The American Wisdom Series

Presents

Matthew #2509

 Did you know that Christ was divorced?

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and teach the Word of God, then you better have your heart set in the right place and possess those Beatitudes Christ outlined in the first part of the 5th chapter of Matthew. Do you remember what Christ told His disciples, which means He told you if you are a student of His Word (remember "disciple" means "learner" or one who is disciplined in the Word), in Matthew 5:20? "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Understand that there is one thing our Father greatly detests and that is someone who leads His children astray from His Word, which is what Satan did to a third of God's children (Rev. 12:4) in "the world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6) and for which he received the death sentence to perish by fire (Ezek. 28:18), in the lake of fire. Make no mistake about it, teaching God's Word, or should we say pretending to be a teacher of God's Word, is a very serious matter, even a life and death matter concerning the very souls of our brothers and sisters, i.e. their eternal salvation.

You "see", Christianity is not a religion nor a church system of ritual worship and ceremonies where you are supposed to do this good work and perform that good deed to be in good standing and then told that those things are pleasing to God and accounted as righteousness. Have you not read what Christ said concerning those who call themselves Christians and who say "Lord, Lord" and have done "good works", how that they shall not all enter into the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

We will cover this in more detail a few chapters hence in Mat. 7:21-29, because just like the scribes and Pharisees, many preachers and ministers have their people follow after a whole bunch of do's and don'ts, traditions of men, which they impose on the people as religious duty. Meanwhile, though most teach that one should not murder, nor commit adultery, nor tell lies, etc., they themselves are a bunch of spiritual murderers, spiritual whoremongers, adulterers, and false witnesses to the truth of God's Word. True, some are themselves sorely deceived by the traditions of men. Nevertheless, the problem is they have so spiritually "seduced the woman"(church) that she thinks she is espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ, but the reality is that there is another Jesus to whom she is awaiting to wed. That one is the false messiah who comes first (2 Thes. 2) at the sound of the 6th trump and takes the first woman in the field, who is symbolic of the apostate churches!

Let us now resume our study in chapter 5 of Matthew where Christ continues with His instruction to His disciples-soon-to-be-teachers who have gone up on the mount to hear His voice.

Matthew 5:27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

[28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

You "see", to fully understand the depth of the spiritual adultery in one's heart that Christ is talking about in this verse one must first understand the true meaning of the original Greek words translated into English as "looketh" and "lust". Then one must understand that Christ did not take the commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery", which applies to both men and women alike, and make it gender specific to a male looking upon a female. The words Christ used were "whosoever" (ho #3558, including the feminine he, hay; and the neuter to, to; in all their inflections) and "woman" (gune, specially a wife). In other words, the "woman" is His woman, one who belongs to Christ, i.e. a Christian man or woman.

Spiritually speaking throughout the entire Bible, "adultery" is constantly used to symbolize idolatry/apostasy and the "woman" is constantly used to represent true Israel and the church. So, just as Christ was talking about the spiritual death of our "brothers" of the House of Israel in raising the spiritual level of our understanding concerning the Law of Murder which we covered in our last study, He now does the same with the Law of Adultery concerning "apostatizing the church"! Again, there is no gender intended in this anymore than there is in the circumcision today, which is now not of the flesh but of the hearts of both men and women alike (Col. 2:11).

Let us now look at the Greek words for "looketh" and "lust".

looketh = G991 blepoô  blep'-o
A primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):—behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare G3700.

lust = G1937 epithumeoô ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o
From G1909 and G2372; to set the heart upon, that is, long for (rightfully or otherwise):—covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

And so quite frankly, though many might disagree, what Christ is talking about is not that of a man having a momentary "sexy" thought pop through his head when a drop dead gorgeous blond passes by. It is to purposely, looking upon looking (blepo), "set your heart upon" seducing a "woman", which is analogous to what we call "putting the make on her"! Therefore, just as it is NOT OK to put the make on everything that passes by, it is also NOT OK to put the make on Christians for covetous reasons, to make them your own, to bring them into your own little church instead of espousing them to Christ.

The apostle's Paul and Peter both understood this well and because it is so important that we understand the significance of spiritual adultery/apostasy, let us "see" what they have to say.

Here's what Paul says to the "woman":

2 Cor. 11:2-4
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

They are here now, so watch out Christian!

[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The many seducers who come in Christ's name "desire occasion" to "glory" as servants of God, i.e. set themselves up to be something they are not! Paul taught the truth of God's Word boldly and straight on, with NO AGENDA (such as money or glory) other than espousing the woman to Christ. Paul "cut off" those false apostles which desire occasion!

2 Cor. 11:12-15
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

[13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

false apostles = G5570 pseudapostolos  psyoo-dap-os'-tol-os
From G5571 and G652; a spurious apostle, that is, pretended preacher:— false teacher.

transforming = G3345 metascheômatizoô met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo
From G3326 and a derivative of G4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively to apply (by accommodation):—transfer, transform (self).

[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Now here is Peter who not only speaks of those who have adultery in their eyes and hearts concerning the woman, but he exposes what their number one "lust" is! If you have eyes to see, you will NOT be surprised at all!

2 Peter 2:11-15
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

[12] But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

[13] And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot [lust] in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

[14] Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

[15] Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Well, that ought to about do it and at the same time make me popular with preachers!

Matthew 5:29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

offend = #4624 skandalizoô skan-dal-id'-zo
To "scandalize"; from G4625; to entrap, that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):—(make to) offend.

[30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Now to the spiritual teaching of Yeshua:

Matthew 5:32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

fornication = #G4202 porneia por-ni'-ah
From G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry:— fornication.

pornos = G4205 pornos por'-nos
From pernemi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):—fornicator,  whoremonger.

Matthew 5:33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Leviticus 19:12
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Here is the Third Commandment against doing just that!

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

---

(Editors Note: And you thought taking The Lord's name in vain meant don't swear as in using a curse word! I'll bet there was a day when you even got your mouth washed out with soap for cursing! And now you find out it means to tell a lie and say, "The Lord said this or that")

---

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 15:6
... Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

[9] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Ezekiel 13:1-2
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[2] Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

Ezekiel 13:7
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Ezekiel 13:19
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

[20] Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

So be careful how you take the Lord's name and don't make oaths (swear) confirming the Word of God to our people by anything. I am is the LORD.

Christ explains:

Matthew 5:34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all;

[34... cont] neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

[35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool:

[35... cont] neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

[36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

The sum of the matter is: "You cannot cause anything to come to pass by swearing by anything in heaven or earth." All things shall come to pass exactly as it is written, exactly as our Father says they will! So...

[37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

communication = logos, log'-os, Greek 3056; from Greek 3004 (lego); something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty or motive; by extension a computation; specially (with the art. in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ) :- account, cause, communication, × concerning, doctrine, fame, × have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, × speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

We conclude today's with the following words of Christ concerning religious hypocrisy:

Matthew 15:17
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

[18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

[19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

[20] These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.