Sitting alone, and Jesus on the Law.  Matthew 5.17-48

Hi. 

Because I go to church alone, and oft sit alone, I am keenly aware of other people—especially women—who are sitting all by themselves as well.  This morning, I walked the long row to sit next to my dear Anitamarie, who sat on the end seat on the aisle.  A few minutes into the service, a single lady—that is a woman by herself—excused herself and passed by us, to take a seat near me on the other side.  

I thought the right word to use here was centrifugal, so I looked it up; that force means exactly the opposite of what I was thinking!  I was drawn toward her, and extended myself a couple different ways.  Long story short, this is the first night my new friend, Eva, will get a Morning Briefing… so Eva, “these briefings are not always heavy; I would say, usually not.  But I do teach straight through the Scriptures, (with holiday and happenings teachings sometimes interrupting), so this is where we are—Matthew chapter Five.  Jesus started what we have come to call ‘The Sermon on the Mount’, with the Beatitudes, and then he talked about how we as his disciples are to be salt and light in our world.” 

What was Jesus thinking as he started this next section?  Hmmm… well, because I do some public speaking and teaching, I know what it is to read the faces in my ‘audience;’ I observe the furrowed brow, expressions of agreement and apparent disagreement.  So perhaps on this day Jesus saw the Jewish leaders, their haughty exteriors and self-righteous facial expressions, and thought to speak of their issue with him—who he was, and what he came to do.  Just perhaps, that is why he hit their concerns about him straight on, full force, shooting straight from the hip.  Love it.

“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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes 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 does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Ponder Jesus’ words…what speaks to you?  What provokes, convicts or confuses you?  We shall set about to unpackthe passage tomorrow.  Lovingly,  Christine