Oak Chapel United Methodist Church

All Sermons are © Copyrighted and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express permission of the author.

So, how did you do this past week?  I challenged us last Sunday to stop several times this week and to ask, “Did I just do (or think or say) what the world says is reasonable?!  Or, did I listen to that still, small voice and do something radically different … more in keeping with God’s perfect will?”

Well, how did you do?  Did you at least find it to be a useful exercise?  Did you find yourself at least noticing the difference between what you do and what the law of the world says is acceptable?  …Does anyone have something they’d like to share on this?

If no one shares anything:
Ex/  A Montgomery County elementary school guidance counselor saw a family in need in her school.  The family was new to the area.  The mother didn’t have a job and it wasn’t clear if there was a father in the picture!  The kids came to school with no lunch, no money, no notebooks, pens, or pencils; and they didn’t have winter coats for the December weather! 

Fortunately, the counselor knew that the School System has a fund that’s used to directly support such children!  The guidance counselor submitted paperwork petitioning for financial assistance for these children. 

The county wrote back that the family had already received some assistance, and that, because they were not residents, they didn’t qualify for any more.  The counselor had done all she could within the law.  She knew the burden that the system was under --- how so many families were coming to the area to receive help from the county’s generous program.  She was sad, but she didn’t get angry with the law.  She shared about it, though, with her principal.

Well, later, with on one knowing, that principal quietly took her money (a substantial amount of money) and personally helped that family in need!  She went way beyond what the law called for … even for a resident … way beyond what might even feel right, given the number of cases like this pressuring the local economy!  She did what that still, small voice called her to!

Jesus said, “I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  That principal understood this!  She knew that Jesus also said to his disciples, “You are the salt” and “You are the light!”

That principal really went the extra mile!  She didn’t have to … nothing legally obligated her to it!  And yet, she did it!  Why?  Because that’s what it means to be a Christian!  That’s what it means to believe in Jesus as the Messiah!  That’s what the spirit of the county law was really about --- helping the most needy in our midst!

We agreed last week that Jesus came to turn (or return) us to the spirit behind the law.  I said we would talk more specifically about that this week.  Let’s take a look at some of Jesus’ teachings --- specifically some from Matthew 5.

[Read Matthew 5:21-22.]

Let’s stop here for a moment…  Jesus is teaching about the commands that x/y just read to us from Deuteronomy!  “Thou shalt not murder!”  Yet, Jesus is trying to get us to see behind these words --- to see the spirit behind the law!  And, Jesus’ teaching takes a 3-fold approach:

First, Jesus reaffirms the law, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'  But then (second), Jesus radicalizes that law!  “But,” he says, “I tell you, anyone who is even angry with his brother (or sister) will be subject to judgment!  If you simply call him or her a fool!!! … you’ll be in danger of the fire of hell…”

Wow!  Now that’s a pretty radical interpretation of the law … wouldn’t you say!?!

Third, then, Jesus gives a specific example of what it might look like to go to this radical extreme. “If you are offering your gift at the altar … and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Wow!  That was certainly not what any rabbi of the day was teaching!  Jesus is actually saying here that reconciliation is more important than worship!  Now, don’t you think that would sound pretty radical … even blasphemous … to the typical rabbi?!!  Of course! 

Yet, it’s this extreme spirit behind the law that Jesus wants his disciples to always consider in every situation that they find themselves in!!  Jesus wasn’t us to really understand the call to “love one another!”

Now, what’s really, really, really, really important here is --- not to fall into either of two traps --- traps that too many biblical interpreters almost always fall into:

ONE:  We are not necessarily to take this lesson literally!  We are to understand the spirit behind the lesson!  Jesus didn’t really want everyone going to church, placing their offering in front of the altar, then going off to try to make amends with the person they have issues with (which could take days, weeks or months!) … and only then to come back and finally bring their offering the rest of the way up to the altar to present to God.  That would be rather ridiculous!  But, it makes the point about the radical love that disciples of Jesus Christ are to have – love that goes out of its way to resolve any and all conflicts … in reverence to God and love of all that God loves!  Most people want to take the lesson literally!  But it’s the Spirit that Jesus wants us to get!

Here’s another example from Matthew 5 --- another radical teaching illustration:  Jesus said, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”  Jesus doesn’t literally want us cutting off our hands or poking out our eyes!  But, the radical nature of the call of a disciple of Jesus Christ is well made … willing to do all that that’s necessary to keep himself or herself from doing anything contrary to God’s perfect will!

Here’s another example from Mathew 5.  Jesus also said, “If someone wants to sue you and takes your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”  Now, to take this literally would leave you standing naked before the court room!  God doesn’t want anyone standing naked in court!  Yet, again, what this teaches and calls for is radical love … that has no limits!
And this leads us to the second trap to be avoided:  Jesus has not established here new, absolute recipes for ethically responding to all such situations!  

Jesus isn’t establishing a new law here!  He isn’t saying, “Now, here’s how to always do things!  If someone steals, cut off their hand!”  No!  To say that is to miss the spirit of the law, the spirit of what Jesus is trying to teach!  Jesus isn’t saying, “Every time someone hits you on the cheek, always turn the other cheek and tell him to hit you there too.”  No, that misses the point!  ~These are radical extremes that make the point of what it means to be the salt and the light!  These are not absolute warrants for ethical behavior in all situations!  They are meant to establish The Spirit … of God’s will!

Look, here’s an example of the point I’m trying to make:  Your mother is 83 years old.  She’s not doing well and is in the hospital.  You find out that she worked with a lawyer a few years ago and drew up a living will.  Super, you think.  You read it and find that the main thing it talks about is that mom doesn’t want a feeding tube.  Okay!

Well, mom becomes incoherent.  She’s alive on her own, but she’s no longer able to comprehend what’s being told to her or to make decisions.  The doctor then tells you that mom’s got a heart condition and needs a pacemaker!  What do you do?  Mom’s living will doesn’t say anything about a pacemaker!  And she can’t help you now!  You have to make a decision…  What do you do?!

Well, let’s take a couple of steps back:  What if, after mom had worked with her lawyer to draw up a living will, she had you join her at the lawyer’s office to talk about the will?  And when they got to the part about not wanting a feeding tube, mom said to you, “Honey, look, I’m old.  I’ve lived a long, good life.  I’m ready to go home to the Lord!  What I don’t want is any artificial means of keeping me alive.  Okay?  If my body wants to shut down, please … just let it!”

Now if the doctor suggested that pacemaker, would you have a hard time deciding making a decision?  No!  You understand the spirit behind mom’s living will --- “no artificial means of living!”  How about breathing tubes?  How about resuscitation after a heart attack?  You could peacefully and easily make any of these decisions … couldn’t you?!  …Because now … you know the spirit behind mom’s desires!

Well, that’s what Jesus was trying to teach in Matthew 5.  That’s the Word of God made life!  That’s why Jesus came --- to return us to the spirit of God’s living will!

Next week, we’ll look at the spirit behind God’s will for marriage, regarding divorce, with respect to our desires, and with respect to God’s perfect will for all human relationships.

Yet, for today, do you get the basic point?  ---There’s no simple recipe for every situation in life!  There’s no simple answer that fits every situation!  In all of them, we have to strive for the heart and mind that was in Christ!  We have to listen for … to consider the most radical call of Christ in the situation … and only then to be sure of what is the perfect will of God.  And finally, if we are to be the salt and the light … if our righteousness is to exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes … we then have to act on that will … a faithful response to God’s grace … lest we be separated from God for life!

This is the word of the Lord!

Amen…