A PRAYER TO START
This prayer is adapted from the Message translation of Psalm 119 as a joyous plea for a life lived more aware of and in tune with the ways of the Lord. Pray 3xs to begin your time…
Our Father, teach me your lessons for living so I can stay the course! Grant me insight so I can do what you ask of me, so that my entire life might be one long, obedient response to you. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I do love traveling this freeway of yours! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for the piling of assets. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me along the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me, you know, the ones you have made to all those who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics who say this way is not the best; but I know that way you say is always so good. See how hungry I am for your counsel Father; preserve my life through your righteous ways! Amen.
GETTING THOUGHTFUL
Jesus has come not to abolish the expectations of relating to God and others, but to fulfill such expectations, even transcend them (5:17). After all, “something more than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” is need to walk this way of the kingdom with Jesus (5:20).
Beginning in 5:21-48, Jesus will provide six “antithesis” statements reflecting the relational expectations of life in God’s kingdom. Many translations read “You have heard it said…But I say to you…” The contrast seems obvious. Jesus is saying that his way is utterly unique, in opposition even to what has come before. But, then how does Jesus fulfill without abolishing? Well, scholar David Garland (64) argues that these sayings are best read as “And I say to you”, which would mean that Jesus is doing what most rabbis of his day did: providing commentary on scripture for the purpose of everyday living. These Talmudic expressions are “elucidations of the Torah, never a contradiction.”
Rather than contradicting the Law and Prophets and creating his own set of rules to follow, Jesus takes us into the very heart of the expectations laid out centuries before. Jesus is less concerned with the punishment or consequences for not meeting the relational expectations of human existence, rather Jesus is focused on preventing the dissolution of those very relationships.
The sheer fact that relationships are broken, that they cause pain, anger, separation, envy, violence, false promises and hopes, as well as abuse; demonstrate the reality of our plight. So, Jesus confronts the tendency of the religion of his day (which is not too dissimilar from the religion of our day) which focused on constraining illicit behavior to shift towards a way of living with one another and God that is “perfect” (vs. 48), or “without brokenness or fault”. In other words, Jesus is proclaiming that a life lived his way, is the way God intends for you and I to live at peace with our neighbors, our spouse, our co-workers, our families, even our enemies, and ultimately our Creator.
REFLECTION
Jesus’ way is God’s way of peace. Read Matthew 5:20-48, looking for how Jesus exhorts us to be “peacemakers” amidst the brokenness of relational expectations.
Use these questions to help you prayerfully reflect individually and/or discuss as a DNA group
- Consider the “rules” of kingdom life Jesus expounds on. Do you envision the “dos” and “don’ts” of scripture as primarily punishment or correction for wrong behavior, or instruction to avoid or heal pain and overcome evil?
- What has caused you to think about the words of the Lord in such a way?
- Which way do your co-works, kids, friends, etc. think about the commands of Jesus?
- How might hearing the exhortations of Jesus as a way to prevent or reconcile pain and overcome evil make his way more compelling? Why then is his ways still resisted, by you and I and others?
- Consider what can be. If Jesus way becomes your way, my way, our way; what would life look like? What would be missing that is present today? What would be added that is missing today?
- “You have heard that it was said…And I say to you…” What vision of the way is Jesus clarifying for you today?
ECHO
Eugene Peterson, in his poem The Tree, reminds us of the fulfillment that comes in Jesus “And I say to you” vision of the kingdom we now inhabit. May his exhortation echo in your mind, in your heart, and into your actions this week.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
Isaiah 11:1
Jesse’s roots, composted with carcasses
Of dove and lamb, parchments of ox and goat,
Centuries of dried up prayers and bloody
Sacrifice, now bear me gospel fruit.
David’s branch, fed on kosher soil,
Blossoms a messianic flower, and then
Ripens into a kingdom crop, conserving
The fragrance and warmth of spring for winter use.
Holy Spirit, shake our family tree;
Release your ripened fruit to our outstretched arms.
I’d like to see my children sink their teeth
Into promised land pomegranates
And Canaan grapes, bushel gifts of God,
While I skip a grace rope to a Christ tune.