EXPOSITIONS OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT–XIV
“You Shall Not Murder”
Matthew 5:21-26 September 2, 2007
INTRODUCTION
The Lord Jesus speaks to us about our righteousness exceeding that of the Scribes and Pharisees. Here in this section of His sermon, He reminds us that the only way to have any righteousness is to be born again. And the remainder of this chapter is an exposition of that one verse, 5:20.
I. WHAT IS MURDER?
The Lord Jesus is making it plain that our Father in Heaven is concerned with our hearts and the attitudes of our hearts. He tells us here that unjustified anger is forbidden as is using expressions of contempt. We learn here that our hearts are searched to the very depth of our being. And we discover that we do commit murder by our tempers, by harboring grudges, by gossiping, by neglect, spite, jealousy, by character assassination. Matthew 12 & 15. Ephesians 4; James 3. Our words are the index of our true spiritual condition.
II. THE CURE FOR ANGER
The Lord Jesus gives us four steps to correct the problem:
1) Admit that there is a problem with anger.
2) Correct the injustice done by our anger. I Jn.3. Rom. 12.
3) Correct it immediately. Eph. 4:26. Heb. 12:14-15. Ps. 15.
4) Ask the Lord to change our hearts. Only He is able to do so.
Through the Apostle Paul, He tells us not to retaliate against wrongs done to us. We are to step aside and the wrath of man work, even if it is to our harm. Romans 12:21.
SOME OF THE RESOURCES USED FOR THIS STUDY:
Sinclair B. Ferguson. KINGDOM LIFE IN A FALLEN WORLD.
Daniel M. Doriani. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
John R.W. Stott. CHRISTIAN COUNTER-CULTURE.
John Calvin. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW.
William Hendickson. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW
Matthew Henry. COMMENTRY ON MATTHEW
Bishop J.C. Ryle. EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS ON THE FOUR GOSPELS.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones. STUDIES IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
James Montgomery Boice. STUDIES IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Terry L. Johnson. SERMONS FROM THE HIGH PULPIT.
