January 10, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus Teaches about Purity
Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37(NIV)
21 “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.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Devotional
The Old Testament Law has some clear regulations about things like committing murder, pursuing adultery, getting divorced, and breaking oaths. These were all clearly observable actions for which someone could be punished.
In today’s passages, Jesus takes those outward behaviors and challenges His followers to look deeper within.
Don’t commit murder? Try not being angry with another believer.
Don’t pursue adultery? How about not even looking at someone with lustful thoughts?
Don’t get divorced without proper procedures? Just be committed to your marriage.
Don’t break your oaths? Don’t swear at all.
All these point to inner purity, matters of the heart, which are much more important than constructing our own set of legalistic rules then finding ways to justify ourselves when we step outside of them.
In Matthew 22:37, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” What does this mean when it comes to inner purity? How is the Lord challenging you?
Poem
Purity
Psalm 119: 9-16
Purity
A soul scrubbed clean
A thought rinsed white
A heart bleached in the Son
An attitude full pressed
A word stored in the place of forgiveness
All because of
Seeking
Hiding
Treasuring
Learning
Recounting
Meditating on
Considering
Rejoicing in
And not neglecting
Your cleansing Word
Purity
