Who was Jesus addressing in Mathew 5?

I'm just wondering when Jesus told the people to 'cut off there right hands if it causes them to sin'...was he talking to believers or non-believers?

Matthew 5:30

Jesus was talking to whoever had ears to hear. Faith comes by hearing.

makrothumia

The message? Sin is far more deadly serious than we are willing to admit. Christ is trying to burn in your mind Silo just how incredibly serious it is.

I understand that but I'm wondering how they could turn away from sin without the help of God. That's why I think he was talking to people there on that mountain who already believed in him.

Can I tell our generation that same thing or do I have to tell them that they cannot turn away from sin without the help of Jesus.

I guess this is more of an evangelism question. I guess what I'm trying to ask is Do you believe in Jesus first and then take heed to Matthew 5:30?

I would say that to impress upon a non-believer's mind the deadly seriousness of their sin would be in line with the heart of Christ, as that is exactly what he was doing. It is the job of an evangelist to help people understand the depth of their depravity, and the power and strength of the law to condemn their sin. Just remember to do it with a heart of love...

Can I tell our generation that same thing or do I have to tell them that they cannot turn away from sin without the help of Jesus.

The best thing to do here is consider how Jesus taught. If our understanding comes first from knowing Him then we will not fall into error. This may not answer your question directly but it does point you to the one who can and will.

Be blessed as you consider.

That is funny, I was going to recommend the exact same book Appolus...guess I should have.

Silo asked:
how they could turn away from sin without the help of God.

If it is an inability, it is not disobediance or rebellion, therefore, we are not culpable.

They don't need "God's [b]help[/b]", they need God's [b]forgiveness[/b] for not doing that which they are able to do but refuse.

Can I tell our generation that same thing or do I have to tell them that they cannot turn away from sin without the help of Jesus.

All you should be telling them that they need to be forgiven (reconciled to God) of/from there rebellion against God who gave them their conscience (the knowledge of right & wrong), otherwise they will be damned.

If they [b]COULDN'T[/b] turn away from sin without the help of Jesus, the inability would exempt them from any command toward their inability; that would make them innocent & not guilty for their sin.

Jesus said, "Think not that I will judge you, but there is a judge for the one who hears my words but does not obey them ... the very word I speak will judge him."

Who is going the be judged by the words of Jesus? The ones who obeyed them or the ones who did not?

makrothumia

Logic, doesn't Scripture describe the conscience of the unsaved as "evil".

whyme asked:
Logic, doesn't Scripture describe the conscience of the unsaved as "evil".

This "evil conscience" is not from the Greek word "κακός - kak-os'", but from the word "ponēros" which refers to the meaning of bad.
The Greek word "kakos" would be the literal "depraved", "wicked" or "evil".

The unsaved would have a "bad conscience" which condemns them because they know that they have disobeyed it while they had the ability to obey it.

One's conscience wouldn't condemn them if they had no ability to do contrary to what they know is right.
Furthermore, if they had a true disability (which they did not personally cause) to do that which is right, they would be exempt from the obligation.

Logic, your explanation of the meaning of poneros stops shTransliteration. See Strong's 2(b) below which justifies the KJV use of the word "evil" for the concience.

ponēros
Pronunciation

po-nā-ro's (Key)

Part of Speech
adjective

Root Word (Etymology)

From a derivative of πόνος (G4192)

TDNT Reference
6:546,912
Vines
View Entry

Outline of Biblical Usage 1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships

a) pressed and harassed by labours

b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble

2) bad, of a bad nature or condition

a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind

b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
ort.

whyme said:
Logic, your explanation of the meaning of poneros stops shTransliteration. See Strong's 2(b) below which justifies the KJV use of the word "evil" for the concience.

2) bad, of a bad nature or condition
a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind

b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
ort.

By silo
I'm just wondering when Jesus told the people to 'cut off there right hands if it causes them to sin'...was he talking to believers or non-believers?

Matthew 5:30

Why would Jesus tell a non-believer / sinner to cut off his right hand if it caused them to sin? Aren't they ALREADY perishing? And why would a non-believer even care what Jesus was trying to say?

I'm just wondering too!!

God bless...

Logic said:

If your conscience is condemning you (because you disobeyed it), you have an evil conscience.

I would think an evil conscience is one that, as the Bible says, calls evil good and calls good evil. If your conscience condemns you for acting disobediently, then by the very terms, that conscience wouldn't be evil but rather good.

Lysa asked:
Why would Jesus tell a non-believer / sinner to cut off his right hand if it caused them to sin? Aren't they ALREADY perishing?

And why would a non-believer even care what Jesus was trying to say?

whyme said:
I would think an evil conscience is one that, as the Bible says, calls evil good and calls good evil.

This is not about the conscience, but of perversion & corruption; who will be, if not already, given over to a debased mind.

If your conscience condemns you for acting disobediently, then by the very terms, that conscience wouldn't be evil but rather good.

What comes to mind when you hear someone say, "I have a bad conscience about this."?

A London psychologist once told Billy Graham that seventy percent of the people in mental hospitals in England could be released if they could find forgiveness. Their problem was a [b]bad conscience[/b] and they could gain no relief from the guilt and pressure under which they lived.

Here is a psalm of a bad conscience:
When I kept silence, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me: my strength is turned into the drought of summer. Selah ([b]Psalm 32:3-4[/b]).

This is being relieved from a bad conscience:
Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

I would recommend "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He has a great interpretation and exposition on each verse.

On the proper paradigm for interpreting the SOTM, he reflects:

"What is of supreme importance is that we must always remember that the SOTM is a description of character and not a code of ethics or morals. It is not to be regarded as law - a kind of new "Ten Commandments" or set of fules and regulations which are to be carried out by us - but rather as a description of what we Christians are meant to be, illustrated in particular aspects."

I'm just wondering when Jesus told the people to 'cut off there right hands if it causes them to sin'...was he talking to believers or non-believers?

Actually I believe he is speaking to both because both can live under the bondage of the Old Covenant, trying to please God in the flesh. Jesus is saying that all such people must repent and confess that they are no longer in control. We mess up everything we put our hands to, we must ask Him to cut off all dependence on our eyes, hands, and feet - our fleshly ways of trying to please Him. The Spirit must do the cutting; the call is to both the believer and unbeliever to trust Christ for this.

In Christ,

Ron