1. Matthew 5-7

2. The Sermon in Two Parts  Matthew 5:3-16 Teaches what the believer is suppose to be!  Matthew 5:17 - 7:27 - Teaches what the believer is suppose to do!

3. Jesus’ Teaching (Matthew 5-7)  A Christian’s Character: (5:3-12)  A Christian’s Influence: (5:13-16)  A Christian’s Righteousness: (5:17-48)  A Christian’s Religion: (6:1-6, 16-18)  A Christian’s Prayer: (6:7-15)  A Christian’s Ambition: (6:19-34)  A Christian’s Relationships: (7:1-20)  A Christian’s Commitment: (7:21-27)

4. Something To Remember!  The Ethical teachings of Jesus do not represent a radical departure from the law, but are a natural extension of the two greatest commandments which are first found in the law:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deut. 6:5)  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18) See Matthew 22:37-40

5. NOTE:  As the succeeding verses will reveal, the righteousness which Jesus now speaks is primarily a righteousness of life and conduct.  Jesus is not teaching here of justification by works.  This kind of transformation comes only to the poor in spirit who know only too well their need for God’s mercy, but it is a transformation that is necessary. (Paul Earnhart)

6. Jesus Discusses Adultery!  (Matthew 5:27-30) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (RSV) (Exodus 20:14) "You shall not commit adultery. (RSV) (Exodus 20:17) “…You shall not covet your neighbor's wife…”(RSV)

7. The War Against Lust  (1 Peter 2:11) Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. (RSV) We live today in a sex-crazed age where unbridled indulgence in sexual passion abounds. Lust is being promoted through the most powerful media ever known to man. Americans have adopted the playboy philosophy - "if it feels good, do it -- anything is OK, as long as you don't hurt anyone else." 70% of the men polled recently admitted that they had engaged in at least 1 adulterous act!! (Article by Brian Anderson) There are no societal restraints. We are not going to easily escape the onslaught of lasciviousness, fornication and adultery that has descended upon this generation.

8. Other NT Scriptures  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (RSV)

9. Other NT Scriptures  (Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (RSV)

10. Other NT Scriptures  (Ephesians 5:5-6) Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (RSV)

11. Other NT Scriptures  (Colossians 3:5-7) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. (RSV)  (Revelation 21:8) But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." (RSV)

12. “Flee Sexual Immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18) How the Mighty Have Fallen! (David) How Desperately We Need to Listen! “Sexual desire is not inherently sinful, but whenever desire is satisfied - in thought or deed - with someone other than one’s spouse, sin has occurred” (Chumbley)

13. Jesus Takes The Matter to the Source!  (Matthew 15:19) For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. (RSV) “Though yet a matter of the mind, it is called what it is – sin!” (Paul Earnhart)

14. Radical Surgery Is Needed!  (Matthew 5:29-30) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (RSV)

15. Radical Surgery  We all have some affections, habits, attitudes, and relationships, which have become a part of our personality that their removal might cause more pain than the actual removal of a limb!  Most of us have spent a long time learning how to be selfish and lustful.  We should not expect the end of these things to come without trauma. But some pain is good pain.  1 Peter 4:1 – “… for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”

16. “Cast It Away”  Matthew 5:30 – “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”  The separation is to be absolute and final, not gradual.  This ought to be received with Joy instead of horror.  What will a man give in exchange for his soul?

17. Dealing With Lust!  Do Not Plan. (Romans 13:14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (RSV)  Abstain. (1 Peter 2:11) Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. (RSV) 1 Corinthians 6:18

18. Dealing With Lust!  Set Your Mind On Christ. (Colossians 3:2-3) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (RSV)  Meditate on God’s Word. (John 17:17) Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. (RSV)

19. Dealing With Lust!  Watch And Pray. (Matthew 26:41) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (RSV)  Exercise Self-Control. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (RSV)

20. Dealing With Lust!  Be Filled With The Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, (RSV) (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (RSV)

21. Let No Disciple Be Smug!  1 Corinthians 10:12 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Our strength and defense must reside wholly in our deep and unshakable resolve to keep ourselves pure for the Lord’s sake.  Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

22. Sources  Invitation To A Spiritual Revolution by Paul Earnhart  How To Deal With Lust By Brian Anderson  Sermon Outlines on Matthew By Mark Copeland  Outline By Johnny Felker  Outline By Jim Deason  The Gospel of Matthew by Kenneth L. Chumbley