Jesus continues to contrast the behavior of citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the accepted religious teachings of his day.
Matt 5:27-32
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
The quote in verse 27 is from Exodus 20:14; the quote in verse 31 is from Deuteronomy 24:1.
Matt 5:27-32
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
The quote in verse 27 is from Exodus 20:14; the quote in verse 31 is from Deuteronomy 24:1.
We humans rationalize our thoughts and actions by drawing artificial lines that we claim not to cross. But if we fantasize about sex with someone, but we don't act it out, we may indeed avoid external consequences, but we are making decisions that effect who we are and what desires we cater to.
Matt 5:33-37
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
"You have heard it said" is an introduction to an past instruction that has now been defeated by human legalism and rationalization. In this case, Jesus speaks of promises and oaths and returns to a simple principle, Be Honest. If you mean Yes then just say it; don't say it if you don't mean it. (The very emphasis on an oath indicates that there are times when one is dishonest....)
Matt 5:38-42
"You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
The quotes in verse 38 are from Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21.
I struggle this submissiveness, but I understand that in most cases we humans love to escalate conflict instead of de-escalate it. If that Roman soldier says, "You! Carry my load for a mile!" what response would there be if we smiled and said, "Sure! Indeed, may I carry it for two miles?" How strange. How unworldly.
Matt 5:43-47
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans
do that?
The quote in verse 43 is from Leviticus 19:18.
Jesus removes the calculations from "love". Most of us practice a basic computation: "I love those who reward my love; I punish those who don't." But the citizens of Heaven have a different view....
From the NIV Footnotes: in verse 44 some late manuscripts add "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you", making clear the break from the standard earthly calculus.
Matt 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a rather strong, demanding finish to these passages on living righteously! These instruction are indeed unworldly, distinct from the culture in which we are immersed.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a rather strong, demanding finish to these passages on living righteously! These instruction are indeed unworldly, distinct from the culture in which we are immersed.
When I first read this passage from the Sermon on the Mount in the summer of 1979, I felt like I got punched in the stomach. I had been a churchgoer all my life and thought of myself as a pretty good person. I was shocked at the radical vision being put forward in these verses. I still feel ashamed almost 37 years later. It is absolutely impossible to live up to the standard in all of these verses but particularly verse 48. How desperate I/we am/are for a savior.
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteIt is my experience, in "evangelical" circles in the US, that we tend to ignore or at least "sanitize" these radical statements of Jesus. They were very radical then. They are still radical. Jesus clearly intended them to be that.
Jesus uses short pithy comparisons, typical of Jewish wisdom sayings (like the book of Proverbs) to give strong images and make strong statements. The first step here (for the modern Christian) is to just read them and hear them, without the "baggage" (as I call it) of 2000 years of religiosity....
You and I both need a savior. Fortunately we are invited (as Gentiles!) to get in on the longterm Jewish plan! :-)