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In this second part of the Sermon on the Mount, we will be studying Matthew 5:17-48. In these verses, Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law of Moses.
The traditions and requirements of the Law of Moses were the heart and soul of the Jewish faith, and of the relationship of the Jewish people with their Maker. Thus the teachings of the Savior would clearly have caused deep concerns for those good and honest people who had tried their entire lives to live by this law.
Matthew 5:17-19.. As the Savior prepared to elevate the sights of his disciples to a new level of obedience, and new kind of gospel law, he explained that he had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (3 Nephi 15:4-6).
Matthew 5:20. Jesus said that his disciples’ righteousness should “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees”. What was lacking from the “righteousness” of the scribes and Pharisees?
As the Savior began to teach the higher law, he followed a pattern that was repeated six times in Matthew 5. In effect he said, “You have heard it said in old times . . .” and then he repeated the old doctrine. Then he continued by saying, “But I say to you . . .” and then Christ taught the new law, substituting a Celestial law for a Terrestrial law. In the following sets of scriptures, compare the old law with the new law.
Matthew 5:21-26. How is the commandment to avoid anger a higher law than the commandment against murder? How do feelings of anger affect our relationship with God? What can we do to control feelings of anger and seek to eliminate them from our lives?
The Savior spoke of bringing a “gift to the altar,” referring to the ancient practice of bringing sacrificial offerings to the altar (Matthew 5:23). What did Jesus say his disciples should do if they had angry feelings as they prepared to bring a gift to the altar? How might this apply to us? What should we do when someone has offended us and what are the dangers of waiting for a person who has offended us to ask for our forgiveness?
Matthew 5:27,28. What are some results of unclean thoughts? (See Mosiah 4:30; Alma 12:14; D&C 63:16.) What can we do to keep our thoughts pure?
Matthew 5:29–30. The Joseph Smith Translation says that the eye and hand mentioned in these verses represent sins (footnote 30a). What do these verses teach us about how we should deal with our sins?
Matthew 5:33-37. How did people in Old Testament times signify that they were telling the truth? What law did Jesus give to supersede this practice?
Matthew 5:38-4-0. In Mosaic Law, “an eye for an eye” meant that a person who injured another could receive the same injury as punishment. ( Leviticus 24:17–21.) What commandment superseded this law? What principles did Jesus teach when he spoke of turning the other cheek to someone who hits us and giving our cloak to someone who takes our coat?
Matthew 5:43-47. How can we develop love for our enemies? How will our lives change when we love our enemies? How might their lives change?
Matthew 5:48. How are we to understand the Savior’s command that we become perfect? (See footnote 48b, which says that an alternate Greek translation of the word perfect is “complete, finished, fully developed.”) How can the command to be perfect motivate us rather than frustrate us? How does the Savior’s Atonement help us reach perfection? (See Moroni 10:32–33; D&C 76:68–70.)
To sum it all up: How do the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount help us “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”?
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