but I say to you, 2

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Psalm 86; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 5:23-48


"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... You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
(Matthew 5:44-45, 48)

By this little phrase "but I say to you," stated in contrast to God's direction from the "Law" of Moses, Jesus is claiming authority at least equal to Moses and, arguably, to God. Certainly in terms of rightly interpreting those ancient sayings he is claiming to be able to show the way.

When Jesus speaks of being sons of your Father, and then describes what God does, he is not saying that the act of loving our enemies makes us God's children, but that this is how we display that we are sons of God, because it's exactly what God is like. Conversely, however, we can question our sonship if we do not love.

This being like God, or imitating God, was one of the highest goals of the synagogue in Jesus' day. Therefore, study was the highest form of worship because only through study do we discover what God is like, that we might imitate Him (eg. "you must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect").

Our goal ought to be so to study and revere Jesus and his words that his "but I say to you" is literally "Thus says the Lord" and that we hear his healing word spoken to every part of our life and being. This word will come in so many ways: regarding what we may have learned in the church; regarding what our parents may have said to us over and over; regarding what culture is saying to us.

You have heard it said...
"Get your act together so God will love you."
"You are a bad child"
"If you have this, or look like this, you'll be so special"

but I say to you...
"Your Father in heaven loves you unconditionally"
"You are beloved, the Father delights in you"
"You are so precious, just as you are, that I gave my life to redeem you"

Thank you, Lord, for your healing, guiding word. Give me ears to hear and a heart to believe what you say.