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Lesson 7 Matthew 2020
Verses | Matthew 5:17-48
Key Verse | Matthew 5:48

Be perfect

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

We learned about the happiness of the people of heaven last week. Today is about how to live in this world as people of heaven. As a disciple of Jesus, He suggests a high-quality life. It's a bit burdensome because the level of what I'm saying today is too high. But we can see how great and high God's desire for us is. I pray that today's words will enable us to have the mature inner character that Jesus' disciples should have.

Jesus said to the people to not think that He has come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; He has not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. To fulfill means to achieve the original meaning. Jesus wanted to fulfill his word fully with awe of God. What is Jesus' attitude toward words of God? Look at verse 18 and 19. " 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." God created heaven and earth with words. The word of God does not fall to the ground in vain. It comes true at any cost. Therefore, you must treat the word with faith and awe of God. Jesus says that unless the disciples' righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, they will certainly not enter kingdom of heaven. How can the disciples be more righteous than Pharisees? The Pharisees worked hard on the literal obedience of the law, but the disciples could do better if they understood and kept the spirit of the law. Jesus is the founder and presenter of the law. Therefore, it is important to understand and practice the way as Jesus interpreted the law. "Love" is the basis of Jesus' interpretation of the law. If the disciples obey the law with a love for God and for their neighbors, they can keep righteousness better than the Pharisees and teachers of law. Then specifically, how should we obey the law?

First, do not murder. Look at verse 21 and 22. " 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell." The command ‘you shall not murder’ shows that the life of a human being created in the image of God is dignified. Jesus warns that being angry with a brother or sister, or saying to them Raca, meaning empty minded, or saying “You fool” will also lead to hellfire as a murder. Hate and time develop into detestation, which leads to murder. Therefore, we must repent of the hatred and anger in the heart that is the root of murder. Also, we must be careful of what we say to others. Jacob 3:8 says: "but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

See verse 23, 24. "23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." He says that when you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, first go and be reconciled to them before worshiping God. Most people don't think they've done something that would make them resentful, but they just think about corresponding to their brother or sister’s hatred. If you look at your heart first, you will not arouse hatred and resentment in them. “You shall not murder” means to enrich your life by actively trying to reconcile to your brother/sister with words of God. When actively practicing commandments, we can not only protect other people's lives, but also consider them abundant. This is only possible with love for brothers/sisters.

Active obedience to the word “you shall not murder” should make every effort to preserve and enrich life. Creating a crosswalk on the road, if infected by Covid-19, immediately reporting for examination, and preventing the spread of the disease is an active measure of not murdering. A mother reported to the hospital that her son had been to Itaewon and prevented the spread of the disease. On the contrary, an instructor at an academy lied about his visit to Itaewon, causing the spread of the disease.

He also said, "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court, while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” We must try to forgive and reconcile to our brothers, when we are alive, before we are finally judged.

Second, do not commit adultery. See verse 27, 28. "27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Commiting adultery is when a married person proposes another person or when a person has sexual relations with a married person. A sexual act is all sexuality that takes place outside the boundaries of marriage. By doing so, they break theirs vows to each other. Nowadays, more and more people are having immoral relationships and the theme of the drama is getting out of line. One-third of office workers have illicit relationships. Few years ago in Korea, sin of committing adultery was abolished. Jesus says that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. People who subscribe to Internet porn sites and pay for them have already committed adultery to satisfy their eye desires. Usually, men think of having physical sex as adultery, while women think of their spouse dating and meeting someone other than them as an adultery. But Jesus says that even the lust of the heart is adultery. We can see how sensitive we must be about sin as God's people.

In what posture should we fight in order not to commit adultery? " 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."(29,30) In order not to fall into the pain of hell, you must fight the sin of adultery with the determination of gouging out the eye and cutting off the hand. It is hard to stop sin without firm determination, just as Kim Yu-shin cut off the neck of a horse that was leading him to a kisaeng house. One assailant, who caused the N room problem this time, was so distressed that he wrote a suicide note and made an extreme choice. The man who ran the N-room knows that it was an act of bad devil, but he can’t stop it. He had to handcuff the assailant’s hands to stop it. The assailant thanked the man for arresting him. Like this, sin is scary, and the devil drags humans around and makes them commit all kinds of ugly crime. Colossians 3:5,6 says: "5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." So how can we defeat the forces of sin that make us miserable? Let's find Psalm 119:11 and read it together. " I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." When the word of God is in our hearts, we can live a holy life without being dragged by sin. I hope we can recite the word of God, the sword of the Holy Spirit. So I pray that we will be able to overcome sin with the power of words.

See verse 31, 32. "31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." At that time, divorce was entirely in the authority of the husband. Men treated women with contempt and abandoned their wives for no reason. Abandoned women couldn't do anything still being tied up with their ex-husband. Moses prevented divorce in this situation and allowed divorced women to write out divorce certificates so that they could remarry and live a new life. The divorce certificate guaranteed them the right to remarry because they broke up with my ex-husband.
Third, the teaching of the oath. In the Old Testament, do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But Jesus tells us not to swear an oath at all. We shouldn't swear either by heaven for it is God’s throne. He tells us not to swear by the earth for it is his footstool. Even not by Jerusalem for it is the city of the Great King. And we are told not to swear by our own head for we cannot make even one hair white or black. Of course you can dye it, but it will be back soon. He says that all we need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. We must tell the truth. In addition, through our faithful life we need let people trust us through our behaviors and words without having to swear an oath.
Fourth, love your enemies. Moses also said in the Law that “fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” But Jesus said, “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” The words of Leviticus were given in advance to prevent harming others through retaliation. When one person gets beaten, it is nature to want to beat that person ten times. Retaliation does not solve evil. Retaliation only deepens the resentment. So, what is the solution Jesus offered? It is to overcome evil with good. When dealing with evil for good, the wicked become ashamed. The hatred and abhor in that person's heart disappears. Evil that works within human beings cannot be solved by justice. Only infinite forgiveness and love can remove the sin that works inside.
Judah Ben-Hur lived with a sword of revenge in his heart against Messala. He trampled Messala in a chariot race. Hatred was not resolved though. Esther tells Benhur that you are Messala. But Ben Hur runs upon the cross and hears the voice of Jesus telling to him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” After that Ben-Hur experiences that the sword of vengeance was taken out of his hand, and removed from his heart. When he received the Jesus’ love of forgiveness, the hatred and abhor that had worked on him disappears.
How are Jesus' teachings different from the old commandment about the enemy? See verses 43, 44. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It is a universal human mind to love neighbors and hate enemies. But we didn't even love our neighbors. So God gave us the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." However, Jesus told his disciples who became people of Heaven not only to love their neighbors, but also to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. We lack the love of our closest families and neighbors. But the word to love the enemy seems to be more difficult. How can we love enemies who hate, blame and kill us? When we acknowledge and repent our selfishness, self-hatred, and learn Jesus, we can love our neighbors and even our enemies when that love grows. Loving others is only possible when we God’s love is within us. There is a phrase that it is humane to hate an enemy, but it is divine to love an enemy. Loving enemies is a part of God's attributes. God loved and saved us, who became enemies in the past. He took pity on us who were going to become ruined against God, and he gave us Jesus, who was the only one, for us. John 3:16 says. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
See verse 48. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” To be perfect means to say that the foundation is flawless and complete. God is holy and good. He has no sin. Therefore, Jesus says that as God is perfect, the disciples should also be perfect. It is a privilege and joy of God's children to gradually become like Jesus and become perfect as God is perfect. Jesus says this because we can be perfect children of God just as God is perfect in Jesus.
There is Mrs. Corrie Ten Boom (1882-1983) in the Netherlands, who wrote the book of "The Hiding Place." She was imprisoned in a German concentration camp for hiding Jews during World War II, where her parents and brothers died due to torture. She determined to live in various torture and return to her homeland as a preacher of the gospel for the rest of her life. But when she prayed, the Holy Spirit said one day. “Kory, go to Germany and preach the gospel.” Cory replied. “Lord, I will go wherever you go. But I can't go to Germany. This is the country, where the Germans killed my parents and family. I cannot forgive the brutality they have committed.” Then the Lord said to her, “My dear daughter. Remember that I have crucified for those who curse, swear, and spit on me. If you are my daughter, go to Germany and preach the gospel of love.” Cory barely obeyed and went to Germany. Everywhere she went and preached the gospel, she was thrilled to see people crying and repenting.
But at a meeting when she preached and came down, many people stood to shake hands with her and among them there was a man in a shabby coat. He was the one who tortured and molested her brothers and sisters in prison in all sorts of cruel ways during the war. As soon as she saw him, Corey seemed to feel as if a heart bleeding and blood flowing upside down. The man was approaching and reaching out his hand to handshake with her, while Corey was shaking. Corey couldn't reach out her hand to handshake with him and prayed for a moment. “Lord, I cannot forgive this man until the lightning of the curse comes upon him from heaven.” Then the voice of the Lord was heard. “I forgave those who mocked me, put on a crown of thorns, and made me crucified and killed on the cross. Forgive him too.” Corey prayed again and God gave her the power of the Holy Spirit to reach out her hand. At that time, the peace came from heaven, and she was able to hold the man’s hand with warm tears. The man said to Cory: “I am so grateful that you, the Dutch, forgive the sins of our German people and share the Gospel. I am a sinful person. Please pray for me to be forgiven from my sins and to become a new person. ” At that moment, the gates of heaven suddenly opened, and the Lord's love poured into Corey's heart. At that time, all the hatred melted like snow and she felt pity for him. Later on, Mrs. Cory traveled all around the world to preach the gospel of forgiveness. This resulted in a history of reconciliation and healing through the healing of thousands of people suffering from the pain and wounds of the war.
We pray that we will become perfect people as God is perfect. I pray that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit to live a life like God's people.