Day 5: Matthew 5
The evening devotion for the fifth day is Matthew 5, which begins the Sermon on the Mount.
My assumption has always been that the Law refers to the Ten Commandments, but does it actually refer to and include all of the rules laid out in painstaking detail in Leviticus? Or something else altogether?
Words matter in the Bible, and the word "brother" is probably one that confuses me often. Where the word trips me up in Matthew 5 is where Jesus talks about murder and anger.
If I'm reading this literally, the choice of the word "brother" instead of the word "neighbor" (used in the parable of the good Samaritan) seems to imply that it's okay, or more okay to remain angry with people who are not one's brother.
In this case the definition of the word "brother" becomes extremely important.
The verse above implies that there are others outside of one's brothers.
And in today's world, I think it's fair to say that not everyone is doing the will of God. So, the answer seems to be that one's brother is a fellow Christian, which is not inclusive of all people at the current time.
I just wanted to take a second to acknowledge Jesus's teaching that one should live by his or her words.
So, if I say that I'm going to do something, I am beholden to those words. I should avoid speaking just to end a conversation or to brush off a question or a request.
I reflected on this a couple of days ago, and I realized that I've been stumbling on this block for many years now. Especially in my conversations with my parents, I have been habitually saying "yes" when everyone in the conversation knew that I meant the opposite, "No, I'm going to ignore the request and definitely not do what you asked me to do." And my parents did the same in return, in response to my requests of them.
When I realized this cycle of plain lies, I called my parents to apologize and to ask them, from now on, to commit with me to only saying "yes" to the things we sincerely plan to do. That phone call actually turned out to be a really refreshing and uplifting conversation.
I thought it was time to adjust my interpretation of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" in a more literal way, because for a very long time I had difficulty understanding how Jesus could explain it to imply such grace and love.
The old way of understanding "an eye for an eye" is that you deserve "an eye" from your enemy "for an eye" that your enemy took from you. But I guess as I'm reading the line today, my understanding is that you should give "an [extra] eye" to the other person "for an eye" that the person already took from you.
This time around I'm also adjusting my understanding of the word "enemy" as it appears in the New Testament.
I had wondered, How can Jesus flip around the definition of "enemy" in two sentences? I feel that perhaps in the Old Testament the word "enemy" was used more in the literal sense of people directly opposed to someone (e.g., me). But in the New Testament, as Paul would explain later, people are not not and should not be considered my enemies, because the true enemy is sin. The true enemy is Satan.
What is the Law?
My assumption has always been that the Law refers to the Ten Commandments, but does it actually refer to and include all of the rules laid out in painstaking detail in Leviticus? Or something else altogether?
Who is my brother?
Words matter in the Bible, and the word "brother" is probably one that confuses me often. Where the word trips me up in Matthew 5 is where Jesus talks about murder and anger.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:21-22 ESV)
If I'm reading this literally, the choice of the word "brother" instead of the word "neighbor" (used in the parable of the good Samaritan) seems to imply that it's okay, or more okay to remain angry with people who are not one's brother.
In this case the definition of the word "brother" becomes extremely important.
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5:47 ESV)
The verse above implies that there are others outside of one's brothers.
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50 ESV)
And in today's world, I think it's fair to say that not everyone is doing the will of God. So, the answer seems to be that one's brother is a fellow Christian, which is not inclusive of all people at the current time.
Simply "Yes" or "No"
I just wanted to take a second to acknowledge Jesus's teaching that one should live by his or her words.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:37 ESV)
So, if I say that I'm going to do something, I am beholden to those words. I should avoid speaking just to end a conversation or to brush off a question or a request.
I reflected on this a couple of days ago, and I realized that I've been stumbling on this block for many years now. Especially in my conversations with my parents, I have been habitually saying "yes" when everyone in the conversation knew that I meant the opposite, "No, I'm going to ignore the request and definitely not do what you asked me to do." And my parents did the same in return, in response to my requests of them.
When I realized this cycle of plain lies, I called my parents to apologize and to ask them, from now on, to commit with me to only saying "yes" to the things we sincerely plan to do. That phone call actually turned out to be a really refreshing and uplifting conversation.
Reinterpreting "an eye for an eye"
I thought it was time to adjust my interpretation of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" in a more literal way, because for a very long time I had difficulty understanding how Jesus could explain it to imply such grace and love.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42 ESV)
The old way of understanding "an eye for an eye" is that you deserve "an eye" from your enemy "for an eye" that your enemy took from you. But I guess as I'm reading the line today, my understanding is that you should give "an [extra] eye" to the other person "for an eye" that the person already took from you.
Reinterpreting "my enemy"
This time around I'm also adjusting my understanding of the word "enemy" as it appears in the New Testament.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45 ESV)
I had wondered, How can Jesus flip around the definition of "enemy" in two sentences? I feel that perhaps in the Old Testament the word "enemy" was used more in the literal sense of people directly opposed to someone (e.g., me). But in the New Testament, as Paul would explain later, people are not not and should not be considered my enemies, because the true enemy is sin. The true enemy is Satan.