The Kingdom is a Matter of the Heart

Generally speaking, learning involves adding knowledge to existing foundations. For example, reading requires a knowledge of the alphabet; geometry provides a base for trigonometry, which in turn serves as a footing for calculus. Foundations and carefully constructed frameworks are critical success factors in education.

Occasionally however, students (and their teachers) are faced with information that challenges their foundations (e.g., a round earth that is not the center of the universe). Those able to understand and embrace these paradigm challenges discover and create whole new worlds. Imagine where we would be if mankind had decided to discard the possibility of human flight. How many would still believe flat-earth theory?

In Matthew 5:17-20 (the passage covered in our previous article), we find Jesus drawing on both forms of learning. First, He assures those listening that the Law and Prophets are foundational to the kingdom of God – that following and teaching the commandments of God is critically important. He then challenges their paradigm concerning the interpretation and demonstration of the Law provided by the Pharisees and Scribes by stating that entering the kingdom of God requires a greater righteousness.

There are several important lessons here, for both students and teachers:

1. Strong foundations allow for paradigm challenges.
2. Students need help understanding what is foundation and what is being challenged.
3. Teachers are most often the creators of false paradigms.
4. Transformation often requires significant paradigm shifts.
5. Teachers must be willing to speak the truth in the face of potential opposition.
6. Examples help tremendously – particularly when paradigm shifts are involved.

In Matthew 5: 21-47, being the best of teachers, Jesus gives ten examples to explain the righteous fulfillment of the Law required by God. We will cover each of these in turn over the next couple of weeks. But first, a few general observations.

Fulfilling the Law in True Righteousness

It seems we commonly make the mistake of handling Biblical truth as nothing more than facts. In teaching and learning, we must come to understand the differences between the two.

1. Facts are passive; truth is active (e.g., it makes people free, it is alive and powerful).
2. Facts are for our head, to be analyzed; truth is for our hearts, to be believed.
3. Facts are accessible to the whole human race; the truth is accessible only to those whom God gives ears to hear and eyes to see.

The teacher and the student both have responsibility in this regard. I mention this here because, though I did my best to fulfill my part, the following would be easily read as facts. If one does not force themself to receive it as truth, the desired effect will not be achieved.

Therefore, I encourage you to exercise your spiritual ears with a heart desiring to believe. God promises that, if you do so, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Though we may not think of it this way, the Sermon on the Mount is a carefully constructed sermon. As we have discovered, the Beatitudes come first and in a particular, purposeful order. In them, the first listeners (and subsequent readers) are astounded and perplexed by Jesus’ characterization of kingdom citizens. Three dramatic and dynamic descriptions of our relationship with the world quickly follow: we are to be persecuted (vv.11-12) as God’s gifts of proverbial salt (v. 13) and light (vv. 14-16) to the world and for His Father’s glory.

Having given such a radical description of kingdom citizens and their assignment in the earth, Jesus must have felt that it was important to reassure the disciples that God’s Law and the words of His Prophets were fixed and eternal. He did not come to change the Father’s purposes and plans in the earth; rather, it was His assignment to fulfill them.

These Sayings of Mine – Take the Initiative for Good

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

Here we have what many call “The Golden Rule”. Well, not exactly. When I was growing up, it was said something like this, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It might just be me, but that version suggests that my motivation to treat others well is my own well being. I don’t believe that is what Jesus is trying to say.

This passage actually gives us two motivations for taking the initiative to do good to others. Both are very different from “what’s in it for me”. We discover the first by way of the “therefore”. Looking back at the context of the previous verses, we see that God is always the giver of good gifts. Our response is to do the same for others. It is one of the best ways to bear His image – for His glory.

Our second motivation is found in the preposition, “for this is the Law and the Prophets”. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus makes it clear that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Romans 8:3-4 states that we have Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (see Truth Connections – Fulfilling the Law for more on this subject).

Amazingly, treating others as God has treated us is one of the ways we participate with Jesus in the work our Father sent Him to accomplish. Now that is the kind of motivation we can get excited about!!

Humbly yours and forever His,