110220 - Yr A - Epiphany 7

We're nearing the end of our series on the Sermon on the Mount. This week we get some of Jesus' most famous sayings.

Matthew 5:38-48  NRSV
Once again, the Message translation does an excellent job of capturing the character of Jesus' preaching tone.

Jesus continues to preach "exceed the law"!

Verses
v.38 - the law of retaliation - to ensure violence didn't escalate - only eye for eye and tooth for tooth - proportional, no vendettas
v.39 - NRSV translation is poor here - instead of "do not resist an evildoer" a more accurate translation would be "do not oppose the evildoer violently"
v.39 - striking the right cheek with the back of the left hand was considered dishonouring (because the left hand was used for unclean things) - Jesus' "turn the other cheek" was probably meant to shame the striker with an act of non-violent opposition
v.40 - the coat was the inner garment, the cloak was the outer one - again, a possible shaming act
v.41 - Romans were allowed to force (compel) locals to carry their burden for one mile at any time (a sign of domination) - "going the second mile" was an act of opposition - it also saved another person from the task
v.42 - a very challenging verse - not sure what to make of it in today's society - certainly advocating an uncommon generosity of spirit
v.43 - "love your neighbour" was scriptural, "hate your enemy" was cultural
v.44 - love of enemies was a massive mind shift - prayer for persecutors is advanced spirituality!
v.45 - God grace falls on all - this is counter-intuitive as well, but it's true
v.46-47 - everyone loves their friends, but Jesus calls us to love everyone
v.48 - perfect (Greek "teleios" - aka mature) - as in a "perfect tomato" - ripe, mature, etc - doesn't mean to never make a mistake - the verb tenses actually suggest this is meant to be a future promise, as in "You are going to be mature (perfect) as your father is perfect"

Thoughts & Questions

• Does Jesus teach passivism?
• Is he advocating blanket non-resistance?

• Is "love your enemies" hopeless idealism, or wise non-violent opposition?
• What does "love" mean in this context?
• Read Romans 12:20. What do you think of that?

• How does "turn the other cheek" usually get interpreted?
• What's the difference?
• You have heard it said, 'Don't get mad, get even.' - But I say...

• What does it mean to be "perfect"?
• What is the nature of divine and human perfection?

• These are classic Christian teachings - some of the best known and most often quoted sayings in the bible - so why are they so uniformly ignored?

• Is this teaching "practicable" or is it an impossibility that turns us to the grace of God, or is it something else?

• Does the fact that this gospel was written shortly after the destruction of the Jewish Temple influence the way you understand it?

Two names - Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr.

• Discuss!

 
To see where I'm going with the sermon check out Wesley's concept of "Christian Perfection" and the Eastern Orthodox concept of "Theosis". Be perfect indeed!

Shalom!