Discipleship — Excellence Mt 5 43 -48 What

Discipleship - Excellence Mt. 5: 43 -48 “What do you do exceptional? ” “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10: 10).

Challenge to Excellence, Mt. 5: 17 -48 • “You Have Heard - But I Say” (5: 21 -22, 27 -28, 31 -32, 33 -35, 38 -39, 43 -44) • Contrasts the Old with the New, Jn. 1: 17; Heb. 10: 28, 29 • Some say He contrasts real meaning with Pharisees’ interpretations.

Not - “it is also written” but “I Say” • “You shall not murder, ” Dt. 5: 14 • “You shall not commit adultery, ” Dt. 5: 18 • “A certificate of divorce, ” Dt. 24: 1 • “You shall not swear falsely, ” Lev. 19: 12 • “An eye for an eye…” Ex. 21: 24 • “Love your neighbor, and hate you enemy” Lev. 19: 17, 18 (Dt. 25: 17 -19; Ps. 109)

The Law of Christ is Superior • Jesus taught the more excellent way while the Law was in effect • “Tell it to the church, ” Mt. 18: 15 -17 • “Worship in spirit and truth, ” Jn. 4: 21 -24 • What Jesus taught in Mt. 5: 31, 32; 19: 9 is not what Moses permitted, Dt. 24: 1 -4 • “Be perfect. . . love your enemies, ” Mt. 5: 48

Example of Excellence, Jn. 13 • Self-centered – serve me! (Lk. 22: 24 -27) • Jesus’ example, Jn. 13: 1 -17 • What He knew, 13: 1 -3 • What He did, 13: 4 -5 • What He taught, 13: 6 -17 • Peter learned submission, 1 Pet. 2: 13, 18; 3: 1; 5: 5, 6 (He finally got it right!)

The More Excellent Way • The way of love – serve, 1 Cor. 12: 31 -13: 3 • When we can, Gal. 6: 10 • Who we can, Lk. 10: 29 -37 • Without tooting our horn, Mt. 6: 2

Conclusion • A corporal became a Christian; Sergeant saw him kneeling in prayer – threw his shoes at him. Next morning the sergeant’s shoes were shined beside his bed! • Discipleship is Excellence – It is not easy but it is Christ’s way! (Mt. 5: 46 -48)