Jesus in Context Part 2

In Matthew 5 - 7, Jesus preaches the most challenging sermon ever. It is harder than the 10 commandments and all of the rest of the Law. He says things like...

Don't say "you fool" or you are in danger of hell fire.

Don't even look at a woman lustfully.

Love your enemy.

Don't worry.

Don't judge.

Be perfect just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

And many other things that people (even Christians) fail to do every day. In fact, some of the things He says cause people to have great fear.

"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven."

"I will tell them, 'I never knew you.'"

I have heard many people use this section to slam Charismatic Christians because it talks about prophesying and driving out demons. I have heard people use this to warn people who aren't "holy" enough. I have seen people use it to make themselves feel better, like they are elite in God's eyes.

But there are three things you need to understand about Matthew 5 - 7.

1. Jesus is talking to Jews in this Gospel. Matthew 5 - 7 is one sermon in all. Through this sermon, Jesus gives the intent of His ministry. "I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it." Christ brought the Law back to an unobtainable standard.
2. Jesus gives the solution to life with God in this sermon. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." God's righteousness comes by faith alone. It comes by faith in Christ.
3. Christ will say, "I never knew you" to those who didn't seek to be justified by faith. It's pretty simple.

There are people who blindly misquote the Bible and use passages like "God will judge each man according to his own work" or "impartially" to condemn people and make people afraid.

But we need to visit Gospel 101 before we quote passages and use them as universal truth. Everything happens in the context of the Gospel. We need to realize that if we accept Christ, we won't be judged according to our works but by Christ's righteousness. And why would we be judged according to what we do?

"God saved us not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace." 2 Timothy 1:9

and

"He saved us not because of the righteous things we have done but because of His mercy."

Titus 3:5

God already saved you apart from your good or bad behavior. The judgement has past. As Jesus would say, we have passed from judgement into life.

We are all walking testimonies of God's good work. When we are ministering to people we need to show them the truth of the Gospel. Use your words and actions to draw them to God. Don't scare them away.