Matthew's gospel was written to a Jewish audience. The gospel presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, as one greater than Moses. Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount call the Jewish audience beyond their focus on obedience to the Law of Moses. We would do well to learn from what Jesus taught lest we repeat the failure of the author's audience: a behavior-oriented spirituality.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus indicated that he did not come to abolish (do away with) the Law, but rather to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He came to bring the Law to its intended end. That objective is spiritual maturity: "be perfect (mature) as your heavenly father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Such maturity is expressed in the ability to love even one's enemies (Matthew 5:44).
This goal of spiritual growth that leads to Godlike maturity shapes how we read and use the Bible. Does our reading of the Bible lead us to love as God loves - unconditionally, without excluding anyone (see Matthew 5:44-47)?
The fulfillment of the Law goes beyond a focus on behavior - what to do, not do. Six different times Jesus quoted the Law, "You have heard that it was said" (Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38), then said "but I say to you" (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39). Each time, Jesus moved beyond the Law's focus on behavior to the underlying spiritual principle. Jesus pointed to the spiritual principle as the guide to how one lived. He understood that one could keep the Law (avoid the prohibited behavior), yet violate the spiritual principle. His teachings focused on the deeper truth.
Spiritual truth leads us to spiritual maturity; the Law's focus on behavior becomes an obstacle to spiritual maturity. The Law's focus on behavior was on what not to do. It never leads us beyond the negative focus of what to avoid doing. Living by spiritual truth moves us to the positive dimension of what to do, ultimately, to love as God loves. The Law's focus on behavior leads us to judge and segregate ourselves into us-them divisions. In other words, the Law does not lead us to love who God loves. Spiritual truth leads us to embrace all.
Jesus' distinction between a focus on behavior (the Law) and spiritual truth shapes how we read the Bible. Does our reading of the Bible lead us to spiritual truth or to rules that focus on right-and- wrong behavior? Does our reading of the Bible lead us to the transformation of heart and mind (internal focus) or to what not to do (external focus on behavior)?
We probably cannot grasp how monumental Jesus' statement in the Sermon on the Mount was: "but I say to you." Jesus placed his teachings over the teachings of Moses and 1000 years of historical interpretation of the Law.
Jesus boldness shapes how we read the Bible. Jesus' life, teachings, and ministry (reflecting the character of God and the ways of God) become the guide to how we understand the Bible. Does our reading of the Bible reflect what Jesus taught and how Jesus lived?
How we read and use the Bible is vitally important! We would do well to give it our best thinking ... but that's my next blog.
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