Sermon for Epiphany 6: "Cross and Commandments"

+ 6^th Sunday after Epiphany – February 16^th, 2020 +

Series A: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37

Beautiful Savior Lutheran

Milton, WA

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

When YHWH gave Moses and Israel the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20, he began by giving them his promise: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery

So far, in his sermon on the mount, Jesus has done a similar thing for us, his disciples. Earlier in Matthew 5, in the beatitudes, Jesus declared us blessed in him. Last week we heard how we are salt and light in him. Today, as Jesus unpacks the meaning of the commandments, it’s helpful to remember the context of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. Jesus preaches these words – which are no doubt, difficult words to hear – to us who are his redeemed and rescued, baptized and beloved people.

Here, in Matthew 5, Jesus says, this is how you live as my redeemed, beloved, baptized people. Jesus takes three commandments, the 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th commandments, and reveals how we live in the gifts he gives us and protects for our good with these words.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

In the 5^th commandment, God gives us the gift of our body and soul and all our members and he intends for us to treat others around us not with anger or hatred both in our inward heart - our thoughts – and in our outward actions of word and deed. To live in peace and reconciliation as ones redeemed and reconciled by Jesus.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

In the 6^th commandment, God gives us the gift of marriage and sexuality, and he intends for us to lead lives of purity in the heart as well as in our actions and relationships with others of the opposite sex, to remember that everyone we come into contact with someone for whom Christ has died. So Jesus teaches us the importance of his gift of human sexuality and marriage.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’

In the 8^th commandment, God gives us the gift of a good reputation, and intends for us to speak and user our words in a God-pleasing way, and not lightly. To let our yes be yes and our no be no. 

Still, it’s hard to hear Jesus’ teaching and not feel convicted. The more we wrestle with Jesus’ words here the more we find ourselves stripped of any and all self-righteousness. I don’t know about you, but every time I read this part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, I realize that I don’t have a leg to stand on. I haven’t lived as God intends. I have not loved the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, nor have I loved my neighbor as myself. I have lived as if God does not matter and as if I matter most.

Jesus’ words reveal, not only how he intends us to live, but also that we have not lived as he intends us to. We have been hateful and angry. We have all lusted in our hearts and minds. We haven’t always spoken with the kindest words or put the best construction on everything. Jesus’ words leave us with no wiggle room, nowhere to hide, and nothing to cling to, except his word. His promise. 

Jesus’ words aren’t just hard to follow; they sound impossible. And though we certainly try, and we should try to live as God pleases, we also know that we constantly fail and fall and sin. As C.S. Lewis once observed, “No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” 

And if Jesus’ words reveal that we have not lived as he intends us to live, they also reveal his intention, his will, his desire to live for you. To keep these commandments on your behalf. To follow not just the letter, but the spirit of the law and to do it perfectly for you.

It is true, you should not be angry with your neighbor. But when you are, there is one there is one who has become liable to hell for you. One who has left it all at the altar. Even his own life, in order to come and be reconciled with you. One who has come to terms with the accuser by paying our debt in full with His own blood.

It is true that you should not look at other people lustfully. But when you do, there is one who sacrificed not only His eye, but his whole body. One who is Himself the right hand of God cut off and thrown away. Thrown into the hell of the cross where He endured the entire wrath of God on your behalf.

It is true that you should not commit adultery. But when you do, there is one who will still consider you His bride. Who will be married to His church to which you belong, despite the sin. Who will bear your sin Himself, even though He is innocent. And have your sin buried with Him in the tomb on Good Friday.

It is true that you should swear falsely, not misuse the name of God. But when you do, there is one who says yes, and needs no oath to back it up. Says yes to saving you. Yes to raising you from the dead. Yes to bringing you with Him out of the grave through His own resurrection.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.