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- Setting the Stage – SOTM (1)
- Beatitudes Part 1 – SOTM (2)
- Beatitudes Part 2 – SOTM (3)
- Salt & Light/The Law – SOTM (4)
- Murder, Adultery & Divorce – SOTM (5)
At Part 6 of our Sermon on the Mount series at Little Flowers Community, we are beginning to see that Jesus not only has a way of teaching that reinforces His central point through many directions, but that He is calling us into a way of life that is disruptive and demanding. I believe that this section of His teaching, Matthew 5:33-48, brings the heart of His message out more clearly than previously.
“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.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Growing up, this Scripture was not talked about much in my own tradition beyond the simple lesson “Be honest”. Attending a Christian school with several Mennonite teachers, it was mentioned off and on that this verse forbade us from swear an oath in court. It was even suggested that this meant that the priestly and monastic vows of Roman Catholicism were also contrary to Scripture. I was always left underwhelmed by these answers. What was Jesus speaking of here?
In years of youth ministry, I cannot count how many times, when I would have to question someone about one problem or another, that I heard these words in reply: “I swear I didn’t do it!” or “I swear to God I am telling the truth”. Speaking nothing of the sincerity or honesty of their words (for some were telling truth and others were not), I was always left frustrated by these oaths. While often said for emphasis, the underlying message of swearing that you are telling the truth is that, when you do not swear, your word is less than trustworthy. It is not that the oath itself is wrong, but rather that your word becomes only trustworthy when you declare one.
Jesus calls us to be a light to the world, requiring a purity of conscience that is not clouded or hidden by half-truths or “untrustworthiness”. We are called to live lives of such integrity that our character is the only oath of authenticity our words need. In Jesus’ day, like our own, people used little white lies all the time, like when running a business. People expected it. It was the norm. However, Jesus leaves no room for us to compromise in even the seemingly small issues, for on our ever word is hinged the Gospel & God we represent. He emphasizes this point by showing us that anything else is from the evil one. Again, the standard of behaviour, linked to our representing Christ to the world, is raised.
And so, our words must represent the truth- not rationalized and not qualified. Our yes must be yes and our no must be no. Proverbs 10:19 tells us that, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds the tongue is wise”. How often do we try to minimize, qualify, justify or mitigate our failings even while we are “repenting”? If we are to truly embrace a life of wholly loving God and others, we must be people of truth, in word and deed. This is not an optional virtue of the super-Christians, but the base-line standard for all believers.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Here Jesus is reminding us again what sin is. Rather than primarily about acts of moral failure, He shows us that sin is about “missing the mark”- that is, failing to God’s best. Again, if we read this section as if these examples are for the especially devout, we miss Jesus point entirely. It is not enough for us to not strike back when we are harmed. It is not enough that submit to requirements of the law. Rather, we must go beyond what is required of us, returning evil with good every time. This is to be the nature of who we are as people of the Beatitudes, people of God.
If we believe this then we will se that there is always- ALWAYS- a cost to following Christ. That cost will be paid out in service and love to others, even our enemies (especially our enemies). After all, it is not about us, but about God. Our ability to truly know Jesus is inseparably linked to our ability to embrace His costly way of life. Further, we cannot expect others to see and embrace Jesus is our lives are willingly and consistently following this path.
This is not merely about charitable generosity, but about choosing to give love (tangibly) in the face of being wronged. By tangibly, I mean it will likely cost us time, money, energy, possessions, etc. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He calls us to give up our rights. Just as He had a different will from the Father (”Not my will, but Yours be done”), but willingly submitted to the Cross, so to are we called to this submission. And, again like Christ, it will lead us daily to the Cross. After all, how can we proclaim the Cross of salvation when we are not willing to drink from that cup in our own lives?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 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.”
It is critical here to note that when Jesus refers to our enemies, He identifies them as people who persecute us. Jesus presumes that our enemies are those who hate us, not those we hate. Clearly Jesus knows that we hate others (as the openly line suggests). However, He turns this maxim around, building on the clear premise that His followers do not hate anyone, but love all. Neither is He blind to how hard this is, but rather points clearly to the fact that this is demanding and (again) costly for us.
Through the Sermon on the Mount we are called accept suffering and consider ourselves blessed for it. Then we are told to give up our right to fight back. Now He takes it so far as to say that we are to love our enemies. Jesus commands us also to pray for our enemies! Consider that for a minute: Not only are we to accept their abuse, return evil with good, love them even as they hate and persecute us, but now we are to stand before God and speak in their defense! We are to be for our enemies what Christ is for us. How monumentally difficult, beautiful and humbling. Imagine a world in which we truly lived this way…
It is in this section that we first see Jesus use the word “love” in the Sermon. Love. It is in this direction that Christ has been leading us all along. It is the direction that God has been leading all of Creation towards from the beginning. It is the promised end to which we strive fulfill. Love. It is here that we begin to understand what true love is. True love is not merely the love of affection and loyalty that comes easy to us, but a love that is not mitigated by whether the person is our sister or whether they are our executioner. This is the love of Jesus, a love that will die willingly for the sake of others, whether they deserve it or not. It is the love symbolized by the stark paradox of the Cross.
Too often we view our faith as a way of life that is about making us better people, a philosophy that will improve the quality of your life. This is a poisonous lie. It is not about us, but about God. Under the Lordship of Christ, our lives are not our own, in every aspect. Our money, times, career path, energy, imagination, giftings, expectations, etc. are all God’s for His purposes and His glory. Of course, He is a God of love and so our lives will ultimately become better. We will become better people. However, these are the graces of the Father given to His children, not our deserved reward for simply becoming Christians.
Jesus’ love for us was demonstrated on the Cross. Our love for God & others must be demonstrated in the same way.
Tags: Missional, sermon on the mount
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