Good For Nothing - The Badatitudes Part One
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
This is an ultimatum given to the church. They'd better get their hearts right with God. They'd better get their mission right with God. And they'd better get their witness right with God. He's saying, when you head outside those sanctuary doors, and you go about your day in all your own ways, what impact is your faith having on the environments you're living in? Can the people you meet see your Christian light, or is everything you do hidden in the fog of your many compromises?
Jesus drills down into these compromises that EVERY one of us is or has participated in at one point or another. He begins with the law.
He tells us that he is the fulfillment of the law of God.
What is that law?
The law requires a death (a life) for disobedience.
Jesus says HE fulfills that requirement, and he goes on to say that no part of that law will ever be changed.
And so, Jesus tells EVERYONE...
Matthew 5:19
"Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven..."
...that teaching about the law MUST include agape love, mercy and grace. In fact, it's love that completes that law.
Jesus then illustrates this by contrasting the teachings of the Pharisees up against God's intent in the law. He's addressing the attitudes, and the intents of the Pharisees. If what we've just learned prior to this is about the "beatitudes", then these would be the "badatitudes".
He first describes a situation where someone is harboring hatred and murderous thoughts in their heart and mind. The Pharisees were concerned about the literal physical interpretation of the law regarding murder. But Jesus takes it to the next level and closer to the intent of what God sees. He sees the heart. He hates murderous thoughts in the heart. He wants to stop that murderous thought. God isn't looking for reasons to kill someone, he's looking to change a heart from being an instrument of murder into an instrument of mercy. And so he teaches us to not repay evil for evil. He teaches us to settle matters with our enemies rather than conjuring up hatred in our hearts. The Pharisees taught "an eye for an eye". Jesus teaches reconciliation. He explains that anger begets anger, judgment begets judgment, and murder is murder, even if it's only in your thoughts. And so, now we can see how the law can be interpreted in right and wrong ways, the difference is in the intent. If you want to murder, your intent is not godly, and your law is your law. God's intent is to prevent murder by virtue of His law. His law is not a list of punishments, it's not meant to make violence, it's meant to turn people away from acts of violence.
And Jesus digs even deeper. He talks about a situation where the believers, the children of God, are harboring murderous thoughts and attending religious services. They're making prayer requests to God and thinking thoughts of hatred in their minds.
When I imagine this situation, my mind immediately goes to the movie The Godfather, and the baptism by fire scene, where Michael Corleone is at the baptism of his nephew, and at the same time his henchmen are murdering his rivals by his commands. And it's especially poignant when the priest asks Michael if he renounces the works of Satan, and of course Michael answers yes. I think Don Barzini would argue that Michael was lying.
Obviously Michael Corleone is being disingenuous in his faith. Is he a backslider? Is he in a state of spiritual failure? Maybe he's just having a bad day. Or maybe he's playing god. Truth is he wants things to go his way. All things. Even spiritual things. And he's willing to fake it before the face of God.
How many times have you done likewise?
How many times have you compromised the law of love in order to have what you want to go the way that you want?
Did you choose to divorce because you're unhappy with a marriage relationship? Not because of infidelity, but because you're having an emotional affair with someone who is meeting your physical needs in a way that your spouse never has. Are you committing adultery in your heart and mind? Oh sure, you haven't "done anything" with her, yet. Or have you? In your thoughts? Maybe it's just an only fans relationship? Surely that isn't adultery. Or is it? The answer is in the intent.
Are you making promises, in God's name, that you can't keep, or have no intention to keep? Maybe you'd better just say it straight, don't make any promises you won't keep. Say what you do, and do what you say. The Pharisees say that the law intends to say that the punishment must match the crime, and likewise the promise made must match the promise kept. Either do it or don't, but don't make any claims to spiritual guidance and inspiration if you've got no intent to act upon it. God's revelation is meant to create actionable wisdom. Something good and useful, something salty. If your actions aren't going to match your words, maybe zip it.
If you've taken an oath to resist the works of Satan, THEN DO IT!
Don't hate your enemies, PRAY FOR THEM!
Don't bury murder in your heart, bury the hatchet. Get it out and be done with it. Be done with it and keep your word to God to love your neighbors and pray for your enemies.
God does this...he pours out blessings on the wicked and the righteous. Do likewise. Anybody can love those who love them, but only a righteous person can love their enemies.
Matthew 5:48
"...you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Amen.
Next time more on the law and how we're supposed to live in it.