THE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS - 101

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Tybee Island, Georgia

JESUS ON THE MOUNT – Salt & Light

A PREJUDICE FOR ACTION

Knowing what we know now about how Jesus approached his own ministry, it should be no surprise that he holds his followers to that same standard.  With this in mind, consider the initial teaching he uses to launch this mountainside discourse.

Living in a world of artificial lighting and numerous food preservation and seasoning options, it is difficult for the 21^st century mind to fully comprehend the concepts Jesus uses to describe the mission of the Jesus-follower in that (and our own) society.  Salt and light are so passé to our thinking that we can miss the importance of them to a culture where darkness had its own terror, and corruption caused by a lack of or failed preservatives could destroy a family’s perishable provisions in short order.

Pre-Christian notions of darkness can be seen in the way the concepts of light and dark are used in biblical accounts.  Light is portrayed as all that is godly and pure while darkness is relegated to the evil and to be feared.  The fact that this dichotomy no longer holds the same meaning for current day readers does not lessen the impact of Jesus’ words for us.  The reality behind the concepts is just as real in 21^st century as it was in the 1^st.

Yet, even in our contemporary society, darkness can still strike terror in souls without hope and ruined lives experience hopelessness when they find themselves defenseless in a world of corruption.  Salt and light as used here are not so much literal as they are personal; they refer to those persons who respond in faith to the call of Jesus to “be” salt and light.  As such, they are not just pew-sitters or do-gooders; they are those who will serve their purpose in the midst of the world to make a contribution to kingdom by drawing attention to it.

In that regard, we are to have a prejudice for action.  In verse 15, Jesus points out that men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel. Yet when we claim to have to good news of the gospel and don’t take the necessary steps to make sure that news gets out, is this not the same kind of action to which Jesus refers here.  Salt as well, if it is either left out to go “bad” or is altogether unapplied, makes no sense.

COMING UP AGAINST THE “CW”

The conventional wisdom (or CW) of that and every generation since is to keep your heads low, keep plodding forward, avoid making waves or rocking the boat.  This may be comfortable but is it what Jesus intended for his followers?  Apparently not, based on his words here.  Jesus was one to expose the CW of the Pharisees, of the synagogue, of the scribes and of even his own disciples when they tempted people to follow a lesser vision.

So it is that, as the Beatitudes prepared readers for a different way of thinking, the “Salt & Light” teaching prepares us for a different way of acting.  The teachings that follow in chapters 5 thru 7 of Matthew serve to accentuate this and challenge our own CW.  We too need to accept the daily challenge to begin and/or continue to "think Jesusly".

NEXT POST – The Law and the Prophets; Aren’t they SO Old Testament?

The Commandments of Jesus – 101

Color Doorway in Havre de Grace, MD

JESUS ON THE MOUNT – The Beatitudes 

Chapter 5 begins a section of Matthew’s gospel that has been designated as the Sermon on the Mount.  The propensity of the Western mindset for scrutinizing, classifying and categorizing things to make them easier to remember for some, has a tendency to trivialize and rob others of our ability to enjoy being “in the moment”.  As we look at the teachings here in chapters 5-7, Jesus is not so much stringing together several ideas like one would assemble a necklace.  The object of which is to create a piece of jewelry that has the decided task of making the wearer look good.  Each of the teachings has a real world application that stands by itself. 

That being said, the opening statements by Him do serve a purpose of preparing the hearer for what is to follow. Dubbed the Beatitudes, each begins with the word “blessed” or, in the Greek, “makarios” which translates as happy. Yet it is difficult to see how this idea can be applied to the topics of all these teachings.  True, those who mourn are blessed when they receive the comfort they need. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will also find blessed relief.  Even the peacemakers get what they promote.  But then there are those that involve the persecuted, the abused and others in similar circumstances.  It is difficult to see the blessedness in this, especially in this life.  But therein is the point. 

These brief initial teachings in chapter 5, aside from their obvious intent also serve a secondary purpose for those listening to Jesus.  That purpose; perspective.  The teachings of Jesus, as seen here in Matthew 5-7, provide us a picture of what it is to live as a citizen in Jesus’ new kingdom.  For certain, what Jesus is saying here often flies in the face of conventional wisdom but isn’t that the point?  Hasn’t conventional wisdom failed to provide what it promises - safety in every an all situations of life.  Conventional wisdom, for example, tells us that “stick and stones may break our bones but words can never hurt us.”  Why then do words continue to cut, tear and give pain?  Conventional wisdom may be well intentioned but it does not always prepare us for reality. 

I cannot say if Jesus’ original intent was to use the beatitudes this way intentionally at that gathering but I believe they did serve to prepare his listeners for what was to follow.  Jesus’ use of the teaching formula “You have heard it said….but I tell you” indicates that the conventional wisdom of his mountainside congregation were about to be challenged and superseded.  Consider if you will just a few the Beatitudes from a conventional wisdom vantage point: 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God:  The conventional wisdom (CW) is that the poor in spirit is a double whammy.  That the poor are not being blessed just shows the contempt with which God holds them.  In addition the “Poor in Spirit” is almost an oxymoron because if you are poor in spirit you don’t deserve anything, especially the kingdom of heaven. 

Or…… 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  CW tells us that it is the go-getter, the A-type personality that wins out in the end.  The meek don’t know how to promote themselves and thus are left with leftovers, not the prime rewards.

And then there is….. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Persecution and blessedness have rarely if ever been anyone’s natural combination. In each of the beatitudes we find a surprise.  Having been indoctrinated in the traditions, the Jewish hearer listened to what Jesus going to say and believed they knew the answer.  The Religious Conventional Wisdom (RCW) dictated the response but, as they would quickly learn, Jesus was not there to reinforce their convictions but, rather, to equip them with “new” answers to old questions. 

NEXT POST – “SALT & LIGHT”: A PREJUDICE FOR ACTION