Posts Tagged ‘ Righteousness ’
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6, ESV
Christ is our righteousness. If the Lord is truly all we desire, we will find complete satisfaction and freedom from sin.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos 5:24, ESV
On our own, we seek our own glory and rightness.
Yet, when we confess our need for the Savior – the justice brought at the cross and the righteousness only given in Christ – we are changed to seeking God’s glory by His standard.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV
Paul is not necessarily promising financial peace and prosperity for our generous giving. Rather, it is the promise that our giving shows the righteousness of Christ growing abundantly within us.
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:21, ESV
Our God full of kindness and righteousness is the source of all kindness and righteousness. Pursuing the qualities should lead us to the Giver of Life and Redeemer of our souls.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33, ESV
God wants to provide for us, and He cares for each of us and provides for our needs. Most importantly, He offers us salvation when we seek Him.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group.
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.
What is the Law?
What is the purpose of the Law?
Romans 3:19-20 – points out our sin
What is antinomianism?
Anti = against, removed. Nomian (Deutero-nomy) = law. Therefore, against the Law or the Law
removed.
In other words and in a summation: antinomianism teaches that we are not under any part of the Law,
even the Moral Law (summarized as the 10 Commandments).
• Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 12:1 – Laws for the Promised Land
Matthew 5:17:
Pretty clearly says “not abolish but fulfill”:
• What does Jesus mean by fulfill?
o 1 Peter 2:22-25 – Perfectly obey and bring about what was prophesied.
Matthew 5:18:
• How do antinomians interpret this verse?
o John 19:30 – They say He meant the Law is accomplished (after all, that entire passage speaks of how
His crucifixion fulfills Scripture, i.e. the Law and Prophets.)
• What is the better interpretation?
o John 17:4 – accomplish the work the Father gave
o Luke 19:10
• Also, “until heaven and earth pass away …” The Law stands until all of God’s plan is complete, i.e.
the renewal of all things.
Matthew 5:19:
• Relaxes one of the least of these commandments?
o Matthew 23:23-24
▪ The leaders stressed things like the tithe (meant for the Temple and priests, Numbers 18) but
showed a lack of compassion and justice and faithfulness to God’s intent.
• But we don’t obey all of those laws, right?
o Acts 15:22-29 – We an understand this as “do not worry about the Law for Israel, just obey the
Ten Commandments as has been revealed.”
o But what about the Sabbath?
▪ Hebrews 4:1-13
All other Commandments are repeated in the New Testament except the Sabbath (we await the full rest
of our souls and renewed bodies in eternity)
The tithe is also not expressly demanded in the NT. The tithe was supposed to supply the priests with food and necessary means for Temple operations and upkeep.
Matthew 5:20:
Jesus rarely said the Jewish leaders were flat out wrong about their teachings. They understood God’s
Word really well!
• Matthew 23 explains the 7 woes of Jesus against the Scribes and Pharisees
o Basically, they made themselves look good on the outside, but they were hypocrites.
• We are to work out of love of God and people: Romans 13:14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group.
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean? How do you understand it?
The word “blessed” appears 306 times in the ESV Bible (in 288 verses; 302x in 287 vv. in KJV)
Happy (definitely deeper than this), Revered, Content, Worshiped, Made holy, Fortunate, Well-off
Matthew 5:3-6
We see the coming of repentance: people who know their wretchedness (poor in spirit), lament their sin (those who mourn), and realize their need to someone to save them (meek).
Matthew 5:6-9:
• v. 6: Hunger and thirst for righteousness = Seeking out God’s strength and righteousness as only
found in and through Christ by the power of the Spirit.
• Psalm 42:1-6a; 2 Timothy 2:20-21
• v. 7: Mercy = not giving what is deserved. Merciful people withhold anger and refuse to retaliate
when wronged.
• Luke 6:36; Proverbs 19:17; 2 Timothy 1:16; Hebrews 6:10
• v. 8: Pure in heart = cleansed of sin and looking on this world as if through God’s eyes. The pure do
not see others as objects (thus, not to be lusted after or “discarded” based on shifting desires nor to
break promises flippantly. Love overflows.
• Psalm 24:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:20-22; James 4:7-10; Titus 2:11-14
• v. 9: Peacemakers = foster order, love, and compassion around them.
• (2 Timothy 2:22-26; Matthew 10:34-36) James 3:13-18
What does it look like to live out this blessing?
We see salvation. We come to faith in Christ. We also become voracious consumers and seekers of God’s Word and
presence. (Bible reading, sermons, Bible studies, Prayer)
We also become ambassadors of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:1
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24, ESV
Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. As revealed in Scripture.
Hear and obey.
The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
Proverbs 20:7, ESV
Our Christian walk is not about us. We walk in the righteousness of Christ to bless others and glorify our heavenly Father.
a simple man of God 