In the last installment, we looked at how a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God is a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.
We saw that such a requirement is beyond human attainment, but discouragement quickly changed from despair to joy when we discovered that the One making the requirement also provides it. So that we can appreciate just how much the righteousness of Jesus Christ elevates beyond the abilities of self-righteousness, Jesus continues with more examples in His Sermon of the Mount.The Law of Honesty.
"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.
But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)
Some people feel that they satisfy this requirement by refusing to take an oath in a court of law. This was not the context of Jesus' point. Two thousand years ago Jews were quite ready to swear an oath as a sign of good will and fidelity. However, they placed varying values of different objects with respect to their holiness. In many minds, a whole string of oaths, sworn to objects of lesser holiness could be broken without guilt. This entire practice had made a mockery of the basic ethic of honesty. Jesus' point was this: the righteousness of the Kingdom of God requires no oath - a man's naked word should be valid. People who subscribe to Kingdom righteousness are not looking for loopholes, and their testimony is born not just by their words, but by how they live.
The Law of Love
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' Matthew 5:38-43 (NKJV)
In this evil and corrupt world, how can anyone live by this standard. Don't we have to "do unto others before they do unto you?" It would be unwise to reject Jesus' teaching here by applying the antithesis. Perhaps Jesus once again is speaking in a radical metaphor. For even Jesus did not personally apply this standard literally in his own life. When struck on the cheek during His inquisition before the high priest, he rebuked His assailant (John 18:19-23). There are some situations where on will fulfill the letter of this teaching, such as when a follower of Jesus meets persecution because he is a disciple. However, Jesus is again speaking of a righteousness which demands an attitude of the heart, not motivated by selfishness or personal rights. Its a heart attitude motivated by love, even for those who do you wrong. Complete freedom from the spirit of revenge and self-vindication, returning love for hatred, repaying kindness for evil - this is the righteousness of God's Kingdom.
Love always seeks the best for the beloved. Sometimes this must include chastisement and discipline(Hebrews 12:6), or even the administration of justice. Our problem as humans is in removing personal anger and vindication from the process and leaving it to God (and the authorities He has put in place - Romans 13:4). The supreme manifestation of this law of love is found in forgiveness. You can truly forgive only if you do it in love, and we do not - by our nature - possess such love. So once again, God supplies us with that which He demands. Read all of 1 John, compare it with Matthew 18:21-35, and draw your own conclusion.
The law of love and the Gospel of the Kingdom are one in the same. The righteousness of the Kingdom is a righteousness which only God Himself can give: perfect purity, perfect honesty, perfect love, perfect forgiveness. No one, Jew or Gentile can attain such high standards. I can only receive it by faith as a gift (grace) from God. I can love only as I have received love. I can forgive, only as I have received forgiveness. That was the man's problem in Jesus parable (Matthew 18:21-35). He had been given the gift of forgiveness, but he did not receive it as such, thinking that he could somehow earn it. Consequently, not having received it as a gift, he could not offer it as a gift. The latter was evidence of the former, thus he was turned over to the torturers.
Just as we are able to partake of the fullness of life that belongs to the Age to Come, so the righteousness of the Kingdom, which belongs to the Age to Come has been imparted to the children of the Kingdom through Christ and the holy Spirit. Praise God for that which we now have in part, for it signifies that which is to come. Stay the course and receive the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
