New Commandments - New Community

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20  •  Psalm 119:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 3:1-9  •  Matthew 5:21-37

Our readings this week refer to commandments. Jesus gives us new commandments, and radical they are, or are they? He says, "You have heard it was said..." followed by a commandment, and then says, "but I say to you..." followed by seemingly extreme demands. For example: commandment: "You shall not murder..." followed by: "if you are angry with a brother or sister, you are liable to judgment." Or, "Do not commit adultery..." followed by "whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery 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." 

 What is Jesus telling us? Some call his remarks "antitheses" to the commandments, but he has told us he has come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. It helps to read the gospel in context. What is Jesus doing here? Who is he addressing? Both Debie Thomas in "But I Say To You...," and The Rev. Josh Bowron in "All Sinners," put this into context. They say it must be read with Jesus' life and in the context of the creation of a new community of faith and action, not in a transactional context. The Rev. Warren Swenson in "Mining The Riches" says Jesus is drawing deeper meaning from the law. What do you think?This is a good lesson to prepare for Lent.