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I hope this teaching will inspire you today.
Matthew 5: 20 AMP
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
We know God evaluates us according to our intention and our attitudes. He does not basis this on our physical actions. These actions are a direct result of our hearts' intentions.
It is possible to impress people, but God knows our hearts. The inner motive of our hearts is known to God.
We see Jesus speaking to the spiritual leaders of the time because they made God's commandments powerless through their traditions.
They based their righteousness on their traditions and rituals and also condemned other people who couldn't keep up with their traditions of the law.
We see in Matthew 5 verse 20 “For I (Jesus) tell you that if your righteousness is not more abundant than those of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” After this reprimand, Jesus reveals six attitudes of our heart, which we often justify.
We are made aware of righteousness where Jesus says that a person is not a murderer unless he committed the physical act but that he is guilty of murder in God's eyes when he is angry with his brother and doesn't reconcile with his brother. (Matt. 5: 21 - 24)
Now Jesus comes to the second attitude in which man justifies himself, posing the question, who is the adulterer? (Matt. 5: 31 - 32)
Jesus highlights three key points:
The act in adultery
The desire for adultery (Part 2)
How to get rid of the act. (Part 3)
The act of Adultery
Jesus says the moment we think of it in our heart. We have transgressed the ten commandments. "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." (verse 27).
God says in Proverbs 16 verses 30 "He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to polt perverse thing, and he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass." We see that we stand guilty before God because we allow the devil access to our thoughts. Adultery starts with our own lustful thoughts.
When someone lusts after another person while he/she is married, he/she committed adultery.
We stand guilty of adultery at some stage in our lives. People lust after people daily. The media bombards us with so many sexual enticements over many programs and products.
Marriage is regarded as old-fashioned while living together is promoted.
All of this influences the consecration of marriages. Paul confronts the congregation in Corinth about the sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 13 "Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both of them. The body is not intended for sexual immorality but for the Lord the body [to save, sanctify, and raise it again because of the sacrifice of the cross]." Paul says we should not use our bodies for sexual debauchery. Our bodies are where God wants to live.
We need to keep God's commandment and act appropriately. Jesus says in Matthew 5 verses 28 "but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
We will take a look at the rest of our point in part 2 and part 3.
Prayer
Lord, please open each persons eyes today person'set us to keep Your Commandments, we do not want to lust after people. We want to live holy lives. Today we concerate our lives and draw near to You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Bless each person reading this teaching today. Amen.
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