It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
It is possible that some of the written sources that eventually became part of the Gospels consisted of nothing more than a listing of Jesus’ teachings. Today’s scripture is part of the Sermon on the Mount and is written by Matthew in that format. It is possible that Jesus did present all of the material in Matthew 5-7 in one setting but more likely Matthew decided to present that which he felt were Jesus’ important teachings in one section of his Gospel. You might want to read all of the Sermon on the Mount before taking a more detailed look at the scripture we discuss today:
Matthew 5: 38-42"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Jesus is proclaiming a radical change from the Jewish ideas of fairness and justice which were part of the Law. An example of their concept of making an injustice right can be found in Leviticus:
24:17-22 "Anyone who hits and kills a fellow human must be put to death. Anyone who kills someone's animal must make it good—a life for a life. Anyone who injures his neighbor will get back the same as he gave: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. What he did to hurt that person will be done to him. Anyone who hits and kills an animal must make it good, but whoever hits and kills a fellow human will be put to death. And no double standards: the same rule goes for foreigners and natives. I am God, your God."
· What is the essence of the Jewish concept of justice? Does it make sense to you? How does it compare to the philosophy that was used to establish our current legal system?
· Have you ever been the victim of a crime or some other form of abuse? Would you be satisfied if the matter could have been resolved using the Leviticus guidelines?· What is the essence of Jesus’ teaching about dealing with an injustice? How is it different than the Jewish tradition? How do you think that the Jews who heard this teaching would have reacted?
· How do you react to his teaching? Do you think that it is fair and just? Think of a time when you were treated unjustly, possibly even physically abused what would you have to be willing to give up and put behind you in order to respond as Jesus teaches? What might people think of you if you behaved as Jesus suggested?Let’s explore one specific teaching in this scripture to better understand the significance of Jesus’ message:
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
· Let’s explore physical abuse first. What was Jesus’ demeanor during the abuse he took during the crucifixion? How did he handle it? Was his behavior consistent with the picture and understanding you have of him?
· But should we just take it? From a faith perspective what tools do we have to deal with problems out of our control? What might we receive if we lift up abuse to God in prayer? Will prayer necessarily change the person abusing us or might we receive something else?
· Does just taking it imply continuing to live in a situation that makes abuse possible? Do we run the risk of seeming weak if we do not respond to abuse with abuse? This is hard stuff, Jesus came to teach and be an example of living in a totally new way – and it is not easy.
And now some more from the Sermon on the Mount:
43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
One of Jesus’ most consistent teachings which he repeated over and over again was to “Love your Neighbor”. This seems to be a scripture based on that imperative.
· Jesus seems to teach that our enemies are included in the “neighbors” we are to love. Think of someone or some group you consider your enemy, what does he teach that we MUST do about our enemies? What would you have to let go of in order to act in this way? Does it mean that we forget the reality of enemies and let our guard down? Does it mean that we should suddenly be friends with an enemy in spite of past and potential future threats? Again no easy answers.
· Jesus teaches that our focus should be “on the energies of prayer”. Pick an enemy, someone who has been a big problem for you – what would you pray for them – what would you pray for yourself? How does God treat everyone? Are God’s blessings limited to the good only? How does that fit into your understanding of Jesus’ teaching?· What does Jesus tell us we should expect to receive if we act in this way? Are we to be rewarded in the traditional sense of being rewarded for good behavior? Isn’t the absence of reward the whole point?
· I think that verse 48 contains the essence of the whole matter – “live out your God-created identity”. Can we rely on our human nature to guide us in living in this way of this teaching? Should we expect to be able to live in a “God created” manner right away or will it take some work and prayer? Do you have someone in mind that with whom you could begin to practice some of these teachings? Try taking up what you have learned today in prayer and possibly recording your experience in a journal.· A final thought; we are called to “grow up”. What do these words mean to you as you think about your spiritual life? What are some steps you have taken on your faith journey to discover your ‘God-created identity”? What new steps could you take to continue to “grow up”?
Closing Prayer
O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom of the Spirit which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by misgivings of ourselves and fear of others. Ever beckon us forward to the place of thy will which is also the place of your power. Amen. George Appelton – The Oxford Book of Prayer
Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 49:8-16a, Psalm 131, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34
The notion of loving your enemy has to have a particular context--or it is perverse.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on your definition of love, the Greek word for love in this case infers that we make a conscious decision to treat another person as we would like to be treated. I think that Jesus is leading us to think about human relationships differently. On the other hand if someone is making threats or does violence against us this kind of love might be focused on prayer done from a safe distance.
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