Becoming More Like Christ (Matthew 5:33-48)

                                                     BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST

Matthew 5:33-48

Recently, after seeing a photo I sent her of my granddaughter resting her head on my broad shoulders while my arms lovingly wrapped around her, a friend of mine said, "This grandfatherhood suits you very well. I felt like I had come full circle." One day, my daughter, seeing me spoon-feeding our granddaughter, asked me, "Papa, as you have grown older, do you feel like you are becoming more like Christ?" I paused and said, "I don't know, but I want to become more like Christ." Then she said, "Yes, you are! I have never seen you get mad at me, except a few times when you were irritated because we spilled water or milk!"

That made me realize I might be becoming more like Christ! The thought of becoming more like Christ was deeply satisfying. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all grew up and became a bit more like Christ? After addressing how the sins of the heart affect our individual lives and those of others, especially our loved ones, through adultery and divorce, Jesus continued to distinguish between the Kingdom Citizens and the people of the world.

He challenged his followers to be perfect, as their heavenly Father is. I titled this message "Becoming More Like Christ: Matthew 5:33-48." Becoming more like Christ means being distinct from the world by cultivating Christ's heart, which compels us to do Christ's works. In his discourse on the Mount, Jesus drew three contrasts between the world's ancient practices and those of the Kingdom's citizens.

I. Being Truthful In All Circumstances

Matthew 5:37: "All you need to say is simply, 'yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (NIV). We have heard the statement, "Your Word is Your Bond!" Where did it come from? It comes from Jesus' sermon. In the broader context, Jesus exposed the Pharisees' hypocrisy and distinguished between the people of the world and the followers of His Kingdom.

Keeping that in mind, let's explore the whole passage, Matthew 5:33-37: "You have also heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.' But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, 'By heaven!' because heaven is God's throne. And do not say, 'By the earth!' because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one." (NLT)

Jesus wanted his followers to be truthful and straightforward in a society that twisted the Truth and manipulated falsehoods, and, in particular, to keep the oaths they had taken before God and others. Jesus encouraged his followers not to break their oaths but to fulfill them. An oath was a promise to do or not do something. So when we make a promise, we should keep it.

In the OT, people made oaths invoking God as witness and as the One who would bring judgment if they broke the promise. Oaths were common to emphasize seriousness and truthfulness. But sometimes they made oaths by invoking something lesser than God, like heaven, earth, or Jerusalem, to give them flexibility so they would not be guilty if they did not fulfill their oath. On the books, they sounded serious, but they got away with breaking their oath.

Jesus was opposed to this dubious practice of saying one thing in public and failing to carry it out. He drew the contrast by saying, "Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one." In other words, Jesus says your Word should be your promise. Oath or no oath, say what you mean and stick by it. What does this mean for us today? Many people promise to do or not do certain things.

Yet they have no qualms about breaking their promises. As Kingdom citizens, we must be truthful in all circumstances. We must be people of integrity. We must commit only to what we can do, and do it without complaining.

II. An Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth!

Matthew 5:38: "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." This is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. Several Christians use this scripture to justify their anger and take revenge aggressively against those who have harmed them. We even hear our elected leaders say, "If you hit me once, I will hit you back ten times harder." This Mosaic law was there not for that reason!

What would happen if we apply this law in its literal sense today? The Baptist  pastor and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr once said, "If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation." So what did this law, also known as the law of retaliation, mean, and how did Jesus modify it? Initially, it was made for the children of Israel and was meant to bring about a measured punishment matching the injury.

Leviticus 24:19-20, "Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted: a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whatever Anyone does to injure another person must be paid back in kind." NLT. This law was meant to control excessive punishment and curb anger and the desire for revenge.

In the New Testament, the Pharisees and scribes seem to have taken the "eye for an eye" principle and taught that seeking personal revenge was acceptable. If someone punched you, you could punch him back; if someone insulted you, he was fair game for your insults. Jesus countered this common teaching on personal retaliation by introducing Kingdom principles of forgiveness, turning the other cheek, not resisting the evil one, respecting the governmental and judicial authority by going the extra mile, etc. By introducing these principles, Jesus separated responsibilities: our responsibility is to forgive and leave revenge to God, as Romans 12:19 says. The government's responsibility is to punish the evil-doers justly and appropriately.

III. Prayer is the Highest Act Of Love

            Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. We know where 'love your neighbor' appears in the OT: Leviticus 19:18. But where do we find 'hate your enemy' in the Bible? Nowhere!"

So where did this idea of hating your enemy come from? The full text of the law reads, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:17-18. In this text, their love was limited to fellow Israelites who lived among them. They were to seek their welfare and not to hold grudges. They treated everyone outside their community as an enemy, even though they posed no threat or harm, and hated them. At some point, God expanded their neighborhood by including others.

Leviticus 19:33-34: "Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God." But the Israelites' hatred toward those who were different continued until the time of Jesus.

 

Jesus acknowledged the law but wanted to change their attitude toward foreigners or non-Israelites by saying, "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matt 5:43-44 NLT. This was a countercultural idea then and even now.

We humans are selfish by nature; loving others doesn't come easily. Somehow we bring ourselves to love our own people, but loving our enemies and praying for those who are out there to kill us? It is unthinkable and beyond us!

For that very reason, Jesus wanted His followers to love not only those we like but also those we might hate, and even those who try to kill us. How can we love them? By praying for them. Dallas Willard notes that "praying for our enemies is the highest act of love." [1]That is what Jesus did for us. In his high priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for his followers but also for all those who would be saved through their message, those who might be the enemies of the gospel. A direct prayer he offered for those who were literally crucifying them was on the cross, where he prayed Father forgive them, for they know not what they were doing.

This is what becoming more like Christ looks like. It calls for a lifestyle of truthfulness in all circumstances. We refuse to take revenge; instead, we forgive those who hurt us. We will offer radical prayers for our enemies, including those who persecute us.

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[1] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy page 182.

Overcoming The Power Of Sin Matthew 5:27-32

                                                   OVERCOMING THE POWER OF SIN

Matthew 5:27-32

A few years ago, there was a fascinating but rather unpleasant story. It had all the qualities of a good mystery. A frantic 911 call brought police to a home. The caller had only been able to communicate that she needed help and was being killed. When police arrived, they found a bloody knife beside her lifeless body on the kitchen floor. Blood was spattered across the room, yet upon examining the body, they did not find a single cut or puncture wound … [but] they noticed a trail of blood leading into the next room and followed it. Entering the room, they found a large dying boa constrictor.

Apparently, the snake had been raised as a pet, but on this day, it wrapped itself around the woman as she was cooking in the kitchen. For whatever reason, she had allowed the snake to entwine her body in its coils, and once it began to constrict its muscular body around her, she sensed the danger. In a panic, she grabbed a knife and began to slash away at the snake, and, while managing to mortally wound it, she was killed herself in the process.

This tragic story is a vivid example of the power of Sin in our lives. We often take subtle compromises into our lives as innocent pets, thinking we can handle them without real risk, and thus deal with Sin flippantly, all the while placing ourselves in great danger."[1] In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers about the all-consuming power of Sin in an individual's life and in their relationships. Last week, we learned that Jesus wanted his followers to pay more attention to what goes on in the heart than to the outward actions.

Today, we will examine another dangerous aspect of Sin in the heart of man, which, if left unchecked, becomes a destructive force that can ruin marriages and families. In this passage, Matthew 5:27-32, the main idea is not just about the outward actions of adultery and divorce, but about SIN and especially how to overcome it. I titled this message "Overcoming the Power of Sin." Any discussion about Sin is not popular these days. Some think they are good people and they never sin, so they are never in need of forgiveness. But unless we understand the doctrine of Sin, we can never truly appreciate God's gift of salvation. Let us explore the doctrine of Sin.

I. The Origin, Nature, and Power of Sin

            What is Sin? Sin is not a weakness or shortcoming, but it is a violation of God's laws. I John 3:4, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." No matter who you are, we are all guilty of breaking God's laws one time or another and deserve to be punished. God did not create it, but had its beginning with Lucifer, who was later renamed as Satan. He brought Sin to humanity by tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and from that time on, we all have inherited Adam's Sin. Romans 5:12 tells us that through Adam sin entered the world, and so death was passed on to all men because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

            The nature of Sin is defined by rebellion. We all inherited this nature from birth. For instance, no one needs to teach a child to lie, be selfish, disobey, or defy authority. We go to great lengths to teach them honesty, sharing, and obedience. Charles Spurgeon said, "As the salt flavors every drop in the Atlantic, so does Sin affect every atom of our nature. It is so sadly there, so abundantly there, that if you cannot detect it, you are deceived."[2]

 

 

            Sin starts small as a thought or desire in our minds, like that pet Boa constrictor in that tragic story. If left unchecked, it grows larger and can destroy our lives. James 1:14-15, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to Sin; and Sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

None of us can escape its powerful grip. But there are always some self-righteous people (like Pharisees and scribes) who think they were not guilty of certain things—adultery, for example, to them, Jesus had this warning, Matt 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus equates lusting after women to adultery itself.

In the OT, committing adultery with someone else's wife is breaking the 7^th commandment, for which the punishment was death by stoning. But before committing adultery, we violate the 10th commandment, which says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife."

King David could not control his lust, which led him to commit two sins of adultery and murder. II Samuel 11 & 12. We may avoid adultery, but what about the internal violation of covetousness? Looking at a woman with lust is just as harmful as committing adultery. Before any action occurs, it begins in our hearts. Matt 15:19, " For out of the heart come evil thoughts murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."  After addressing adultery, Jesus turned to the equally chaotic topic of divorce, which is very common in our times as well.

II. Christ's Teaching On Divorce

Matthew 5:31-32, "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." More on Jesus' view of divorce is found in Matthew 19^th chapter.

Divorce is as messy and painful today as it was during Moses and Jesus' time." God never commanded it, nor endorsed it. In fact, He hates divorce. Malachi 2:16. The main rule in Deut 24:1-4 is that a man can divorce his wife if he finds anything indecent in her, and send her away from his house with a certificate of divorce. Mosaic law favored men and victimized women.  

Men at that time used this provision for their lustful passions and punished women through divorce, causing irreparable damage to them and their accompanying children. To prevent these unjustified and uncontrollable behaviors of man and to protect their wives and children, Jesus qualified and restricted it by saying, "divorce is allowed only for sexual immorality." This is by no means Jesus' endorsement but only an allowance to curtail divorce.

Unfortunately, the trend continues today, happening everywhere and at all times for many trivial reasons. Whenever and however a divorce occurs, it hurts everyone involved, especially children. Particularly for Christians who take marital vows saying 'till death do us part' and believe in the one flesh principle in marriage, divorce literally tears apart the couples involved.

Like a torn fabric that can be stitched back together, but the patch remains. People who have gone through a heart-wrenching divorce can be healed by God and go on to live a happy life with someone else, but the scar will remain for a lifetime. So, think twice, pray earnestly, and get wise counsel before considering a divorce, which is only allowed for sexual immorality.

III. Overcoming the Power of Sin.

The sins of our hearts are the main reason for adultery and divorce to happen. We may enact any number of laws to curtail them; they will continue to happen unless we break ourselves free from the power of Sin. How can we overcome the power of Sin? Jesus suggested a strategy to deal with our Sin. "I am paraphrasing, 'If your right eye or hand causes you to sin, get rid of them. It would be better without them in heaven than having our whole body burn in hell.

If this were taken literally, most of us would be living with one eye and one hand. How, then, can we understand this seemingly drastic approach? John Macarthur notes, "Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation. He was using this graphic hyperbole to underscore the seriousness of lust and other evil desires. Sin must be dealt with drastically because of its deadly effects."[3]

In our struggle against the deadly sins of our hearts and desire to overcome them, we must first repent of them and seek God's forgiveness. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can wage war against Sin in our lives. But through it all, we realize that Jesus overcame Sin and death, and in Christ we are more than conquerors; in time, we too can be totally freed from Sin.

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[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/womans-pet-boa-constrictor-causes-her-death/ 8-5-2026

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html

[3] The Macarthur Study Bible, Matthew 5:29

The Danger Of Anger Matthew 5:20-26

                                                           The Danger Of Anger!

                                                                 Matthew 5:20-26

Anger in America

In his 2007 article "All the Rage," Andrew Santella observes that anger is a prominent emotion in American life. Our politics is dominated by angry rhetoric; cases of road rage are increasingly common. The shelves of local bookstores are full of books explaining both the benefits and the dangers of anger. In fact, many of the books are "Wrath Lit": published written rants on various topics.

Peter Wood, in his book A Bee in the Mouth, writes that a sure sign of America's problem with anger is the tone of its politics. "For the first time in our political history, declaring absolute hatred for one's opponent has become a sign not of sad excess, but of good character."

As prevalent as it is, anger is a bit mysterious; it can be either one's greatest liability or one's greatest asset. Carol Tavris, author of Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion, explains:

I have seen people use anger, in the name of emotional liberation, to erode affection and trust, diminish their spirits through bitterness and revenge, and tarnish their dignity with years of spiteful hatred. And I watch with admiration those who use anger to seek truth, challenge complacency, and change the injustices of life.[1] It looks like the world is seething with rage.

            Recently, I was talking with a Christian friend of mine who has been enduring tremendous pain and not receiving the necessary medication on time. He was so vexed and paralyzed with pain, and he told me, "I feel angry at the system; this pain is bringing out the worst in me, and I want to kill somebody." I prayed for him and calmed him down.

It made me realize that, although anger has some benefits, it is far more dangerous than we often think. Politicians manipulate people's anger to sway votes. Some justify their anger by claiming it runs in our family. In our series on Words From the Mountain, Jesus shifts his focus from general pronouncements and their blessings to how Christians live a Kingdom Life.

He warns us about factors that harm our relationships and prevent us from enjoying a good quality of life. One of these is Anger. I titled this message: "The Danger of Anger: Matthew 5:20-26." What does the Bible say about this powerful emotion and its impact on human life?

I. Beyond The Surface Living Of The Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 5:20, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus is not advocating that we must do more works to enter Heaven; on the contrary, entering Heaven is more a matter of the heart.

The scribes and the Pharisees were more concerned with the ceremonial practices than with the moral law. He used the analogy of a dirty cup to expose their inner greed and self-indulgence (Matt 23:25-26). Jesus compared them to whitewashed tombs that looked beautiful on the outside but were full of dead bones on the inside. Similarly, the Pharisees looked righteous on the outside, but on the inside, they were full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Jesus wanted his followers to go beyond surface-level practices of the law, drawing their attention to matters of the heart. Jesus said, Matthew 5:21-22, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment…Anyone who says You fool! Will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Jesus was referring to the sixth commandment that says, "You shall not Murder." Ex 20:14. Then he goes on to stress what causes someone to commit murder, or the root of murder, which is anger! If someone is angry at a brother or sister in the family without reason and remains angry, that amounts to committing murder. Let's look at what the Bible says about anger.

II. Anger and Its Biblical Significance.

What is Anger? A simple definition: "Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure, annoyance, or hostility that you experience when you feel wronged, hurt, or blocked from a goal." It is a normal human emotion that ranges from mild irritation to intense rage. Anger is a universal emotion. Including children and saints, people everywhere all have the propensity for anger.

Anger itself is not bad; in fact, it is necessary, as noted in the Harvard Journal, "In certain situations, anger can be a helpful emotion. It might motivate you to leave a toxic workplace or relationship, solve a perplexing problem, fight for a righteous cause, or take other actions that hold at least the potential of being rewarding and satisfying."[2] So, what is bad and harmful?

Some experts refer to it as extreme anger.[3] It happens when anger becomes a consistent pattern and goes beyond normal levels. For example, if someone knocks you down on a busy street, ignores you, and walks away without apologizing, it's normal to feel upset, and some might even swear or yell. But extreme anger happens when you get mad at others repeatedly for no real reason, like misplacing your car keys, being cut off at the cashier line, being cut off while driving, waiting at traffic lights, or being stuck in slow traffic. Then, anger becomes a pattern.

Jesus was referring to extreme anger when he said, "Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister." When you become angry without reason and hold onto that anger for a long time, extreme anger takes hold of you. In the Bible, several people with terrible anger issues did regrettable things.  Cain, out of rejection and anger, killed his own brother Abel. Gen 4:4-6.

Moses killed an Egyptian to bring justice to his fellow Hebrews. Ex 2:12. At the waters of Meribah, out of pride in disobedience and seemingly in anger, Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it, which disqualified him from entering the promised land. Num 20:10-11.

Embittered King Saul, fueled by jealousy and anger, relentlessly pursued David to kill him. I Samuel 18. 4. Prov 22:24–25, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their way and get yourself ensnared.” Let's look at the negative impact of unbridled anger on our health and personal relationships.

III. The Danger of Anger

There is a lot of information warning us about the dangers of uncontrolled anger. These dangers include communication failures with loved ones and family, loss of trust, verbal, emotional, and sometimes even physical violence. Long-term anger can also cause several mental and physical health problems. Even more importantly, uncontrolled anger can block our main relationship with God and damage our good reputation.

A Telugu proverb says, "Your Own anger Is Your Greatest enemy." Unfortunately, many people are fighting with an inner enemy, anger that is stronger than them, and becoming victims of its destructive power. Are you or your loved one struggling with extreme anger? Here are a few clues to help determine. When the following things happen in your relationship:

Intense disagreements that escalate quickly. Ruminating over the same issues repeatedly. Intimacy in your relationship has been affected. Frequent or worsening conflict in a relationship. Screaming and name-calling during arguments. Giving a partner the silent treatment when angry. Seeking revenge or harming others as a result of anger. Becoming physically or verbally aggressive when angry. Struggling to communicate or shutting down completely. Etc." [4]

 

IV. Scriptural Antidote for Overcoming Anger

            When you're feeling intense anger, you may need professional help to learn how to manage it. We cannot fight anger on our own, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can learn to control and even overcome it. First, address the issue quickly. Eph 4:26-27, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Secondly, make every effort to get rid of the following: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Eph 4:31. Thirdly, ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in you, Gal 5:22-23^{, "}But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Andrew Santella, "All The Rage: Why everyone is angry and why we must calm down," UTNE magazine (November/December 2007), p. 36

[2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-nature-of-anger 7-31-2026

[3] https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/anger/the-dangers-of-extreme-anger/ 7-29-2026

[4] https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/mental-health/anger-issues/relationships/ 7-31-2026