INSIDE THE HEART OF A MURDERER (13 OF 34)
Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26
This content is part of a series.
Inside the Heart of a Murderer (13 of 34)
Series: Acts
Robert Dawson
Matthew 5:21-26
A hotel manager had grown weary of the angry outburst and antics that constantly came his way from customers who expected five-star resort type service at Motel 2 prices.
One day, he became oddly detached during yet another customer tirade; he felt as though he were watching a silent movie. In fact, he couldn't help but think that the angry woman's gyrations made her look like a monkey.
That observation gave him a brilliant idea. He posted a giant mirror behind the front desk-and the customer tirades all but ceased. When people saw how rude and hateful they looked while yelling and screaming, they stopped yelling and screaming. (Gary Thomas, The Beautiful Fight, p. 63)
Why did the mirror have such a powerful effect on the people?
1. I think they were embarrassed by what they saw. They saw how ridiculous they looked.
2. The old saying is true, 'a picture can be worth a thousand words.'
3. More than feeling embarrassment over their actions I think they felt shame because they knew that what they saw in the mirror was a reflection of what was in their heart.
Jesus is teaching us, and in the beatitudes has been teaching us, that righteousness, true righteousness, begins on the inside. It begins in the heart.
Later on in Matthew's Gospel account Jesus tells us 'the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man.' - Matthew 15.18-20
If we are ever going to please God in what we do then we must first be who we ought to be. If we are going to live a life that is blessed by God we must first be who we ought to be.
Righteousness is not simply based on external actions but on the inward reality of our hearts. This is what Jesus meant when He said 'our righteousnes ...
Series: Acts
Robert Dawson
Matthew 5:21-26
A hotel manager had grown weary of the angry outburst and antics that constantly came his way from customers who expected five-star resort type service at Motel 2 prices.
One day, he became oddly detached during yet another customer tirade; he felt as though he were watching a silent movie. In fact, he couldn't help but think that the angry woman's gyrations made her look like a monkey.
That observation gave him a brilliant idea. He posted a giant mirror behind the front desk-and the customer tirades all but ceased. When people saw how rude and hateful they looked while yelling and screaming, they stopped yelling and screaming. (Gary Thomas, The Beautiful Fight, p. 63)
Why did the mirror have such a powerful effect on the people?
1. I think they were embarrassed by what they saw. They saw how ridiculous they looked.
2. The old saying is true, 'a picture can be worth a thousand words.'
3. More than feeling embarrassment over their actions I think they felt shame because they knew that what they saw in the mirror was a reflection of what was in their heart.
Jesus is teaching us, and in the beatitudes has been teaching us, that righteousness, true righteousness, begins on the inside. It begins in the heart.
Later on in Matthew's Gospel account Jesus tells us 'the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man.' - Matthew 15.18-20
If we are ever going to please God in what we do then we must first be who we ought to be. If we are going to live a life that is blessed by God we must first be who we ought to be.
Righteousness is not simply based on external actions but on the inward reality of our hearts. This is what Jesus meant when He said 'our righteousnes ...
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