01/26/2025 - Sermon On The Mount - Mountaintop Relationships

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” - from Matthew 5:21-32 Someone once joked that if their family had a motto, it would be this: Well, that escalated quickly. How relatable! One day your toddler tries strawberries for the first time. The next day they refuse to eat anything that’s not a berry. Well, that escalated quickly. One daughter annoyingly pokes her sister. A few pokes later, and the sister punches the daughter in the face. Well, that escalated quickly. Your spouse casually mentions the idea of a vacation, and within the month you’re signed up for a retreat in the Dominican Republic with new passports on the way. Well, that escalated quickly. As we move past Jesus’ love for the Law into his interpretation of the Law, hearers of the Sermon on the Mount are left with a similar impression. Well, that escalated quickly. Jesus doesn’t just do what the Old Testament Laws command in his outside actions. Jesus internalizes the Laws so that his internal desires and motivations reflect God’s wisdom and reign in the kingdom of heaven. Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.