The “New Man” of Matthew Five

Introduction. The apostle Paul in both Ephesians 4:24 & Colossians 3:10 speaks of the Christian life as something in which one “puts off the old man” and “puts on the new man.” He is not speaking of a literal incarnation (or reincarnation) but the spiritual transformation that a follower of Christ gives themselves over to that changes their behavior and attitudes. While looking recently at some early Christian commentary on Jesus’ teachings in the Matthew five, I was struck, as never before by the fact that Jesus (although He doesn’t use the terms “new man” or “old man” ) sets down in this chapter the very foundational teachings that Paul refers to (through the Holy Spirit) as putting on the “new man.” This morning I’d like for us to think about the very profound and extraordinary teachings which Jesus lays before us and calls upon us carry out in Mt. 5.
     The text that I want us to focus upon comes near the beginning of the most complete text of any lesson which Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us -- the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7). This lesson itself is divided into sections and sub-sections, during which Jesus shifts focus, changes topic and offers new and challenging teachings. The texts that I want us to consider begin with some teachings about how His followers are to be different from the world (Matthew 5:13,14) -- and concludes when Jesus returns to this same theme (Matthew 5:44-48).

I. Light & Salt: Introduction of the Theme (Matthew 5:13-20)

  1. Christians are to demonstrate a behavior that contrasts with the darkness and “unseasoned” (or corrupting) nature of the world. (5:13,14).
    1. Light illuminates and contrasts with darkness.
    2. Salt seasons and preserves food to prevent rot & decay.
  2. Witnessing this behavior is to influence others to glorify God. (5:16). While we are not to focus on doing things to be seen by man -- we are to act in the hopes of influencing those around us to “glorify God.”
  3. Jesus followers are to demonstrate a Righteousness Superior to the Religious (5:20). (Illustration) Imagine the individual that in your heart you admire as the best example you can imagine of being a Christian. They seem to do “everything” right. They never seem to have a word mis-spoken, a bad deed that must be turned from or a spiritual “hair out of place.” Imagine Jesus saying to you -- your righteousness must “surpass” (Gr. perisseuo, “to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure” (Strong).
    1. Scribes and Pharisees. We look down on these people because of Christ’s rebukes. In their day they were the models of religious pity. The Phaisees very name probably came from Hebrew & Aramaic words meaning “those who have been set apart” (Encyclopaedia Biblica). >> Word play - Gr. for “exceed” is spelled very similar to the word for Pharisee >> Jesus says in essence, his followers must “out-Pharisee the Pharisees.”

II. Behavior of this New Man (Matthew 5:21-44). Jesus then proceeds to lay out seven principles of behavior that are to be new, different and extraordinary. I was tempted to use the term “un-natural” but we could only use this term with clarification. These principles call on us to act in ways that are different from the “nature” of the ordinary man. That is not to say (like the Calvinist -- that man’s “nature” is sinful. We do have appetites and tendencies that have lawful avenues of fulfillment and unlawful avenues. Jesus calls on us to not take the “ordinary” route -- but to live in a way that is EXTR-ordinary (i.e. it surpasses or exceeds others).

  1. Maintain restrained anger & restrained speech that comes from anger (5:21-22). Most people in the world consider themselves good people if they have not done those extreme things that our world considers criminal. Jesus says we must rise above that low standard.
    1. We must not be angry without a cause. (i.e. cranky, bitter, resentful).
    2. We must not speak disparaging of others. “You fool” is an insult to the maker of the person. It fails to look at the person as a soul for whom Christ died. Illustration: Imagine that I had created some invention -- you see it and you say “that’s stupid!” You have insulted me! cf. (Jude 8,9) This applies to others, but...
      • What about family?
      • What about brethren?
  2. “Something against you” -- Preserve our own innocence (5:23,24). Note: Here not what you have against another -- what another has against you (right or wrong!).
    1. Christians are to do what they can to make things right!
    2. Only then can we worship acceptably.
  3. “Agree quickly” - Accept blame (5:25a). Rather than haggling, arguing and justifying ourselves agree with an adversary. There is something disarming about the person who will not defend, justify, excuse or exalt himself. Self protection often doesn’t work (5:25b-26). Self-Protection reflects a narrow view of only temporal things.
    1. Compare: (I Cor. 6:6-8). Even among those who can and should accept our rebuke -- it is better to accept wrong than to do wrong in defending ourselves!
  4. Tame the heart and the sin is averted (5:27-28). The heart is the root. This calls on us to look at life different than the worldly man. This is an example of a contrast that might seem “un-natural.” God made men & women to be attracted to one another. Jesus is not talking about the realization that “that is an attractive woman” or “that is an attractive man.” Rather it is the kind of contemplation upon the form and bearing of another person that produces stimulation. The Christian only has the right to direct such contemplation towards their mate!
    1. If married >> the lustful is betraying their mate.
    2. If unmarried >> the lustful is stealing what is not theirs, coveting what may be anothers and viewing only the temporal, material aspect of a human being. Illustration: We have all seen the covetous behavior of the ungodly. Gaulking, staring, stealing glances. How can it be that a Christian who does this could then turn around and try to teach that person about Spiritual matters.
           This is a very personal part of our makeup. It can be very dear to us and hard to control or give up. Look at Jesus comparison. (5:29,30). This is the “surpassing righteousness” difficult, but we won’t see heaven without it!
  5. Let your word stand alone (5:31-37). Circumstance, changes, externals must not determine whether we keep our word. Consider these two sections together: Marriage & Oaths. How materially minded is it for a person to say to themselves (vs. 35) “my word is binding if I swear by Jerusalem (but not otherwise)!” Children say: “I didn’t promise” or “I crossed my fingers” -- the world says “I didn’t sign a contract!” or “It wasn’t notarized!” Jesus says if you say it -- do it!
    1. Applied to marriage. What do we say? “Till death do us part” -- “Sickness & in health” -- “before God and these witnesses” -- “until death do us part” Then what does the world do? “They changed!” -- “We have grown apart” -- “They are not the same person I married” (Yes, but you promised that however they changed you would keep your word!) Jesus calls us in marriage in speech to “surpass” the world -- if we say it we do it! What conditions should apply? If the Lord wills -- (James 4:13-15; 5:12)
  6. Decline the right of personal vengeance (5:38-42). With regard to 1. Abuse of Yourself (5:39). Early Christian commentary connected this with vs. 48 “turn to him the other cheeck also and thou shalt be perfect” (Didache, I.4). 2. Abuse of your things (5:40), 3. Use of yourself (5:41). Roman soldiers had the right to compel a common person to carry their burden for mile. Jesus says don’t just do one mile -- go two! 4. Use of your things, (5:42). Early Christian writer adds the comment on vs. 42 - “for the Father’s will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received.” The writer then goes on to say that the one who gives generously, without refusal becomes “innocent” in the matter, but he warns the one who asks with no true need that he will be judged for such (Didache, I. 5). When bodily harm is inflicted give yourself to it willingly (5:39). “Resist” Gr. anthisemi “lit. to stand against” “to set one’s self against, to withstand”
         Have you ever really thought about the literal aspect of this teaching. (hitting our cheek -- stealing our coat) Illustration. We all are built with a self-preservation response. We flee or defend ourselves. Older brother -- spent the night with cousin. Cousin at night when brother got us to use the restroom, hide in the dark of an open doorway and jumped out at him. Without thinking, respoded defensively -- knocked cousin to the ground! Jesus says don’t take the impulsive, response that only looks at material self-preservation. Look at the bigger picture!
         It is very tempting when we read these texts to instantly rationalize them away, and consider all the senarios in which a different course is appropriate. While there may be times in which a different course is authorized we must not allow ourselves to miss the force of these teaching. Jesus shows that light and salt, those with “surpassing” righteousness, those who are sons of the Father, who are “perfect” (complete) demonstrate a behavior that is extraordinary. Behavior like Jesus (I Peter 2:19-24)
  7. Extraordinary attitudes towards the one who does us wrong or causes us injury. (5:43,44) Why? Back to the theme...

III. Theme Restated (Matthew 5:45-48). Return to contrast between world and Christ’s people. 1. God does good to all, (5:45) 2. Ungodly love the loveable (5:46), 3. Christ’s people “do more” (5:47), 4. Christ’s people are “perfect” the way man was intended to be -- the way God is (5:48). “Perfect” flawless; but complete!
     Early Christian commentary on “love your enemy” said: “For your part, love those that hate you, and you will have no enemy” (Didache, I.3).
     Certainly there may be those who treat us as enemies, but as far as we are concerned we can hold everyone, not as an enemy but a soul for whom Christ died. Sometimes this can change the behavior of an enemy where they become a friend.