• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sermo Humilis

Humble Speech

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Just a Thought
    • Who we Are Instead
    • Life in Christendom
  • Series
    • Words that Matter
    • Rock of Ages
    • Let the Lady Speak
    • Life and Times of Jesus
    • Jesus Through all of Life
    • 8 Weeks Before Marriage
    • The Ten Commandments
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / The Life and Times of Jesus / Jesus, Hard Words

Jesus, Hard Words

November 17, 2019 By David Trounce 12 Comments

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

23 Jesus, Hard Words - The Life and Times of Jesus

The Pharisees had a big problem. Their traditions were so intermingled with the law that they could no longer tell the two apart. And so, when Jesus came and re-issued the law, minus their traditions, it looked like blasphemy and hard words.

This world is governed by great principles. Great principles that trickle down into the particulars of everyday life. But, when the particulars become most important, then the great principles tend to get buried underneath. That was the case for the Pharisees.

Jesus came to fulfil the law and the prophets, which He did. But this did not remove the great principles. These still stand.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17)

The word ‘fulfil’ also means to teach (Colossians 1:25). And so Jesus will go on in this passage to do exactly that. He will teach.

In doing so, He will bring the Word of God out from under the rubble of Jewish tradition so we can all have a good look at it.

And one of the things that Jesus will lead us to see is that the law is a matter of the heart.

The Scribes taught that only actions mattered. Jesus taught that the thoughts of the heart were just as sinful.

He also taught that what goes on in the heart tends to bubble to the surface and corrupt those around you. Your sins are not private. Your sin advocates sinfulness. He who sins teaches others to sin by example (Matthew 18:6-7).

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement… (Matthew 5:21-22)

Each of these sayings of Jesus, about murder, divorce, oaths, etc, begin with a variation of, “You have heard that it was said (by the Scribes) “But I say….”, which is then followed by a correction.

So, taking one of the great principles of the law—love for neighbour—Jesus applies it to the particular case of murder, and not only to the external act but to the depths of the heart.


On the move?
This article can also be seen and heard on Youtube

Anger is a precursor to murder (Genesis 4:7).

The angry man thinks he can get away with being angry, so long as he did not express it. But how many steps in the wrong direction do you have to take before you’re heading in the wrong direction?

The problem began way before we opened our mouth or clenched our fist because the problem lay deep within our heart. And one of those problems is our appetite for vengeance.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well… (Matthew 5:38-40)

An “Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was given to Israel’s magistrates as an instruction on how to execute justice (Exodus 21:25). It was not a green light given to the guy on the street to seek revenge.

The purpose of this law was to keep revenge in check. The principle is: Don’t exact more than what you ought”. Justice is to be fair and in proportion to the crime. But this was turned by the Jews into, “ If he takes your sheep, go and kill his entire herd.”

The Christian man has a different nature. If you’re struck, take it. If you suffer wrong on account of the gospel, count it all joy (Hebrews 10:34).

These are hard words. But no amount of fiddling with the law or ignoring the matters of the heart will remove their force.

We live in an era which places a high value on the hardness of our heart. We can tell this by our love of soft teaching. We like to believe that our love of soft words, which trouble neither the mind nor the heart nor anything in between, is, in fact, a love of tenderness. But such love is actually the opposite of tenderness.

If our hearts were a slab of concrete—which they are—and we wanted to keep them that way, our desire to have them caressed with a feather duster would exhibit no love of tenderness.

The one who really wanted a tender heart would be calling for the jackhammer of God1.

Is not My word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)

1Wilson, D. Mother Kirk: Essays and Forays in Practical Ecclesiology (Canon Press, 2001, p77)

Related...

Jesus, God's Delight
Jesus, Warning
Jesus, Insider Trading
Jesus, Look and Live

Filed Under: The Life and Times of Jesus Tagged With: Law, Teaching, Tenderness


Writing Ideas on Sermo HumilisWhat do You Want to Read About?

 

Nothing like real-world issues to focus the mind. If you have something you would like me to write about, send me a message and let me know.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David TrounceEduardoTause says

    March 22, 2022 at 11:49 am

    Continued [url=https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/best-casinos-with-fast-payouts/]Best Casinos with Fast Payouts[/url]

    Reply
  2. David TrounceAndrewspept says

    May 20, 2022 at 1:35 am

    [url=https://1xbetspain.com/]1xbet app ios[/url] – 1xbet, 1xbet deportes

    Reply
  3. David TrounceMichaelJeors says

    May 20, 2022 at 4:53 pm

    [url=https://1xbetfrance.net/]1xbet download[/url] – 1xbet france, 13 milliards 1xbet

    Reply
  4. David TrounceJamestum says

    May 20, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    [url=https://maxbet-ro.com/]download maxbet[/url] – maxbet spin, cod bonus maxbet fara depunere

    Reply
  5. David TrounceJulianMug says

    May 20, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    [url=https://librabet-italia.com/]librabet.[/url] – librabet promocode, librabet scommesse

    Reply
  6. David TrounceCraigHob says

    May 20, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    [url=https://maxbet-ro.com/]maxbet romania[/url] – maxbet cod bonus, maxbet romania

    Reply
  7. David TrounceCalebnef says

    May 21, 2022 at 2:14 am

    [url=https://librabet-italia.com/]librabet bonus benvenuto[/url] – librabet e affidabile, librabet india

    Reply
  8. David TrounceJesseKem says

    May 21, 2022 at 8:32 am

    порно пк скачать торрент https://dolbezhka.club/ лесбиянки порно видео смотреть онлайн

    смотреть порно девушке очень [url=https://dolbezhka.club/search/%D0%97%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B/]порно видео куннилингус зрелой русской [/url]

    [url=https://www.blag-it.com/index.php?topic=511515.new#new]порно женщины постарше с молодыми[/url]
    [url=https://yoomoney.ru/transfer/quickpay?requestId=343939313235343332375f32646132303461383438643830323133613930363636623234386135616463313434363935306339]жесткое домашнее порно[/url]
    [url=https://baremetal.ca/gadgets/guestbook.html]скачать порно молоденькие[/url]
    [url=https://power.myrdc.ru/2018/05/03/hello-world/#comment-1301]порно видео смотреть бесплатно лесбиянки[/url]
    [url=https://lennartlemmens.be/2017/06/07/wonderful-meetings/#comment-3918]смотреть домашнее порно зрелых женщин[/url]
    [url=https://mitupiasas.com/producto/superbag/]порно анал нарезки кончи[/url]
    [url=http://sharperperspective.com/what-are-you-waiting-for/#comment-8147]порно зрелая душ[/url]
    [url=http://jbknolwg.pornoautor.com/site-announcements/1203618/brief-peaks-timeless-deceived-budecort-inhaler-information-audit-inplantation?page=56#post-3633815]порно фильмы зрелых с переводом[/url]
    [url=https://yasenevo.ru/index.php?topic=1358.new#new]смотреть порно блондинки большой[/url]
    [url=https://wpradar.com/free-logo-design-to-create-a-free-online-logo/#comment-53907]порно зрелых лесбиянок смотреть бесплатно[/url]
    2f5a0aa

    Reply
  9. David TrounceIrvingKak says

    May 21, 2022 at 9:47 am

    скачать порно врачи [url=https://pornuhino.xyz/]Порнухино[/url] порно видео анал трансы

    смотреть фильмы онлайн порно зрелых [url=https://pornuhino.xyz/search/%D0%94%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5/]порно волосатые двойное проникновение [/url] порно онлайн новинки 2019

    [url=https://electricgraffix.com/hello-world/#comment-2648]порно зрелые красивые жопы[/url]
    [url=http://capturaumm.mex.tl/?gb=1#top]скачать ольга порно[/url]
    [url=https://quotes.cheapestmoversg.com/post-a-project/?step=preview&hash=1c874f36f6ecd6ed887b]смотреть порно ролики бесплатно в качестве[/url]
    [url=http://osfedu.com/archives/4590/#comment-537]порно с высокими девушками[/url]
    [url=https://bat.hashtagfoundation.org/guestbook/list]смотреть порно секс женщин[/url]
    [url=https://nouree.fr/blogs/journal/comment-se-sevrer-du-cafe?comment=120207310981#comments]смотреть порно за деньги[/url]
    [url=https://itexam.blog.ss-blog.jp/2016-03-21-15?comment_success=2022-05-20T20:34:31&time=1653046471]домашний страпон мужу порно[/url]
    [url=https://agenciaorin.com.br/mapa-da-empatia/#comment-335219]порно 3 девушки 1[/url]
    [url=https://azegrivar.eoldal.hu/cikkek/blog/loval-vagy-lo-nelkul.html#block-comments]смотреть фильмы качестве бесплатно порно русское[/url]
    [url=https://nganvien.com/san-pham/may-khoan-pin-20v-total-tidli2003.html]русское порно анал сквирт[/url]
    2_8dbb8

    Reply
  10. David TrounceFrankicaure says

    May 21, 2022 at 10:23 am

    Көңілді + пост үшін
    _________________
    Дондағы ростов Р±РѕСЃ орындарының ставкаларлары лигасы – [URL=http://kk.bkin-8500.space/1410.html]кітапты тіркеусіз онлайн казинолық ойнаңыз[/URL] – www ставкалары барады

    Reply
  11. David TrounceMarlinDolve says

    May 21, 2022 at 2:00 pm

    Лучшие гайды и обзоры по танкам игры [url=https://www.youtube.com/c/INDOMITOWOT]world of tanks[/url]
    на нашем канале только самая свежая информация.

    Немецкий [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_X3FQBTsy0]E 50 Ausf. M обзор[/url] WoT.
    Смотрите видео [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO_qPEhWhM]обзор Leopard 1[/url] все и сразу в WOT.
    Также смотрим видос [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQdnDcU-8L0]CS 53 гайд[/url] World of tanks.
    Преимущества и недостатки [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kd8uoDscgg]M48A5 Patton как играть[/url] а также рекомендуем своим друзьям танкистам.
    Сегодня у нас в гостях машина [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXoMeGNaP7g]T57 Heavy Tank[/url] которую когда-то любил абсолютно каждый.

    Все обзоры по танкам WOT в одном плейлисте [url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQxSf_8fUdllF_7unIB2PZfI5mJVgcWTu]обзоры[/url] смотрите и делитесь с друзьями.

    Reply
  12. David TrounceAmeliaMut says

    May 21, 2022 at 4:16 pm

    Советую прочитать и прочитать то, как нужно подтягивать ремень грм при замене помпы.
    ключ помпы шевроле круз gm

    Reply

Leave a Reply to EduardoTause Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Sermo Humilis

For the love of all things true, beautiful and good.


Welcome to Sermo Humilis, a digital home for biblical discipleship and cultural Christianity. A few new thoughts every week.

Please remember to like, subscribe and share. It really helps me out.

Subscribe for Weekly Updates

As per our Privacy Policy, we will never hand your information to a third party.

please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Categories

  • Life in Christendom
  • Just a Thought
  • Who we Are Instead

Find us on Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Medium
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Support Sermo Humilis

If you enjoy Sermo Humilis and want to say thanks you can support me here.

Support

Series

Sidebar - Words that Matter Sidebar Series - Proverbs - Let the Lady Speak Sidebar - Jesus Through all of Life Series

The Most Popular Guff

#1 Peals of Thunder – OT Survey

Let's face it, we are, by and large, illiterate when it comes to the

The Onlookers

The Gospels are full of accounts of Jesus teaching, healing and giving

Jesus, Shaking Heaven and Earth

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus tells the disciples that He came to fulfil the

#15 Arkeology – OT Survey

1 Samuel marks a transition in the covenant life of Israel from Judges

Our Finest Dungarees

As it was for the new Christian in Corinth, 65AD, so it is for us

He Came to Gladden the Heart

Jesus came eating and drinking and people thought that perhaps He had

Image is Everything

Back in 2014, a young Christian man by the name of Troy Williams was

See and Hear

On the move? Weekly content can also be seen and heard via Youtube.

Topics

Beauty Charity Children Covenant Creation Death Discipleship Earth Evangelism Faith Faithfulness Fear Fellowship Freedom Gospel Grace Grief Guilt Holiness Idolatry Jesus Joy Judgement Kingdom Law Liberty Life Love Marriage Mercy Money Power Redemption Rest Resurrection Righteousness Sacrifice Salvation Service Sin Truth War Weakness Wisdom Worship

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to Sermo Humilis

Find us on Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Support Sermo Humilis

If you enjoy Sermo Humilis and want to say thanks you can support me here.

Support

Copyright © 2022 · Sermo Humilis

Thor's Oak

Around 723 AD, a missionary named Boniface entered Hesse in Germany. Upon finding a sacred tree named Thor’s Oak, he took an axe to it, cut it down and built a church. Many in the town, believing that the God of Boniface must be greater than Thor, left their paganism behind converted to Christianity.