Matthew 05: Kingdom Living 101

What does it look like to truly live as citizens of God's kingdom? In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus delivers what many consider the most influential sermon in history, challenging our understanding of righteousness, relationships, and what it means to follow Him.

Kingdom Living 101 takes us through the revolutionary teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus systematically dismantles surface-level religion and reveals the heart transformation God desires. The beatitudes kickstart this paradigm shift by blessing those the world considers unfortunate—the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the persecuted. Rather than contradicting our understanding, Jesus reveals that what looks upside-down to us is actually right-side up in God's kingdom.

As salt and light, believers are called to enhance what's good in creation and shine God's goodness without seeking personal recognition. Jesus then tackles misinterpretations of God's law with his famous "You have heard it said... but I say to you" statements. Murder begins with anger. Adultery starts with lust. Loving only those who love you misses the point entirely. Throughout the passage, the consistent theme emerges: God cares more about heart posture than religious performance.

This chapter leaves us with a profound question to consider: Where is your heart posture before God right now? Whether you're in a season of thankfulness, fear, or spiritual jadedness, Jesus invites you to bring your heart before Him—not for condemnation, but for transformation. Join us as we explore how kingdom living starts with allowing the King to rule within.

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The More We Dig. The More We Find.

Chapters

• 0:48 Welcome to Kingdom Living 101
• 2:34 The Beatitudes: Kingdom Values
• 5:59 Salt and Light in the World
• 7:57 Jesus Fulfills the Law
• 10:31 Anger, Lust and Relationships
• 14:21 Love Your Enemies
• 17:55 Checking Your Heart Posture

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Well, hello everybody. Welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, Pastor Brandon, Today, Matthew, chapter 5. And today's title is Kingdom Living 101. Kingdom Living 101. And I want to tell you there is no one better, of course, to talk to about what it is to live in the kingdom of God than the king himself. Right, that's what we're going to talk about today. We're going to talk about how Jesus said we are to live in his kingdom in such a way that we can experience all the goodness that God has for us, and so we're going to jump right into that. So, if you have your Bibles and want to open up with me to Matthew chapter five while you're doing that, as always, if you're new around here, I want you to take just a moment to like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure to leave us a five-star review on the podcast and make sure you're going to the Bible Breakdown discussion. I'm going to tell you, in chapters like this, there is way too much for us to cover in one podcast, and so if you want to know more about God's Word and all the different things that's going on, make sure you go to the Bible Breakdown podcast so you can get even more information about God's work. Because, as always, the more we dig the more we find.

Speaker 1: 1:35

Well, if you've been with us over the past couple of days, we've been really digging into this idea that Matthew is all about King Jesus. And he really started off from chapter 1, just really kind of blowing us away at the very beginning. And he's saying listen, I've got receipts, I can prove to you that Jesus is who he says he is and he is the rightful earthly king. But then chapter 2 through 28, he just says but he is so much more than that and he walks through this idea about how Jesus is everything. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords and he has been building that case. And then today he is going to take even another step.

Speaker 1: 2:17

And here's the thing, Before we jump into this, chapter 5, 6, and 7 are some of the most popular pieces of literature, If I can say it like that. I was trying to find a better way, but I really can't. Pieces of literature in all of history. Like I have heard of secular universities teaching 5, 6, and 7 of Matthew and they don't even believe in God, but they cannot deny the wisdom that is here, which is weird to me. But you can't deny the wisdom that is here that when you give yourself to the kingdom of God, something amazing happens and you can really see this as Jesus going a step deeper and a step deeper. It's almost as if in chapter five he's talking about how to relate to the overall world, Chapter six is how to relate to God, and then chapter 7 is how to relate, within the kingdom of God, to one another. And there's just so much good stuff here, and so we're going to jump into this and we're going to read what is the longest sermon recorded in the four Gospels from Jesus. So if you're ready, here we go Matthew 5, verse 1. We'll stop along the way. God's Word says this.

Speaker 1: 3:30

One day, as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him and he began to teach them. Now pause once again. Now, because there were no sound systems back in the day, there would have been a very practical reason for him to get on a mountainside, because when he would speak it would echo, and that's how you could have thousands of people able to hear the words of Jesus. And this is what he said.

Speaker 1: 3:56

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, but they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you. Because you are my followers. Be happy about it, yes, be very glad for the great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Now pause.

Speaker 1: 4:59

So what he has been doing is he has been taking what we would consider to be maybe more of our earthly ideas about getting ahead and making sure that we make a name for ourself and all that stuff, and he is turning it over on its head and he is saying actually, in the kingdom of heaven it looks like it's upside down, but really it's our world that's upside down. The right way to look at it is when you give yourself for the kingdom of heaven. And so he's really taking the upside down world and turning it right side up so we can see him more clearly. And he's saying the more you give yourself to the kingdom of God, it's going to look like you're doing it the wrong way. You're actually doing it the right way. So here we go. Now he's talking about how we relate to the overall world.

Speaker 1: 5:41

Verse 13, he says you are salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it loses its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Now pause. Do you know what salt is used for? Salt is used to enhance the flavor of things, and so what he is actually saying is you are salt of the earth. In other words, you are intended to enhance the flavor of all that is good in the world. The things that are in the world have been corrupted by sin, but the natural intent of them are good. And so he is saying that the people of God should be the ones that are living the best. Not necessarily they have the most, but they're living with the most joy, living with the most peace, living with the most just sense of everything's going to be okay, and that's infectious to the rest of the world.

Speaker 1: 6:32

Verse 14, you are the light of the world. A city on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house In the same way. Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father. Now pause again. Now does this seem contradictory? Because there are other places when he says do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing? No, it's not contradictory, because he's saying we're not doing good deeds in order to get attention for ourself. We're doing good deeds as a way to show people that God is good. And so, once again, he's talking about it's all having to do with the intent of the heart. If you are doing something so that someone else will bring praise to you, then it's for the wrong reason. But if you're doing good deeds in order to show the glory of God, that's for the right reason, All right.

Speaker 1: 7:29

He keeps on going even further. He says this in verse 17, and this is a massive verse. Right here he says don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's word will disappear, until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But if anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them, they will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Laws and teaches them, they will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. But I warn you, unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Speaker 1: 8:22

Now that seems a little weird right there, because later on in Paul and different ones, they're talking about how we don't live according to the law of Moses, but according to the law of Moses, but according to the law of grace or the law of Christ. So what is he saying? He is saying he did not come to throw away the law, as if it had no intention. He's saying I came to complete it Because, if you remember, when we were reading back in the book of Romans, he talks about how. In chapter 1, it talks about how we walked away from God, and in chapter 2, God gave the law to show us how far from perfection we had fallen. And in chapter 3 was when God had to do something about it because we couldn't. And so what Jesus is saying is that you could not fulfill the law by yourself, and so I came to fulfill it. So, in other words, without the law, we wouldn't know what Jesus was fulfilling. And so he is saying I am fulfilling the law.

Speaker 1: 9:16

And he is also talking about the righteousness of the Pharisees. What they had done is they had taken the law and instead of fulfilling it by being right because they couldn't, they added to it. So it would be such as they would say well, if we shouldn't work on the Sabbath, then you shouldn't walk more than a quarter of a mile on the Sabbath, Because their idea was we want to get as far away as we can from violating the Sabbath. Well, unintentionally, what they did was they created too much. And so what he is saying is you've got to get back to the essence of the law. And that's what he's going to say right now. After this, he's going to start teaching about the intention of the law. He's going to say you have heard it said. In other words, they have added more to the law than what you thought. But actually I want you to get back to the heart posture. So watch what he does now.

Speaker 1: 10:07

Verse 21,. You have heard that our ancestors were told. So, in other words, this isn't written in the Bible, but they added to it you must not murder, which is good, and if you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say to you, in other words, he's saying the intention of the law was that if you were even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment, and if you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if someone curses someone and if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell. In other words, he's saying it wasn't about what you did as much as it was about your heart, Verse 23,.

Speaker 1: 10:41

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar, Go and be reconciled to that person and then come and offer your sacrifice to God and when you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly, Otherwise your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will then hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely will not be free again until you have paid the last penny. So, in other words, what he just did was is he's correcting what had been perverted by the teachers of the law when they were saying that you shouldn't go commit adultery or, excuse me, you shouldn't go commit murder. Adultery is coming next and he's saying yes, that's true, but the intent was, is to be careful with what goes on the inside. You notice what he's, so you get it. He's trying to get it back to that.

Speaker 1: 11:38

The law was intended to correct what was on the inside first, not just a form of godliness. All right, verse 27,. He said you have heard the command that says you must not commit adultery, but I say anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye, even your good eye, causes you to lust, 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 hand, even your stronger hand, causes Now pause again.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Now Jesus did something, a lot in order to catch the attention of his audience, and that is, he would use this thing called hyperbole, and hyperbole is when you overstate something in order to make a point. Jesus is doing this right here, because to literally do this would be to contradict other parts of the law. He's not doing that. What he is saying is go to extreme measures to protect your heart, Go to extreme measures to protect your holiness. He's not literally saying gouge out your eye, but he's saying you should work very, very hard to do the right thing. All right, verse 31.

Speaker 1: 12:58

You have heard that the law says a man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce. But I say that a man who divorces his wife unless she has been unfaithful causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman is also committing adultery. So once again, Jesus is saying it's not about the form, it's about what's inside our hearts. Verse 33, you have also heard that our ancestors were told you must not break your vows. You must carry out the vows you make to the Lord. But I say to you, do not make any vows. Do not say by heaven, because heaven is God's throne. Do not say by the earth, because the earth is his footstool. And do not say by Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is the city of the great king. Do not even say by my head, for you cannot turn one hair, white or black. Just say a simple yes I will or no, I want. Anything beyond this is from the evil one. In other words, just be honest. Once again, Jesus is constantly talking about the position of our heart.

Speaker 1: 14:05

Verse 38, you have heard the law says that the punishment must match the injury An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear one mile. Carry it two miles. Give to those who ask and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.

Speaker 1: 14:35

You have heard that the law says love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say love your enemies, Pray for those who persecute you, and that way you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven, For he gives his sunlight to both evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind to only your friends, how are you different than anyone else? Even pagans do that, but you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect In pagans. Do that, but you are to be perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect, In other words, holy. Now there's a lot there that we could cover and we could continue to go further and further and further into this. That's why you've got to go to the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook so we can really dig even further.

Speaker 1: 15:28

But as we look at this as almost like Jesus, level one for living in the kingdom of God. Notice what he kept saying over and over again. He's saying there was this form of godliness, but I'm calling you to a heart posture. The first few verses of blessed is he who does this, and God blesses those who does that. It was all about a proper heart posture before God when he was talking about being salt and light in the world. It was about having a proper heart posture, and one of the number one things that God is interested in is making sure our heart is right before him.

Speaker 1: 16:04

So there's my question for us to think about today, and that is this where's your heart posture before God? There's possibly any number of places you may find yourself. You could, number one, be in a great place. Maybe you just are constantly thinking about the goodness of God and what he has done in your life and you find yourself just thankful in a season of thankfulness, and if so, man, enjoy it. Stay there as long as you can.

Speaker 1: 16:28

Maybe your heart posture is one of fear. You're afraid of what's going on because of uncertainty all around you. Maybe you're in a situation where you're jaded. Maybe you've been doing life with God for a while, and you've been doing life with God's people for a while and you've just gotten weary of just people not being perfect. Everyone's in a different growth rate in their walk with God. Maybe he's been around some folks. It's just been hard.

Speaker 1: 16:55

And I wonder if the first thing that God calls us to and he calls us close to himself is to check our hearts and just to say, hey, are you walking in a place where you're living a form of godliness or a heart posture? That's a hard question to ask, but it's a beautiful question to ask because, remember, every time we go to God and we ask God to search us, it's not so that we can find out if we're in trouble, but it's so we can get closer to him, because God wants to remove anything that would keep us from being closer and closer to where he is. So I want to pray for us that God will do that and then just give him permission to bring us closer into his presence. Can we do that right now?

Speaker 1: 17:31

Father, thank you so much for today. Thank you that you are with us and that you're for us. Thank you, Jesus, for your word that in Matthew 5, you talk about how you came to fulfill the law. You came to do what the law couldn't do and that is set us free. And, Lord, as we walk through this life, so many times it's easy to to lose perspective. It's easy to lose that simple joy of knowing you.

Speaker 1: 17:56

I pray today, God. If we've gotten our hearts off base on one way or another, the Holy Spirit, you'll open our eyes to see and you'll help us to course correct and get back center aligned with you. I Lord, that our love for you will overflow until we love those around us as well. We're thankful for your goodness, we're thankful for your mercy, we're thankful for your forgiveness. In Jesus' name, we pray amen and amen. Well, God's word says in Matthew 28, verse 19,. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. My prayer is that you will become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ, more every day. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Matthew, chapter 6.