Readings: Exodus 20:1-17 | Romans 6:1-11 | Matthew 5:17-26
Text: Matthew 5:17-26
Rules are great…when they apply to other people. That’s the way it is for sinners. As soon as the Law of God lands on our door, we squirm and writhe. In the Old Testament lesson. the verses immediately following the Ten Commandments show how the people responded to undeniable, absolute law:
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
They did not want to hear from the Lord Himself. I’d love to put the best construction on that request (and the Lord does do this in Deuteronomy 18), but the sad reality is that if we hear these same truths from another person, our hardened heart often writes it off as their opinion or somehow not applying to us.
*You shall have no other gods: But I mean, you can’t go through life trusting in nothing physical or earthly, right?
*You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God: But this only applies to swear words, right?
*Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy: Ok, so long as I go to church on Sunday, God’s ok with me the rest of the week?
*Honor your father and your mother: Except for how much they’ve wronged me, and don’t even get me started on elected officials!
*You shall not murder: But some people really are worthless scum!
*You shall not commit adultery: Oh but how could it be God’s will for me to be celibate before marriage or faithful for life to that man/woman with all his/her faults?
*You shall not steal: Save money, live better, right? “In this life, one thing counts: in the bank, large amounts… (from the musical Oliver)
*You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor: Except that they have so many faults it’s okay to criticize them in like-minded company.
*You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: Are you saying it’s wrong to want things and have dreams?
*You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor: Yeah, but it’s not fair that I only have this much, and I’ve worked so hard…
I was struck (read: brought to repentance) by a recent episode of “Kids Have Questions” on Issues Etc. In this short episode, the questions “Why do rich people often forget God?” and “Accidentally cussing is a sin, right?” The ways that Pastor Conner explained these two topics made me realize how adept I, as an adult, can be at justifying my behavior. When you explain something to a small child, they have the wonderful ability to still see the world as black and white, right and wrong. Granted, they also often display this in seeing others’ faults, but they also see through the complicated excuses that we make up to brush God’s truth under the rug.
But why does God give us these unchanging rules? It is for our good as His creatures.
One of the most challenging vocations that adults and the elderly have is convincing the young that they do not have it right yet. Whether it’s convincing a child that brushing their teeth is important and necessary or managing a class of middle schoolers so that they actually want to engage with world history or math—this takes consistency and perseverance to patiently bear with the little uprisings and groans.
This is precisely how it is for God our Father with His long suffering mercy toward us. Throughout our lives, even as adults, we put His patience to the test. Sometimes our behavior and thoughts bring honor to His Name and He would be proud to introduce us as His children. Other times, and often, we bring shame to the honorable Name He has placed on us.
“21 Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ 22 Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (Matthew 18:21-22) You must know that if our Lord says we should be so patient with our fellow sinners, that the mercy of God is infinitely greater. Not that we should “go on sinning so that grace [may] abound,” [Romans 6:1] but rather that we should confess that God has received each of us with such mercy that we are constantly surprised. Even if your own family has given up on you, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
Sin has the terrible side effect of taking that which is forbidden, and making it look justifiable, wise, and beautiful. And God knows this, and earnestly desires to send us warnings. The Ten Commandments, if we are willing to humble ourselves and hear them, will guard us against abusing the liberty God has given people. Yes, He has given us freedom to live as His beloved creatures, but with that come responsibilities and boundaries that must be maintained.
Yes, there are temporal consequences to not keeping His holy Ten Commands. There is real harm from neglecting fellowship with our Creator. There is real, palpable harm done by wronging our neighbor by sins of the mind, of the body, or of the heart. Anyone who brushes this off and says that we were just born this way, is echoing a lie of the Devil.
Even though He does not thunder down, He does speak His powerful Word by His Almighty Spirit and awakens us to acknowledge where we have failed to keep His Commandments. And yet, this is not a reason to throw in the towel and say that the Commandments are for people holier than us. It is precisely this which God has created us for, and living within the bounds of His good creation, He will most certainly bless us. He will bless us as the one and only God who never leaves or forsakes us. He will bless us with His Name that brings rescue from sin, death, and the devil. He will surround us with His protection and enrich our faith every time we drink from the fountain of His Word. He will keep us with the authorities He has wisely given us. He will protect us so that we do not need to seek vengeance for ourselves. He will provide for us so that we can walk honorably before all. He will defend our reputation even if others should stain it with slander and lies. All of our contentment can be found in Him alone so that house and home are all gifts from Him, no matter what crosses we must bear for now.
We hear about how the Israelites were a “stiff-necked people” and would that such a label applied only to them. Yet, we must admit that we are no better. We have sinned against God’s will in thought, word, and deed, both in what we have done and what we have failed to do.
Yet, praise the Lord for His mercy revealed in Christ! In Him, we are redeemed and have the gift of the forgiveness of our sins [Col. 1:13-14]. God be at work in every one of His baptized children, so that their lives may bring honor to His holy Name, and that our wills may aspire to freely serve Him alone in the weakness of this life. Then, when His glory comes, “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
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