but I say to you

Friday, December 14, 2007

Psalm 85; Matthew 5:21-32


"You have heard that it was said... but I say to you..."


I recently listened to a couple of talks by Dwight Pryor (Center for Judaic Christian Studies) on Christians and the law. In it he talks about these verses (and yesterday's) from a perspective I've never heard before.

Jesus has just upheld "the Law and the Prophets." The "Law" of course is the Torah, God's guidance, God's teaching; it was in essence a gift - not a penal code. Jesus has said that he is the one who rightly interprets it for faithful living. In this passage our Teacher and Lord is not so much re-writing the Torah, as re-interpreting it in order to "fulfill" it (cf. v.17). Pryor said the idea is more that to sin in a "lesser" way will lead to sinning in the "greater" way (cf. vs. 19-20), and even how what is permissible can lead to what is prohibited. I find this helpful; and I think it clarifies Jesus' use of hyperbole here to make his point.

I think the emphasis is to guard our hearts (back to John the Baptist). They are leaning or moving one way or the other. Resisting God or serving God. Prideful or submissive. Judging or merciful. Truthful or deceiving. Even if it's only the littlest bit, Jesus is showing us where it ends up, and how we are distant and cut off from God before we do the big one.

Each of the examples deserves time to discuss and "argue" it through which I commend to you in your various "bands" of disciples. More on this tomorrow, but for today these questions suffice: which way is my heart moving? am I willing to listen? do I need to and will I "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"?

O heavenly Word, eternal Light, begotten of the Father's might,
who in these latter days wast born for blessing to a world forlorn;

pour light upon us from above, and fire our hearts with ardent love,
that, as we hear thy truth today, all wrong desires may burn away.

and when, as judge, thou drawest nigh the secrets of our hearts to try,
to recompense each hidden sin and bid the saints their reign begin;

O let us not, for evil past, be driven from thy face at last,
but with thy saints for evermore behold thee, love thee, and adore.

To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, ever One,
praise, honor, might, and glory be from age to age eternally.
The Hymnal 1982 (# 63,64)