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RIGHTEOUS MOTIVES AND INTENTS
A. Introduction: We’re looking at Jesus’ most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, and we have more
to say tonight. The sermon is a description of what true followers of Jesus are like in character and behavior.
1. When Jesus was on earth, He told His followers to copy His example and learn from His teaching. God
desires a family, and Jesus is the pattern for God’s family. Rom 8:29; I John 2:6; Matt 11:29
a. Jesus is God become fully man without ceasing to be God. In His humanity, Jesus shows us what
sons and daughters of God are like in character and behavior. John 1:1; John 1:14; John14:10; etc.
b. Jesus opened His Sermon on the Mount with seven statements known as the Beatitudes. Each of
the Beatitudes gives a character trait that sons and daughters of God possess and express.
1. Matt 5:3-10—According to Jesus, God’s sons and daughters are humble and truly sorry for
their sin. They are gentle and long to do what is right in God’s eyes. Their motives are pure.
They are compassionate, and they make an effort to get along with people.
2. The rest of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is an elaboration of how God’s sons and daughters are
supposed to live in this world and what Christ-like character looks like in them.
2. We’ve made the point that to fully understand much of what Jesus said in His sermon, we must consider
the culture of the people to whom He spoke. Jesus was born into 1st century Israel, among people whose
lives were dominated by the Law of Moses and the prophets (what we call the Old Testament).
a. The people in Israel learned about the Law through their religious leaders, the Scribes (rabbis) and
Pharisees. In 1st century Israel, these men’s teachings and their lives were considered the standard
of the kind of righteousness or right behavior that Almighty God requires from His people.
1. In His sermon, Jesus told the crowds: For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of
the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:20, ESV).
2. But the Scribes and Pharisees misinterpreted the Law. Through the centuries they added rules
and regulations to the Law, as they tried to apply it to everyday life. In doing so, they missed
the spirit or intent behind the Law and preached and practiced an external righteousness.
b. The crowds who heard Jesus’ sermon would have understood righteousness to mean right actions.
But in His sermon Jesus revealed that righteousness includes more than right outward actions. It
includes interior rightness—right attitudes, right thoughts, and right motives.
3. In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used six examples to expose how the religious
leaders kept the letter of the Law, but missed the true intent or meaning behind it. Matt 5:21-48
a. According to Jesus, it’s not enough not to murder or commit adultery. God’s standard is to not
even want to commit murder or commit adultery. It’s an interior attitude as well as an outward act.
b. Motives and intent matter to God—inward purity as well as outward purity. Men are judged not
only for their deeds, but for their motives and desires even if they are never acted upon.
1. Self control is good, but eliminating the desire is better. That is the goal of salvation, complete
restoration of human nature from the corruption and damage of sin—both motives and actions.
2. This is what Jesus has come to provide and produce in us, an interior change—Christ-like
character in people who want to do the will of God, and are able to do so by His Spirit in them.
4. Last week we looked at how Jesus used the examples of murder, adultery, divorce, and oath taking to
show the true spirit behind the God’s Law. This week we’ll look at retaliation and loving your enemies.

B. Matt 5:38-42—You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you,
Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other side also.
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you
to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who
would borrow from you (ESV).
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1. The Law of Moses does say an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Ex 21:22-25; Lev 24:19-20). But
this was a law of mercy, not of retaliation or vengeance. It was meant to control excess punishment.
a. The law was a guide for judges, not individuals. The idea is that the punishment must fit the crime.
It was never carried out literally (an injury was instead assessed at a money value). But the
Pharisees and Scribes used this law as a justification for private revenge in personal issues.
b. The Law of Moses actually says: Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love
your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord (Lev 19:18, NLT).
2. Jesus used three examples to address the tendency in fallen human nature to retaliate when someone
wrongs us. He urged His followers to get rid of that spirit of retaliation and desire for revenge.
a. One, turn the other cheek. According to the traditions of the Scribes, to hit a man with the back of
your hand was twice as insulting as hitting him your open hand. Jesus wasn’t saying let someone
hit you. His point was that you must not retaliate or resent even the worst insult.
b. Two, if someone tries to take your tunic in a law suit, give him you cloak as well. Tunics were
inner garments, and most people had several. The cloak was an outer garment worn as a robe
during the day and used as a blanket at night. People generally had only one cloak.
1. The Law said that a man’s cloak could be used as a pledge, but it must be returned by nightfall
(Ex 22:26-27). A man’s cloak could not be permanently taken from him.
2. Jesus’ point was that a follower of His does not insist on His rights and privileges inside or
outside of court. Jesus wasn’t setting a rule that you can’t go to court. The New Testament
gives examples where both Jesus and Paul appealed to the Law (John 18:19-23; Acts 16:37).
In each case a law was broken and they protested to uphold the law, and neither one of them was
motivated by anger or demanding their personal rights and revenge.
c. Three, go the extra mile. In the ancient world, people living in countries occupied by a foreign
power (as Israel was) could be compelled to serve soldiers at a moment’s notice, to carry baggage or
provide food and lodging. (Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Luke 23:26).
Jesus’ point is: Don’t do it with bitterness and resentment. Do it well. Do it graciously.
3. Next Jesus said give to those who ask and those who want to borrow. The Law did say lend to the poor
and those who are in need (Deut 15:7-11). The emphasis in the Law is on the giver’s attitude. The
Law said: Show compassion to those in need and be generous with what you have.
a. Jesus wasn’t giving a rule we must follow in this or the preceding statements. He wasn’t saying
that you must give to every person on every corner who is begging for money or foolishly lend
money. He was dealing with our attitudes toward ourselves—the human tendency to be selfish.
b. True righteousness deals with that spirit of self defensiveness that rises up when we’re wronged (a
desire for revenge and retaliation), our attitude to our possessions (this is mine), our tendency not to
help others (do it yourself; this is your own fault, deal with it).
1. Human beings are born with a corruption that inclines us to put self first, above God and above
others. Jesus died to turn us from self toward God and others. Matt 16:24: II Cor 5:15
2. Jesus said: Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants
to be first must be the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but
to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:43-45, NLT).
4. Obeying God’s Law is not just negative—don’t pay people back, don’t seek revenge. Jesus also gave
the positive side. Do what is right: Love your enemies, just like your Father in Heaven does.
a. Matt 5:43-48—You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons
of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain
on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do
not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you
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doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your
heavenly Father is perfect (ESV).
1. The Law does say love your neighbor (Lev 19:18), but it does not say hate your enemies. The
Scribes and Pharisees added that, and then defined a neighbor as a fellow Jew and everyone else
as an enemy. These leaders believed that they were honoring God by despising non-Jews.
2. But Jesus not only told them to love their enemy, He said to pray for those who persecute and
hate you. If you love only your brothers and those who love you, what good is that? Even the
people you consider the lowest of the low (tax collectors and Gentiles) do that.
b. Then Jesus stated why we should love our enemies: so that you may be sons of your Father in
Heaven. The Hebrew language doesn’t use many adjectives. Instead, they used the phrase son of
with a noun. Son of peace means a peaceful man. Son of consolation is a consoling man. A son
of God is a God-like man, a man who reflects God by expressing His character.
1. Jesus said that sons and daughters of God are to love like this because this is how God loves.
This love is not an emotion. It is an action. God sends His rain on the wicked and the good
because He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. Luke 6:35-36
2. You may recall that earlier in His Sermon, just after Jesus finished the Beatitudes, in the context
of letting your light shine (or expressing the Beatitudes), He said: Let your good deeds shine
out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matt 5:16, NLT)
5. Jesus concluded His thought by saying, therefore (or in light of what I am telling you), be perfect just as
your heavenly Father is perfect. The Greek word translated perfect (teleios) is an adjective that comes
from a noun that means an end, a purpose, goal, or aim. Something is perfect (teleios) if it reaches or
realizes the end or purpose for which it was intended or created.
a. Human beings were created in God’s image to be like Him, to image or reflect His moral attributes
(Gen1:26). We were created to love as God loves and forgive as God forgive.
1. Remember that Jesus, through His sacrifice at the Cross, will open the way for God to indwell
men and women by His Spirit. He then empowers us to keep His Law, as He works in us to
restore us to our created purpose as sons and daughters of God who are fully Christ-like.
2. Remember also that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it as we cooperate with
Him and stay faithful to Him. Phil 2:12-13; Phil 1:6; I John 3:2
b. Perfect does not mean no more mistakes. You can be perfect before you are fully Christ-like, or
fully like God in character because motive and intent precede actions (Phil 3:12-15). Remember,
Jesus was exposing the false righteousness practiced by the Pharisees and Scribes. They had
correct outer actions, but their hearts (motives and intents) were far from God.
C. In the next section of His sermon, Jesus still has the Scribes and Pharisees in mind as He deals with why
people do what they do (motives). Jesus will make it clear that true righteousness is living for God’s praise
and approval, not the praise and approval of men.
1. Matt 6:1—Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for
then you will have no reward from you Father who is in heaven (ESV). Jesus used three examples to
illustrate His point: giving to the poor (or giving alms), praying, and fasting.
a. Jesus said don’t be like the hypocrites when they give, pray, or fast. Hypocrite comes from a Greek
word that means actor. A hypocrite seems to be or do something that he is not. Hypocrite is the
number one accusation Jesus made against the Scribes and Pharisees.
b. Matt 6:2-4—Jesus taught the people that when you give to the poor (alms) don’t sound the trumpet
as hypocrites do. They aren’t giving to help the poor. They give to be seen of men. Jesus said
that they have their reward. Men may be impressed by their actions, but God is not.
1. To sound the trumpet meant several things, all with one common theme—making sure that
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people knew you were giving money to the poor. A small band would often travel with the
Pharisees and play as they made their offerings in alms chests in the streets or the synagogue.
2. Alms chests had a hole into which money for the poor was dropped. The hole was wide at one
end and narrow at the other so it resembled a trumpet. If you threw your money in with some
force, it made a noise which drew attention to your giving—you sounded the trumpet.
c. Jesus said “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand gives”, to emphasize the fact that it’s
not about outward appearance, it’s about inner motives—pleasing God, not being seen by men.
2. Matt 6:5-8—In His next example Jesus told His listeners that when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites
who pray to be seen of men. Once again, He had the Pharisees and Scribes in mind.
a. Their prayers were long (three hours) and were prayed at specific times (9am, 12pm, and 3pm).
These leaders made it a point to be in the streets at the hour of prayer so they had to pray in public
and more people would see them. They stood rather than knelt when they prayed because it was
easier for others to see them.
1. Jesus told His audience: When you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your
Father in secret. Jesus wasn’t making a rule about where to pray (a prayer closet). He was
making a point about motives. Don’t pray to be seen of men.
2. Then Jesus told His listeners not to pray as the heathen or Gentiles pray, with empty words.
They think they will be heard if they talk long enough. But Jesus said that you’ll be heard
because you have a Father in Heaven who knows what you need before you ask.
b. Matt 6:9-13—Then Jesus gave them an example of how to pray. This prayer has become a classic
of Christendom, the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father. Jesus gave this example of how to pray to
help them understand true righteous prayer in contrast with the hypocritical righteousness of the
Scribes and Pharisees (more on this prayer next week).
3. Matt 6:16-18 Jesus used fasting as a third illustration of true righteous living. According to the Law of
Moses, the purpose of fasting was to humble oneself before God, or to afflict one’s soul (Lev 23:27).
Jesus said hypocrites fast to be seen of men.
a. Fasting was a major part of the righteousness or righteous acts of the Pharisees. The Law said fast
once a year (Lev 16:31). However, the Pharisees fasted twice a week.
b. Scribal Law (their traditions) forbade anointing or perfuming the head and washing the face on fast
days. The Pharisees took full advantage of this law to make it obvious they were fasting. Jesus
said: Wash your face and put on perfume so that no one but your Father knows that you are fasting.

D. Conclusion: Why are we taking so much time to talk about this? Jesus said that we are to submit to Him
and then learn from Him, and the first thing He said about Himself is: I am meek and humble. Matt 11:29
1. The Sermon on the Mount is the most extensive record we have of what Jesus taught during His three
plus year ministry prior to the Cross. This Sermon is an expression of what someone who is meek and
humble (someone who is Christ-like character) looks like in this world.
a. Jesus, in His humanity expressed all the Beatitudes and He fully and accurately reflected God the
Father’s character to the world around Him. His focus was on pleasing His heavenly Father.
b. The people who heard Jesus deliver the Sermon on the Mount did not yet know it, but Jesus came
into this world, not only to show and tell them how they are supposed to act, but to open the way for
them (and us) to become like Him in His humanity—perfect or complete inside and out.
2. Through studying what Jesus taught we gain understanding about what God wants from us. We’re
motivated to work on our character because, not only is it our duty before God, this is the place of true
happiness. We grow in hope because we realize that the process of becoming fully Christ-like in
character will be completed as we stay faithful to Him. Much more next week!!