Scripture: Matthew
5:21-37
Through this Epiphany season we are reading the Sermon on
the Mount. After Jesus declared that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of
the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.
5:20), he described behaviors that keep God’s Law. Each example he gave,
however, made it clear that no one can keep God’s Law and therefore no one is
righteous. This text should cause us to despair of our own righteousness so
that we rest in the promise that Jesus fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17) on our
behalf.
Teaching
Each of the sections of this reading begin with the phrase
(or a variation of), “You have heard that it was said….” Each time Jesus takes
a piece of Biblical wisdom that was commonly simplified so that people felt
that they were living according to God’s commands and amplifies it. Note that
as he discusses these issues that he broadens and deepens the meaning of what
the words actually mean. He is contrasting the letter of the law with the
spirit of the law. In addition he is showing that the kingdom of heaven is
unattainable by our actions so that we will recognize that we become part of
God’s reign on earth purely by his grace.
Special attention should be given to Jesus’ comments on
tearing out eyes and cutting off hands. When we read this section we should ask
ourselves if these organs actually cause us to sin. The definite answer is that
they do not. Elsewhere Jesus points to the heart at the place sin comes from.[1]
This is why we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
spirit within me,” in Ps. 51:10 ESV, and use that psalm in our communion
liturgy. It is not merely a nice sentiment. Our hearts must be purified, make
new, even transplanted[2]
by Jesus.
Life
You have, no doubt, noticed the way that these words still
apply to us today. Anger, lust, marriage, and honesty are still places where
sin rears its ugly head in our time. In a sense these words are a cautionary
statement to us to take these matters seriously. We should control our anger,
resist our lusts, tend our marriages, and keep our word. By experience, though,
we know how hard these can be and how much we need God’s help.
What then should we do? When we recognize our sin we should
confess it and ask for forgiveness. Jesus fulfilled the Law in his sacrificial
life and death. Our sins are forgiven. There is no point in beating ourselves
up over them, or trying to overcome them on our own. (Notice, we should try to
overcome our sin, just not on our own!) We trust in Jesus for our forgiveness,
and pray for his Spirit to strengthen us and teach us the ways of the kingdom.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you teach us that the standard of the Law is
much higher than we can keep. We thank you for revealing how far reaching your
commands are and how hard righteousness is to attain. Forgive us for falling
short of your standards and for settling for the letter of the law over the
spirit of the law. Give us your Spirit to teach us to walk in your ways and to
live in your grace every day. Amen.
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