SEMESTER 5
271 – The Offended Member – Hand? Eye? Heart?
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY V LESSON # 71
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(THE OFFENDING MEMBER – HAND? EYE? HEART?)
Read: Mat. 5:27-30
INTRODUCTION:
1. A most common religious error is to see the act of sin, and not the state of the soul.
2. Man looks upon the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. (I Sam. 16.7)
III: By giving a man with cancer more food to compensate for his weight loss.
3. In this part of the sermon, our Lord deals with the source as opposed to the symptom.
III: Human misunderstanding by: it is alright to look if you do not touch.
I. THE PURE AND SIMPLE PREMISE OF THE LAW (VERSE 27)
1. Adultery is infidelity to another in the act of sexual conduct.
2. Either fornication or adultery is always sin against God.
III: By David: “Against thee only have I sinned.”
3. There was nothing improper about the positive side of their traditional view of this law.
II. THE UNSEEN HEART PROBLEM BEHIND THE ACT (VERSE 28)
1. The Lord’s statement is not correction, or enlargement, but exposition.
2. It is not legal instruction (new or old) not to look at women.
III: Would this problem be solved by always keeping your eyes closed?
3. The problem is not just the act of adultery which one may commit.
4. Nor yet, the lust one may feel when he looks on a woman.
III:In the case of David, these were just effects.
5. The problem was that which was in the heart when the temptation came.
III:Satan cometh and findeth nothing in me.
III. THE WORTHLESSNESS OF EXTERNAL CURES (VERSES 29-30)
1. Human philosophy is, “If I can reform – quit – start, all will be well.”
2. If I could remove the tempter from near me, or the weak member from within.
III:By the Irishman with brave heart, but cowardly feet.
3. Is the right hand which smites your neighbor the problem? Cut it off!
4. Is the right eye which looks at his wife the problem? Pluck it out!
5. These things are not worth going to hell for, but are they the offenders?
6. No, it is that deceitful and wicked heart, your affections, your nature. (Jer. 9:23-26)
7. Can the leopard change his spots, or the Ethiopian his skin?
IV. THE TEACHING IS THE HOPELESSNESS OF SELF-JUSTIFICATION
1. The person of Luke 18:9 will always go away unjustified. (Luke 18:9-14)
2. Restrain your actions? Yes! Rebuke yourself for feeling inordinate lusts? Yes!
3. But know these things are symptoms, not the problem, thus, you cannot help yourself.
4. But we can turn to Christ, even as the publican, and He will abundantly pardon.
Conclusion: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Mat. 5:6)