Rules for Kingdom Living

Read Matthew 5-7

Those of us that have given our life to Jesus Christ have dual citizenships. We are citizens in the world, and we are citizens in the kingdom of God. In the world there are different countries that are divided into different provinces, states, and municipalities, etc. Each has its own government and culture. Thus, there are different laws and lifestyles in the various parts of the world. The kingdom of God is different from the world. The kingdom of God is ruled by one king, Jesus Christ the Son of God. In the kingdom of God, Jesus is both Savior and Lord. Although there are different church groups that have different polities for their operation, all have the same Lord, and all should be operating from the same set of basic rules and regulations. Where am I going with this?

It is simply this. Those of us that are citizens in the kingdom of God are supposed to be following kingdom rules and standards. These rules and standards are often different from those in the world in which we live. However, as I watch the various news programs and talk shows I sometimes wonder if people in our churches know the difference between their worldly culture and the culture of the kingdom of God. As I watch and listen to sermons and other religious programs I wonder if some of the people make a distinction between their citizenship in the world and their citizenship in the kingdom of God. Do we need to make a distinction? How can we know how to make the distinction?

Generally speaking, Christians believe that the Word of God found in the Holy Bible helps us to know the difference. Throughout the bible the various writers of the books of the bible tell us that God’s thoughts and His ways are different from that of men; the world. The prophet writes the words of the Lord saying, ‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD’” (Isa. 55:8, NASB). When Isaiah writes these words he is writing to Israel, a people that claim to be ruled by God. They are in exile in Babylon because they have failed to obey the Lord their God. God is about to release them from their seventy years of captivity and return them to their homeland. God, through the prophets tell the people what is required and expected of them upon their return to Judah.

In the New Testament we have the written record of Jesus’ earthly ministry recorded in the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each writer writes to a different audience with their own unique situations. Each writer informs his audience of what Jesus says about how they are to live as citizens in the kingdom of God. Each writer tells his audience that the rules and standards in the kingdom of God are different from that of the world in which they live. For the remainder of this article I will focus on the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7, known as the Sermon on the Mountain. Our primary focus will be chapter five.

Matthew writes to a Jewish audience. The Jews have been the Law of God given to them through Moses. After the people return to Judah from their captivity in Babylon various religious groups are formed. Each group wants to help the people to live for God so that they can enjoy God’s blessings instead of suffering the consequences of disobedience to God’s laws that define their standards for living. In the Gospel of Matthew the Sadducees and Pharisees are the two most prominent groups of religious leaders in Israel. Matthew writes to correct the Law as understood by these religious leaders as opposed to the intent of God in the Law.

You would think that the religious leaders would have the welfare of the people foremost in their hearts. However, over the years the religious leaders begin to use the Law to control the people for their own advantages. Are there religious leaders in the United States today that use their positions for their own advantages? Do some pick and choose certain passages of scripture to advance their own causes?

Recently, we are hearing government leaders and politicians quoting scriptures to support their own positions. The attorney general uses Romans 13:1 to support his belief that the government should separate children from their parents if the parents enter into the country undocumented. The scripture that the attorney general uses says, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (NASB). Hillary Clinton and others use the words of Jesus to support their belief that the children should be allowed to come uninhibited, and they should not be separated from their parents. “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’” (Mk. 10:14, NASB). It is the opinion of this writer that both are misusing the scriptures. Is there a difference in what the Pharisees did in rewriting the Law and today’s politicians and religious leaders that cite scripture; quoting them out of context?

As stated above Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mountain shows us that God’s thoughts and ways are different from that of men; especially those who seek to advance their own causes. Let us review three of them. However, first let us review what is taking place when Jesus delivers these teachings.

We begin with Matthew 4:12. Jesus hears that John the Baptist is in custody. He leaves Jerusalem and returns to Galilee. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17, NASB). Jesus begins to call disciples to follow him (vv. 18-22). Jesus goes to the synagogues “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people” (v. 23). The news spreads about Him and “Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordon” (v. 25).

Matthew 5 begins by telling us that Jesus sees the crowds and He begins to teach His disciples as He sat on a mountain. He invites all people to become citizens in the kingdom, and He tells them the advantages and benefits of being a citizen in the kingdom of Heaven (5:1-12). He teaches them how they are to relate to the world. Especially, they are to live in such ways that the world will be able to see that life in the kingdom is different from life in the world (vv.13-15). He tells them that He comes to establish the Law. The teachings of the scribes and Pharisees are not sufficient. The righteousness of citizens in the kingdom must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (vv. 17-20). Now, let us look at the three examples.

The first is murder (v.21). Jesus begins by relating what the scribes and Pharisees are teachings. They look only on the actions that take place and the results of the action. On the other hand, Jesus begins with anger. Anger takes place before the action. The offending party is to make every effort to be reconciled to his fellow citizen (vv. 22-26).

The second example is adultery. Again, Jesus tells what the religious leaders are teaching. However, again, the standards of the Pharisees do not come up to the Laws of God. As before, the Pharisees judge by what they see. God begins by what is in the heart (vv. 27-30).

The third example is “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (v. 38). This teaching allows for justice and revenge. However, Jesus does not agree with this teaching. He tells us to avoid conflict by making peace with the one that we have offended. This teaching is coupled with Jesus’ teaching on love. One should love their enemies just as they love their family and friends. In doing so they are demonstrating God’s love for all people. Jesus says, “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 causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (vv. 44-45).

Further, Jesus says, ‘“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same” (v.46)? “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same” (v. 47)? “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v. 48).

I pray that those of us that belong to Christ will come to understand that the laws and standards in the kingdom of heaven are different from those that govern the world. Jesus calls us not to learn from the world and to take sides with the various groups in the world. Jesus calls for those who are citizens in the kingdom to be salt and light, showing the world that the ways of God are better than the ways of the world. The expectation is that people in the world will come to know God through Jesus Christ, have their sins forgiven, and to be reconciled to the Father.