Posted: 9/06/07
Explore the Bible Series for September 16
Strive for godly perfection
• Matthew 4:17-7:29
Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene
When the old generation of Israelites died in the wilderness after wandering 40 years, Moses assembled their descendants, the new generation, east of the Jordan River and told them to “listen to the statutes and laws which I proclaim to you this day. Learn them, and be careful to observe them” (Deuteronomy 5:1). Shortly thereafter, he recited the Ten Commandments.
A couple of years ago, I was flipping through the TV channels, when something on C-Span caught my attention. Two lawyers were debating whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in federal and state court houses. Needless to say, the debate was lively. Both sides exchanged compelling arguments for their positions. But, as I sat there enthralled by their discussion, I thought it odd for two Christians to be so vehemently debating Old Testament law. The Ten Commandments make up just part of the Mosaic Law. Why were these commandments the center of such controversy between Christians?
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount came to mind, particularly a couple of verses from the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:7, 9). Later in his sermon, Jesus goes on to say: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. … If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:44-45a, 46-47).
I imagine verses about showing mercy and being a peacemaker would not go over well in most American courthouses today. Can you imagine plaintiffs loving defendants or defendants loving plaintiffs? That is probably why there is no current debate regarding whether or not the Sermon on the Mount should be posted.
The Ten Commandments are foundational for the Christian life, but were they repeated in their entirety by Jesus? Jesus stated he did not come “to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:15). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides his followers a new way of understanding the requirements of the Law. Instead of beginning with the Ten Commandments like Moses did in his sermon in Deuteronomy, Jesus opens his sermon in Matthew with the Beatitudes.
The importance of the Sermon on the Mount
Sometimes I like it when people get what they deserve, especially if they have wronged me in some way. I rejoice when my enemies are defeated, when those who curse me are cursed, and when those who bless me are blessed. But then I am confronted by the words of Jesus. His Sermon on the Mount challenges me to change my ways.
Revenge is not justice; it just satisfies our desire to get back at those who have wronged us. Revenge may even feel good at times, but it is never truly fulfilling. It never brings about real justice, because it never brings about genuine reconciliation.
Let’s face it: we all like being the judge. We all have been wronged and are accustomed to playing the role of the plaintiff. What we don’t like, however, is playing the role of defendant. We can’t tolerate others blaming us for hurting them. We tell ourselves: “They’re just overreacting. They don’t like hearing the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.” These words are an attempt to reassure ourselves that we’re innocent. Nevertheless, we’ve lied to people, stolen from them, betrayed them, forsaken them, falsely accused them and perhaps even abandoned them when they needed us the most.
Jesus taught us to pray in this way: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). If we forgive others what they have done to us, then God will forgive us of the wrongs we have committed (Matthew 6:14). It seems a pretty simple concept, yet it is one of the most difficult to carry out. The justice Jesus offers provides the opportunity for reconciliation. Without offering our enemies and those who have wronged us the opportunity to reconcile with us, a broken relationship can never be fully restored.
Jesus called his followers to internalize their righteousness instead of making public displays of it. Standing on a street corner proclaiming “God loves you” is not the same as genuinely loving someone. Spreading the message that “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin”—however catchy the phrase may be—is not the same as spreading the message “God loves us all!” For until we have the courage to abandon fear and love our enemies, until we have the strength to forgive others as we have been forgiven, until we have the audacity to love as Jesus loves, how will we ever be “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) or “be perfect as God is perfect” (Matthew 5:48)?
Discussion questions
• What relevance does the Sermon on the Mount have for us today?
• How do we go about loving our enemy?
• What does it mean to be perfect as God is perfect?
• Frank Stagg has called “forgiveness a revolving door.” What do you think that means?
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