The Biblical View On Self Defense (With Greg Laurie)

00:46:24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlqNRq5hl1g

概要

TLDRIn this sermon, the speaker explores the biblical perspective on self-defense and retaliation, particularly through the lens of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. The message emphasizes that these teachings are directed at believers and focus on the heart's intentions rather than mere external actions. The speaker addresses the apparent contradiction between Jesus' call to turn the other cheek and the roles of military and law enforcement, asserting that self-defense is acceptable within the framework of God's established order. Ultimately, the sermon encourages Christians to embody love, forgiveness, and self-control, even in challenging situations, while recognizing the importance of justice and the role of government in society.

収穫

  • 🙏 The Sermon on the Mount is for believers only.
  • 💔 Jesus emphasizes the heart's intentions over external actions.
  • 🛡️ Self-defense is acceptable within God's order.
  • ⚖️ 'An eye for an eye' reflects a just legal system.
  • ❤️ Christians are called to love and forgive their enemies.
  • 📖 Jesus' teachings challenge us to go beyond the minimum.
  • 👮‍♂️ Government and law enforcement have a God-ordained role.
  • 💡 The ultimate example of forgiveness is Jesus on the cross.
  • 🕊️ Seek God's help to live by these principles.
  • 🤝 Turn the other cheek as a means to win others to Christ.

タイムライン

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The speaker introduces the topic of self-defense and retaliation in the context of Memorial Day, emphasizing the importance of understanding Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. He raises questions about the apparent contradictions between military service and Jesus' command to turn the other cheek.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    The speaker explains that the Sermon on the Mount is directed specifically at believers and is not meant to govern society. He highlights the significance of the Beatitudes and the deeper commitment required from followers of Christ, contrasting it with the Ten Commandments, which focus on external actions.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    The speaker discusses Jesus' fulfillment of the law and the need for a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. He emphasizes that true righteousness comes from faith in Christ and is about the heart rather than mere external compliance with the law.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    The speaker elaborates on the teachings of Jesus regarding anger and lust, stressing that these issues stem from the heart. He warns against harboring bitterness and encourages listeners to seek a change of heart to avoid sinning against others.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:25:00

    The speaker addresses the teachings on retaliation, explaining that Jesus' instructions are not meant to be applied as societal laws but as personal principles for believers. He clarifies that self-defense and justice are appropriate in certain contexts, such as law enforcement and military service.

  • 00:25:00 - 00:30:00

    The speaker emphasizes the importance of going the extra mile and loving one's enemies, presenting these as radical principles that challenge societal norms. He encourages believers to respond to insults and wrongs with grace and to seek to win others over through love.

  • 00:30:00 - 00:35:00

    The speaker discusses the practical implications of Jesus' teachings, urging believers to take proactive steps to avoid sin and to live out their faith in a way that honors God. He highlights the need for personal commitment and accountability in following Christ's example.

  • 00:35:00 - 00:46:24

    The speaker concludes by inviting those who feel convicted by the message to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus, emphasizing the importance of seeking forgiveness and living according to His teachings. He leads a prayer for those making this commitment.

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ビデオQ&A

  • What is the main topic of the sermon?

    The sermon discusses the biblical worldview on self-defense and retaliation based on the Sermon on the Mount.

  • How does the sermon relate to Memorial Day?

    The sermon acknowledges Memorial Day as a day to honor those who served in the military and discusses how this relates to Jesus' teachings.

  • What does Jesus mean by 'turn the other cheek'?

    It refers to responding to insults or wrongs with grace rather than retaliation.

  • Is the Sermon on the Mount applicable to non-believers?

    No, the teachings are specifically for believers who have committed to following Christ.

  • What does the speaker say about self-defense?

    The speaker states that there is a place for self-defense and that Christians can exercise their rights.

  • What is the significance of the phrase 'an eye for an eye'?

    It refers to the Hebrew civic justice system that limits punishment to match the offense.

  • How should Christians respond to enemies?

    Christians are called to love their enemies and respond positively to those who wrong them.

  • What does the speaker say about the role of government?

    The speaker emphasizes that God has established government to administer justice and that it is acceptable for Christians to defend themselves.

  • What is the ultimate example of forgiveness according to the sermon?

    Jesus' own example of forgiveness while on the cross is highlighted as the ultimate model.

  • What should one do if they feel guilty about their actions?

    The sermon encourages individuals to seek God's forgiveness and commit to living according to His principles.

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  • 00:00:00
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    all right we're in matthew chapter 5
  • 00:00:14
    back in
  • 00:00:15
    our series that we are calling world
  • 00:00:18
    view
  • 00:00:19
    and the title of the message is the
  • 00:00:21
    biblical world
  • 00:00:22
    view on self-defense and retaliation
  • 00:00:26
    based on the sermon on the mount matthew
  • 00:00:29
    chapter
  • 00:00:30
    5. of course today is memorial day
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    a day that is dedicated to those who
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    have served in the military
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    and died in our nation's service and how
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    we should thank god for every one of
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    these people and
  • 00:00:44
    all who have served and are serving in
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    the military today
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    but sometimes the question might arise
  • 00:00:51
    among some
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    how does this work with the teachings of
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    jesus and the sermon on the mount
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    for instance in a few moments we're
  • 00:01:00
    going to read that the lord tells us to
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    turn the other cheek and not repay evil
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    for evil but then when we think of the
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    military and we think of those who are
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    in law enforcement
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    is that a contradiction to what the
  • 00:01:14
    bible is actually teaching
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    and what does jesus mean when he tells
  • 00:01:18
    us to turn the other
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    cheek and go the extra mile i mean
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    should a christian be a complete
  • 00:01:24
    pacifist should we never defend
  • 00:01:27
    ourselves how does this all work
  • 00:01:30
    well it all fits here as we look at
  • 00:01:33
    the world view of jesus christ if you
  • 00:01:35
    will
  • 00:01:36
    you want to know how christ himself sees
  • 00:01:38
    the world
  • 00:01:40
    read the sermon on the mount you want to
  • 00:01:42
    know how his heart
  • 00:01:43
    beats then study the sermon on the mount
  • 00:01:47
    you want to know how jesus feels about
  • 00:01:50
    life and living in general
  • 00:01:51
    again study the sermon on the mount
  • 00:01:54
    because the sermon on the mount
  • 00:01:55
    is the official manifesto of the king of
  • 00:01:58
    kings
  • 00:01:59
    and the lord of lords but i must add
  • 00:02:02
    this
  • 00:02:03
    this is for believers only this
  • 00:02:06
    is not for non-believers this is not
  • 00:02:10
    even a set of principles to govern a
  • 00:02:12
    society by
  • 00:02:13
    these are the words given by christ
  • 00:02:15
    specifically to those
  • 00:02:17
    who have chosen to follow him look at
  • 00:02:20
    matthew 5 verse 1 and 2
  • 00:02:22
    we read seen the multitudes he went up
  • 00:02:24
    to a mountain
  • 00:02:25
    and when he was seated his disciples
  • 00:02:27
    came to him and he opened his mouth and
  • 00:02:30
    taught them
  • 00:02:30
    sing quick little aside here
  • 00:02:34
    back in those days the teacher would
  • 00:02:35
    usually sit and those who were listening
  • 00:02:38
    would stand
  • 00:02:39
    i think we should bring this back
  • 00:02:42
    because after three services you know i
  • 00:02:44
    want to sit too so
  • 00:02:45
    let's just do that today i'll sit here
  • 00:02:47
    and you stand what do you think no
  • 00:02:49
    it'd be good because you fall asleep
  • 00:02:50
    every service second
  • 00:02:52
    no i'm kidding just made that up oh but
  • 00:02:55
    okay but listen to what this says here
  • 00:02:58
    seeing the multitudes he went into a
  • 00:02:59
    mountain and when he was seated
  • 00:03:01
    his disciples came to them and he taught
  • 00:03:03
    them
  • 00:03:04
    see these words were given to his
  • 00:03:06
    followers not to the masses
  • 00:03:08
    not to the crowds they were given to
  • 00:03:10
    those who were
  • 00:03:11
    following him this phrase he opened his
  • 00:03:14
    mouth
  • 00:03:15
    as a colloquialism in greek it's used to
  • 00:03:17
    describe something that is solemn grave
  • 00:03:20
    and dignified in other words this is a
  • 00:03:23
    phrase that is describing
  • 00:03:25
    some weighty statements that are about
  • 00:03:27
    to be
  • 00:03:28
    given these words were not addressed to
  • 00:03:31
    fair weather followers and jesus
  • 00:03:34
    had those and they're still around today
  • 00:03:37
    you know there are people that have an
  • 00:03:39
    interest in christianity and interest in
  • 00:03:42
    the teachings of jesus but they haven't
  • 00:03:44
    really committed themselves
  • 00:03:45
    to him you know you may be surprised to
  • 00:03:48
    know that
  • 00:03:49
    there was a time in this ministry when
  • 00:03:51
    jesus was actually quite popular
  • 00:03:53
    we focus a lot on his betrayal his
  • 00:03:56
    crucifixion but
  • 00:03:57
    for a time jesus was the talk of the
  • 00:04:00
    town
  • 00:04:00
    huge crowds formed wherever he went
  • 00:04:04
    because after all he was performing
  • 00:04:06
    miracles he was
  • 00:04:07
    restoring sight to the blind and hearing
  • 00:04:09
    to the deaf and
  • 00:04:11
    healing an incurable disease known as
  • 00:04:13
    leprosy
  • 00:04:14
    even resurrecting people back to life
  • 00:04:17
    again
  • 00:04:17
    but his most popular miracle without
  • 00:04:19
    question was
  • 00:04:20
    when he gave a free lunch to everyone in
  • 00:04:23
    the feeding of the five
  • 00:04:24
    thousand but when the lord addressed the
  • 00:04:28
    topics of sacrifice and deeper
  • 00:04:30
    commitment
  • 00:04:31
    the crowds began to shrink and
  • 00:04:33
    ultimately the crowds even turned
  • 00:04:35
    against him no these words were given to
  • 00:04:38
    committed followers here in the sermon
  • 00:04:41
    on the mount you know it's a funny thing
  • 00:04:43
    some people will say all the religion i
  • 00:04:45
    need is found right there in the sermon
  • 00:04:47
    on the mount
  • 00:04:48
    really have you ever read the sermon on
  • 00:04:51
    the mount
  • 00:04:53
    because i think these are some of the
  • 00:04:54
    hardest teachings jesus
  • 00:04:56
    ever gave i think it's harder to keep
  • 00:04:59
    the teachings of the sermon on the mount
  • 00:05:01
    than even the ten commandments and i'll
  • 00:05:04
    tell you why
  • 00:05:05
    because the ten commandments deal
  • 00:05:06
    primarily with external
  • 00:05:08
    actions thou shalt not commit adultery
  • 00:05:11
    thou shall not steal thou shalt not lie
  • 00:05:13
    these are things we do the sermon on the
  • 00:05:15
    mount deals with a heart
  • 00:05:17
    jesus says you've heard that it has been
  • 00:05:19
    said but i say unto you if you do it in
  • 00:05:21
    your heart
  • 00:05:21
    so this is a much harder thing to deal
  • 00:05:24
    with
  • 00:05:24
    so these are words that are given to
  • 00:05:26
    people that have totally committed
  • 00:05:28
    themselves
  • 00:05:29
    to him people that understand what he
  • 00:05:31
    was teaching in the beatitudes you
  • 00:05:32
    remember
  • 00:05:33
    and start off with blessed are the poor
  • 00:05:35
    in spirit
  • 00:05:36
    blessed are they that mourn and so forth
  • 00:05:39
    blessed is the man of the woman
  • 00:05:41
    who sees himself as they really are
  • 00:05:43
    before god
  • 00:05:44
    spiritually bankrupt and destitute and
  • 00:05:47
    they mourn over this
  • 00:05:48
    their sin and they repent of it these
  • 00:05:51
    words
  • 00:05:52
    are for believers only let's read
  • 00:05:55
    some important introductory words now of
  • 00:05:59
    the sermon on the mount
  • 00:06:00
    matthew chapter 5 verse 17 jesus says
  • 00:06:04
    do not think that i have come to destroy
  • 00:06:07
    the law or the prophets i did not come
  • 00:06:09
    to destroy
  • 00:06:10
    but to fulfill for assuredly i say to
  • 00:06:13
    you till heaven and earth pass away
  • 00:06:15
    one jot or one tittle will by no means
  • 00:06:18
    pass
  • 00:06:19
    from the law till all is fulfilled
  • 00:06:23
    a jotter a tittle would speak of the
  • 00:06:25
    crossing of a t
  • 00:06:26
    or the dotting of an eye verse 19
  • 00:06:29
    whoever therefore breaks one of the
  • 00:06:30
    least of these commandments
  • 00:06:32
    and teaches men so shall be called least
  • 00:06:34
    in the kingdom of heaven but whoever
  • 00:06:36
    does
  • 00:06:36
    and teaches them he will be called great
  • 00:06:39
    in the kingdom of heaven
  • 00:06:41
    for i say unto you unless your
  • 00:06:42
    righteousness exceeds the righteousness
  • 00:06:45
    of the scribes and pharisees you will by
  • 00:06:47
    no means
  • 00:06:48
    enter the kingdom of heaven let's pray
  • 00:06:51
    now lord
  • 00:06:54
    as we read your words here in the sermon
  • 00:06:56
    on the mount
  • 00:06:57
    as we understand how you want us to live
  • 00:07:00
    help us to hear it
  • 00:07:03
    and see it the way you want us to and
  • 00:07:05
    help us to
  • 00:07:07
    internalize it and live it out
  • 00:07:10
    speak to us as we open your word we ask
  • 00:07:13
    in jesus name
  • 00:07:14
    amen unless your righteousness
  • 00:07:18
    exceeds that of the scribes and
  • 00:07:20
    pharisees
  • 00:07:21
    jesus says you will in no way enter the
  • 00:07:24
    kingdom of heaven
  • 00:07:25
    i remember when i first read those words
  • 00:07:27
    as a brand new christian
  • 00:07:29
    i thought what on earth how could my
  • 00:07:31
    righteousness
  • 00:07:32
    ever exceed that of the scribes and
  • 00:07:35
    pharisees you see the scribes were
  • 00:07:37
    men who had dedicated themselves to the
  • 00:07:40
    study of the law of god they would
  • 00:07:42
    carefully
  • 00:07:44
    go over it interpret it copy it
  • 00:07:47
    into manuscript form and then the
  • 00:07:49
    pharisees they were a select group never
  • 00:07:51
    numbering more than 6 000
  • 00:07:53
    and they spent their time going over the
  • 00:07:55
    law debating the law
  • 00:07:57
    quoting this or that rabbi to make their
  • 00:08:00
    point
  • 00:08:00
    and jesus comes along and says unless
  • 00:08:03
    your righteousness
  • 00:08:04
    exceeds theirs you will have you will in
  • 00:08:06
    no way enter the kingdom of heaven
  • 00:08:08
    now first of all jesus was setting
  • 00:08:10
    himself apart
  • 00:08:11
    from all the rest because normally when
  • 00:08:13
    a debate would ensue
  • 00:08:15
    a rabbi would be quoted well you know
  • 00:08:16
    rabbi rabbi gamilio says thus
  • 00:08:19
    and so oh well wait a second rabbi so
  • 00:08:21
    and so
  • 00:08:22
    has a different view well there's this
  • 00:08:24
    other rabbi jesus says
  • 00:08:26
    you've heard it said before but i say
  • 00:08:28
    unto you
  • 00:08:29
    jesus was not recognized by any
  • 00:08:31
    rabbinical school
  • 00:08:33
    he did not need the authority of another
  • 00:08:36
    teacher to support him
  • 00:08:37
    he was the authority and he spoke in
  • 00:08:40
    that manner
  • 00:08:41
    he says i have not come to do away with
  • 00:08:44
    the law
  • 00:08:44
    but to fulfill it the word fulfill means
  • 00:08:47
    to carry it out to make it full
  • 00:08:49
    to get to the heart of it everything
  • 00:08:52
    that the law was pointing to was
  • 00:08:54
    fulfilled in jesus christ
  • 00:08:56
    all the old testament types laid out in
  • 00:08:58
    leviticus
  • 00:08:59
    and numbers were fulfilled in him he was
  • 00:09:03
    the passover lamb
  • 00:09:04
    he was the burnt offering he was the
  • 00:09:07
    scapegoat
  • 00:09:08
    he was now going to fulfill everything
  • 00:09:10
    that the law was pointing to but
  • 00:09:12
    ironically
  • 00:09:13
    they accused him of breaking sabbath day
  • 00:09:16
    because he dared to
  • 00:09:18
    help a person in need on that particular
  • 00:09:20
    day and that's because they
  • 00:09:22
    had completely twisted and perverted
  • 00:09:24
    what the bible
  • 00:09:25
    was saying on these topics and jesus was
  • 00:09:27
    getting to the heart of the matter
  • 00:09:29
    so when he says that our righteousness
  • 00:09:31
    must exceed that of the scribes and
  • 00:09:33
    pharisees here's what he means
  • 00:09:35
    their righteousness was based on their
  • 00:09:38
    works
  • 00:09:39
    their righteousness was not real theirs
  • 00:09:42
    was a
  • 00:09:43
    self-righteousness no he says that's not
  • 00:09:46
    enough you need
  • 00:09:47
    real righteousness and that is given to
  • 00:09:49
    you when you put your
  • 00:09:50
    faith in christ it's called imputed
  • 00:09:54
    righteousness
  • 00:09:55
    it is placed into your spiritual bank
  • 00:09:57
    account as
  • 00:09:58
    a result of you being justified by faith
  • 00:10:01
    through your belief in jesus so he says
  • 00:10:04
    i'm getting to the heart
  • 00:10:05
    of the matter now this is the bottom
  • 00:10:08
    line and your righteousness
  • 00:10:09
    needs to exceed theirs and now he lays
  • 00:10:13
    out what that actually means here
  • 00:10:14
    in the sermon on the mount he deals with
  • 00:10:16
    a lot of important topics
  • 00:10:18
    helping us to form our worldview
  • 00:10:21
    topics like hatred and sexual sin
  • 00:10:25
    and marriage and divorce and speaking
  • 00:10:27
    the truth and retaliation
  • 00:10:29
    and loving others the sermon on the
  • 00:10:31
    mount is not about giving the bare
  • 00:10:33
    minimum
  • 00:10:33
    but the maximum you can give as a
  • 00:10:35
    christian to borrow jesus
  • 00:10:37
    own words it's about going the extra
  • 00:10:39
    mile
  • 00:10:40
    taking it to the next level and being a
  • 00:10:43
    radical sold-out
  • 00:10:44
    follower of jesus christ listen the
  • 00:10:47
    sermon on the mount
  • 00:10:48
    is heavy duty stuff for hardcore
  • 00:10:51
    christians the spiritual lightweights
  • 00:10:54
    need not apply
  • 00:10:56
    if you're a fair-weather follower you're
  • 00:10:58
    going to be blown away by what we're
  • 00:11:00
    going to talk about today
  • 00:11:01
    if you're not really interested in
  • 00:11:03
    living as a christian this
  • 00:11:04
    is going to be stuff that you will say i
  • 00:11:06
    can't do this but if you want to be a
  • 00:11:08
    real follower of jesus
  • 00:11:11
    this is what he has laid out for each of
  • 00:11:13
    us to do again
  • 00:11:14
    this is for believers only so let's read
  • 00:11:18
    some more words
  • 00:11:19
    matthew 5 verse 21 you've heard that it
  • 00:11:22
    has been said of those
  • 00:11:24
    of old you shall not murder and whoever
  • 00:11:26
    murders will be in danger of judgment
  • 00:11:29
    but i say unto you whoever is angry with
  • 00:11:31
    his brother without a cause
  • 00:11:33
    shall be in danger of the judgment
  • 00:11:35
    whoever says who is brother
  • 00:11:37
    raqqa shall be in danger of the counsel
  • 00:11:39
    but whoever says you
  • 00:11:40
    fool will be in danger of hell fire
  • 00:11:43
    therefore if you bring your gift to the
  • 00:11:45
    altar and therefore remember
  • 00:11:46
    your brother has something against you
  • 00:11:49
    leave your gift there before the altar
  • 00:11:51
    and go your way and first be reconciled
  • 00:11:54
    to your brother
  • 00:11:55
    and then come and offer your gift agree
  • 00:11:57
    with your adversary quickly while you're
  • 00:11:59
    on the way with him
  • 00:12:00
    lest your adversary deliver you to the
  • 00:12:02
    judge and the judge hands you over to
  • 00:12:04
    the officer and you be thrown into
  • 00:12:06
    prison
  • 00:12:07
    assuredly i say unto you you will by no
  • 00:12:09
    means get out of there till you've paid
  • 00:12:11
    the last penny
  • 00:12:12
    you have heard that it has been said of
  • 00:12:14
    those of old
  • 00:12:15
    you shall not commit adultery but i say
  • 00:12:18
    unto you
  • 00:12:19
    whoever looks on a woman to lust for her
  • 00:12:21
    has already committed adultery with her
  • 00:12:24
    in his heart so if your right eye causes
  • 00:12:27
    you to sin will pluck it out
  • 00:12:29
    and cast it from you for it's more
  • 00:12:30
    profitable for you that
  • 00:12:32
    one of your members perish than for your
  • 00:12:34
    whole body to be cast into hell
  • 00:12:36
    if your right hand causes you to sin
  • 00:12:39
    we'll cut it off and cast it from you
  • 00:12:41
    for it's more profitable for you that
  • 00:12:43
    one of your members perished
  • 00:12:44
    than for your whole body to be cast into
  • 00:12:47
    hell
  • 00:12:48
    wow now what does this all be
  • 00:12:51
    i have no idea god bless no
  • 00:12:58
    jesus is getting to the heart of the
  • 00:13:00
    matter as i said
  • 00:13:01
    the sermon on the mount is about the
  • 00:13:03
    heart the heart of the matter
  • 00:13:05
    is the matter of the heart and here's
  • 00:13:08
    what he's saying
  • 00:13:09
    it has to be more than just external
  • 00:13:11
    pressure in other words
  • 00:13:12
    let me ask you this why don't you go and
  • 00:13:16
    steal
  • 00:13:16
    something that you really want why don't
  • 00:13:19
    you
  • 00:13:20
    go ahead and kill that person that
  • 00:13:22
    bothers you
  • 00:13:24
    why don't you commit adultery well
  • 00:13:26
    sometimes if we're honest we would say
  • 00:13:29
    because i don't want to face the
  • 00:13:30
    repercussions
  • 00:13:32
    i don't want to be arrested for stealing
  • 00:13:34
    i don't want to go to prison
  • 00:13:36
    for killing i don't want that on my
  • 00:13:37
    conscience and and i'm afraid if i
  • 00:13:39
    commit adultery i'll get caught
  • 00:13:41
    okay well then let me ask you a
  • 00:13:42
    follow-up question if a set of
  • 00:13:44
    circumstances were to arise
  • 00:13:46
    where you thought you could steal that
  • 00:13:47
    something and get away with it
  • 00:13:49
    would you then do it or if you thought
  • 00:13:51
    you could get away with
  • 00:13:53
    adultery would you go ahead and commit
  • 00:13:55
    it
  • 00:13:56
    if your answer would be yes and we have
  • 00:13:58
    a problem because really that means in
  • 00:14:00
    your heart
  • 00:14:01
    you still want to do these things our
  • 00:14:03
    heart needs to change
  • 00:14:05
    and though there is a place for those
  • 00:14:07
    external
  • 00:14:08
    reasons we must have a change of heart
  • 00:14:12
    where we won't want to do those things
  • 00:14:14
    anymore so instead of just dealing with
  • 00:14:16
    hatred
  • 00:14:16
    jesus gets back and nips it at the body
  • 00:14:19
    says let's talk about anger
  • 00:14:21
    let's talk about what's really going on
  • 00:14:23
    deep inside of you verse 22.
  • 00:14:25
    if you're angry with your brother
  • 00:14:26
    without a cause you'll be in danger of
  • 00:14:29
    judgment
  • 00:14:30
    how many of you have ever been angry
  • 00:14:31
    with your brother or your sister or
  • 00:14:34
    get your hands up all of us have
  • 00:14:37
    we all have been angry the bible is not
  • 00:14:39
    saying you can never be angry
  • 00:14:42
    there's even a place for righteous
  • 00:14:43
    indignation
  • 00:14:45
    the more to the point there are times
  • 00:14:46
    when we are angry with one another you
  • 00:14:48
    know
  • 00:14:49
    kids get upset with their parents and
  • 00:14:51
    parents with their kids
  • 00:14:53
    and husbands with wives and wives with
  • 00:14:56
    husbands and friends with friends
  • 00:14:58
    and christian brothers with christian
  • 00:15:00
    brothers this happens we get angry
  • 00:15:02
    sometimes we say things we should not
  • 00:15:04
    say and
  • 00:15:06
    we find ourselves apologizing for it
  • 00:15:08
    this is normal day-to-day
  • 00:15:10
    living this is not what jesus is dealing
  • 00:15:12
    with someone who
  • 00:15:14
    has a little bit of anger here and there
  • 00:15:16
    this is talking about a person
  • 00:15:18
    who has become bitter who is developing
  • 00:15:20
    a gl
  • 00:15:21
    a grudge who is nursing and feeding it
  • 00:15:24
    the word that he uses here for
  • 00:15:25
    angry could be translated a settled
  • 00:15:28
    anger
  • 00:15:29
    malice that is nursed inwardly you know
  • 00:15:32
    what i've discovered
  • 00:15:33
    some people like to fight
  • 00:15:36
    it's not even what they're fighting
  • 00:15:38
    about they just like to scrap
  • 00:15:40
    they like to mix it up they like to
  • 00:15:42
    debate they like to argue
  • 00:15:44
    they always have to have their opponent
  • 00:15:47
    the person that they're upset with
  • 00:15:49
    and the reason you know this is as soon
  • 00:15:51
    as one issue is resolved
  • 00:15:53
    another one takes its place they just
  • 00:15:55
    like to be in some kind
  • 00:15:57
    of confrontation in some way shape or
  • 00:16:00
    form
  • 00:16:01
    jesus is talking about a person like
  • 00:16:03
    that a person that is
  • 00:16:04
    nursing bitterness a person that is
  • 00:16:07
    actually allowing the anger to grow
  • 00:16:10
    where does this anger and hatred start
  • 00:16:13
    sometimes it starts with
  • 00:16:14
    envy i think it was uh
  • 00:16:18
    shakespeare that called envy the green
  • 00:16:20
    eyed monster
  • 00:16:22
    and you remember that the first homicide
  • 00:16:25
    that was ever committed was done by cain
  • 00:16:28
    toward his brother abel
  • 00:16:30
    why because his brother's sacrifice was
  • 00:16:33
    accepted and his was not
  • 00:16:35
    he was envious well how come his
  • 00:16:36
    sacrifice is accepted and mine isn't and
  • 00:16:39
    that's how it often starts
  • 00:16:40
    you know one person gets that promotion
  • 00:16:42
    one person
  • 00:16:43
    gets something you want one person has
  • 00:16:46
    something you don't have an
  • 00:16:48
    envy begins to develop and envy turns to
  • 00:16:51
    anger
  • 00:16:51
    and anger turns to bitterness and
  • 00:16:53
    bitterness turns
  • 00:16:55
    to hatred and effectively you're
  • 00:16:57
    murdering that person in your heart
  • 00:16:59
    because you're
  • 00:17:00
    spreading lies about them and you're
  • 00:17:02
    slandering them
  • 00:17:03
    and that's what your whole life becomes
  • 00:17:05
    about so jesus says don't let this
  • 00:17:07
    happen
  • 00:17:08
    it should not be true of a child of god
  • 00:17:11
    first john 3 15
  • 00:17:12
    says everyone who hates his brother
  • 00:17:16
    is a murderer notice it does not say
  • 00:17:19
    they're like a murderer it says they are
  • 00:17:20
    one that's how severe it is
  • 00:17:23
    first john 2 9 says he that says he is
  • 00:17:25
    in the light
  • 00:17:26
    and hates his brother is in darkness
  • 00:17:28
    don't tell me you love god and you hate
  • 00:17:30
    your brother
  • 00:17:31
    if you hate your brother you hate your
  • 00:17:33
    sister if your heart
  • 00:17:35
    is filled with this deep malice the
  • 00:17:37
    bible is saying you're not really a
  • 00:17:39
    christian
  • 00:17:40
    so we need to ask god to change our
  • 00:17:42
    heart if this is the way we feel toward
  • 00:17:44
    others now the lord tells us in verse 22
  • 00:17:47
    if you say to your brother
  • 00:17:48
    raqqa you'll be in danger of the council
  • 00:17:50
    you say what raqqa what's that
  • 00:17:52
    well it's hard for us to understand what
  • 00:17:54
    this phrase means because there is no
  • 00:17:56
    modern equivalent in the english
  • 00:17:59
    language today
  • 00:18:00
    a literal definition of raqqa means a
  • 00:18:02
    brainless idiot
  • 00:18:04
    an empty head a bonehead it
  • 00:18:07
    i think it's not so much about the word
  • 00:18:09
    it's about the attitude
  • 00:18:11
    this is speaking of a superiority over
  • 00:18:14
    another person
  • 00:18:15
    it's the phrase that comes from an
  • 00:18:18
    arrogant
  • 00:18:18
    contempt so if you say to your brother
  • 00:18:20
    you're worthless
  • 00:18:22
    or you say you fool which means you're a
  • 00:18:24
    godless
  • 00:18:26
    person both of these ideas convey the
  • 00:18:29
    attitude of someone that sees himself
  • 00:18:31
    above someone else and jesus is dealing
  • 00:18:35
    with that
  • 00:18:36
    now he shifts gears and he talks about
  • 00:18:38
    lust in verse 27.
  • 00:18:41
    you've heard it said of of those of old
  • 00:18:43
    you should not commit adultery
  • 00:18:44
    but i say whoever looks on a woman to
  • 00:18:47
    lust for her
  • 00:18:48
    has already committed adultery with her
  • 00:18:50
    in his heart now look
  • 00:18:52
    that doesn't mean if you see a pretty
  • 00:18:55
    girl
  • 00:18:56
    or a good-looking guy as you are
  • 00:18:59
    not seeing right now but we'll probably
  • 00:19:02
    see
  • 00:19:02
    later outside of church but um
  • 00:19:08
    it doesn't mean that you notice someone
  • 00:19:10
    is attractive
  • 00:19:11
    you say well there's a pretty girl oh
  • 00:19:14
    there's a good looking guy that's not
  • 00:19:15
    what this is talking about
  • 00:19:17
    this is talking about seeing that person
  • 00:19:20
    but then allowing your mind to go to the
  • 00:19:22
    wrong place
  • 00:19:24
    in fact the word that is actually used
  • 00:19:26
    here to describe this phrase whoever
  • 00:19:28
    looks on a woman isn't referring to a
  • 00:19:31
    casual glance it's referring to the
  • 00:19:33
    continuous
  • 00:19:34
    act of looking not an incidental or
  • 00:19:37
    involuntary
  • 00:19:38
    glance but an intentional and repeated
  • 00:19:40
    gazing
  • 00:19:41
    with the express purpose of lusting
  • 00:19:44
    this is the idea of a man or even a
  • 00:19:47
    woman
  • 00:19:48
    that would put themselves in a place
  • 00:19:50
    where they would look at others
  • 00:19:52
    to stimulate feed and encourage
  • 00:19:56
    their lust and jesus is saying this is
  • 00:19:59
    like
  • 00:19:59
    committing adultery now sometimes
  • 00:20:02
    you don't do this on purpose but you're
  • 00:20:04
    exposed to something that you wish you
  • 00:20:06
    had not been exposed to but then you
  • 00:20:08
    have a choice as to what you're going to
  • 00:20:09
    do with it
  • 00:20:10
    a good example is david the king of
  • 00:20:12
    israel
  • 00:20:13
    who was up in his rooftop patio and
  • 00:20:16
    he happened to notice a very beautiful
  • 00:20:19
    woman named bathsheba
  • 00:20:21
    bathing herself and he couldn't have
  • 00:20:23
    helped
  • 00:20:24
    noticing her i suppose and i'm not quite
  • 00:20:27
    sure that
  • 00:20:28
    bathsheba did not know that he would
  • 00:20:30
    have a good
  • 00:20:31
    view of her and did not put herself in
  • 00:20:33
    that place
  • 00:20:34
    there is a responsibility in her part
  • 00:20:36
    too she was culpable
  • 00:20:38
    she cooperated with david she could have
  • 00:20:40
    refused his advances
  • 00:20:42
    of course but david saw her
  • 00:20:46
    so there it was now he could have turned
  • 00:20:47
    away from it but instead he acted on it
  • 00:20:50
    you know how the story unfolded he
  • 00:20:52
    had her brought up to his chambers they
  • 00:20:54
    had sex together
  • 00:20:55
    uh she was pregnant and then instead of
  • 00:20:58
    just coming clean and admitting that he
  • 00:21:00
    wanted to make it look like
  • 00:21:02
    her husband was the father of the child
  • 00:21:04
    so he called the husband uriah in from
  • 00:21:06
    the battle and
  • 00:21:07
    wanted him to spend the night with his
  • 00:21:09
    wife but uriah wouldn't do that and
  • 00:21:11
    ultimately
  • 00:21:12
    david had uriah sent to the front lines
  • 00:21:15
    and he was killed in battle
  • 00:21:16
    effectively had him murdered and then
  • 00:21:18
    david mary bathsheba thought he covered
  • 00:21:20
    up his sin and then
  • 00:21:21
    of course nathan blew his cover and
  • 00:21:24
    confronted him and said
  • 00:21:26
    you've sinned against god and then
  • 00:21:28
    tragically the child died
  • 00:21:30
    after it was born it was just a mess you
  • 00:21:32
    see but it all started
  • 00:21:33
    with a lustful look and so we need to
  • 00:21:36
    think about that
  • 00:21:37
    that is why job said i've made a
  • 00:21:39
    covenant with my eyes not to look on a
  • 00:21:41
    woman
  • 00:21:42
    but a better translation would be not to
  • 00:21:44
    look lustfully you're going to see women
  • 00:21:46
    and men but don't look lustfully
  • 00:21:49
    you you actually sometimes have to
  • 00:21:52
    literally turn away
  • 00:21:54
    maybe you're walking down the street and
  • 00:21:56
    approaching you with some gorgeous girl
  • 00:21:57
    or some
  • 00:21:58
    great looking guy and your mind's going
  • 00:22:00
    to the wrong place
  • 00:22:01
    sometimes you need to avert your gaze
  • 00:22:03
    just look away don't look that way
  • 00:22:05
    maybe if you're watching television then
  • 00:22:07
    something comes on the screen you know
  • 00:22:09
    it's going to stimulate lust
  • 00:22:11
    you need to stop it and there's a button
  • 00:22:13
    on your remote control
  • 00:22:15
    it's usually red if you push it
  • 00:22:18
    images disappear it's called the power
  • 00:22:20
    button
  • 00:22:22
    use it don't go on your
  • 00:22:26
    computer and just google random words
  • 00:22:28
    and just click whatever
  • 00:22:30
    sites pop up you might have images
  • 00:22:32
    appearing on your computer screen
  • 00:22:34
    you wish you had never seen before be
  • 00:22:36
    careful guard your thoughts
  • 00:22:38
    guard what you expose yourself to this
  • 00:22:41
    is the idea
  • 00:22:41
    that is being conveyed let me add one
  • 00:22:43
    thing to this
  • 00:22:45
    not only should men not be looking
  • 00:22:46
    lustfully at women but women need to
  • 00:22:48
    think very carefully
  • 00:22:49
    about the way they present themselves so
  • 00:22:52
    they don't encourage
  • 00:22:54
    lust don't look at me that way girls you
  • 00:22:56
    know what i'm talking about
  • 00:23:00
    the way you dress what you wear what you
  • 00:23:04
    don't wear
  • 00:23:05
    well what are you talking about that you
  • 00:23:07
    know what i'm talking about
  • 00:23:09
    well how should i dress do i have to
  • 00:23:11
    wear sackcloth
  • 00:23:14
    i don't know said cloth that's nice no
  • 00:23:15
    i'm kidding
  • 00:23:17
    you can still be stylish you can just
  • 00:23:20
    still dress in a cool way but
  • 00:23:22
    just maybe apply this principle act as
  • 00:23:24
    though
  • 00:23:25
    jesus were picking you up and taking you
  • 00:23:27
    out that night would you feel
  • 00:23:28
    comfortable wearing what you're wearing
  • 00:23:30
    i'm going home right now the sad thing
  • 00:23:34
    it says
  • 00:23:34
    guys i'm going home
  • 00:23:37
    you say greg give me a break some guys
  • 00:23:39
    would lust after a tree
  • 00:23:43
    this is true
  • 00:23:47
    but there is a responsibility in the
  • 00:23:48
    part of the girl as well
  • 00:23:51
    there's a word that we seem to have
  • 00:23:53
    taken out of our vocabulary we need to
  • 00:23:54
    get back again
  • 00:23:55
    called modesty and christian girls are
  • 00:23:58
    to apply it
  • 00:24:06
    so here's the answer look at verse
  • 00:24:09
    29 so if your eye causes you to lust
  • 00:24:14
    gouge it out and throw it away so there
  • 00:24:17
    you go
  • 00:24:23
    and if your right hand sins cut it off
  • 00:24:26
    because it's better to lose your arm or
  • 00:24:29
    your hand or your eye
  • 00:24:31
    then do not make it into heaven now what
  • 00:24:33
    does that mean well obviously jesus is
  • 00:24:35
    not speaking literally
  • 00:24:37
    because if the problem is in the heart
  • 00:24:39
    what good is
  • 00:24:40
    gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand
  • 00:24:44
    if the right eye were gone the left one
  • 00:24:46
    could still look lustfully
  • 00:24:49
    if the right hand were gone the left one
  • 00:24:51
    could still carry on
  • 00:24:52
    sinful acts let's understand what he was
  • 00:24:55
    saying in the culture of the time
  • 00:24:57
    in the jewish culture the right hand
  • 00:24:59
    represented a person's
  • 00:25:01
    best skills and most precious faculties
  • 00:25:04
    the right eye represented one's best
  • 00:25:06
    vision and the right hand one's best
  • 00:25:08
    skill
  • 00:25:09
    so here's what jesus is saying do
  • 00:25:11
    whatever is necessary
  • 00:25:13
    to keep yourself from falling into sin
  • 00:25:17
    and sometimes you have to take drastic
  • 00:25:19
    measures maybe you're in a relationship
  • 00:25:21
    right now
  • 00:25:22
    and you've allowed it to become sexual
  • 00:25:24
    and it's dragging you down
  • 00:25:26
    you need to probably just cut that
  • 00:25:28
    relationship off right now
  • 00:25:29
    it needs to be a serious step maybe you
  • 00:25:32
    have a problem with
  • 00:25:34
    internet pornography and and you do well
  • 00:25:36
    you know what
  • 00:25:37
    at the very least put a filter on your
  • 00:25:39
    computer but maybe you need to just
  • 00:25:41
    stink and unplug
  • 00:25:42
    the computer and stop going online and
  • 00:25:44
    i'm not saying for every moment i'm
  • 00:25:46
    saying for some people
  • 00:25:47
    if this is a weakness and a
  • 00:25:49
    vulnerability you may have to take
  • 00:25:51
    extra steps in the right direction do
  • 00:25:55
    whatever it takes to walk
  • 00:25:57
    right before god that's the idea of
  • 00:26:00
    gouging out an eye or cutting off an
  • 00:26:03
    arm hebrews 12 says let us lay aside the
  • 00:26:07
    sin
  • 00:26:08
    and the weight that so easily besets us
  • 00:26:10
    excuse me let us lay side the weight
  • 00:26:12
    and the sin that so easily beset you and
  • 00:26:15
    uh the weight varies from person to
  • 00:26:18
    person what may be
  • 00:26:20
    a weight for one may not necessarily be
  • 00:26:22
    a weight for another what brings one
  • 00:26:24
    person down doesn't necessarily bring
  • 00:26:27
    another person down so we each have to
  • 00:26:30
    make these decisions before
  • 00:26:31
    god now having established this
  • 00:26:35
    let's read some of the hardest
  • 00:26:36
    statements jesus
  • 00:26:38
    ever made these may be easy for you but
  • 00:26:41
    they're not easy
  • 00:26:42
    for me verse 38
  • 00:26:46
    you've heard that it has been said an
  • 00:26:48
    eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
  • 00:26:51
    but i tell you not to resist an evil
  • 00:26:54
    person whoever slaps you on the right
  • 00:26:56
    cheek turn to him the other
  • 00:26:57
    also if someone wants to sue you and
  • 00:26:59
    take away your tunic
  • 00:27:01
    let him have your cloak as well whoever
  • 00:27:03
    compels you to go one mile go with him
  • 00:27:05
    too
  • 00:27:06
    give to him who asked you and from him
  • 00:27:08
    who wants to borrow from you
  • 00:27:09
    do not turn away you've heard that it
  • 00:27:11
    has been said you shall love
  • 00:27:13
    your neighbor and hate your enemy but i
  • 00:27:15
    say unto you
  • 00:27:17
    love your enemies bless those that curse
  • 00:27:19
    you do good to those who hate you
  • 00:27:21
    and pray for those who spitefully use
  • 00:27:23
    you and
  • 00:27:25
    persecute you
  • 00:27:28
    needless to say these are high standards
  • 00:27:31
    turning the other cheek going the extra
  • 00:27:33
    mile
  • 00:27:34
    loving your enemies now here's the
  • 00:27:36
    question are these standards by which we
  • 00:27:38
    govern society
  • 00:27:40
    and if so how can we justify having
  • 00:27:44
    military and police the 19th century
  • 00:27:47
    russian novelist leo tolstoy
  • 00:27:50
    wrote a book entitled what i believe in
  • 00:27:52
    which he gives the conclusions that he
  • 00:27:54
    came to
  • 00:27:55
    after reading and rereading the sermon
  • 00:27:57
    on the mount
  • 00:27:58
    tolstoy said and i quote christ forbids
  • 00:28:01
    the human
  • 00:28:01
    institution of any court because they
  • 00:28:04
    resist
  • 00:28:04
    evil and even return evil for evil
  • 00:28:08
    so i also believe that criminals
  • 00:28:11
    love good and hate evil as we do and he
  • 00:28:14
    did not think that a christian
  • 00:28:16
    should be involved in the army or the
  • 00:28:17
    police force or the courts of law
  • 00:28:20
    one man who was dramatically influenced
  • 00:28:22
    by tolstoy's teachings
  • 00:28:24
    was gandhi gandhi believed by practicing
  • 00:28:27
    these teachings you could bring about a
  • 00:28:29
    perfect state
  • 00:28:30
    where punishment would end and prisons
  • 00:28:32
    would be turned into schools
  • 00:28:34
    sounds good but it's wrong what the
  • 00:28:36
    teachings of jesus know
  • 00:28:38
    their interpretation of them the sermon
  • 00:28:40
    on the mount
  • 00:28:42
    was not given as a set of principles by
  • 00:28:44
    which we
  • 00:28:45
    govern our society so if somebody means
  • 00:28:48
    harm toward another
  • 00:28:49
    the police officer is supposed to turn
  • 00:28:51
    the other cheek
  • 00:28:53
    if we're attacked by a foreign power
  • 00:28:56
    who want to destroy us we're supposed to
  • 00:28:58
    just go the extra mile
  • 00:29:00
    no there is a place for self-defense
  • 00:29:03
    there is a place
  • 00:29:04
    for standing your ground the biblical
  • 00:29:07
    teaching of the sermon on the mount
  • 00:29:10
    was given by jesus for
  • 00:29:13
    believers to live by but if you want to
  • 00:29:17
    know how a society should be governed
  • 00:29:18
    that's found in verse 38
  • 00:29:20
    you've heard that it has been said an
  • 00:29:22
    eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth
  • 00:29:24
    in exodus 21 it continues on and it says
  • 00:29:27
    hand for hand
  • 00:29:28
    foot for foot burn for burn bruise for
  • 00:29:31
    bruise
  • 00:29:31
    wound for wound a modern equivalent
  • 00:29:34
    would be
  • 00:29:35
    tit for tap this was the hebrew civic
  • 00:29:38
    justice system
  • 00:29:39
    its purpose according to deuteronomy 19
  • 00:29:41
    20
  • 00:29:42
    was so that the rest will hear and be
  • 00:29:44
    afraid and never again do such an
  • 00:29:46
    evil thing among you this was never
  • 00:29:48
    carried out by the victim but by the
  • 00:29:50
    legal system
  • 00:29:51
    it was a merciful law because it limited
  • 00:29:54
    the judgment
  • 00:29:55
    it matched the punishment to the offense
  • 00:29:58
    god has established government he has
  • 00:30:01
    established
  • 00:30:02
    military and he has even established the
  • 00:30:05
    use of force when necessary
  • 00:30:07
    because romans 13 says obey the
  • 00:30:10
    government
  • 00:30:11
    for it is god who put it there all
  • 00:30:14
    governments have been placed in power by
  • 00:30:16
    god
  • 00:30:17
    so those who refuse to obey the laws of
  • 00:30:19
    the land are refusing to obey god
  • 00:30:21
    and punishment will follow for the
  • 00:30:23
    authorities do not frighten people who
  • 00:30:24
    are doing right
  • 00:30:25
    but they frighten those who are doing
  • 00:30:27
    wrong so do what they say
  • 00:30:29
    and you'll get along well then speaking
  • 00:30:31
    of the soldier
  • 00:30:33
    or in our case the police officer as
  • 00:30:36
    well
  • 00:30:37
    the bible says he's god's servant doing
  • 00:30:40
    good
  • 00:30:41
    and he does not bear the sword for
  • 00:30:43
    nothing he's god's servant
  • 00:30:45
    an agent of wrath to bring punishment
  • 00:30:48
    for the wrong
  • 00:30:49
    doer now what is a sword used for
  • 00:30:52
    it's used to usually kill a person
  • 00:30:57
    a modern equivalent perhaps would be a
  • 00:30:58
    gun god delegates
  • 00:31:01
    vengeance or the enforcing of justice
  • 00:31:04
    to the government otherwise evil people
  • 00:31:07
    will
  • 00:31:07
    dominate and so according to scripture
  • 00:31:10
    government law enforcement and military
  • 00:31:13
    all have their place
  • 00:31:15
    a god ordained place in fact the bible
  • 00:31:18
    even uses a soldier
  • 00:31:19
    as a model of what a christian ought to
  • 00:31:21
    be
  • 00:31:23
    paul spent a lot of time around roman
  • 00:31:24
    soldiers and he analyzed their
  • 00:31:26
    gear we were in rome after we went to
  • 00:31:29
    israel and i
  • 00:31:30
    saw this little store that sold uh
  • 00:31:33
    recreations of roman armor and i was
  • 00:31:36
    fascinated by it and
  • 00:31:38
    was looking at various pieces and these
  • 00:31:40
    were actual reproductions of
  • 00:31:42
    of what it would have been like they
  • 00:31:43
    went back to the original drawings and
  • 00:31:45
    design so
  • 00:31:46
    they had the breastplate that you put on
  • 00:31:48
    they had a leather one and then they had
  • 00:31:50
    one made out of brass that was
  • 00:31:52
    very heavy and they had the helmet which
  • 00:31:54
    of course i had to put on my
  • 00:31:56
    head and try out and then the sword you
  • 00:31:58
    know and and the big large
  • 00:32:00
    shield that the roman soldier would
  • 00:32:02
    carry and so forth and
  • 00:32:04
    it was fascinating to study that armor
  • 00:32:06
    paul spent a lot of time doing so
  • 00:32:07
    because in ephesians 6 he
  • 00:32:09
    talks about putting on the armor of god
  • 00:32:12
    uh you know the helmet of salvation and
  • 00:32:14
    the breastplate
  • 00:32:15
    of righteousness and the shield of faith
  • 00:32:18
    and the
  • 00:32:18
    sword of the spirit and so forth but my
  • 00:32:21
    point is
  • 00:32:22
    that god would never have chosen the
  • 00:32:24
    dishonorable profession
  • 00:32:26
    as an illustration for a christian he
  • 00:32:28
    used the idea of the military to show
  • 00:32:30
    how we should follow jesus
  • 00:32:32
    because second timothy 2 3 and 4 says
  • 00:32:35
    endure suffering as a good
  • 00:32:37
    soldier of jesus christ and as christ
  • 00:32:40
    soldier
  • 00:32:40
    don't be tied up again in the affairs of
  • 00:32:42
    this life
  • 00:32:44
    for then he cannot satisfy the one who
  • 00:32:46
    has enlisted you
  • 00:32:47
    in his army see i bring this up because
  • 00:32:49
    some would say the bible teaches
  • 00:32:51
    pacifism jesus was the ultimate pacifist
  • 00:32:55
    jesus was the
  • 00:32:56
    first hippie right peace and love man
  • 00:33:00
    no actually that's not true at all
  • 00:33:03
    jesus administered justice when he drove
  • 00:33:07
    those money changers
  • 00:33:08
    out of the temple with a whip and
  • 00:33:10
    overturn their table
  • 00:33:12
    he told his disciples of coming
  • 00:33:13
    dangerous days
  • 00:33:15
    where they may need swords and peter
  • 00:33:17
    mentioned that
  • 00:33:18
    they already had two swords now why
  • 00:33:20
    would they carry swords
  • 00:33:22
    for shish kebab later
  • 00:33:26
    no for self defense so this is important
  • 00:33:29
    god has established human government to
  • 00:33:32
    administer
  • 00:33:33
    justice it is acceptable for a christian
  • 00:33:36
    to defend themselves
  • 00:33:37
    and to exercise their rights even the
  • 00:33:40
    apostle paul
  • 00:33:41
    when he was falsely charged and beaten
  • 00:33:43
    he exercised
  • 00:33:44
    his rights as a roman citizen the bible
  • 00:33:47
    is not saying that the christian
  • 00:33:49
    is supposed to be some kind of a doormat
  • 00:33:51
    now having established what this doesn't
  • 00:33:53
    mean let's talk about what it
  • 00:33:55
    does mean this is the advice of jesus
  • 00:33:59
    for a specific situation in which a
  • 00:34:01
    believer is being
  • 00:34:02
    persecuted these are not mechanical
  • 00:34:05
    rules but
  • 00:34:06
    principles for meeting the personal
  • 00:34:08
    wrongs that come to those
  • 00:34:09
    that follow him there are times
  • 00:34:13
    for the sake of the kingdom and for the
  • 00:34:15
    salvation of a soul
  • 00:34:17
    will take the hit will turn the other
  • 00:34:20
    cheek
  • 00:34:20
    we'll go the extra mile the idea is
  • 00:34:23
    do what you can to reach a person with
  • 00:34:26
    the gospel uh paul said in romans 12 19
  • 00:34:30
    never pay back evil for evil to anyone
  • 00:34:32
    never take your own revenge leave room
  • 00:34:35
    for the wrath of god for it it's written
  • 00:34:37
    i will repay vengeance is mine says
  • 00:34:40
    the lord so the idea here is that
  • 00:34:43
    we are doing what we can to influence
  • 00:34:47
    a person jesus actually uses the
  • 00:34:50
    example of churning the other cheek in
  • 00:34:53
    verse 39 now
  • 00:34:54
    let's understand this is not so much
  • 00:34:55
    about someone just coming up and
  • 00:34:57
    punching you in the face this is more
  • 00:34:59
    the idea of an
  • 00:35:00
    insult that is offered because back in
  • 00:35:02
    these days to be slapped in the face
  • 00:35:05
    was a deliberate insult a demeaning and
  • 00:35:09
    contemptuous
  • 00:35:10
    act so someone comes up and they do
  • 00:35:13
    something to offend you
  • 00:35:15
    a modern equivalent i don't know what it
  • 00:35:17
    would be
  • 00:35:18
    maybe the spit in someone's face it
  • 00:35:20
    doesn't physically
  • 00:35:21
    hurt a person but it's insulting
  • 00:35:24
    and actually he can really anger you uh
  • 00:35:27
    it might be using certain words you know
  • 00:35:30
    what
  • 00:35:30
    they say this to you or something else
  • 00:35:33
    about someone you love
  • 00:35:34
    or sometimes it's a gesture you see
  • 00:35:37
    these gestures on the road quite
  • 00:35:39
    frequently
  • 00:35:40
    i won't say what they are but they have
  • 00:35:42
    something to do with birds and we'll
  • 00:35:43
    leave it at that
  • 00:35:46
    and people are so quick to do this you
  • 00:35:48
    know
  • 00:35:49
    they'll cut you off and then do the
  • 00:35:51
    gesture to you
  • 00:35:52
    like what is that all about and when
  • 00:35:54
    that happens
  • 00:35:56
    you know you want to do it back or even
  • 00:35:58
    worse
  • 00:35:59
    no jesus is saying don't do that
  • 00:36:02
    now is this an easy one to live by
  • 00:36:04
    absolutely
  • 00:36:06
    not it's very hard
  • 00:36:10
    even the great apostle paul struggled
  • 00:36:12
    with it
  • 00:36:13
    at one point the order was given that
  • 00:36:16
    hit him in the face and he turned back
  • 00:36:19
    and said to the high priest gotta
  • 00:36:20
    smite you you whitewashed wall
  • 00:36:23
    someone said you speak that way to the
  • 00:36:25
    high priest oh i didn't know he's a high
  • 00:36:27
    priest sorry
  • 00:36:29
    i think paul being the member of the
  • 00:36:30
    sanhedrin knew who the high priest was
  • 00:36:33
    i think paul struggled with this like
  • 00:36:35
    anyone else does but
  • 00:36:36
    here's the point even if you struggle
  • 00:36:38
    with it the objective is
  • 00:36:40
    to try to win a person to christ verse
  • 00:36:43
    40. if anyone wants to sue you and take
  • 00:36:45
    away your tunic
  • 00:36:46
    let them have your coat the tunic was an
  • 00:36:48
    undergarment everyone would have one
  • 00:36:50
    the cloak was the outer garment that
  • 00:36:52
    served as a blanket
  • 00:36:54
    at night it was indispensable for living
  • 00:36:57
    in israel especially in the cold
  • 00:36:59
    evenings jesus is saying go further than
  • 00:37:02
    they ask
  • 00:37:03
    don't just give your tuna give them your
  • 00:37:05
    cloak go
  • 00:37:06
    the extra mile see back in those days
  • 00:37:10
    a roman soldier had the right to ask
  • 00:37:13
    any citizen to carry his armor for a
  • 00:37:16
    roman
  • 00:37:16
    mile a roman mile was a little bit
  • 00:37:19
    shorter than
  • 00:37:20
    our mile and i already mentioned that
  • 00:37:22
    armor i was looking at and one thing i
  • 00:37:23
    noticed was how heavy it was
  • 00:37:25
    the breastplate was really heavy as was
  • 00:37:28
    the helmet
  • 00:37:28
    as was the shield and so roman soldier
  • 00:37:31
    would see someone say here carry my
  • 00:37:33
    armor
  • 00:37:34
    you have to do it so jesus says you know
  • 00:37:36
    what if they ask you to carry their
  • 00:37:38
    armor
  • 00:37:38
    take it for the roman mile then go an
  • 00:37:40
    extra mile
  • 00:37:41
    normally people say take your armor it's
  • 00:37:43
    so heavy yeah i'll go an extra mile
  • 00:37:45
    by the way let me tell you about my
  • 00:37:47
    faith kind of the idea of a captive
  • 00:37:50
    audience go the extra mile so you can do
  • 00:37:53
    that at work
  • 00:37:54
    instead of giving the bare minimum give
  • 00:37:56
    more
  • 00:37:57
    sometimes your co-workers will get mad
  • 00:37:59
    at you frankly
  • 00:38:00
    hey don't work so hard you're making us
  • 00:38:02
    look bad
  • 00:38:04
    but you see you understand that your
  • 00:38:06
    boss is not your employer it's the lord
  • 00:38:09
    so you do it for the glory of god go the
  • 00:38:11
    extra mile
  • 00:38:12
    go a little bit further than that which
  • 00:38:14
    is required do it for the sake of the
  • 00:38:16
    gospel
  • 00:38:17
    to win the hearing of the person that
  • 00:38:20
    you are trying
  • 00:38:21
    to reach try to turn your enemies
  • 00:38:25
    into friends and know this if you are
  • 00:38:28
    a follower of jesus you're going to have
  • 00:38:31
    enemies why
  • 00:38:34
    because darkness doesn't like light
  • 00:38:38
    jesus said in john 15 if the world hates
  • 00:38:41
    you
  • 00:38:41
    know it hated me before it hated you if
  • 00:38:44
    you're of the world the world
  • 00:38:46
    would love its own yet because you're
  • 00:38:47
    not of the world but i chose you out of
  • 00:38:49
    the world
  • 00:38:50
    therefore the world hates you
  • 00:38:53
    but no we're told to love our enemies
  • 00:38:56
    verse 44
  • 00:38:57
    bless those that curse us do good to
  • 00:38:59
    those who hate us
  • 00:39:00
    and pray for those who spitefully use
  • 00:39:03
    and persecute us
  • 00:39:04
    don't strike out don't give tit-for-tat
  • 00:39:08
    but love them in a positive way abraham
  • 00:39:11
    lincoln said
  • 00:39:12
    quote the best way to destroy an enemy
  • 00:39:16
    is to make him a friend and quote
  • 00:39:19
    do you have some enemies right now try
  • 00:39:21
    to win them over
  • 00:39:22
    not just as a friend but as a follower
  • 00:39:25
    of jesus christ
  • 00:39:26
    this attitude blows people's minds
  • 00:39:30
    when they see a christian willing to
  • 00:39:32
    forgive a christian
  • 00:39:34
    willing to turn the other cheek a
  • 00:39:36
    christian willing
  • 00:39:38
    to go the extra mile was the attitude
  • 00:39:41
    that abraham had
  • 00:39:42
    toward his nephew lot when he offered
  • 00:39:45
    him the best land
  • 00:39:47
    it was the attitude that david had when
  • 00:39:49
    he did not strike back at king
  • 00:39:52
    saul though he was trying to take his
  • 00:39:54
    life
  • 00:39:55
    it was the attitude that joseph had when
  • 00:39:57
    he extended forgiveness to his brothers
  • 00:40:00
    who had met him dead there was the
  • 00:40:03
    attitude that young stephen had
  • 00:40:06
    when he prayed for those that were
  • 00:40:07
    stoning him saying lord
  • 00:40:09
    don't lay the sin to their charge
  • 00:40:12
    maybe as we've talked about some of
  • 00:40:14
    these things you've realized that
  • 00:40:16
    you're guilty of some of the things
  • 00:40:19
    jesus has addressed maybe you're
  • 00:40:20
    harboring hatred in your heart towards
  • 00:40:23
    someone right now
  • 00:40:25
    maybe you're feeding lust and it's
  • 00:40:27
    getting worse
  • 00:40:28
    it's like a wildfire taking you over
  • 00:40:32
    well we need god's help to live by these
  • 00:40:34
    principles
  • 00:40:35
    no one can do this on their own
  • 00:40:38
    and who is a greater example of what
  • 00:40:40
    jesus taught than jesus
  • 00:40:42
    himself everything jesus told us to do
  • 00:40:45
    he practiced he told us to turn the
  • 00:40:48
    other cheek he literally did that
  • 00:40:50
    when they ripped the beard from his face
  • 00:40:52
    he told us to go the extra mile
  • 00:40:54
    he literally did that when he carried
  • 00:40:56
    his cross through the streets of
  • 00:40:57
    jerusalem
  • 00:40:59
    he told us to love our enemies and he
  • 00:41:01
    literally did that
  • 00:41:02
    when his first words from calvary were
  • 00:41:04
    father forgive them for they
  • 00:41:06
    know not what they do those words were
  • 00:41:08
    so radical
  • 00:41:09
    so unexpected that they produced the
  • 00:41:12
    conversion of a man who was crucified
  • 00:41:14
    next to him
  • 00:41:15
    a hardened criminal who had seen it all
  • 00:41:18
    done it all and yet when he heard jesus
  • 00:41:21
    forgive the ones who had treated him
  • 00:41:23
    this way
  • 00:41:24
    he believed on the spot and said lord
  • 00:41:27
    remember me when you come into your
  • 00:41:29
    kingdom
  • 00:41:30
    and jesus said today i say to you today
  • 00:41:32
    you'll be with me in paradise
  • 00:41:34
    yes jesus forgives and maybe some of us
  • 00:41:38
    need his forgiveness today
  • 00:41:40
    if we've broken some of these
  • 00:41:42
    commandments these principles given to
  • 00:41:44
    us in this sermon
  • 00:41:45
    this is the time to say lord forgive me
  • 00:41:47
    for that and help me to live
  • 00:41:49
    as your child in a way that honors and
  • 00:41:51
    glorifies you
  • 00:41:52
    maybe some of you hearing these things
  • 00:41:55
    would realize i'm not a christian at all
  • 00:41:58
    because i do have hatred toward people
  • 00:42:01
    or i have been a fair weather follower
  • 00:42:03
    i'm a person that follows him only when
  • 00:42:05
    it's convenient i haven't really gone to
  • 00:42:07
    that next level
  • 00:42:08
    of total commitment as we close now in
  • 00:42:10
    prayer
  • 00:42:11
    i'm going to give you an opportunity to
  • 00:42:13
    make a first-time commitment or a
  • 00:42:16
    re-commitment
  • 00:42:17
    to jesus christ let's all pray lord we
  • 00:42:20
    would
  • 00:42:21
    admit to you that we fall short of your
  • 00:42:24
    standards
  • 00:42:26
    we would acknowledge lord that we have
  • 00:42:29
    sinned against you but we also
  • 00:42:32
    would thankfully acknowledge that jesus
  • 00:42:34
    died on the cross for our sins
  • 00:42:36
    and paid the price for every wrong that
  • 00:42:38
    has ever been done
  • 00:42:40
    and i pray for any person here lord that
  • 00:42:42
    does not yet know you help them to see
  • 00:42:44
    their need for you
  • 00:42:45
    and help them to come to you now we
  • 00:42:48
    would pray
  • 00:42:49
    but our heads are bowed and our eyes are
  • 00:42:51
    closed and we're praying
  • 00:42:53
    maybe god has spoken to your heart today
  • 00:42:56
    and you've realized that you
  • 00:42:57
    are not really a christian you don't
  • 00:43:00
    really have christ living inside of you
  • 00:43:02
    but you want to be one you want to
  • 00:43:04
    change
  • 00:43:05
    you want to be forgiven of your sin you
  • 00:43:08
    want to know god in a personal way
  • 00:43:10
    you want to go to heaven when you die if
  • 00:43:12
    you've never asked jesus to come into
  • 00:43:14
    your life
  • 00:43:16
    if you don't know right now that you
  • 00:43:18
    would go to heaven when you die and you
  • 00:43:20
    want christ
  • 00:43:20
    to come in your life right in your life
  • 00:43:23
    today
  • 00:43:24
    i want you to lift your hand up wherever
  • 00:43:26
    you're sitting and i'm going to pray for
  • 00:43:27
    you today
  • 00:43:28
    if you want christ to come into your
  • 00:43:30
    life god bless you over here on this
  • 00:43:31
    side
  • 00:43:32
    god bless you anybody else just lift
  • 00:43:34
    your hand up and i'll pray for you today
  • 00:43:36
    god bless you up there in the balcony
  • 00:43:38
    god bless you as well
  • 00:43:41
    anybody else lift your hand up now if
  • 00:43:43
    you want jesus christ to come into your
  • 00:43:45
    life and forgive you
  • 00:43:46
    of your sin god bless you god bless you
  • 00:43:50
    god bless you up on the balcony maybe
  • 00:43:52
    you're outside in the amphitheater i
  • 00:43:54
    can't see you there but
  • 00:43:55
    i would ask you to lift your hand up as
  • 00:43:57
    well if you want jesus to come into your
  • 00:43:59
    life
  • 00:44:00
    and you up in the court building please
  • 00:44:02
    lift your hand also
  • 00:44:03
    i can't see you but the lord sees you
  • 00:44:06
    you want his forgiveness today maybe
  • 00:44:08
    some of you
  • 00:44:09
    have been like a fair weather follower
  • 00:44:11
    you know you you say you're a christian
  • 00:44:13
    but you know you're not living these
  • 00:44:14
    principles
  • 00:44:15
    you're not even trying but you want to
  • 00:44:18
    you want to be a real follower of jesus
  • 00:44:21
    and you're willing
  • 00:44:22
    to commit yourself to do this today if
  • 00:44:24
    that's your desire would you lift your
  • 00:44:26
    hand
  • 00:44:26
    up and i'll pray for you god bless you
  • 00:44:30
    god bless you anybody else just lift
  • 00:44:32
    your hand up now
  • 00:44:33
    god bless each one of you now i'm going
  • 00:44:36
    to ask that all of you that just lifted
  • 00:44:38
    your hand if you would please
  • 00:44:39
    stand to your feet and i'm going to lead
  • 00:44:41
    you in a prayer a prayer of commitment
  • 00:44:43
    or recommitment to jesus again
  • 00:44:45
    you that lifted your hand just stand to
  • 00:44:47
    your feet wherever you are
  • 00:44:49
    up there in the balcony here on the
  • 00:44:50
    ground floor outside
  • 00:44:52
    in the amphitheater stand to your feet
  • 00:44:55
    you up in the court building just stand
  • 00:44:57
    up right now
  • 00:44:58
    and i'm going to lead you in a prayer of
  • 00:45:00
    commitment anybody else just stand now
  • 00:45:03
    even if you didn't lift your hand but
  • 00:45:04
    you want to make this commitment a
  • 00:45:06
    recommitment to jesus
  • 00:45:08
    stand up now anybody else
  • 00:45:11
    god bless you god bless you anybody else
  • 00:45:14
    in this final moment
  • 00:45:15
    outside inside wherever you are stand up
  • 00:45:18
    now
  • 00:45:18
    and i'll lead you in a prayer god bless
  • 00:45:21
    each one of you
  • 00:45:22
    all right all of you that are standing
  • 00:45:24
    pray this prayer out loud
  • 00:45:26
    after me this is a prayer of commitment
  • 00:45:28
    to jesus christ again as i pray
  • 00:45:30
    pray this out loud after me now pray
  • 00:45:34
    this
  • 00:45:34
    lord jesus i know i'm a sinner
  • 00:45:38
    i've broken your commandments i have
  • 00:45:41
    fallen short of your standards
  • 00:45:44
    but you went to the cross and died for
  • 00:45:47
    my
  • 00:45:47
    sin and you rose again from the dead
  • 00:45:51
    i turn now from my sin i put my faith in
  • 00:45:55
    you
  • 00:45:56
    i choose to follow you jesus from this
  • 00:46:00
    moment forward i want to be your
  • 00:46:03
    disciple
  • 00:46:06
    and your child and your friend
  • 00:46:09
    thank you for calling me and forgiving
  • 00:46:12
    me
  • 00:46:13
    in jesus name i pray amen
  • 00:46:17
    amen god bless each one of you that
  • 00:46:19
    stood and prayed that prayer
タグ
  • Sermon on the Mount
  • Self-defense
  • Retaliation
  • Jesus' teachings
  • Biblical worldview
  • Love your enemies
  • Forgiveness
  • Christian principles
  • Government
  • Justice