Jesus tackles legalism, part 2

 

After offering specific scenarios and asking if they were legalism, I offered a definition of legalism; next we looked at the robust, full-blooded legalism found in the New Testament. Then we really began getting to the meat of the matter in my last post, Jesus tackles legalism, in which I simply began going through the Sermon on the Mount to see how the Lord dealt with this problem, for it was a problem in His day. This is a continuation of the same, or what I call, Part 2.

Matthew 5:38-42 An eye for an eye
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
This is another quote from the Law, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot (Exodus 21:24). This was given as a sentencing guideline for the judges of Israel, but the Jews had done the same thing we’ve done, they applied it to personal retribution. It is interesting that the Lord does not correct the misinterpretation but rather deals with retribution or vengeance.

39a But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:
But I say, instead of personal revenge, eye for eye, Resist not evil. Jesus is radical and his teaching is revolutionary! He is clearly calling us to a supernatural life.

He offers four examples of not resisting evil

39b but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

I don’t need to tell you this is not natural. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth naturally lends itself to the external and loveless righteousness of legalism. Jesus is calling for a thorough interior transformation, which can only be produced by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 43-48 Love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

The first half of this is, once again, from the Law: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18) This is interesting, a main characteristic of the New Testament is from the Law!

So how could this be a problem of legalism? The Jews wrestled with “neighbor", which is why in Luke 10 “a certain lawyer" asked Jesus, Who is my neighbour? And actually, as I have read, the Jews understood “neighbor” to refer to fellow Jews and “enemy" to the Gentiles.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

But I say unto you – another radical, revolutionary teaching that requires thorough, interior transformation! Love your enemies. Love, bless, do good, pray for, I intentionally make the effort, but this requires the power of the Spirit.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father – “ye shall be filled with the spirit of that God whose name is Mercy, and whose nature is love. God has many imitators of his power, independence, justice, etc., but few of his love, condescension, and kindness. He calls himself Love, to teach us that in this consists that perfection.” (Adam Clarke)

In other words, love thy neighbor, hate thine enemy is mere external religion, or legalism. Love thine enemy is the exact opposite!

Matthew 6:1-18 Take heed that you do not do your righteousness to be seen of men
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Another layer of legalism - doing the right thing in order to be seen by men. And the Lord presents three of the most common righteous acts for the Jews: Alms, Prayer, Fasting.

2-4 Alms
2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Sound a trumpet is obviously a figure of speech, hyperbole, but have the glory of men is not. They gave in such a way as to be noticed. This is legalism, doing the right thing in order to be noticed.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
You can't help but be noticed sometimes, this goes to motive, who do we want to see us?

5-15 Prayer

Jesus spends much more time on prayer.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

That they may be seen of men – Isn't it funny, legalism is doing the right thing the right way in order to be right with God, yet one of the problems of legalism is looking at men, hoping they see you and are impressed, rather than looking to God.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Prayer is not to be an exhibition, the people around us are not our audience; it is rather personal, a private part of our relationship with our heavenly Father. This does not mean we can never pray in public, it speaks to why and how we pray before others. We can and should pray in church, with others, with our family, just not to impress them.

Use not vain repetitions – this does not mean we can’t offer the same petition for years, or repeat it as we labor in prayer. Jesus explains it, they think they shall be heard for their much speaking.
This is sad, they are praying, which is good, but they don't know the Father.

for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him - Prayer is personal, private, and flows out of faith in God who loves me and knows what I need before I ask (sometimes even before I know myself).

In v 9-13, Jesus gives us what we call The Lord’s Prayer. This is a prayer He expects us to pray privately, in groups, in church. 

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

When will we outgrow this prayer? When every petition is answered – thy kingdom come. Maranatha!

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I am aware that there are those who stumble over this, “That’s so legalistic.” I choose instead to say, “This is what Jesus my King taught. This is life, not legalism.”

16-18 Fasting
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

when ye fast – He seems to expect we will be fasting. I confess, I don’t fast as often as I used to.

that they may appear unto men to fast – doing the right thing in order to be seen by the people around us, to impress them with our righteousness. Jesus calls such folks hypocrites!


What we’re seeing is that legalism is not a matter of being concerned with and actively attempting to be righteous, as in doing alms, praying, fasting, it is rather only being concerned with mere outward conformity – doing the right thing the right way at the right time, and of course trusting in this for salvation. In Part 1 we saw a new layer of legalism, Seeking to use or twist the Scriptures to enable you to satisfy your own passions. Here in Part 2 we saw yet another layer, Doing the right thing in order to be seen by the people around us, to impress them with our righteousness. Legalism is ugly and deadly.


NEXT: Jesus tackles legalism, part 3 (Matthew 15)