Matthew 5 - The King’s Manifesto

MATTHEW 5: THE KING'S MANIFESTO
│
├─ THE SETTING (vv. 1-2)
│   │
│   └─ The mountain, the crowds, the teaching posture
│
├─ THE BEATITUDES (vv. 3-12)
│   │
│   ├─ Eight blessings (vv. 3-10)
│   └─ Ninth expansion: persecution for Jesus (vv. 11-12)
│
├─ SALT AND LIGHT (vv. 13-16)
│   │
│   ├─ You ARE salt (v. 13)
│   └─ You ARE light (vv. 14-16)
│
├─ FULFILLING THE LAW (vv. 17-20)
│   │
│   ├─ Not abolishing but fulfilling (vv. 17-18)
│   └─ Exceeding the scribes (vv. 19-20)
│
└─ SIX ANTITHESES (vv. 21-48)
    │
    ├─ 1. Murder → Anger (vv. 21-26)
    ├─ 2. Adultery → Lust (vv. 27-30)
    ├─ 3. Divorce → Covenant (vv. 31-32)
    ├─ 4. Oaths → Truthfulness (vv. 33-37)
    ├─ 5. Retaliation → Absorption (vv. 38-42)
    └─ 6. Neighbor → Enemy Love (vv. 43-48)

THE SERMON'S ARCHITECTURE
│
QUESTION: What does life in the kingdom look like?
│
├─ WHO IS BLESSED? (Beatitudes)
│   │
│   └─ Those the world calls cursed
│       │
│       ├─ Poor in spirit (not self-sufficient)
│       ├─ Mourning (not entertaining themselves)
│       ├─ Meek (not grasping power)
│       ├─ Hungry for righteousness (not self-satisfied)
│       ├─ Merciful (not demanding justice for others)
│       ├─ Pure in heart (not performing)
│       ├─ Peacemakers (not warriors)
│       └─ Persecuted (not popular)
│
├─ WHO ARE YOU? (Identity)
│   │
│   ├─ Salt → Preserving, flavoring, penetrating
│   └─ Light → Revealing, exposing, guiding
│       │
│       └─ NOT becoming, but BEING
│
├─ WHAT STANDARD? (Law's Fulfillment)
│   │
│   ├─ Law NOT abolished
│   ├─ Law FULFILLED in Christ
│   └─ Righteousness EXCEEDS scribes/Pharisees
│       │
│       └─ Not external only, but INTERNAL transformation
│
└─ HOW DEEP? (Six Antitheses)
    │
    └─ THE TRAJECTORY: External → Internal
        │
        ├─ Don't murder → Don't hate
        ├─ Don't commit adultery → Don't lust
        ├─ File divorce papers → Honor covenant
        ├─ Swear truthfully → BE truthful
        ├─ Limited revenge → Absorb wrong
        └─ Love neighbor → Love enemy
            │
            └─ PATTERN: Jesus reveals the HEART behind the LAW

MOSES ON SINAI                    JESUS ON THE MOUNTAIN
│                                 │
├─ Exodus 19-20                   ├─ Matthew 5-7
├─ Given the Law                  ├─ Fulfills the Law
├─ Stone tablets                  ├─ Living Word
├─ External commands              ├─ Internal transformation
└─ "Thou shalt not..."            └─ "Blessed are..."
    │                                 │
    OLD COVENANT                      NEW COVENANT

μακάριος (makarios)
│
├─ NOT: "Happy" (emotional state, circumstantial)
├─ NOT: "Fortunate" (luck, chance)
│
└─ BUT: "Blessed" (God's favor, deep satisfaction, ultimate flourishing)
    │
    ├─ Independent of circumstances
    ├─ Rooted in God's kingdom reality
    └─ Countercultural and paradoxical

THE FIRST BEATITUDE: POVERTY OF SPIRIT
│
├─ NOT: Material poverty (though often linked)
├─ NOT: False humility or self-deprecation
│
└─ BUT: Honest recognition of spiritual bankruptcy
    │
    ├─ "I have nothing to offer God"
    ├─ "I cannot save myself"
    └─ "I am spiritually destitute without Him"
        │
        └─► "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
            │
            PARADOX: The spiritually bankrupt inherit everything

THE SECOND BEATITUDE: MOURNING
│
├─ Mourning WHAT?
│   │
│   ├─ Personal sin
│   ├─ The world's brokenness
│   ├─ Distance from God
│   └─ Others' lostness
│
└─► "for they shall be comforted"
    │
    ├─ By whom? The Comforter (Holy Spirit)
    ├─ When? Now (partial) + Then (complete)
    └─ How? God binds up the brokenhearted
        │
        PARADOX: Those who weep now will laugh forever

THE THIRD BEATITUDE: MEEKNESS
│
├─ MEEK ≠ WEAK
│   │
│   └─ Power under control (like a war horse bridled)
│
├─ EXAMPLES:
│   │
│   ├─ Moses: "most meek man on earth" (Num 12:3) - yet led Israel out of Egypt
│   └─ Jesus: "gentle and lowly" (Matt 11:29) - yet overturned tables, confronted Pharisees
│
└─► "for they shall inherit the earth"
    │
    ├─ NOT: Heaven (that was beatitude 1)
    ├─ BUT: Earth - the renewed creation
    │
    PARADOX: The non-grasping inherit everything

THE FOURTH BEATITUDE: HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
│
├─ HUNGER/THIRST ≠ mild preference
│   │
│   └─ Life-or-death desperation
│       │
│       ├─ NOT: "I'd like some righteousness if convenient"
│       └─ BUT: "I'm starving for it, dying of thirst for it"
│
├─ RIGHTEOUSNESS = Two dimensions
│   │
│   ├─ Personal: Right standing before God (justification)
│   └─ Social: Justice, things made right (shalom)
│
└─► "for they shall be satisfied"
    │
    ├─ χορτασθήσονται (chortasthēsontai) = "filled to satisfaction"
    ├─ Future tense: eschatological fullness
    └─ Present reality: taste now, feast later
        │
        PARADOX: The hungry are filled; the satisfied stay empty

THE FIFTH BEATITUDE: MERCY
│
├─ MERCY ≠ mere feeling
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: "I feel bad for them"
│   └─ BUT: "I actively help them, at cost to myself"
│
├─ THE MERCY PATTERN:
│   │
│   └─ God's mercy → My mercy → God's mercy (continued)
│       │
│       ├─ I've received infinite mercy (vertical)
│       ├─ I now show mercy to others (horizontal)
│       └─ I continue to need and receive mercy (vertical)
│
└─► "for they shall receive mercy"
    │
    ├─ Future tense: final judgment
    ├─ Present reality: ongoing need
    │
    PARADOX: The merciful need mercy (and get it)

THE SIXTH BEATITUDE: PURITY OF HEART
│
├─ HEART = Control center
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: Just emotions
│   ├─ NOT: Just thoughts
│   │
│   └─ BUT: The whole inner person - motives, desires, will
│
├─ PURE HEART ≠ Sinless perfection
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: Never struggle with sin
│   │
│   └─ BUT: Undivided loyalty, single focus
│       │
│       ├─ James 4:8 - "purify your hearts, you double-minded"
│       └─ NOT: Playing both sides, one foot in kingdom, one in world
│
└─► "for they shall see God"
    │
    ├─ ὄψονται τὸν θεόν (opsontai ton theon) = "they will see God"
    ├─ Now: Spiritual sight, knowing God
    ├─ Then: Face-to-face vision (1 Cor 13:12)
    │
    PARADOX: Only the pure see the Holy One

THE SEVENTH BEATITUDE: PEACEMAKING
│
├─ PEACEMAKER ≠ Peacekeeper
│   │
│   ├─ Peacekeeper: Avoids conflict, sweeps under rug
│   └─ Peacemaker: Actively pursues reconciliation at cost
│
├─ PEACE (εἰρήνη / eirēnē) = שָׁלוֹם (shalom)
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: Absence of conflict
│   ├─ NOT: Quiet comfort
│   │
│   └─ BUT: Complete wholeness, right relationships restored
│       │
│       ├─ Peace with God (vertical)
│       ├─ Peace with others (horizontal)
│       └─ Peace within self (internal)
│
└─► "for they shall be called sons of God"
    │
    ├─ WHY? Because God is a peacemaker
    │   │
    │   └─ 2 Cor 5:18-19 - "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself"
    │
    ├─ Sons RESEMBLE their Father
    │   │
    │   └─ "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (5:48)
    │
    PARADOX: Peacemakers start wars (against division, hatred, evil)

THE EIGHTH BEATITUDE: PERSECUTION
│
├─ NOT: Any suffering
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: Persecution for being obnoxious
│   ├─ NOT: Suffering from own bad choices
│   │
│   └─ BUT: "for righteousness' sake" → because of kingdom values
│
├─ THE PERSECUTION QUESTION:
│   │
│   └─ If no one opposes you, are you actually living for the kingdom?
│       │
│       ├─ John 15:18-19 - "If world hates you, know it hated me first"
│       └─ 2 Tim 3:12 - "All who desire to live godly will be persecuted"
│
└─► "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
    │
    ├─ SAME PROMISE as beatitude 1 (bookends)
    ├─ Full circle: Poor in spirit → Persecuted for righteousness
    │
    PARADOX: The persecuted possess the kingdom

v. 10: Persecuted for righteousness (general)
    │
    └─► v. 11-12: Persecuted for JESUS (specific, personal)
        │
        ├─ "on my account" (v. 11)
        ├─ Insult, persecute, slander (v. 11)
        │
        └─► Response: REJOICE and be GLAD (v. 12)
            │
            ├─ WHY? Great reward in heaven
            ├─ WHO? Same treatment as the prophets
            │
            └─ The prophets suffered - so will Jesus' followers

MOVEMENT 1-4: POVERTY → RECEPTIVITY
│
├─ Poor in spirit (v. 3)      → Empty hands
├─ Mourn (v. 4)                → Broken heart
├─ Meek (v. 5)                 → Open posture
└─ Hunger/thirst (v. 6)        → Desperate need
    │
    └─► RECEIVE the kingdom

MOVEMENT 5-8: GIVING → ACTIVITY
│
├─ Merciful (v. 7)             → Give mercy
├─ Pure in heart (v. 8)        → Give undivided loyalty
├─ Peacemakers (v. 9)          → Give reconciliation
└─ Persecuted (v. 10)          → Give up safety/comfort
    │
    └─► LIVE OUT the kingdom

BEATITUDES (vv. 3-12)          SALT & LIGHT (vv. 13-16)
│                               │
├─ Descriptive                  ├─ Declarative identity
├─ "Blessed are..."             ├─ "You ARE..."
├─ Who enters kingdom           ├─ What kingdom citizens do
│                               │
└─ CHARACTER                    └─ FUNCTION

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH
│
├─ SALT'S FUNCTIONS:
│   │
│   ├─ PRESERVES → Prevents decay, corruption
│   ├─ FLAVORS → Makes food taste good
│   ├─ PENETRATES → Gets into the meat
│   └─ PURIFIES → Used in sacrifices, covenants
│
├─ THE WARNING: Salt losing saltiness
│   │
│   ├─ ἐὰν... μωρανθῇ (ean... mōranthē) = "if it becomes foolish/insipid"
│   ├─ Chemically impossible for NaCl to lose saltiness
│   ├─ BUT: Contaminated salt (mixed with other minerals) becomes useless
│   │
│   └─► If you lose your distinctiveness, you're worthless
│       │
│       ├─ Thrown out
│       └─ Trampled underfoot
│
└─ THE POINT: You don't BECOME salt, you ARE salt
    │
    └─► So act like it, or become useless

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
│
├─ LIGHT'S NATURE:
│   │
│   ├─ REVEALS → Exposes what's hidden
│   ├─ GUIDES → Shows the way
│   ├─ WARNS → Shows dangers
│   └─ ATTRACTS → Draws people
│
├─ TWO IMAGES:
│   │
│   ├─ City on a hill (v. 14b)
│   │   │
│   │   ├─ Cannot be hidden
│   │   └─ Visible to all
│   │
│   └─ Lamp on a stand (v. 15)
│       │
│       ├─ NOT under a basket (μόδιον / modion - grain measure)
│       └─ ON a lampstand → gives light to ALL in house
│
├─ THE COMMAND: "Let your light shine" (v. 16)
│   │
│   ├─ λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν (lampsatō to phōs hymōn)
│   ├─ NOT: "Try to shine" or "Work hard to shine"
│   └─ BUT: "Let it shine" → Don't hide what you already are
│
└─► PURPOSE: "That they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven"
    │
    ├─ NOT: "Look how great I am!"
    ├─ BUT: "Look how great GOD is!"
    │
    └─ Good works point PAST you to the Father

THE LAW'S DESTINY
│
├─ v. 17: "Do not think I came to ABOLISH the Law or Prophets"
│   │
│   ├─ Μὴ νομίσητε (Mē nomisēte) = "Don't suppose, don't assume"
│   ├─ Why clarify? Because Jesus seems to be breaking the Law
│   │   │
│   │   ├─ Healing on Sabbath
│   │   ├─ Touching lepers
│   │   ├─ Eating with sinners
│   │   └─ Claiming authority over Temple
│   │
│   └─► "I did not come to abolish but to FULFILL"
│       │
│       ├─ NOT: Relaxing the Law
│       ├─ NOT: Making it easier
│       │
│       └─ BUT: Bringing it to full expression, completion
│
├─ v. 18: "Truly I say to you..."
│   │
│   ├─ ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν (amēn legō hymin) → Solemn, authoritative pronouncement
│   │
│   └─► "Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law"
│       │
│       ├─ The Law stands UNTIL "all is accomplished"
│       ├─ Jesus doesn't delete - He completes
│       │
│       └─ Matthew 27:51 - Curtain torn → Access granted → Law fulfilled in Christ
│
└─ THE FULFILLMENT PATTERN:
    │
    ├─ TYPOLOGY: Passover lamb → Christ our Passover (1 Cor 5:7)
    ├─ PROPHECY: Virgin birth → Isaiah 7:14
    ├─ MORAL: "Love neighbor" → Extended to "Love enemies" (v. 43-48)
    │
    └─► Jesus doesn't lower the bar - He IS the bar

v. 19: "Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments..."
│
├─ λύσῃ (lysē) = "loosen, relax, break"
├─ Two categories:
│   │
│   ├─ Break + teach others to break → "least in kingdom"
│   └─ Do + teach → "great in kingdom"
│
└─► Obedience AND teaching matters

v. 20: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees..."
│
├─ περισσεύσῃ πλεῖον (perisseusē pleion) = "surpasses, goes beyond, exceeds"
│
├─ THE SHOCK: Pharisees were the MOST righteous people
│   │
│   ├─ Tithed mint, dill, cumin (Matt 23:23)
│   ├─ Fasted twice a week
│   ├─ Prayed publicly
│   ├─ Memorized Torah
│   │
│   └─► Yet... "you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"
│
└─► HOW can we exceed them?
    │
    ├─ NOT: More rules, more effort
    ├─ NOT: External performance
    │
    └─ BUT: INTERNAL transformation
        │
        ├─ Pharisees: Whitewashed tombs (Matt 23:27)
        ├─ Jesus: Clean the INSIDE of the cup (Matt 23:26)
        │
        └─ The six antitheses (vv. 21-48) show HOW

THE ANTITHESIS STRUCTURE (repeated 6 times)
│
├─ "You have heard that it was said..." (ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη)
│   │
│   └─ The traditional interpretation, the external command
│
└─ "But I say to you..." (ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν)
    │
    ├─ Jesus' authoritative reinterpretation
    ├─ NOT: Contradicting the Law
    └─ BUT: Revealing the Law's true DEPTH and INTENT

TRADITIONAL: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13)
│
├─ φονεύσεις (phoneuseis) = murder, kill
├─ External act only
└─ "Whoever murders shall be liable to judgment"
    │
    └─ Court system handles it

JESUS: "But I say to you..."
│
├─ v. 22a: "Everyone who is ANGRY with his brother shall be liable to judgment"
│   │
│   ├─ ὀργιζόμενος (orgizomenos) = being angry, harboring wrath
│   ├─ NOT: Righteous anger (Mark 3:5)
│   └─ BUT: Nursed, cherished anger = murder seed
│
├─ v. 22b: "Whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council"
│   │
│   ├─ ῥακά (rhaka) = "empty-headed, worthless" (Aramaic insult)
│   └─ Verbal expression of contempt
│
├─ v. 22c: "Whoever says 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire"
│   │
│   ├─ μωρός (mōros) = fool, godless person
│   ├─ γέενναν τοῦ πυρός (geennan tou pyros) = Gehenna of fire
│   │
│   └─► ESCALATION: Judgment → Council → Hell
│       │
│       └─ The progression shows the SERIOUSNESS of heart-anger
│
└─ vv. 23-26: TWO APPLICATIONS
    │
    ├─ vv. 23-24: If your brother has something against you
    │   │
    │   ├─ SETTING: At the altar, about to offer sacrifice
    │   ├─ COMMAND: "Leave your gift... first be reconciled"
    │   │
    │   └─► Reconciliation > Religious ritual
    │       │
    │       └─ Horizontal relationships affect vertical relationship
    │
    └─ vv. 25-26: Settle with your accuser quickly
        │
        ├─ "Make friends quickly with your accuser"
        ├─ Prison imagery: "You will never get out until you paid the last penny"
        │
        └─► Urgency - unresolved conflict has consequences

MURDER pathway:
│
Anger (heart) → Contempt (mouth) → Violence (hand) → Murder (act)
    │
    └─► Jesus addresses the ROOT, not just the fruit

TRADITIONAL: "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14)
│
├─ μοιχεύσεις (moicheuseis) = commit adultery
├─ External act: Sexual intercourse outside marriage covenant
└─ Addressees: Married persons (primarily men in cultural context)

JESUS: "But I say to you..." (v. 28)
│
└─► "Everyone who LOOKS at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart"
    │
    ├─ βλέπων (blepōn) = looking, gazing (present participle - ongoing action)
    ├─ πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι (pros to epithymēsai) = "in order to lust" (purpose clause)
    │   │
    │   └─ NOT: Involuntary attraction
    │   └─ BUT: Deliberate cultivation of lustful desire
    │
    ├─ ἐμοίχευσεν (emoicheusen) = "has committed adultery" (aorist - completed action)
    ├─ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ (en tē kardia autou) = "in his heart"
    │
    └─► The LOOK with INTENT = The ACT in God's eyes

THE EYE (v. 29)                          THE HAND (v. 30)
│                                        │
"If your right eye causes you to sin"   "If your right hand causes you to sin"
│                                        │
├─ σκανδαλίζει (skandalizei) = causes   ├─ Same verb: σκανδαλίζει
│   to stumble, traps, ensnares          │
│                                        │
└─► "Tear it out and throw it away"     └─► "Cut it off and throw it away"
    │                                        │
    ├─ ἔξελε (exele) = gouge out            ├─ ἔκκοψον (ekkopson) = cut off
    ├─ βάλε (bale) = throw away             ├─ βάλε (bale) = throw away
    │                                        │
    └─ WHY? "Better to lose one member      └─ Same logic
        than your whole body go to hell"

IS JESUS COMMANDING SELF-MUTILATION?
│
├─ NO - Physical mutilation doesn't cure heart lust
│   │
│   ├─ Blind man can still lust
│   └─ One-handed man can still sin
│
└─ YES - Radical amputation of sin sources
    │
    ├─ PRINCIPLE: Whatever leads you to sin MUST GO
    │
    ├─ EXAMPLES:
    │   │
    │   ├─ Internet access without accountability?
    │   ├─ Certain friendships?
    │   ├─ Entertainment choices?
    │   ├─ Places you go, routes you take?
    │   │
    │   └─► Cut it off, gouge it out, throw it away
    │
    └─► Better to live maimed than damned

TRADITIONAL: "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce" (Deut 24:1-4)
│
├─ ἀποστάσιον (apostasion) = certificate of divorce, bill of dismissal
├─ Rabbinic debate: What grounds for divorce?
│   │
│   ├─ Hillel school: Any reason (burned dinner, found someone prettier)
│   └─ Shammai school: Only adultery
│
└─ FOCUS: On the PROCEDURE (certificate) not the ACT

JESUS: "But I say to you..."
│
└─► "Everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality..."
    │
    ├─ ἀπολύων (apolyōn) = divorcing, sending away
    ├─ παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας (parektos logou porneias) = "except for sexual immorality"
    │   │
    │   ├─ πορνεία (porneia) = sexual immorality, fornication
    │   └─ Exception clause (debated: betrothal unfaithfulness? ongoing adultery?)
    │
    ├─ "...makes her commit adultery"
    │   │
    │   └─ ποιεῖ αὐτὴν μοιχευθῆναι (poiei autēn moicheuthēnai)
    │       │
    │       ├─ In that culture, divorced woman forced to remarry for survival
    │       └─ Husband's action leads to her "adultery" (remarriage)
    │
    └─ "...and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery"
        │
        └─► Serious view of marriage covenant

MARRIAGE COVENANT
│
├─ Genesis 2:24 - "The two shall become one flesh"
├─ NOT: A contract (negotiable, breakable)
├─ BUT: A covenant (permanent, sacred)
│
└─► Divorce is NOT God's design
    │
    ├─ Malachi 2:16 - "I hate divorce, says the LORD"
    ├─ Matthew 19:8 - "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed divorce"
    │
    └─ Jesus restores CREATION intent, not Mosaic concession

TRADITIONAL: "You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn"
│
├─ Multiple OT passages:
│   │
│   ├─ Leviticus 19:12 - "You shall not swear by my name falsely"
│   ├─ Numbers 30:2 - "If a man vows... he shall not break his word"
│   └─ Deuteronomy 23:21 - "If you make a vow... you shall not delay fulfilling it"
│
└─ FOCUS: Don't break oaths you make

JESUS: "But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all" (v. 34a)
│
├─ μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως (mē omosai holōs) = "not swear at all"
│
├─ WHY? Four examples (vv. 34b-36):
│   │
│   ├─ v. 34b: NOT by heaven → "it is the throne of God"
│   ├─ v. 35a: NOT by earth → "it is his footstool"
│   ├─ v. 35b: NOT by Jerusalem → "it is the city of the great King"
│   └─ v. 36: NOT by your own head → "you cannot make one hair white or black"
│       │
│       └─► You have NOTHING that's truly yours to swear by
│           │
│           └─ Everything belongs to God - you can't leverage what's not yours
│
└─ v. 37: THE ALTERNATIVE
    │
    ├─ "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'"
    │   │
    │   ├─ ἔστω... ὑμῶν τὸ ναὶ ναὶ τὸ οὒ οὔ (estō... hymōn to nai nai to ou ou)
    │   └─ Plain speech, simple truth
    │
    └─► "Anything more than this comes from evil"
        │
        ├─ ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ (ek tou ponērou) = "from the evil one" or "from evil"
        │
        └─ WHY is swearing evil?
            │
            ├─ Implies: "I'm usually lying, but THIS time I'm telling truth"
            └─ Creates two-tier system: Oath-backed vs. regular speech

THE TRUTHFULNESS REQUIREMENT
│
├─ Pharisaic system: Swearing hierarchy
│   │
│   ├─ Swear by Temple? Not binding
│   ├─ Swear by gold of Temple? Binding (Matt 23:16-22)
│   │
│   └─► Casuistry: How to lie while technically keeping oaths
│
└─ JESUS: Your word should need NO oath
    │
    ├─ Be SO truthful that Yes = Yes, No = No
    ├─ NO need for "I swear!" or "I promise!"
    │
    └─► Character of INTEGRITY, not just legally binding words

TRADITIONAL: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Exodus 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21)
│
├─ ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ (ophthalmon anti ophthalmou)
├─ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος (kai odonta anti odontos)
│
├─ ORIGINAL PURPOSE: LIMIT vengeance
│   │
│   ├─ NOT: "Get revenge!"
│   └─ BUT: "Don't escalate" - proportional justice only
│       │
│       └─ Genesis 4:23-24 - Lamech: "I have killed a man for wounding me"
│           │
│           └─ Lex talionis LIMITS this tendency
│
└─ USED BY: Courts, not personal vengeance

JESUS: "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil" (v. 39a)
│
├─ μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ (mē antistēnai tō ponērō)
│   │
│   ├─ ἀντιστῆναι (antistēnai) = "to resist, oppose, stand against"
│   └─ τῷ πονηρῷ (tō ponērō) = "the evil one" or "the evil person"
│
├─ NOT: Passive doormat theology
├─ NOT: No justice system or self-defense
│
└─ BUT: Personal willingness to ABSORB wrong rather than RETALIATE
    │
    └─► FOUR EXAMPLES of non-retaliation:

"If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also"
│
├─ ῥαπίζει (rhapizei) = strikes with open hand (slap, not punch)
├─ Right cheek = Backhanded slap
│   │
│   └─ INSULT more than injury
│       │
│       ├─ Master to slave
│       ├─ Superior to inferior
│       └─ Intentional humiliation
│
└─► Turn the other cheek = Refuse to retaliate for INSULT
    │
    └─ Absorb the dishonor, refuse the revenge

"If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well"
│
├─ χιτῶνα (chitōna) = tunic (undergarment)
├─ ἱμάτιον (himation) = cloak (outer garment)
│
├─ Legal context: Being sued in court
│   │
│   └─ Exodus 22:26-27 - Cloak must be returned by night (protection, warmth)
│
└─► Give MORE than demanded
    │
    └─ Generosity beyond legal requirement

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles"
│
├─ ἀγγαρεύσει (angareusei) = compel, impress into service
│   │
│   ├─ Persian loan word: Royal courier system
│   └─ Roman soldiers could compel civilians to carry gear for 1 mile
│
└─► Go the SECOND mile voluntarily
    │
    ├─ First mile: Compulsion, slavery, resentment
    ├─ Second mile: Choice, freedom, generosity
    │
    └─ Surprise your oppressor with grace

"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you"
│
├─ τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός (tō aitounti se dos) = "to the one asking you, give"
├─ μὴ ἀποστραφῇς (mē apostraphēs) = "don't turn away"
│
└─► Generosity to those in need
    │
    ├─ Begging: Immediate need
    ├─ Borrowing: Planned need
    │
    └─ Respond with open-handed giving

THE NON-RETALIATION PATTERN
│
├─ NOT: Justice is wrong (God will judge - Rom 12:19)
├─ NOT: Never defend others (protect the vulnerable)
│
└─ BUT: Personal willingness to absorb wrong
    │
    ├─ For INSULT → Turn other cheek
    ├─ For LEGAL ACTION → Give more than asked
    ├─ For OPPRESSION → Go extra mile
    ├─ For NEED → Give generously
    │
    └─► OUTCOME: Evil is overcome with GOOD (Rom 12:21)

TRADITIONAL: "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy"
│
├─ "Love your neighbor" = Leviticus 19:18 (Scripture)
│   │
│   └─ ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου (agapēseis ton plēsion sou)
│
└─ "Hate your enemy" = Rabbinic addition (NOT Scripture)
    │
    ├─ Psalms of imprecation (Ps 139:21-22)
    ├─ Qumran community: "Love the sons of light, hate the sons of darkness"
    │
    └─► Definition game: Who is my "neighbor"?
        │
        └─ Luke 10:29 - Lawyer asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

JESUS: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44)
│
├─ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν (agapate tous echthrous hymōn) = "love your enemies"
│   │
│   ├─ ἀγαπάω (agapaō) = covenant love, active willing of good
│   ├─ NOT: Warm feelings (that's φιλέω / phileō)
│   └─ BUT: Deliberate choice to seek their good
│
└─ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς (proseuchesthe hyper tōn diōkontōn hymas)
    │
    └─ "Pray for those who persecute you"
        │
        ├─ Active intercession
        └─ Seeking God's blessing on those who harm you

v. 45: "So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven"
│
├─ ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν (hopōs genēsthe huioi tou patros hymōn)
│   │
│   └─ Purpose clause: "in order that you may be sons"
│       │
│       ├─ NOT: "so you become His children" (already are)
│       └─ BUT: "so you SHOW whose children you are"
│
└─► Evidence: "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good"
    │
    ├─ τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει (ton hēlion autou anatellei)
    ├─ Rain falls on just and unjust (v. 45b)
    │
    └─► God's INDISCRIMINATE blessing
        │
        ├─ Doesn't wait for people to deserve it
        └─ Common grace to ALL

v. 46-47: THE CONTRAST
│
├─ v. 46: "If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"
│   │
│   ├─ τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε; (tina misthon echete?)
│   └─► Even tax collectors do that!
│       │
│       └─ Tax collectors = Traitors, lowest moral category
│
└─ v. 47: "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?"
    │
    ├─ ἀσπάσησθε (aspasēsthe) = greet, welcome, show hospitality
    └─► Even Gentiles do that!
        │
        └─ Gentiles = Outside covenant, no special revelation
            │
            └─ IF you only love the lovable, you're NO DIFFERENT than pagans

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"
│
├─ Ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι (Esesthe oun hymeis teleioi)
│   │
│   └─ τέλειος (teleios) = perfect, complete, mature, whole
│       │
│       ├─ NOT: Sinless perfection (impossible)
│       ├─ NOT: Moral flawlessness
│       │
│       └─ BUT: Complete, undivided, whole-hearted love
│           │
│           ├─ LIKE God: Loves enemies, blesses persecutors
│           └─ NOT selective love (friends only) but COMPLETE love (even enemies)
│
├─ ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν (hōs ho patēr hymōn ho ouranios teleios estin)
│   │
│   └─ "as your heavenly Father is perfect"
│       │
│       └─► The STANDARD: God's own character
│
└─► PARALLEL: Luke 6:36 - "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"
    │
    └─ Perfect = Merciful, complete in love

ENEMY LOVE
│
├─ WHO is an enemy?
│   │
│   ├─ Those who hate you
│   ├─ Those who persecute you
│   ├─ Those who wrong you
│   └─ Those who oppose you
│
├─ HOW to love them?
│   │
│   ├─ Actively will their good
│   ├─ Pray for them (v. 44)
│   ├─ Bless them (Luke 6:28)
│   ├─ Do good to them (Luke 6:27)
│   │
│   └─► NOT passive tolerance but ACTIVE love
│
└─► WHY?
    │
    ├─ Because God loved YOU while you were His enemy (Rom 5:8, 10)
    ├─ To show whose children you are (v. 45)
    └─ To be DIFFERENT from the world (vv. 46-47)
        │
        └─ The world loves friends, hates enemies
            │
            └─ Kingdom citizens love BOTH

MATTHEW 5: THE KING'S MANIFESTO
│
THE STRUCTURE:
│
├─ BEATITUDES (vv. 3-12): Who is BLESSED?
│   │
│   └─► The kingdom inverts the world's values
│       │
│       └─ Blessed: poor, mourning, meek, hungry, merciful, pure, peacemakers, persecuted
│
├─ SALT & LIGHT (vv. 13-16): Who ARE you?
│   │
│   └─► Identity PRECEDES function
│       │
│       └─ You ARE salt/light → So act like it
│
├─ FULFILLING LAW (vv. 17-20): What STANDARD?
│   │
│   └─► Jesus doesn't abolish but FULFILLS
│       │
│       ├─ Not lowering the bar
│       └─ Exceeding the Pharisees = INTERNAL not just external
│
└─ SIX ANTITHESES (vv. 21-48): How DEEP?
    │
    └─► From EXTERNAL to INTERNAL
        │
        ├─ Not murder → Not hate
        ├─ Not adultery → Not lust
        ├─ Proper divorce → Honor covenant
        ├─ Keep oaths → Be truthful
        ├─ Limited revenge → Absorb wrong
        └─ Love neighbor → Love enemy
            │
            └─► TRAJECTORY: Heart transformation, not just behavior modification

THE THESIS:
│
└─► Jesus reveals what the Law always demanded: PERFECT LOVE
    │
    ├─ Love God with all your heart (Deut 6:5)
    ├─ Love neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18)
    ├─ Love even enemies (Matt 5:44)
    │
    └─► NO ONE can meet this standard
        │
        ├─ The Law drives us to DESPAIR of self-righteousness
        └─ The Law drives us to DEPENDENCE on Christ
            │
            └─ Only HE lived Matthew 5 perfectly
                │
                └─ We live it BY Him, THROUGH Him, IN Him

THE SERMON'S FUNCTION
│
├─ NOT: Ladder to climb ("Try harder!")
├─ NOT: New law to earn salvation
│
└─ BUT: MIRROR showing our need
    │
    ├─ WHO can be poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hungry, merciful, pure, peacemaking, AND persecuted?
    ├─ WHO can be salt that never loses flavor and light that never dims?
    ├─ WHO can exceed the most righteous people (Pharisees)?
    ├─ WHO never hates, never lusts, never lies, never retaliates, loves enemies perfectly?
    │
    └─► ONLY JESUS
        │
        ├─ He lived the Sermon perfectly
        ├─ He fulfilled the Law completely
        ├─ He loved perfectly, even enemies (the cross)
        │
        └─► Two responses:
            │
            ├─ DESPAIR: "I can't do this!"
            │   │
            │   └─► CORRECT → Run to Christ
            │
            └─ SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS: "I'm doing pretty well!"
                │
                └─► WRONG → You've missed the point