – so Jesus makes this exception for the offended person.

[In that society, a man could divorce his wife for the most trivial of reasons. Christ is attempting to restore the law of love in banning divorces, except for the reason of “marital unfaithfulness.” The marriage is not complete until it is consummated – the joining of two into one. Where sexual unfaithfulness has occurred, that joining is violated.

[There was a lengthy discussion concerning this exception. It was pointed out that while Jesus is giving us the true law of love, He also recognizes that things happen in the world; many fall short of the standard that has been set. Pastor Eddie talked about his pastoral approach to these types of problems; in counseling, he urges reconciliation. Honest repentance is a key in a marriage where the couple must deal with infidelity.]

Matthew 5:33-37

2. What is swearing by God's name?

Swearing by God's name is taking an oath in which we call on God to witness the truth of what we say or promise, and to punish us if we lie or break our promise.

3. When are we permitted or even required to swear by God's name?

When an oath is necessary for the glory of God's name or the welfare of our neighbor [as, for example, swearing to tell the truth in a law trial.]

[The “Principles of Biblical Interpretation” are reproduced above.]

Romans 13:1: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (NIV)

Hebrews 6:16: Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. (NIV)

Matthew 26:62-64: ⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (NIV)

5. So when is swearing forbidden?

When it is done falsely, thoughtlessly, or in sinful, uncertain, or unimportant matters.

Matthew 5:38-42

6. This is the fifth of six times in this chapter Jesus says, “You have heard it said...”Why does He keep saying this?

Because the people keep taking things out of context and warping the WORD OF GOD to fit their sinful desires.

7. Does this verse mean that criminals should go unpunished?

No. The government can properly impose punishment of criminals. See Romans 13:3-5. “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.”

8. Jesus says do not resist an evil person. How do you do that?

Just walk away. In Romans 12:20-21, Paul writes “... "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Matthew 5:43-48

9. How's that working for you?

Jesus is raising the bar so high that we can never reach it without Him. That's the point.

[From Matthew 5:21-42, Jesus has given five examples where the Law has been trivialized by “experts in the law” who have created of numerous exceptions to the Law laid down by God in the Old Testament. Here, Jesus is setting things straight: the law of God is the law of love. Do not look for exceptions to the Law in order to fulfill your worldly desires. Instead; “Be perfect … as your heavenly Father is perfect.” None of these are unforgivable sins. Jesus paid the ransom, and we have been redeemed from all these types of sins, if we honestly repent. However, we cannot accomplish this by ourselves. But with His help, we can surely approach that goal.]

[A number of commentators wrote that while the overt act violates the law of the Jews, it is the underlying emotion that violates the law of God (the law of love), and that is the actual sin. In the case of murder, the sin is anger. In the case of adultery, the underlying sin is lusting. In the case of divorce, likewise, the law of love is violated by putting away a marriage blessed by God for trivial reasons.

[In the case of taking oaths, the “experts in the law” had created numerous exceptions that allowed people to weasel out of their oaths. Jesus sets us straight: just tell the truth (and fulfill the law of love). Finally, in His discussion of “an eye for an eye,” the cultural issue was one of great vindictiveness and retaliation, according to several commentators. Again, Jesus is clarifying our true duties under the Law, denying certain cultural tendencies and legal loop-holes.

[In Matt. 5:45, where Jesus says to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, “so that you may be like your Father in heaven,” the commentators indicate that this is not that we are to be “sons of God,” but rather that we are to become people who share the characteristics of God.

[When Jesus says “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” He is echoing the Law given by God in the Old Testament in, for example, Lev. 19:2 ("Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'”) and Deut. 18:13 (“You must be blameless before the LORD your God.”). (NIV)]