An expository sermon on Jesus Christ values the importance of the inside rather than what is on the outside

1. INSIDE OUT Part 2 – Murder & Anger Mathew 5:21 to 26

2. I – INTRODUCTION Historical and Contextual background More than anything else, the Jews desperately wanted a Messiah as this was prophesied. They wanted to get into the Kingdom. In Mathew 5 to 7, Jesus describes the characteristics of Kingdom citizens (verses1 to 12), the function of Kingdom citizens (13 to 16) and the basis of conduct of Kingdom citizens which is God’s laws (13 to 17) He clarified to them that the standard of righteousness required to get into the Kingdom anchored on God’s laws but is primarily internal. (vs. 20) He gives them six illustrations to drive the point (Verse 21 to 48) In verses 21 to 26, Jesus gives here the first illustration contrasting how they have misinterpreted God’s law and given emphasis on the letter of the law or the external rather than the spirit of the law or the internal (heart righteousness)

9. - The scene of presenting your offering at the altar was familiar to the Jews. Jesus had in mind here the sacrifices made on the day of Atonement wherein the worship sacrifices animals for their sins. Jesus is saying here settle the breach between you and your brother before you try to settle the breach between you and God. Not to do so would be hypocrisy as it is akin to asking for forgiveness without repenting. “ What are your multiplied sacrifices to me says the Lord. I have enough of burn offerings of rams and the fat of cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls lambs or goat . . .Wash yourselves make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow . . . “ (Isaiah 1: 11, 16-17, 58: 5-7) “ Will you steal, murder and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have no known, then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say “We are delivered” ? (Jeremiah 7:9 -10)

12. CONCLUSION: In the fullest sense, of course because no one ever fully has right attitudes no worship is acceptable. Therefore everything Jesus teaches in the passage as in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount shows the absolute standard of God’s righteousness and the absolutely impossible task of our meeting that standard by our own power. He shatters our self righteousness in order to drive us to his righteousness, which alone is acceptable to God.