hear and do these words of mine

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Psalm 91; Ephesians 2:1-10; Matthew 7:24-29

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house of the rock."
(Matthew 7:24)

In the final section of the "sermon on the mount" Jesus again emphasizes the priority or primacy of his teaching, his words. This initial instruction to his disciples is filled with Jesus making such statements. For his followers to build a life that will withstand the floods and winds that invariably come, they must build on him and his words, and with him and his words.

All too often, we "evangelicals" or reformed Christians focus on other parts of Scripture for our defining interpretive paradigm (to St. Paul mainly). I think this has led to minimizing or forgetting the things that Jesus seemed to emphasize. So there are groups now that are called "Red Letter Christians" or "The Beattitudes Society."

Secondly, Jesus has emphasized in this sermon the importance of what we do. In particular, that we do what he says, that we apply his interpretation of Scripture to our actions.

There's a good reason that the Eucharist always has (or is supposed to have) a reading from the Gospel; even if it's a home communion with already consecrated elements and a greatly truncated liturgy, there is to be at least a verse read from the Gospels.

And there's a good reason that in the "Daily Office" there is always a reading from the Gospels (in both the Sunday Eucharistic lectionary and the Daily Office readings, there are assigned readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospels).

While we spent the Fall reading through the Pentateuch, and not focusing on the Gospels, I do think that a daily dose of gospel is important and ought to be a regular discipline for the Christ follower so that we might keep in mind and heart and deed what Jesus taught with his words and works, with his life and death and resurrection. Treasure his words and his works. Ponder them, meditate on them, turn them around and around in your heart and mind and with your Christian friends. Give him the priority and primacy he insists on in the sermon on the mount.


For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:8-10)