Sunday's Message: "You Have Heard It Said, But I Say to You . . ."

On Sunday, we continued to work our way through the Sermon on Mount. We love so much of what we read in Matthew chapters 5 - 7:  the Beatitudes; being salt and light;  the Lord's Prayer; do not worry but seek first God's kingdom; ask and you will receive and knock and the door shall be opened to you. But here in the middle of chapter 5, Jesus digs into some teachings that really challenge us. You have heard it said do not commit murder, but I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother and sister will be in danger of judgement. You have heard it said do not commit adultery, but I say to you that anyone who looks at another person lustfully has already committed adultery in his or her heart.   

As Jesus shares these teachings, he is not doing away with the Ten Commandments and other Jewish laws, but pushes us into the deeper intent of the law – that we would be a holy people – a people who truly reflect the holiness of the God we follow and serve.  The prophets of Old Testament did much the same in criticizing the outward performance of what is required when our hearts are far from God.

And yet some of us would rather know what is the least we have to do and still call ourselves good Christian people. What is the least we can do and still be assured that we will make it into heaven?  Or even if we don’t really think that way, when we are confronted with Jesus’ far higher standard for living righteous and holy lives we have to wonder if we stand a chance in the final judgment. 

And so we look for a loophole. We ask if Jesus’ teachings really must be followed literally? Surely Jesus knew he was setting a standard that no one could meet. So maybe his teachings are meant to drive us to recognize our need for forgiveness. These hard teachings are the ideal, sure, but we are saved by confessing where we have sinned and fallen short and trusting in God’s grace alone for salvation. Jesus sets an impossible standard so that we are not under the illusion that we can save ourselves by living righteously. Right?

Yes . . .but . . . that is not what Jesus is saying here. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book The Cost of Discipleship (1937) called it cheap grace  - the benefits of Christianity without the costs involved: “the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” 

The grace of God does not get us off the hook but rather makes possible a holy life as followers of Jesus Christ.  Just because we cannot live such holy and righteous lives by our own strength does not mean we do not have to do it all. We are not alone.  

Jesus teachings are difficult. Anger, lust, broken relationships – then as now can grip us so tightly. Elsewhere Jesus summarizes all the law:  Love God with all your heart, your mind, you soul, your strength, and love your neighbors as yourself.  (Matthew 22:35-40). These teachings of Jesus are pushing us to consider what it really means to love our neighbor. By God’s grace we are healed from the brokenness of our sin and failure and where there is no way, God makes a way for us to be a people who live faithfully and fruitfully as disciples of Jesus Christ.

You have heard to said, but I say to you . . . go and do likewise.