Day Two: Matt.
5:21-22, 27-28 “You have heard that it was said
to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to
judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ will be subject
to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire.”
“You have heard that it was said,
Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust
for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
HAVE YOU EVER WITNESSED someone doing the right thing with
the wrong motives? It happens all the time—people serving and helping others,
not because of their sincere desire to help, but out of their sincere desire to
be praised for helping.
There are people who attempt to do the
right things morally, not because they seek to honor God, but because they seek
relief from guilt or public shame. In these cases, it is evident that someone may be doing the
right things, but with the wrong motives. Is it possible to do the right things, but still have a
corrupt heart? God does not seek people who look only to do the right things,
He searches the heart of man when judging our actions.
While teaching during his Sermon on the
Mount, Jesus explains this reality to the onlookers and listeners. Jesus teaches about the laws they had
grown accustomed to hearing, but He immediately surprises everyone by raising
the bar on those laws.
He reminds them that it is not enough to avoid murder, but our hearts should be
such that we avoid hatred.
It is not enough that we resist adultery, but our hearts should be such that we
resist lust.
The issue is not about the external sin
being avoided, but about the internal workings of the heart behind the sin. It is not enough to do good or right
things: Jesus teaches us to interpret the law by showing the heart behind it.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
▷▷Describe a time when you did the right thing but for the wrong
reasons?
▷▷What was the result of those actions?
▷▷Which rules do you easily obey by focusing
on the rule and not the intent?
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