Day 7: Matthew 5
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH (5:21-48)
If you looked at the list of ten commandments back in Exodus, some of them are quite easy to keep on the face of things. I haven't killed anyone for a good while, I failed woodwork so couldn't carve an idol, and I don't really want my neighbour's donkey. I haven't committed adultery, I haven't stolen anything that I can remember (unless the cookies on my colleagues desk count), and I don't lie about my neighbours, as I barely know them. I think I honour my parents pretty well, although I could ring them more. I don't have another god, but I'm pretty rubbish at having a Sabbath. All in all, if I just used the ten commandments as a checklist, I'd be doing alright I reckon.
Before you get angry and think I'm showing off about how great I am, I'm not seriously doing that. I know the ten commandments are there to show us the lifestyles we are called to live and how we are to be God's people, rather than simply rules to follow. I know that while I may not have carved another God, I can so easily fall into the trap of spending more time with the TV than God, and getting more excited by a Grimsby Town victory than a worship meeting (although to be fair, a Grimsby Town victory certainly isn’t a weekly occurrence).
As Jesus ushers in a new kingdom, he cuts to some of these well established principles in the Israelite people. Commands such as 'Do not murder' may be relatively easy to keep, but Jesus gets to the heart of the commands, and the feelings of the Father. By equating anger with murder, and lust with adultery, Jesus is showing us a much higher way, the way of the heart of God. It may be higher than we can achieve, but then we should expect that God's ways are much higher than our ways.
In saying this, Jesus shows that as people we can't cling to our good works, or own righteousness. Ultimately, then ten commandments were meant to illustrate things about how God intended people to live, rather than 10 rules to follow, not worrying about the grey areas in between. On the sermon of the mount, Jesus removes those grey areas. He no longer makes it acceptable for us to be proud that we're not murderers. Jesus points us to that higher way, challenging us to not be content but to see the heart of how God wants us to live out our lives.
Jesus is calling us to be a radical people, living in a way contrary to the normal ways of this world. Doing 'just enough' isn't what it's about. Jesus knows people won't be able to live up to this standard, but he also knows that there is grace when we don't. However, the fact that God's standard is a high one shouldn't stop us from trying to live that way. That's what salt and light is. It is as we dedicate our lives to serving God and following His voice that we will truly live as people that will breathe fresh air into our communities, being light in the darkest of places.
Finally, Jesus proclaims the one which is maybe the most radical of them all, that they should love their enemies. The Jews were an often oppressed and downtrodden people. They longed for revolution and power. Instead of bringing them this, Jesus tells them to love their oppressors. Jews were no longer to be inferior, but they weren't to react with violence. Jesus is showing them the way of the Kingdom, to give love to those who may not deserve it.
Why does Jesus talk about these things that are so hard to follow? Why does he not just leave the ten commandments there to follow? Because these are heart changes, lifestyle things. The Kingdom comes from the inside out. By living out lives of love, with hearts after God, then His people will know what it is to be salt and light. Our lives will point people to Jesus, giving life to those around us, and being part of the Kingdom of God.
As we read this chapter, let’s be challenged. Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking we’re ‘good enough’ for God, but throw ourselves upon His grace, asking Him to fill us so that we may live our lives in a different way.
That's very true... it's always got to be about our 'heart' and our 'motives' for doing things. ALWAYS. For example, like me in the past, I was angry at someone and not like them for a long time, then, when they rubbed me up the wrong way I would feel good whenever I didn't retaliate. I still severely disliked them. Was I doing much about it? No, I was festering in my bitterness for them and not praying. Eventually, I asked God for breakthrough, even though this took time and a lot of hurt, but now I would go as far as to say that my relationship is restored!! PRAISE GOD! Jesus calls us to aim to obey a "Higher fulfilled law". This means, we keep the commandments in Exodus and go that STEP FURTHER, like you said Del, from the HEART.
ReplyDeletewhen will Grimsby next win?
ReplyDelete