MATTHEW 5:21-37
JESUS SHOWS US
THE HEART OF THE LAW.
In the name + of Jesus.
It happens from time to time in Catechism Class; when we talk about why God gave us the Commandments, a student will answer, “Because God doesn't want us to have fun.” I suspect it reflects what a lot of people think—that God is some kind of cosmic killjoy who really doesn't want us to be happy. For many people, life is supposed to be all sex and drugs and rock-n-roll. They view God's Commandments as a list of ridiculous restrictions. But what about you? Do you think God's Commandments are good or bad?
If you lean toward saying God's Law is bad, St. Paul tells you why. He wrote, “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.” (Romans 7:9-13) God's Commandments are good. God's Commandments show us what it is to be good. Unfortunately, what God's Commandments also show us is that we are not good. They highlight our sin. They rob us of any delusions that we are pure. That makes us feel angry, ashamed, and anguished. Our defense mechanism insists, “This is all God's fault!” We feel the Commandments are bad because they make us feel bad. But God and his Commandments are not the problem. Our sin is the problem, and God wants us to see that. For this reason, Jesus shows us the heart of the Law.
Since Ten Commandments come from God, they are good. They tell you how to love you neighbor. When Jesus explains the Law, he explains how far your love for your neighbor should go. Consider one of Jesus' words: “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 lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
Most people can boast that they have not committed adultery in the strict sense—one man taking another man's wife. But if a man starts checking out someone else's wife, or fantasizes about a single woman, or longingly pants as he looks at the image of a woman on a computer screen, he might challenge, “What's the harm in that? I'm not hurting anyone.” Well, what do you think of offering up your daughter for that? Does this not sound deplorable to you? Or do you really think there is no harm in thinking of another as someone to be seduced, used for your pleasure, and then discarded?
Therefore the Commandment is good, because it seeks the protection and the good of your loved one. And if it exposes the wickedness of how you think of another man's wife or daughter, then repent. Sins are never harmless to our neighbor or to ourselves. Nor are sins meaningless to our God. Repent.
Jesus shows us the heart of the Law. After quoting the Law, Jesus digs deeper into its meaning. “You have heard that it was said,” Jesus begins, but then he goes on, “But I say to you...” Six times in this chapter, Jesus shows us the heart of the Law with the phrase, “But I say to you.” (Matthew 5:22,28,32,34,39,44) Jesus shows us that the Law demands more than pure behavior; it demands a pure heart. Good behavior is not good enough.
Consider one example: The 8th Commandment states, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” The Pharisees worked hard to keep this. When they came to Jesus with questions, they tried to trap him in his words so that they could accuse and condemn him. They would contend that they did not say anything to slander Jesus; they only asked him questions. Do you think they actually kept the Law? Or fast forward to when Jesus stood on trail before them. St. Matthew recorded, “The chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.” (Matthew 26:59-60) When the trial was over, the Pharisees could walk out of that court claiming, “We did not give false testimony about Jesus. We may have paid others to do that, be WE didn't, We are innocent.” Technically, that was true. But do you consider them faultless? Were their hearts pure? Did they seek the protection and good of Jesus? Hardly. Their hearts were filled with wickedness every step of the way. They lied to hide their evil, heaping up their sins by adding evil to evil.
Jesus shows us the heart of the Law. It is true: The Law may handcuff people, but if it does, it handcuffs wickedness; and that is good. God's Law does not tolerate evil. It shows us what a good and godly life is supposed to look like. When it exposes that our hearts are not good, even that is good. For now you do not have to pretend to be better than you are. It robs you of any hope of standing before God on your own two feet. It has you longing for a Savior from your sin. And you have a Savior, Jesus.
Jesus shows you the heart of the Law, and he has kept that Law perfectly throughout his life. Jesus lived to seek the good of his neighbor, no matter who they were or what they were guilty of. Jesus even spent time with prostitutes. He knew what they were guilty of. He did not approve of it or excuse them for it, but he did not condemn them either. He had compassion on them, recognizing that they lived in lowliness and shame. Who knows what happened in their lives that they resorted to harlotry to get by? Rather than cast them away, Jesus sought their good. He was accounted as an adulterer for their sake. He covered their shame with his innocence. And he gave up his perfect life to purchase their forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus shows us the heart of the Law. When he was on trial and was being falsely accused, mocked, and robbed of justice, he did not spew out words of hate or anger or revenge. Instead, he sought the good even of his enemies. The heart of the Law demands that the guilty pay the price. And because Jesus has sought the good of all, he paid the price for all. He accepted every charge against every sinner and carried them to the cross to suffer and die—the Innocent One on behalf of all the guilty. He has not acted to see what he can get out of you or how he can take advantage of you. He poured out himself completely for your good—fulfilling the heart of the Law both in his perfect love and obedience and in his sacrificial death.
Jesus shows us the heart of the Law, and the heart of God's Law is to demonstrate love, mercy, and compassion on others. The heart of God's Law is always to seek the protection and the eternal good of others. And if the Law exposes that we are not living in accordance with God's word, it is good; for it is showing us our need to repent and makes us flee to our Savior. And it redirects our hearts and lives to what is God-pleasing.
That Savior who fulfilled the Law for us also instructs us with his Law. By Holy Baptism, he has created in you a clean heart and renewed in you a right spirit. And now God's Law shows your spirit where to go and how to serve. God shows you the good you get to strive for and the evil you avoid. He convinces you that his word is good, and that only life according to his word is good. Just as Jesus has sought and secured your good through his perfect life and innocent death, so also you and I get to seek the good of loved ones, strangers, and even enemies. For we no longer think in terms of what we can get away with, but rather in terms of what we can give.
This is good; for it reflects the heart of Jesus. It honors his word and glorifies God. God grant that our hearts will always be devoted to that.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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