Evan Rogers - The Sermon On The Mount - Faithfulness In Marriage and Speech
/Seeking God First: A Study on the
Sermon of the Mount
Faithfulness in Marriage and Speech
Matthew 5:31-39
July 1, 2018
Evan Rogers
Today’s Passage: Matthew 5:31-39 & Judges 11:30-35
5 Key questions
1. What have we learned so far?
2. What is Jesus Saying in this passage?
3. What are the implications of this?
4. What oaths have I made?
5. How do we keep our word?
I. What have we learned in The Sermon On The Mount so far?
Jesus opens the greatest sermon ever given with the Beatitudes, or the seven characteristics of a christian.
He begins by explaining who we should be. (Mt. 5:3-9)
1. Poor in spirit
2. Mournful
3. Meek
4. Hungry and thirsty for righteousness
5. Merciful
6. Pure in Heart
7. Peaceful
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:12)
Then Jesus explains He isn’t widening the road but rather defining its true path. (Mt. 5:17-20)
Jesus also explains that He is not asking us to do something he isn’t already doing.
Then a new section opens up and Jesus begins to talk about what we should do. (Mt 5:21-48)
In this section, He begins to explain that sin is an issue of the heart not an issue of our actions alone.
“External sins are created from unchecked internal thoughts.” –JL
II. What is Jesus saying in this passage
Matthew 5:31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
God takes marriage very seriously! We must be careful not to widen what Jesus has narrowed.
Divorce is to be seen as the last option for extreme circumstances. (Mark 10:5-9, 1 Corinthians 7:39, Malachi 2:16, Mt 19:8-9, L 16:18)
What about bad marriages, full of arguments and problems?
God calls us to work it out even in the case of unbelieving spouses. (1 C 7:10-11)
How do we deal with divorce? How do we help those who have gone through divorce or are going through one now?
God’s word is clear that divorce is permitted in the case of adultery and abandonment, but not always suggested. (Mt. 5:31-32, 1 Co 7:12-16)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God takes honesty as serious as marriage, after all, it wouldn’t be a marriage without vows. (Mt. 5:33-39)
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
III. What are the implications of this?
Dishonesty stems from a heart issue and will branch out into all kinds of unfaithfulness. (Luke 6:45)
Often times if we are struggling in our relationships it is coming from undiscovered heart issues that need to be resolved. (Psalm 119:9-11)
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
IV. What oaths have you made?
Have you vowed to be a good spouse? Have you promised to do a better job? Have you told God you would be nicer?
Jesus encourages us not to overcommit. (Mt. 5:33-39)
Judges 11:30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. (11:34-36)
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Jesus is to be our “Lord” or Kyrios – He to whom a person or thing belongs. About which he has power of deciding, Master, Lord.
When we accept salvation we sell our lives to God. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
We cannot claim to be His and yet be our own.
Jesus commands us to love one another. (Mk 12:29-31)
If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. (Jn 14:23)
Dishonesty stems from a heart issue that if left unchecked will cause destruction in our relationships, in our faith, and ultimately destroy our lives.
V. How do we deal with this issue? How do we keep our word?
A. Start by repenting for all times you have not kept your word.
B. By reading the word of God earnestly and allowing it to change our hearts. (Psalm 119:9-11, James 1:22)
C. By choosing to love God with all of our heart, not giving precedence to anything else. (Jn 14:23)
D. By believing in the work of Jesus to sanctify us. (Acts 26:18)
We all fall short of the glory of God. No matter who you are and no matter what your marital status is there is forgiveness for your mistakes, and God wants to empower you to be holy if you will put your faith in him instead of the strength of your own hands.
Think of all the times someone has lied to you or broken their promises, and choose to forgive that God might forgive you too.