A study of the Gospel of
Matthew
Part 7: Mountain Top
Case Studies
In our
last session we looked at the principles outlined in the first part
of the Sermon on the Mount. Following the standards we know as ‘The
Beatitudes’ (from the Latin, ‘beatitudo’ meaning happiness
or blessedness)
come a series of Case Studies on how they apply in given situations.
Before
we get to that teaching the disciples are offered some encouragement,
related to salt and light.
Read
13-16.
13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they
put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus
is preparing His disciples for a worldwide mission to transform the
world. The scope of the work was enormous. They couldn’t help but
be overwhelmed by the size of the task. They are offered two
illustrations of small things that made a big difference. Firstly,
salt. Salt was used to not only to preserve foods but also to add
flavor. A little went a long way. Likewise a little bit of light
could dispel a whole lot of darkness. They are encouraged to do the
little things in order that a greater good, that of people being
drawn into the worship of God, might be accomplished.
Christian
life is mostly about doing the little things. Not many of us are
called to great tasks that change the course of history in one swift
action. We are all called to stick at the daily task of doing the
next loving thing that we can. Such is the nature of being salt and
light.
Two
Contemporary Christian performers from back in the days when there
was no such thing as Contemporary Christian Music (just guys with
acoustic guitars who used to do free gigs in local coffee bars and
youth clubs) there was a duo known as Ishmael and Andy who had a song
called the ‘Jesus Christ Salt and Light Company’
“C’mon
Christians and pull yourselves together,
Wake
up because it’s time we allowed everyone to see,
That
the God whom we portray,
Stops
this world from running away
‘Cos
we’re members of the ‘Jesus Christ Salt and Light Company’ ”
‘Take
pride’, they would say, ‘In your position as a shareholder
in the
‘Jesus Christ Salt and
Light Company’. Let everybody know what a great company this is!
Before
we are given some examples of how His teaching worked out in
practice, Jesus wants to assure His listeners that His teaching was
not to replace anything that had come before it, but was rather the
fulfillment of all that the laws and prophets had promised.
Read
17-20
"Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the
smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means
disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,
but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great
in the kingdom of heaven. 20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter
the kingdom of heaven.
The
injunction to have righteousness that surpassed that of Scribes and
Pharisee was not an invitation to consider themselves as better than
them, but rather an indication that what Jesus was offering them was
a higher way, that gave meaning to the law and the incentive to
fulfill it.
For
the Pharisees religion was a matter of obeying the law to gain God’s
good favor. For the disciples the only righteousness they could claim
was that of Christ Himself, and religion was thus a matter of
response to God’s grace.
You
will notice in the Case Studies that after demonstrating how the law
is rightly to be explained, Jesus shifts the focus of attention from
the behavior that the law dealt with to inner intents and motives. He
pictures the Kingdom as working in the lives of people to change
their values and behavior from the inside.
Earlier
in Matthew we went down to the Jordan and heard John the Baptist
proclaim, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit”. The prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that there
would come a time when God would write His law upon people’s
hearts. Later in the New Testament this became identified as being
the work of God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit who brings inner
conviction and the power to change. In the Kingdom which Jesus
proclaims any outward conformity without an inward commitment is
unthinkable.
It is
interesting to read verses 21 through 49 as though they were a
sermon. There is a definite rhythm and flow to the narrative. Each
section begins with “You have heard it said …” followed by “But
I tell you…” A course of action is then suggested and often the
reason for taking that action. Some of the imagery and actions
suggested are startling and seem extreme! But, as we said in our last
session, maybe that shouldn’t surprise us as this is a
mountain-top/cutting edge proclamation!
This
idea of principles followed by examples is similar to that found in
the Book of Exodus following Moses delivering the 10 commandments.
The 10 commandments themselves take up only a few verses. Examples as
to how the commandments apply take up many of the chapters following!
Let us
try and transport our selves to the mountainside and imagine
ourselves listening to the words of Rabbi Jesus as He preaches to a
curious group of eager listeners.
21
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not
murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, '
is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will
be in danger of the fire of hell.
23
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you,
24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to
court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand
you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the
officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
26
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the
last penny.
27
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
29
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.
30
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.
31
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.'
32
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.
33
"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.'
34
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is
God's throne;
35
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is
the city of the Great King.
36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair
white or black.
37
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond
this comes from the evil one.
38
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for
tooth.'
39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you
on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have
your cloak as well.
41
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who
wants to borrow from you.
43
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.'
44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,
45
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.
46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not
even the tax collectors doing that?
47
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than
others? Do not even pagans do that?
48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Each
of the sections can of course be thoroughly expounded upon and could
form the basis of a sermon series or bible study all of their own, so
for now let us try and hit the headlines.
What
about murder? Jesus locates the root of murder in anger and hatred.
Rather than nurse anger, which may lead to murder, the Kingdom
citizen is to value peacemaking. They are to take the initiative in
befriending the one who has offended them. 1 John would later draw on
this teaching where we read “Anyone who hates his brother is a
murderer” (1 John 3:15)
What
about adultery? In it’s true meaning the law didn’t speak only
about the act, but was concerned with the lustful motives that led to
the act. Jesus speaks almost sarcastically, to those who excuse
adultery on the grounds of ‘Oh, I just couldn’t help myself!”
by suggesting that maybe plucking out their eye or chopping off a
limb would solve the problem. Of course that is not meant to be taken
literally, it’s a way of helping us see where the true problem lay,
namely in the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
When
speaking of divorce Jesus says that marriage was meant for life –
but Moses allowed divorce, because it happened, not because it was
the right thing to do. Again, by linking divorce to adultery we are
asked to consider interior motives. If we get them in order, maybe
the rest can follow suit.
What
about vows and promises? Simply this. Never mind the paperwork, just
be the sort of person whose ‘yes’ means ‘yes’ and whose ‘no’
means ‘no’.
What
about revenge? The law said ‘Insist on your rights; go for
repayment’. But in the Kingdom God’s blessings rest on the
merciful. God does not reward us according to our wrongdoing, but
offers forgiveness. God loves us even when we act like enemies. So we
should have a similar attitude – inside – towards others. That
doesn’t do way with justice but points us to a God who acts. Paul
writes to the Romans, ‘Do not take revenge my friends, for it is
written ‘It is mine to avenge, I will repay’, says the Lord’
Attacking
the values and instincts that lie at the root of society is not easy!
But it is to these things that Jesus calls us. Poverty of Spirit,
Mourning, Meekness, Hunger for Righteousness, Mercy, Purity,
Peacemaking, Willingness to be persecuted for the truth On these
values, Jesus invites us to build our lives. And it is a risky
business!
If
you are not aggressive, how do you get ahead?
If
you don’t hit back, what is to stop you from being taken for a
ride?
If
you go for purity, won’t you miss out on some of the pleasures of
this world?
If
you make a stand, won’t somebody try and knock you down?
Wouldn’t
it be better not too commit yourself?
The
sermon on the mount calls us to walk out of step with society and
invites us to abandon the wisdom of this world for responsiveness to
God’s will, whatever the cost.
The
cost is high. In fact it takes everything we are and all we have.
To
quote the New International Bible Commentary: ‘These
sayings express the inherent rule of the kingdom of God, are God’s
ultimate way of dealing with humanity exhibited in the life and death
of Jesus, who went to the cross. All such hermeneutical
considerations are not a matter of watering them down, finding a
meaning that does seem reasonable and with which we can live. They
are not to be made “reasonable,” for they violate the “common
sense” of this world and point to another reality. They ask us
whether we are oriented to the God who has redefined power and
kingship in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of
Nazareth.’
Matthew’s
gospel begins by speaking of Kingship. We are given the example of a
terrible King in Herod. We are taken down to the Jordan to hear John
the Baptist declaring we need to get ready for something new. We
have witnessed Jesus calling disciples to embrace a new vision for
their lives.
The
challenge now is as to whether we can live by the rules of this new
kingdom that redefines everything that we thought life was about! The
last verse of this section seems particularly jarring!
48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Reviewing
the laws and their interpretation we may be tempted to think, well, I
can get there if I just try a little harder! But then we get this
one. ‘Be Perfect!’ How perfect? ‘As perfect as God!”
Barclay
points out that the Greek word used here for perfect is ‘teleios’.
‘Teleios’ did not mean absolute moral perfection or even mean
being able to keep all the laws. It was a word associated with
completeness. ‘Be complete’.
For
example a person fully grown is ‘teleios’ in relation to a young
child. A student who had graduated in their subject was ‘teleios’
in comparison to one just beginning their studies. Barclay comments
‘A thing is ‘teleios’ if it realized the purpose for which
it is planned; a man is perfect if he realizes the purpose for which
he was created and sent into the world’
The
Hebrew equivalent of the word ‘teleios’ is ‘tamîm’ which
means ‘wholeness.’ We read in Deuteronomy 18:13: “You shall
be perfect before the Lord your God.” In other words ‘You
must live out your faith whole-heartedly before God’. This fits in
well with the emphasis of the sermon that actions begin on the
inside, be they for good or for bad. It’s a matter of the heart!
John
the Baptist had spoken of the Kingdom as being ‘at hand’ or
‘near’. In Jesus Christ God has begun to take the action that
brings us to true freedom. As we open our lives to Jesus royal
control, His love breaks into the daily life we live, into the heart
of our character, our motives, our thoughts and our desires.
Taking
Jesus as King, we turn our fears over to Him and seek for Him to
rebuild our lives on the things He says have real value. If He truly
is the King of Kings and His rule is truly the rule to follow, then
although living His way appears to be a risky business it is a risk
we need to take.
Risk
is hardly the adequate word to use. It is more a matter of faith.
And faith carries with it the notion of obedience that the confession
‘Jesus is Lord’ implies. The choice before us is whether we
choose to live by the standards and morality of this world or embrace
the values of the Kingdom Jesus proclaims, believing that to do so
will transform not only our own lives, but the life of this world.
To
embrace the Jesus way is also to be embraced by His love. We are
promised the help and guidance of His Holy Spirit working within us
and around us to make us ‘perfect’. Perfect that is in the sense
of being made whole and granted the ability to finish the work which
He has started within us!
In
the words of Paul to the Philippians ‘I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to
completion by the day of Jesus Christ. ‘ (Philippians
1:6). And next time we shall continue our journey through the
mountaintop sermon!