The lectionary passage in Matthew continued with Jesus' challenging words about what it means to be a disciple. As I read the text, my first thought was "Jesus would have a tough time selling that kind of discipleship," which led to my introduction for the sermon in which I spoke very loudly, like a carnival barker, trying to get people to "buy" discipleship. My loud beginning clearly startled some (I think it even made a baby cry) and perhaps got everyone's attention.
I'm not sure the rest of the sermon worked as well. the point that Jesus calls us to a higher standard than the law does seemed fair to the text, but found it a difficult text to preach. I also think the "Time with Young Disciples," which is not shown below, worked well. I told likened ed the law to rules like "do not pinch your sisters," and then suggested that the higher standard would be the command, "love your sister," which would require more than just not pinching.
“Buy or Sell” SAPC, February 12, 2017; Matthew 5: 21-37; Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
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 judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,[a] you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult[b] a brother or sister,[c] you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell[d] of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister[e] has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,[f] and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court[g] 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. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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.[h] 30 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.[i]
It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 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.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Introduction: Step right up. Have I got a deal for you.
It’s time to buy a stake in discipleship. Not the old model, but the new model of discipleship.
No prerequisites, just the willingness to buy.
It ’s the same discipleship Jesus was offering back in his time; now it’s yours for the taking today.
Lifetime guarantee.
Discipleship.
Move 1: Don’t buy if you are a person who likes the exact letter of the law and the way its sets the limit to what is asked of you.
a. If you like to know the parameters and find comfort in them, do not buy the discipleship Jesus is selling.
1. It’s hard to argue against clear cut rules and laws.
2. In some ways, that’s one of the things we do best — make rules, and then make some rules.
3. The religious authorities in Jesus’ time had put together laws and rules to define how the people should behave.
3. For example, we hear Jesus describe the laws concerning murder, adultery, divorce, and swearing (Jesus takes on some of the big issues).
4. the laws are black and white. they might get a bit convoluted over time as the try to keep pace with the way people find to break the rules, but they came up with definitions and expectations that made it clear what was expected of people in particular situations.
5. Being a follower of God had become synonymous with being the law.
b. But here comes Jesus asking people to buy into another brand of discipleship.
1. Discipleship which does not settle for the law, but invites us to new life marked by going far beyond the expectations and comfort of the law.
2. the law, for example, says “do not murder,” and if you do you are liable for judgment; Jesus says if you are angry with a brother or sister or insult someone else, you still are liable for judgment.
3. the law says, “you shall not commit adultery;” Jesus says if you look with lust at another, you have already committed adultery in your heart.
4. Jesus offers us discipleship that goes beyond the law and opens us up to redemption and reconciliation that can only occur in places beyond obedience to the letter of the law.
3. do you want to buy into this kind of discipleship?
Move 2: don’t buy if you are set with how things are in your life.
a. If you look around, examine your life, are satisfied, then no need to buy what Jesus is selling.
1. the religious establishment finds Jesus hard to follow because they are satisfied with how things are; they have it figured out for themselves.
2. they know what is required of them, and they are willing to do it.
3. that’s not a bad thing, I suppose.
4. It’s good to obey the laws on how to treat one another.
5. Since it satisfies them, they do not need this new brand of discipleship.
b. But for Jesus, that is not enough.
1. He teaches a new way of living and loving that is not limited to living by the law.
2. he describes discipleship as a call beyond the law, a call to love that knows no bounds.
3. which means those who choose to follow Jesus are never done.
4. they cannot stop when they have lived the letter of the law because the vision to which Jesus calls them looks beyond the law.
Don’t buy into Jesus’ discipleship if you are satisfied with life as you know it.
Move 3: Sell, sell, sell unless, unless you …
a. unless you are ready to take on the more than the law.
1. unless you want to imagine what life can be like beyond the law and try to live into it.
1. Desmond Tutu has written lot about how the Committee on Truth and Reconciliation handled itself after the end of apartheid in South Africa and in the process of bringing those who had committed crimes to justice.
he tells the story of the mothers of I noticed recently an article that referred to the mothers of the Gugulethu Seven [activists beaten and killed by South African authorities].
the commission counseled the mothers and told them that a video we had is quite harrowing. But they said they wanted
to see it. When we were viewing it, they became so incensed that one of the mothers threw a shoe at one of the police officers who was testifying.
Afterwards they said it was horrible, horrible, horrible, but thank you because now we know what happened….
One of the mothers, whose son was dragged with a rope, was asked how do you feel about the police? What would you like to do to this policeman who shot your son? She said, "I don't want anything to happen to him. I don't want him to go to jail. I forgive him.”
2. imagine that response, and as you do you see a response that wants more than obedience to the law; a response that desires redemption and reconciliation.
3. then imagine how you might be called to discipleship that seeks redemption and reconciliation.
b. Sell, sell, sell, unless you are ready to give all of yourself.
1. we read in Deuteronomy Moses urging the Israelites to not only obey the commandments and decrees, but give their hearts over to God.
2. “In biblical tradition heart is the most important organ;” heart is central to God’s relationship with Israel.
3. “God’s love of Israel is (often described as) an affair of the heart.” (Feasting on the Word, editors David Bartlett and Barbara Taylor, 342
4. the discipleship which Jesus offers is a matter of heart, not of law.
4. do you want to buy into that kind of discipleship?
c. Baptism this morning
1. you commit to raising Ivy in the faith.
2. will that be teaching her simply to obey all the rules?
3. or will you set the bar higher and show her love that goes beyond the letter of the law and invite her into that type of discipleship?
Conclusion: In Deuteronomy we read Moses’ words in his final speech to the Israelites as they approach the Promised Land.
he tells them— “Today I set before you life and death, blessings and curses.” and he urges them to choose life.
Life marked by giving their heart to God.
so I ask you one more time. Who wants to buy into this discipleship Jesus offers.
It’s right here, waiting for you.
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