Upside Down and Right Side Up Part 3: From Salt to Light, The Law to Kingdom Life

Unlock the profound wisdom of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount with us as we explore how being the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" can transform your life and those around you. Ever wondered how your daily actions can season the world with truth and grace? Join our journey to discover how embodying Christ's righteousness not only preserves but also invigorates your surroundings, making you a beacon of hope and guidance in a world craving authenticity and light.

Moving beyond surface-level adherence, we also reflect on Jesus’ mission to fulfill, not just follow the law, highlighting the essential heart change required for true righteousness. Listen as we challenge the notion of legalistic righteousness and emphasize the power of humility and repentance in aligning oneself with the deeper purposes of God's kingdom.  Through these conversations, we aim to inspire a life led by the Spirit, fostering hope, and encouraging transformative change within ourselves and our communities.

Chapters

• 0:00 Jesus' Teachings
• 8:41 Fulfilling the Law
• 22:10 The Impact of Divorce on Families

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the Hopeful Perspective Podcast. I am your host, jason Hopkins. This podcast is designed to give you a perspective of hope that impacts your daily life in an authentic and tangible way. I have utilized the first six episodes of this podcast to share my own personal life story, which illustrates God's glory. Through experiences overcoming child abuse and trauma, 26 foster homes and institutions, various diagnoses affecting me throughout my life and an eventual brain tumor resulting in multiple brain surgeries on my brain stem, I have moved from merely being a surviving victim to a faithful and thriving victor who the Lord has motivated to help others discover hope. Though my past was full of pain and suffering, I have been restored with purpose and sanctification. I have been redeemed and called to follow Christ within that redemption and renewed perspective, and I now want to help you, too, to have a biblical and hopeful perspective as you approach differing situations in your own life, from the delightful to the difficult and everything in between. I want to personally thank you for listening and, if you have done so, taking the time to download our episodes, as when you download along with rating our podcast with an ever so honest response, you help the algorithm immensely to spread our reach. That said, our stats demonstrate that while thousands listen and stream the hopeful perspective, less than 10% actually download our episodes. Please consider bridging the gap. To help broaden that reach for us, we have also provided a few options to contact our show with your direct feedback, as well as to support the podcast financially. If you are called to partner with us in bringing hope to a hurting world, just click the embedded links found on any episode you are downloading on your podcast platform.

Speaker 1: 2:05

Before we get started today, I want to compel you to grab your favorite snack, hot or cold beverage. Get comfortable and come on this journey with me as we continue our series Upside Down, right Side Up, examining Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. In last week's episode, we discussed the beginning of Jesus' sermon and his dispensing of the eight Beatitudes, or special blessings. We dove into what each of the Beatitudes was defined as in Jesus' day, as well as how they impact believers in the day in which we live. We talked about how Jesus introduced to his followers the profound concept of the kingdom of heaven and how the Beatitudes served as not only blessings but also a measurement of sorts of the people who would be eligible, under Christ, to enter the kingdom. Today we continue into the sermon and explore Jesus' teaching from Matthew 5, verses 13 through 32.

Speaker 1: 3:12

Following Jesus' conclusion on teaching the Beatitudes, he continues his teaching in verse 13. He says this you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house In the same way. Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Speaker 1: 3:56

Jesus used the concepts of salt and light numerous times in referring to the purpose and character of his disciples. For deeper understanding and application, we need to realize that salt had two primary purposes. In the first century, due to the desert environment and the lack of refrigeration, salt was utilized to prevent the spoilage of foods such as meat. Likewise, his followers were to serve as a preserver of truth, grace and all things pointing to the righteousness of Christ to a world that is Romans 8.8 declares that those who live in the flesh cannot please God. And we also read in Romans that all fall short of the glory of God and that we, as believers bear the truth and glory of God in us to share with this fallen world. Second, salt was used then and now, as a food seasoner. Just as salt enhances the flavor of the food it seasons, we are called, as believers, to influence the world we live in for the glory of God, be it our family, our school, as a youth, our work life, our community, our churches, our sports teams, our civic responsibilities, whatever realm we are involved in, we are to bring the spice of life, the salt of the earth.

Speaker 1: 5:22

At the beginning of the verse, jesus poses the question that if salt loses the saltiness, how can it be made salty again? We see in Mark 9 50 suggesting that saltiness can be lost specifically through a lack of peace with one another. And in Luke 14, 34 and 35, we find a reference to the metaphor of salt once again, this time in the context of obedient discipleship to Jesus Christ. When we fail to daily count the cost in following Christ or to prioritize daily communion with our Savior, we can indeed lose our effectiveness and seasonality as disciples. This underscores the importance of not only recognizing our significant influence in the world around us, yet also reemphasizes the reason the daily devotion in the Word, in prayer, in worship and communion with our Savior is so significant.

Speaker 1: 6:20

Before we conclude this section of Jesus' teaching, I want us to return to the title of our series Upside Down and Right Side Up. I entitled the series this way for a number of reasons Logic that is layered with theology and world play. Part of this is the seemingly paradoxical nature of Jesus' teachings all throughout the gospel, and I'm curious if you have noticed any to this point. Perhaps I am doing some linguistic calisthenics, but I'm not so sure. So I'm curious. Your thoughts?

Speaker 1: 6:56

Last week we learned how Jesus is the living water that quenches spiritual thirst for all eternity. This week we're discussing how we are the salt of the earth and that we are to remain salty in order to remain effective. So is it paradoxical or is it that if we fulfill our role as disciples, living as salt, that is, seizing our fallen world to a point that they thirst for the source of living water that can quench it? Jesus also said that we are the light of the world, and this analogy is comparable to being the salt of the earth. Whereas we aren't aware of our future hopes, plans and aspirations, we know that Jesus is Given the fact that Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. We now bear his light when we operate in any of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, that is, his wisdom, understanding, his counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety or fear. That is respect to the Lord, and we demonstrate any of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control. When we demonstrate any of these things to the world around us, when they expect much of the opposite, we are showing them Christ. We serve as a light to the lost ships battling the dark and raging seas who need this light of Christ within us to direct them to a safe harbor. We are the light of the world and, as Christ directed us, it should not be hidden.

Speaker 1: 8:41

We then reach a part of the teaching where Jesus says Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I tell you that until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, for I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Speaker 1: 9:32

Jesus says he came to fulfill the law and the prophets, a traditional phrase that refers to the Old Testament, or what his early disciples would have known as their Bible, the Hebrew Bible. What his early disciples would have known as their Bible, the Hebrew Bible, was Jesus referring to simple obedience to the 613 commands found in the Old Testament law? Further context depicts that Jesus came to fulfill the law or to make it full, which refers to something much more profound than mere obedience. The law and the prophets tell a story about how God desired to heal all of his creation through a people group as we know, the Jewish people, culminating into one person, the Messiah. Jesus asserts that he has come to make the Law full by becoming that one person. To make the law full by becoming that one person. We also must recognize that Jesus is referencing the Hebrew scriptures throughout his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. All of his teachings and instruction is in accordance with their understanding of the law and the prophets, as is his reference here about what it means to attain righteousness as a matter of fact.

Speaker 1: 10:45

The next section of teaching is Jesus demonstrating how the mission of the kingdom of heaven is about making full the true mission of the law and the prophets. He underscores the importance of this mission and how it will be accomplished, and anyone who minimizes the least of the commands of the mission will be considered least in the kingdom. And in verse 20, jesus serves up an additional measuring stick for his disciples to consider Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Enter the kingdom of heaven, hopeful family. Once again, I encourage us always to consider the context when we read the scriptures.

Speaker 1: 11:31

Was our Lord contradicting what we read about the gospel and other scriptures, like in Galatians, where it talks about grace being part of the gospel. Do we inherit the kingdom of heaven on works-based righteousness, after all? The answer to this is clearly not. Jesus was establishing the standard and measurement and demonstrating that we are unable, upon our own, to attain the level of righteousness that is needed to enter the kingdom of heaven, as we cannot merit justification by our own works. Our righteousness indeed exceeds that of the Pharisees when we humbly admit our transgressions and confess our sins, when we recognize that we are in need of a Savior and when we confess that he is the only one capable of taking on our filthy rags and making them clean, thus becoming our righteousness. Jesus Christ of Nazareth fulfilled the law and the prophets, becoming the prophesied one sent from the Father to cleanse and restore humanity. Whereas the pride and the hardened hearts of the Pharisees prevented them from seeing this, the humble hearts of his disciples and followers enabled them to surpass their righteousness that they so esteemed. Jesus, then, would go on in verse 21.

Speaker 1: 13:06

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 Again. Anyone who says to a brother or sister, raka, is answerable to the court, and anyone who says, you, fool, will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and therefore remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar First. Go and be reconciled to them. Then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who has taken 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. Truly, I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Speaker 1: 14:06

Following Jesus' instruction regarding the law and the prophets, he then begins a series of teachings referencing the Hebrew scriptures, wherein Jesus utilizes the teaching that was well known and then establishes his authority by unpacking the deeper meaning of each teaching as they pertain to the kingdom of heaven. The first of these is as follows he says that you've heard that it was said to the people long ago you shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. And then he goes on and says anyone who says to a brother or sister raka. Now raka was a derogatory term that was used by Jewish religious leaders towards anybody they thought was unworthy of their respect. Now, raka was a derogatory term that was used by Jewish religious leaders towards anybody they thought was unworthy of their respect. We know that Jesus is establishing the true mark of what it means to attain righteousness. As we reviewed before, the Pharisees and teachers of the law looked to what could be measured from the outside and held people accountable accordingly. Jesus applied these well-known precepts and turned them on their head, declaring you've heard it said that to do something as severe as murder garners judgment, but I tell you, you see, these four words established his authority congruent with the power of the written word that they knew.

Speaker 1: 15:28

While the religious leaders were concerned with outward behavior like don't murder, jesus is making it clear that the real standard is a matter of the heart. Have you murdered in your heart? Because if you have so much as had anger in your heart towards your brother or sister, then you indeed have. Then he says in the next few verses therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and therefore remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar and be reconciled to them, and then he uses the case about court, and whatever is owed against you will be held accountable.

Speaker 1: 16:08

We are reminded in verses 23 and 24 that sacrifice without mercy is empty. When we come to the altar and we have unresolved anger in our hearts, then we essentially nullify the message of the kingdom of heaven. Then we essentially nullify the message of the kingdom of heaven. We are to have both the priority and the urgency of reconciliation and forgiveness as it pertains to our brothers and sisters. How often, though, do we feel justified within our unresolved anger? We cannot forget the equation that we're dealing with friends in the economy of the kingdom. While we may feel that someone deserves our wrath, that they've harmed us so severely and should pay for what they have done, we must remember that God was justified in his anger against us and we deserved his full wrath. Instead, though, he sent Jesus to die for us and to atone for our sin and shortcomings, and it's only through Jesus that we can be seen as righteousness and be accepted by God. Now we are called to show this same mercy to others and to offer them reconciliation. Our worship and reverence for the Lord is lacking and incomplete when we withhold mercy, forgiveness or reconciliation.

Speaker 1: 17:38

Jesus then moves on to the next section. In verses 27, 28, 29, and 30, he says you have heard that it was said you shall not commit adultery, but I tell you that anybody who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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. You see, just as in the scenario with murder and the law, with anger being the matter of the heart, jesus takes his followers back to the law. Of course, they would have heard and believed adultery to be immoral and sinful. Yet again, jesus was establishing the heart of the matter, and he informs his listeners that if they look at a woman with lust, then they are guilty of adultery and thus subject to judgment accordingly.

Speaker 1: 18:46

There are a few points to be made in Jesus' teaching. First, jesus makes clear that adultery is not limited to those who are married. The Greek language is constructed such that anyone and everyone who might look upon a person with lust is guilty as such, such that anyone and everyone who might look upon a person with lust is guilty as such. To look upon another being with the purpose of lusting for them constitutes adultery. Second, adultery is not confined to the physical act. Jesus specifically identifies the look as sufficient grounds to be assigned guilt. There is no mention of premeditated action such as flirtation or physical contact. The look alone makes the adultery. Yet Jesus is very specific regarding this look.

Speaker 1: 19:31

This leads to the third point. The construction in the Greek language here comes out as anyone who looks upon a woman for the purpose of desiring her. It is necessary that we arrange the order of events correctly in its meaning to extract what Jesus is saying. He does not mean that a man sees a woman and then subsequently has impure thoughts towards her, though we need to note that this temptation also occurs and requires as much spiritual warfare and repentance as well. The look Jesus is referring to is a purposeful look, to look with lust.

Speaker 1: 20:10

Jesus then utilizes an extreme form of hyperbole in verses 29 and 30, which tend to be some of the most confusing and controversial verses in the New Testament. Jesus instructs us to gouge out our eye or cut off our hand if they cause us to sin, as it is better to lose a part of our body than to lose our whole self to hell or eternal separation from God. As in our need to explore context, clearly, we must view this passage through an accurate hermeneutical lens. What is it that Jesus is trying to teach us? As somebody who has had his own personal issues battling porn addiction in the past, am I recording this episode with only one eye or one hand? Of course not. The truth is, friends, jesus was having us explore the heart of the matter, just as he did so in his illustration with murder and anger.

Speaker 1: 21:07

Do my eyes actually cause me to sin or does my deceitful heart cause me to sin? You see, I need a heart change in order to see things differently, to look at women with respect respect they deserve, and not as objects to be desired. My eyes can certainly be tools that serve to tempt me, certainly, but my heart and mind contain the tools that determine the course that sets the direction and the course that my eyes will go. I have had moments where I have seen a woman I thought was extremely beautiful and could have been tempted to cross a line and chose to remain in the bounds of having edifying, god-glorifying thoughts about her. And I have had fleshly moments where I have had to repent for my mind taken but my eyes saw to a place it should not have gone. Yet this whole mechanism was impossible without the work of the Spirit that was put in place once I accepted Him into my life and he gave me a new heart.

Speaker 1: 22:10

This is what we are to do with verses 29 and 30. We are to take out what causes us to sin our heart of flesh and to be replaced with one led by the Spirit, and then we are to take every thought captive that comes against the knowledge of God and friends. This can be a lifelong journey for any one of us. And then Jesus tells us in verses 31 and 32, it has been said that anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce, 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. Jesus begins the teaching here with, it has been said, referencing the Hebrew scriptures again, and then he raises the standard for getting a divorce to exceed what was permitted legalistically and indicates that marriage ought to be considered the most distinguished and sacred of covenant bonds or unions. Though God allows it in specific circumstances, it does not equate with him preferring it or approving of it, and it's not to be utilized as a loophole, as it was being done in the culture of that day. Jesus also points out that sin of divorcing one's spouse outside of the realm of adultery is not a victimless action. Certain sins affect other people in our lives with severe consequences, and divorce is certainly one of these sins. The nuances of the Greek language makes it clear that the other spouse is a victim in this case, and if you are a child of divorce, you can attest to the fact that this sin and its fallout has a significant impact upon you as well.

Speaker 1: 24:04

Sin and its fallout has a significant impact upon you as well. The original design for the family is for the husband and wife to be united for their lifetime, for better and for worse, and for them to lay the foundation of their home upon the love of God and on his word for the growth, edification and maturation of the entire family. When this is disrupted by sin, then each member is made susceptible to the brokenness, trauma and destruction that the enemy of our souls utilizes to hold us down. I have spent hours in both my own personal counseling office working through the attachment issues that I have dealt with as a result of my own family trauma, as well as, later in life, doing pastoral counseling with the victims of divorce, be them the spouses or the children. The generational trauma. Scripture also refers to these as generational curses, you might have read, and the lifelong effects are significant. These are the effects of sins of this nature.

Speaker 1: 25:08

Jesus, as in the rest of his teachings and claims, is holding his followers accountable to living out the heart and kingdom of God over the legality and the law. We will always know and live out that love protects, whereas living legalistically tends to choke our life away. Now, regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, you are listening to the Sermon on the Mount today, jesus' teachings on the kingdom of heaven and fulfilling the law and the prophets and what it means to be the Messiah by the design and the divine hand of God and with him. I believe there is no mistake. I pray that, as you are listening, you are not just undergoing mere information transference, but rather you are sensing the Spirit talking directly to you Because, friends, in my experience, the Holy Spirit is deeply personal and with Him there are no accidents, incidents, coincidences or instances where he is not weaving His redemptive work in your life. Rather, as we are joined together right now on a podcast, as Jesus declared 2,000 years ago from his hillside sermon, we have an opportunity to join the kingdom of heaven. We have reason to have significant hope in our lives right now. Perhaps you are sensing the Spirit moving you toward him, and I would be remiss if we left our time today without providing this opportunity for you to respond, and I want to pray for you right now. So, for all of you listening, I want you and your spirit to either agree with this prayer and lift those up praying for the first time to the Lord to be blessed and to be drawn to Him.

Speaker 1: 27:05

Lord, to be blessed and to be drawn to him. Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins and I surrender my life to you. Wash me and cleanse me from all unforgiveness and pride. I believe that you are the Messiah that came to fulfill the law and the prophets. You are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and you rose again on the third day for my victory. I believe it in my heart and make confession with my mouth that you, jesus, are my Lord and my Savior and that the kingdom of heaven is forever. I want to live my life according to your terms and I want you to change my reliance on myself and in any earthly vessels. I have placed hope and instead I want to trust your plan and ask for you to put the people and the processes and models to pursue restoration into my life.

Speaker 1: 27:49

I ask for you to reveal to me where I have neglected the needs of those who are broken around me, where I have become indifferent, incapable or have been unable to prioritize those around me who need to feel the hope of Christ. Make me sensitive towards them. Show me where I am called to be a part of your mission, and I entrust myself to your equipping and sending, as you will. Thank you for being a God of mercy, a God of healing and a God of truth, a God of hope. Might I become a beacon of hope to the hurting. May I be one who shows and shares eternal life with those on their way to spiritual death. Make me your salt, help me to be your light, show me your ways, lord. Give us the spiritual eyes to see on earth as it is in heaven, and may your priorities begin to reflect your heart and your kingdom.

Speaker 1: 28:47

Jesus, it's in your name that I pray, and today I also just want to offer up a special prayer, lord, for those who have been victims of divorce or those who've gone through the pain of divorce, that any shame that is associated, lord, would be lifted. Today, in your name, father, we have all fallen short of your glory and God. I just pray now that we would be returned to your redemption, god, and that we would be lifted from the vices of the enemy who seeks to hold us down, and that instead, we would know that we are under your blood. We profess this all right now in the name of your Son, jesus of Nazareth, the one and true Messiah. Amen.

Speaker 1: 29:34

If you today agree with this prayer from the depths of your heart, I either welcome you to the eternal family of God or I commend you in your return to the faith. I want to encourage you to find a church faith family who worships the Lord passionately, is committed to the teaching and preaching of the scriptures and is committed to serving your community and beyond. Also devote yourself to the reading of the scriptures, as there is so much to grow, learn and be discipled in as it pertains to new life and maturity in Christ. The Lord has so much in the way of hope to show His children in His love letters that he has written to them. Hopeful family. This has been my pleasure to spend the morning, afternoon or evening growing and learning with you.

Speaker 1: 30:24

I look forward to tuning in next time on the Hopeful Perspective podcast, where we will continue unpacking the beauty and truth of the Sermon on the Mount. Until then, I want to thank you for joining me along this journey, allowing me to share from my heart today and if you would be so kindly as to follow, subscribe and, most importantly, rate and write a review for others on your platform who may need the hopeful perspective in their life, did you know that you could contribute monetarily by pressing our support to show link that is embedded on your platform in the episode descriptions? If you believe in what we do. I would cherish your prayers as well as consider giving to the cause. I want to shout out my gratitude to the multiple new donors who already have made this commitment to support the podcast financially. Without you, it would not be possible to reach as many people with the messages we do or anyone who needs to be reminded that hope is real. So thank you so much in advance and until next time. Remember you are loved.