“What Do You Do More Than Others?

”
(Matthew 5:47)

I. Introduction.
A. Orientation.
1. We are saved by grace through faith.
a. The righteousness by which we enter heaven is not our own.
b. It belongs to Christ and is given to us freely by grace when we believe.

2. At the same time, we realize that sanctification is still necessary.

a. James tells us that the faith which saves us is not dead.
b. It affects our lives, purifies us, produces righteous fruit, glorifies God.
c. We are saved by grace through faith alone, but not by a faith which is alone.
d. We are not saved by our works, but if we don’t have works, if our lives aren’t
changed, our faith will not save us.
e. The Lord does not say to us, “Do this and you will live,” but He bids us, “Live
and do this,” and out of thankfulness, we do.
f. We also obey Him out of love, because He has changed our nature.
g. The Bible says we must be transformed into the image of Christ. Without that
transformation we will not see heaven.

B. Preview.
1. We have just read the fifth chapter of Matthew, where Jesus expounds and explains
the Law.
a. The Pharisees had corrupted it, but Christ lifts it up again.
b. And we rejoice in what He says; we agree, we want to be conformed to it.
c. We don’t believe the commandment is too pure, that it requires too much, but we
say with the psalmist, “Your Word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it”
(Ps. 119:140).
d. We know that sometimes we struggle with the commandments because of our
sin; yet our soul longs for holiness, to be delivered from all our sins.
e. I pray that the Spirit would excite in our hearts a greater love of holiness.

2. It’s clear here that Jesus calls us to a higher standard, greater than the world’s.
a. Too many Christians today judge themselves by others.
b. If they are no worse than others, they think they’re okay.
c. If, like the Pharisees, they’re better than the worst of the tax-collectors and
sinners, they pat themselves on the back.
d. But reading what Jesus says here can make us uncomfortable.
e. He insists on a higher standard, the highest in the world.
f. He tells us that our righteousness must be greater than the scribes and Pharisees,
or we will not enter heaven.
g. In our passage, He asks us “What do you do more than others?” What do you do
differently than the unbeliever?
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h. We should ask ourselves especially, How have we handled the most recent
situation differently than those in the world would have?
i. May the Lord give us the grace this morning to take a good look at ourselves, not
through the eyes of the world, but through the lens of Scripture.

3. This morning, we will look at two things:

a. First, why we should expect more from ourselves than from unbelievers.
b. Second, what that more is we are to expect.

II. Sermon.
A. First, why should we expect more from Christians than from unbelievers?
1. A Christian professes more.
a. A Christian professes to have repented of all his sins, to have run to Christ, to
have a renewed heart, to be a child of God, to have the new nature of the Spirit.
b. Unbelievers don’t profess this and therefore don’t need to prove it.
c. But the world, other Christians, Christ Himself, calls on us to prove it.
d. What should we think if we make this profession, but don’t act any differently?
Are we being honest with the Lord, with ourselves?
e. There is an old story of a man who left his home city for many years. When he
returned to his city, he bragged to every one of his great accomplishments,
especially, how far he could jump. Everyone was amazed. But there was one
wise man who doubted. He marked off the distance the man boasted of and said,
“If you leaped as far as that abroad, perhaps you will do the same here, and then
we will believe you.”
f. The world asks for proof. Jesus asks for proof. But what proof do we have to
offer?
g. How many claim to be Christians, but have dishonored Christ, especially in our
day.
h. One day a cardinal was standing next to one of the great painters while he was
working on the portraits of Peter and Paul. When he objected that the artist used
too much red in their faces, he replied, “No. This is to show how much the
apostles blush for the conduct of those who call themselves their successors.”
i. Do we give the Lord a reason to blush when He looks at us?
j. It’s usually those who need to examine their hearts the most who will examine
them the least.
k. There are many unbelievers who outstrip us in many ways.
l. I ask you this morning, What do you do more than others?

2. We should expect more from a Christian not only because he professes more, but
because he actually has more.
a. A true Christian is not just one who says he is born again, he really is born again
in Christ.
b. He has passed from death to life, he has the Spirit of God in his soul, he has
become a partaker of the divine nature, he has been redeemed from sin and
shame and made a new creature.
c. If this is true, then there should be a difference in the way we live.
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d. Jesus says we should do more than others.

(i) As we have received, we are to give.
(ii) The Lord has shown us infinite love.
(iii) How can we not strive to be then all He calls us to be?
(iv) How can He ask for too much?
(v) How can He call us to give up too much?
(vi) Doesn’t His love toward us give Him the right to ask anything?
(vii) He redeemed us from us from sin and hell with the price of His Son.
(viii) Doesn’t the fact that He is also Lord give Him that right?
(ix) What kind of people should we be then?

e. It is true that by ourselves, we can do nothing.

(i) But through Christ, and by His Spirit, we can do all things (Phil. 4:13).
(ii) We can overcome every sin.
(iii) We can give up every idol.
(iv) We have the victory in Christ.
(v) This is why He commands us to be perfect. Where much is given, much is
required.
(vi) Of course we won’t reach perfection, but we will become much more like
Him, if we don’t resist and grieve His Spirit.
(vii) What do you do more than others?

3. But consider also that the Lord has promised us more.

a. The Lord has made a Covenant of Grace with us.
b. Moses desired to see the land God had promised. But God has promised us
heaven, through Christ.
c. He has become our God and has taken us for His people.
d. He works all things work together for our good.
e. He bought all these things for us and gives them to us freely, without cost.
f. We are heirs of heaven, joint heirs with Christ.
g. Our cup runs over with God’s mercies.
h. Christ has delivered us from God’s wrath; we have eternal life to look forward
to: a never ending Sabbath of glory.
i. With our profession, with God’s power in us, with all God has promised us,
shouldn’t we expect more of ourselves than others?
j. But what do we do more than others?

B. Having seen that we should expect more of ourselves, let’s consider what it is we
should expect: It’s nothing less than what Christ expects.
1. He expects a godly example, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16).
a. He expects us to recognize our spiritual poverty (v. 3).
b. He expects us to mourn for our sins (v. 4).
c. He expects a meek and gentle spirit (v. 5), an ardent desire to be like Christ (v.
6), for us to show mercy as we have been shown mercy (v. 7), to seek to live a
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holy life as our Lord lived (v. 8), to promote peace among the brethren and all
men (v. 9), and to endure persecution for doing what’s right (vv. 10-11).
d. He expects us to be the salt of the earth: to have a preserving influence on those
around us through our presence and godly example.
e. Do you do these things more than others?

2. He expects us to obey His commandments better than the scribes and Pharisees,
“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 20).
a. The Lord wants us to know His commandments and do them, not just pretend to
do them as the Pharisees.
b. One of the reasons why there are so many denominations of Christians is because
so many don’t want to do what the Lord wants.
c. There are legitimate differences to be sure, but most of the splits come because
so many who profess Christ won’t search the Scripture.
d. The Bible is not really that hard to understand, that unclear.
e. Spurgeon believed that if we all came to the Scripture with a humble and
teachable heart and could honestly pray by the power of God’s Spirit: “I desire
now to unlearn the most precious doctrine or practice I have ever learned if the
Lord will show me that it is inconsistent with his will; and I desire to learn that
truth which will bring me most into derision, or that ordinance which will submit
me to the greatest inconvenience, if it is his will, for I am his servant, and I desire
nothing to support my own opinion, or to be my own rule;” if we could all pray
this, it would go far in healing our differences.
f. Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).
g. But if we say, “This is what my church believes,” or “this is what I have always
believed,” and are not open to correction by God’s Word, what do we do more
than others?

3. He expects us not to fight with one another, but to do the things that promote peace
(vv. 21-26).
a. He tells us not to be angry with one another (vv. 21-22).
b. He tells us to be reconciled with one another, or our worship will not be
acceptable to Him (vv. 23-24).
c. He tells us that if we have a hard time with forgiveness and reconciliation, we
had better resolve it before Judgment Day, through the blood of His Son, or we
will be sorely disappointed (vv. 25-26).
d. The Christian does not have the luxury of hating others, attacking or seeking
revenge on others, or of holding grudges, as the world does.
e. Christ commands us to love and forgive one another.
f. Is this what you do, more than others?

4. The Lord expects us surpass the world in our moral purity (vv. 27-32).
a. We must not forsake our spouses and have relationships with others (v. 27).
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b. We are not even to think about it or desire it in our hearts (v. 28).
c. We must kill those desires: cut them off and throw them away (vv. 29-30).
d. We are to flee from youthful lusts, as Joseph did.
e. Are you this way, more than others?

5. We are to excel the world in our truthfulness and integrity (vv. 33-37).
a. If we say something is true, it needs to be true.
b. If we have promised to do something, we must do it.
c. The world very often stretches the truth to make it fit their purposes and only
promise the things that will benefit them.
d. Is this what you do? Or do you set your heart to speak the truth and do what you
have promised more than others?

6. The Christian is called to a higher level of patience and forgiveness (vv. 38-42).
a. Again, we are not to seek revenge: just because we think someone has done
something wrong to us, we are not to try and hurt them in return (v. 38).
b. Instead, we should expect more injury and be prepared to receive it patiently.
c. Do you do this more than others?

7. Finally, we are to love others more than the world loves its own (vv. 43-48).
a. We are not only to love those who love us, but those who hate us.
b. We are not only to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to love those so
unlike Him in the world.
c. Brethren, if we have such a hard time loving each other, if we even hate each
other, how are we going to love those outside the church enough to bring Christ
to them?
d. The Lord says we are to love our enemies, how much more those who are
members of the same Christ, the same body, the same faith.
e. Do you love more than others?

III. Application.
A. So what do you do more than others?
1. Jesus said that by our fruits men would know that we are His disciples (Matt.
7:20).
a. Not by our beliefs alone, not by our profession.
b. But we would be known by the fruits our lives produce.

2. What do the fruits of your life reveal about you?

a. Do they vindicate your claim to be one of Christ’s children?
b. Or do they reveal a dead faith?

B. If the fruits of Christian love of there: praise God for His mercy and set your heart
to do more, more than others.
C. But if those fruits of Christian charity and mercy are not there, if you don’t do more
than others, then call out for His mercy. Only Christ can save you and produce
those fruits in your lives. Amen.