My subject was
Christ vs a High Moral Code .
The Law of Moses was a fixed standard. It is what the ancients said in connection to God's commands given at Mt. Sinai.
Christ contrasted them with what He says and what He commands.
"You have heard that it was said to the ancients ... BUT ...I say to you ..." (see Matt. 5:22)
"You have heard that it was said ... BUT ... I say to you ..." (v.28)
"And it was said, ... BUT ... I say to you ..." (v.31,32)
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients ... BUT ... you shall ..." (v.33)
The presence of the word
"But" gives me the ground to use the word
verses in
"Christ VERSES a High Moral Code". The contrast is established by the Son of God Himself.
It is crucial to see that
"But I say to you ..." means then, and now, and each moment the Holy Spirit makes a speaking demand on the one who follows Jesus. This is a flexible standard. And obedience to this means you are open to the
SPEAKING of Jesus ...
"But I say to you ..." everyday of your Christian life.
Here's an example -
You have you have your own moral code which perhaps says "Don't Eat Food Before Going to Bed." That is like a law. That is very much like one of the commandments given by God to the ancients. Anyway it is a high moral code of your own making.
But you have receive the Lord Jesus into your heart. He is alive, mysterious no doubt, but alive in resurrection and AVAILABLE. And perhaps the Spirit of Christ within your heart will not say "You Shall Not Eat a Heavy Meal Before Going to Bed".
Rather the Holy Spirit, as your are walking, may whisper to you about your FEET -
"Do not go near the kitchen."
The former is a high standard about what to eat at what time.
The latter may be what JESUS said to you in an instant, in a moment as you were walking near to kitchen late at night.
Obedience to this minute prompting of the Holy Spirit leads to greater life power.
I think every act of obedience to Christ the life giving Spirit results in greater living power and deeper grace.