21 “You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don’t commit murder,[a] and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment. 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift. 25 Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents while you are with them on the way to court. Otherwise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge will turn you over to the officer of the court, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I say to you in all seriousness that you won’t get out of there until you’ve paid the very last penny.
Reflection
Before I read scripture I ask for discernment and an open heart. I mention that wondering if some of you may be like me and find this scripture hard to get clear meaning from.
Today’s text is the first of six interpretations Jesus uses to address subjects Jesus believes are crucial for his Disciples to learn. There should be no debate and Jesus makes that very clear in his words.
Some have thought that Jesus came to abolish the Old Testament but in verse 17 of Chapter 5 Jesus says that he is not abolishing Old Testament Scriptures – he has come to fulfill the Scriptures as they were intended to point to Him. Scripture has ever lasting authority.
Verse 20 shows us why Jesus needs to explain anger and treating others without care and respect. The scribes and the pharisees were not concerned with internal righteousness, their concern was only external and involved supporting the Roman rule and its injustices. Jesus wants the disciples to live in a way that supports justice in society.
In verses 21 and 22 we see the God not only considers our actions but also our thoughts and words. He’s concerned with the motives of our heart.
In verses 23 and 24 we see Jesus saying that if we wish to have a healthy relationship and fellowship with God that we must maintain a healthy relationship with others. Making peace with those whose lives touch ours requires wanting to see and understand them, to care. If we do not value others enough to want to know and understand them, that can lead to our hearts becoming hard and can lead to anger and violence. The solution to our culture’s chaos is not government but living as God has designed for us to live.
If you were unable to hear Pastor Lee’s excellent Message on September 1st I think you will find that it makes a great deal of sense in understanding God’s will for our lives. His message reminded me of the three simple rules that John Wesley set forth:
Do no harm. Living ethically and avoiding actions that could hurt others.
Do good. Actively helping others and performing acts of kindness.
Follow God’s plan for our lives. Loving God as he loves us.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
It can be hard to apply biblical values as we live our lives each day but isn’t that what the phrase “bringing light into the world” means. As God’s people we should be a source of hope, kindness, and love and to help others find their way. We do this by following the example of Jesus and his teaching in words, actions, and thoughts.
Where can we be light? These days, there is a lot of division in the political realm. Everyone has a different opinion, and many aren’t hesitant to attack those with whom they disagree. Sadly, this situation is the same for believers. As Christians how can we move beyond the us-and-them politics of the day and represent a truly biblical perspective based on God’s priorities? This little video called humpty-dumpty tries to inspire us in our situation:
https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/qrpage/humpty-dumpty
We find ourselves just over two months from November 5th , the official day when we cast our 2024 election votes in person. Voting by mail begins even earlier, later this month. Electing people to represent us will have major impacts on our lives. I propose to you that “Do No Harm” and “Do Good” require us to earnestly look at the platforms of the people who are running for office and not sit on the sidelines. Are you prepared to look for truth and go beyond the surface?
How can you apply John Wesley’s three simple rules in your life this fall?
Do Wesley’s simple rules work well as a teaching aid for your children?
Prayer: Holy Lord, we are thankful that we continue to be blessed by Pastor Joe and also those who have been with us each Sunday this past month in his place, persons of quality and caring who bring your word to us each week. We pray that through the presence of Your Spirit in our hearts and minds that we will be empowered to Do Good and not harm. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.