Matthew 5:21-37
‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; 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. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Reflection - Time for a Come to Jesus Session
I like to refer to this as "The come to Jesus session." Jesus sets so many things straight. Oh, how I love to rationalize and reason through my sin, How I love to hide sin and pretend I wasn't a part of any of it. Oh, how I love to sound as if I'm just the perfect Christian kind of guy. But that's just not the truth of it. That's just not the way it is. I'm a sinner. I sin even when I hate sin. I sin and fall short of any expectation I have for myself and any expectation I believe God has for me. So, when I read this passage from the Gospels, I know it's time for a "Come to Jesus session."
I know that the true consequence of my sin is death. Eternal death. I know that I must pay my debts, I must forgive, I must not murder in a myriad of ways, I must not lust and look at another woman, I know that I must not commit adultery. I know this and I know the consequence of my sin is death. Jesus says so!
"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."
This is just not about eyes here. This is about my sin. My very own sin. I must throw it out to save myself from hell. There it is... the "Come to Jesus" session.
I mean really... this is serious stuff here. So... "Come to Jesus!" Yes, come to Jesus! Jesus is my only chance at any of this. And if you think you are clear and free because you haven't done anything THAT awful, you had better think about it twice. We all must "Come to Jesus." Yes, even as Jesus has come to us... we must "Come to Jesus." Jesus is the only way through this whole "sin" thing we have gotten ourselves into. Jesus is the One that God chose to come into this world to save all and each of us from sin, death and the devil. With and through Jesus only, do we have life. Eternal life is in Jesus and through Jesus alone.
We, I, any of us, can't get past the sin. We must... "Come to Jesus" for this. And in that coming to Jesus. In that listening to the tough messages about the Law, we learn the love of God. We learn that the love of God in Jesus grants us freedom from sin. We will still live in the consequences of our sin on this earth . My sin has caused much pain to people far and wide beyond what little I can see of my sin and I am responsible for that pain and hurt. I can't get clear of that here in this place. But what I can do is repent, forgive, and love those I have hurt. I can turn to God and listen to the Word in Jesus and act out the gifts of the Holy Spirit that; as I receive the forgiveness of sin that Jesus died in my place for; I can give my life to God and live an eternal life of hope in the saving act of what God did through Jesus for me, for you, for all, upon that cross.
Because... look and see! Jesus died in our place on that cross for our sin... yet he rose again to new life. He rose again in the flesh and in the spirit to eternal life for you, for me, for all.
So, I will live free from the death of my sin, because Jesus died in my sin on the cross. I will live in the hope of Jesus coming again to finalize all things and take me to be with him in heaven. I will live the life God intends for me to live even on this earth and in this sinful being to the glory of God.
Yes, it's a "Come to Jesus" session as Jesus has come to you, to me and to all the world. Jesus has come... now "Come to Jesus!" Thanks be to God!
Here is a song that reminds me that we all need to Come to Jesus, for Jesus has come to us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxIsKcdy3Jk
Prayer
Lord, I know I have sinned. Forgive my sin. Renew me, restore me and return me to your favor that I may go forth into this world and do your will... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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