Dearest e-votees-
One of the purposes of the law is to drive us to the foot of the cross.
Jesus, this week, takes what has been said and commonly repeated and cranks it up even further. To those who were (or are) satisfied with the status quo (thank you Lord that I am not a bad a sinner as that one [see Luke 18:9-14]) Jesus greatly increases the expectations.
The truth is we can't under our own power or understanding come anywhere close to where God needs us to be. With us this is impossible. Thanks be to God that it doesn't depend on us or our strivings towards perfection.
Peace,
Karl
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One of the purposes of the law is to drive us to the foot of the cross.
Jesus, this week, takes what has been said and commonly repeated and cranks it up even further. To those who were (or are) satisfied with the status quo (thank you Lord that I am not a bad a sinner as that one [see Luke 18:9-14]) Jesus greatly increases the expectations.
The truth is we can't under our own power or understanding come anywhere close to where God needs us to be. With us this is impossible. Thanks be to God that it doesn't depend on us or our strivings towards perfection.
Peace,
Karl
----------
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:38-48, NRSV
The eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth is a way to constrain retaliation. If someone knocks a tooth out you should exact no more revenge than up to one tooth in return. If someone pokes your eye out you should exact no more revenge than up to one eye in return. Jesus states this with an implied assent from the crowd. He then greatly intensifies the expectation. Give people more than they want to steal from you. When they hurt you give them that opportunity again. When they work you unjustly work even harder for them. When people beg from you give what they want and more. This makes little sense and infuriates the fairness barometer in me. I really don't want to be spouting such things from the pulpit. What Jesus is really saying, I think, is rather than fixate on how much revenge you can exact work on finding ways to bless even those who hurt and curse you. It is how Jesus treats those of us who put him on the cross. He expects us to learn from his example.
Jesus goes on to assert love your neighbor and hate your enemy with the refrain of the implied assent from the crowd. Jesus again greatly intensifies the expectation. Love all, especially those who persecute you. Pray for them (as Jesus did from the cross). Offer forgiveness and the hope of salvation (as Jesus did from the cross). Give all you can to show love to those who profoundly hate you (as Jesus did from the cross). Jesus showed us what perfect love looks like.
We are invited to be made perfect in that love. We can't do what Jesus did on our own. It isn't about our efforts or our failings. It is about Jesus completing the work begun in us all to God's glory. When that is done we will be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Thanks be to God.
God, make us more like Jesus on the cross. Continue to bring your perfection to bear on our imperfections. Amen.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus goes on to assert love your neighbor and hate your enemy with the refrain of the implied assent from the crowd. Jesus again greatly intensifies the expectation. Love all, especially those who persecute you. Pray for them (as Jesus did from the cross). Offer forgiveness and the hope of salvation (as Jesus did from the cross). Give all you can to show love to those who profoundly hate you (as Jesus did from the cross). Jesus showed us what perfect love looks like.
We are invited to be made perfect in that love. We can't do what Jesus did on our own. It isn't about our efforts or our failings. It is about Jesus completing the work begun in us all to God's glory. When that is done we will be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Thanks be to God.
God, make us more like Jesus on the cross. Continue to bring your perfection to bear on our imperfections. Amen.
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