Message by Dr. David Drake
rec0911-112801
Series: “Inside / Out”
Living Today The Life Of Jesus
A study through The Sermon On The Mount
Matthew 5-7
The New Commandment
Matthew 5:43-48 (NASB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I. The Partial Commandment … vs. 43
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
– Love your neighbor … (ref. Leviticus 19:18)
Leviticus 19:18 (NASB)
18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
– Hate your enemy … (ref. Deuteronomy 23:6)
Deuteronomy 23:6 (NASB)
6 “You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.
ILL. Luke 10:30-32
Luke 10:30-32 (NASB)
30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
31 “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
– They were hating their enemy
– They were not loving their neighbor
They were “partially” obedient … and partial obedience is total disobedience!
II. The Perfect Commandment … vs. 44-48
– The evidence of a new love … vs. 44
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Ref. Luke 6:27-28
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
– LOVE – your enemies
– DO GOOD – to your enemies
– BLESS … your enemies
– PRAY FOR … your enemies
– The evidence of a new obedience … vs. 45
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
– Our obedient life is heaven’s representation
– Our obedient life is earth’s revelation
THE BASIC CHRISTIAN LIFE … BE & DO
– The evidence of a new attitude … vs. 46-48
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
– True love is measureless … vs. 46
– True fellowship is selfless … vs. 47
– True maturity should be ceaseless … vs. 48