Tag Archives: Sermon on the Mount

Culture, Devotions, Justice, Life

Going one step further to grace and mercy

Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

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    Another remarkable teaching from Jesus on the grassy hillside. I have taken my place near the front that I might not miss anything. Every phrase, every thought is filled with both mystery and conviction.

But now Jesus is suggesting that I must allow the evil in this world to triumph. Am I to assume the role of victim in any encounter with someone who would do me harm? Is all that I own subject to anyone who wants to borrow it? This teaching of Rabbi Jesus is tough.  I don’t want my cheek slapped. I don’t want to give my shirt away.  I don’t want to go the extra mile.  I don’t want to lend my favorite fishing pole to a clutz. Jesus must be telling me something more here than a radical reaction to an offense.

     The culture in which we live remains resolute in its ability to accomplish much. There are many things the secular world can do better than the church. There is a place for government to do things the individual cannot.  Industry can build a car without being Christian. But there is one thing the world cannot do.  That thing is the offer of grace. Jesus was saying we are to be different from our culture, government, or industry.  We can look beyond the requirements and go a little further and become grace and mercy to all the world.

Just Larry

Devotions, Kingdom of God, Ramblings, Worship

The New Kingdom

Matthew 5:3,5,8,9,10 Kingdom words.

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Wait, hold on Jesus, let’s take a reality check moment. Could you tell me again what this Kingdom is?  A quick recap of the sermon so far is needed.  There seems to be a theme here: the kingdom of heaven, inheriting the earth, seeing God, sons of God, the kingdom of heaven again. What does that all mean? The guy over on the third row seems to think it is about a political solution to Roman occupation. He is whispering about the setting up of a new earthly Kingdom with God in charge. The guy next to me who was beaten by Romans a couple of months back agrees with a smile hoping for the Romans get what they deserve.  The smartly dressed one in front of me seems to think if everyone would get their act together, we would have 1,000 years of peace. Most of my fellow grass-sitters see the Kingdom as a day in the far future when history ends and it is over with a big bang and the Messiah will return. But the common conception is that Jesus is just talking about a futuristic someday.

Peter over there on the first row and in the middle seems to think it is about a new community identity. To Peter it is an opportunity to replace the chosen people with a new group. A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, declaring the praises of God who calls us out of this dark world into his wonderful light. He thinks that those on the hillside were looking for more than an ethnic association. I tend to agree with Peter. Jesus seems to be saying that there is a new distinction: a group of people now being in a kingdom characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and control. Ethnicity was no longer a requirement for Kingdom entrance. This new kingdom is internal to all who would follow.  It is a Kingdom where all are welcome.

As I squat here on the grassy hillside, I am warmed by the sweet acceptance of a Kingdom where all are welcome. A Kingdom of the heart. And in that moment I realize, that  I am a part of the kingdom because God knew I needed to be a part.

Just Larry