Going Beyond
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:21-24, 27-30)
Jesus was at least 30 years old when he spoke to his followers in his "Sermon on the Mount". He would have to have known how impossible it would be for anyone to be as faultless as he seems to be implying we must be. Everyone can agree with the big things, like not killing anyone or committing adultery, but to take it even further and say that we shouldn't even be angry with anyone or look at someone lustfully -
what are we to make of that!?
Just as light and darkness can not abide in the same space - because one will take over - so also, holiness and sin can not abide simultaneously - one will overcome the other. Jesus is saying that we've got to be all in. We are not called to half-way faith, but to full surrender - giving over to God our desires and our need to control and direct our own path. Of course we will feel anger, but if we trust God to handle the situation, our anger will not determine our words or our actions. Of course we will notice someone's beauty, but if we trust God to supply our needs according to the riches in glory, we will not allow those thoughts to entertain our minds or power our emotions.
Jesus is calling us to freedom - freedom from the angst, anxiety, drama and heartache of carrying on our shoulders those things that God, alone, can carry. Jesus is calling us to be alert to the lies we tell ourselves when we attempt to convince ourselves that just a little darkness, just a little sin, will not overshadow the light God longs to shine through us. Jesus is calling us beyond the shallowness of mere rightness and wrongness to the depth of God's power and provision - to the denial of self for the sake of our witness.
Thankfully we are not on our own and, when we fail, we can humbly give our darkness to God and
receive again the Light.
4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances. 8 I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. (Psalm 119:4-8)
