Loving God, you come to us with the compassion and love of Jesus, teaching us how to live in your kingdom.  Help us to treat others with the same love and compassion that we have received from you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Those of you who have really good memories might recall the words that were at the end of last week’s gospel: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20).  This week, then, we begin to get a picture of the kind of righteousness that Jesus has in mind.

         He begins with something that is quite obviously wrong: murder.  However, it soon becomes apparent that simply refraining from murdering people is not enough for those who wish to live in God’s way.  Beware of anger, for it can lead to worse things.  Beware of hurling insults at others, for this will damage all of your relationships.  Beware of leaving disputes unresolved and failing to be reconciled with those who gather with you for worship.  Cultivate both trust and compassion in your relationships with others.

         The next topic Jesus addresses is adultery – another thing that is prohibited in the ten commandments.  However, once again, simply refraining from sexual intercourse outside of your marriage is not enough for those who wish to live in God’s way.  You may recall that coveting your neighbour’s wife is also prohibited in the ten commandments, and if your mind and heart are lusting after somebody else, the trust in your marriage has already been broken.  This leads into the topic of divorce, which was a controversial and divisive topic among Jews in the first century.

         The law of Moses permits divorce, saying that a man can write a certificate of divorce if he finds something objectionable about his wife (Dt. 24:1).  Some of the first century rabbis (like Rabbi Hillel) taught that divorce was acceptable even for something as small as burning the toast or ruining a meal.  Others (like Rabbi Shammai) taught that divorce was only permissible in the most extreme cases (workingpreacher.org).  Jesus, then, takes this “hot button issue” and teaches that only “unchastity” is grounds for divorce.

         The Greek word that is used here is porneia, which may remind you of some similar English words.  It can mean adultery or any kind of illicit sexual union (including prostitution).  And so, rather than saying “no divorce,” Jesus is advocating both trust and compassion when it comes to a marriage relationship.  He is essentially saying to continue in your marriage unless your trust has already been broken (which presumably also happens when abuse is involved).  He is also advocating for the women who had no recourse if their husband suddenly decided to divorce them.

         This leads us to one more topic in today’s gospel that also has to do with trust.  When we hear Jesus talking about vows or oaths, it may not seem to us like a particularly important issue.  However, in first century Palestine, making a vow was kind of like signing an affidavit today.  They didn’t have written contracts.  Instead, they had verbal agreements, and people would swear by heaven and earth or swear on their mother’s grave in order to convince others that their word could be trusted.

         Jesus is essentially teaching that we shouldn’t have to do this.  Instead, we are told to live in such a way that others know that we are trustworthy and that we have integrity.  That way, whether we have said yes or no to something, others will know that our word can be trusted.

         Now, it is possible to hear all this and to conclude that all of us are in trouble when it comes to God’s judgment.  After all, how many of us have never been angry, or have never been untrustworthy, or have never said, “You fool”?  All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

         However, lest we forget, we are also referred to as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  We are valuable, gifted, and called to bring life and healing in this world through Jesus Christ.  God can do this through us, even though we are imperfect people.  At the same time, though, we are expected to cultivate trust and compassion as we live in community with one another.  We will not reach perfection (sorry to disappoint you) – at least, not in this life, but this is why we practice confession, forgiveness and reconciliation.

         Part of Jesus’ point in the whole Sermon on the Mount is that none of us are good enough that we can pat ourselves on the back and tell ourselves how righteous we are.  We are also to act with compassion rather than judgment, for all of us are in the same boat when it comes to being sinful human beings in need of God’s forgiveness.

         Perhaps these are the things we need to keep in mind when it comes to “hot button” issues today.  Can we cultivate trust and compassion, no matter what the issue is?  Jesus came, not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him (Jn. 3:17).  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Epiphany 6(A)                                  Matthew 5:21-37

February 12, 2023

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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