Getting Job-ed
When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:25-26 CSB
I love all of the Bible, but I’ve always loved Matthew’s Gospel because he, in a way, chucks legalism out the door. But one temptation to not fall into with Matthew’s Gospel is to create another form of legalism.
The Sermon on the Mount is an address from Jesus in Matthew 5-7. It’s truly an amazing address to the people. Jesus, in a way, looks at the Old Testament through the lens of His coming Kingdom and it’s completely counter-cultural. Jesus addresses our heart and reveals deeper issues than what the Law showed us (just to name a couple):
You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, “Do not murder,” and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment… You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28 CSB
Jesus also discusses in the Sermon on the Mount: how to pray, giving, loving our enemies, possessions and God, how to fast, divorce, judging others, along with many other topics- it’s an incredible message. The Gospel of Matthew is where the Social Justice Gospel finds its roots, but that is a narrow takeaway if we are trying to see the New Testament (whole Bible also) as a panoramic picture.
Deadly Theology
I say that because there are a couple of ‘Christian’ movements out there that teach that the only thing we need from the Bible are the words of Christ, and we should do them to the best of our ability. That creates a religion of legalism: a set of do’s and don’ts and then you’ll be saved. That’s contrary to the message of the New Testament and Bible as a whole. At the core, that’s salvation based on what I can do rather than what God has done for me through grace. That’s deadly theology.
*Side note: I don’t want anyone to think Christians are not called to action, but I don’t want anyone to walk away with thinking that this is something that can save us or is our starting place! We follow Christ first, and actions stem from that faith- not the other way around.
Matthew’s Gospel used to give me anxiety at times. Read Matthew 25: 31-46. It would be very easy to look at Matthew and take away that I need to do more to be a follower of Jesus. If it’s one thing I take away from the Gospel is this overwhelming sense of what the disciples ask and then Jesus’ response in 19:25-26 CSB:
When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:25-26 CSB
“It’s only with God and through God that I have hope in salvation…”
The Greek word for ‘impossible’ here is ‘Adynaton‘ which means impossible, unable, incapable, powerless. So, Jesus’ disciples ask, “Who can be saved,” which is what I feel we should all be asking after reading Matthew. Jesus responds “you are incapable, powerless and it is impossible to save yourself… But only with God, you can be saved- impossible things are possible with God, even saving you.” That is huge.
It’s only with God and through God that I have hope in salvation. The doctrine of Grace is that I can not and will not ever deserve to be saved (Ephesians 2:1-8): no matter how hard I try and no matter what good or evil that I do, salvation is only possible through Christ alone.
Grace
I think sometimes it’s such a temptation to just fall into the mindset of “I need to try harder” when it comes to salvation. We can’t forget that running to God for grace needs to be our first reaction. Pastor Stephen Kirk said it well in a message in 2015 at Hope Church:
The very next time you get anxious about your salvation (when you have been tempted/sinned), like right now… DO NOT start doing ‘religious activities.’ We do this: “I’m going to show God how serious I am…” No, no. I would say, when you get anxious about your security in Christ, run back to Jesus with gratitude for the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus.
This is where I want us to land when we read the Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel of Matthew: that I cannot save myself, and my only hope is in Jesus.
-Austin
References
Kirk, Stephen. Sunday Message. Sunday Message, 2015, Mason, OH, Hope Church.
Strong’s Greek: 102. Ἀδύνατος (Adunatos) — Unable, Powerless, biblehub.com/greek/102.htm.
