This week's sermon

Matthew is Jewish 2/12/23

          Matthew is the most Jewish of the gospels.

          You might remember, if you were here, last week Jesus said “I have come to fulfill the law”.

          Law is what makes someone a Jew.

          There are hundreds of laws—ways to be in the world—that Jews must obey.

          In the other gospels—especially Luke and John—Jesus breaks the law by healing on the sabbath and eating what is not kosher and moving among gentiles.

          But Matthew stays with the law.

          The commandments.

          The passage we heard from Deuteronomy; we are told to ‘obey the commandments.’

          The Psalm says “we shall keep the” commandments.

          Even our collect said “that in keeping your commandments we may please you.”

          In the other gospels (especially Luke and John) Jesus is always ‘breaking the commandments.’

          He heals on the sabbath.

          His disciples don’t ‘keep’ the sabbath.

          There are numerous ways in which Jesus ignores the Law.

          But not in Matthew.

          In Matthew, he even expands ‘the law’.

          “You shall not murder” becomes “you shall not be angry with a brother of sister” and “You shall not insult a brother or sister.”

          “You shall not commit adultery” becomes “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust” has committed adultery.

          Then he starts telling us to tear out our eye or cut off our hand if they cause us to sin.

          You can’t divorce he tells us today, except of the grounds of unchastity, and if you marry a divorced woman you are committing adultery.

          Then, an even tougher interpretation, “no swearing”.

          I can’t speak for you, but I swear a lot!

          Typing this sermon and making mistakes with my fingers caused a few swear words, I assure you.

          So, what do we do with Matthew’s Jesus?

          I’m a lot more in step with Luke’s Jesus—the most compassionate of the four Jesus’ we find in the gospels.

          The Episcopal Church—and me as one of it’s priests—accept the concept of divorce and re-marriage.

          There are people here in good standing in the church, who have been married more than once.

          I know I get angry with people from time to time.

          And I bet you do too.

          And we’ve all sworn to things that we didn’t believe.

          And said bad words.

          Let Matthew’s Jesus be. Just don’t be controlled by him.

          Turn to John and Mark and especially Luke’s Jesus.

          Find compassion for sinners.

          Help the poor—put socks on their feet and food on their table—as you do so well.

          Don’t let the “law” get you down.

          We are made ‘free’ of the Law by Jesus and by God.

          Ponder for a moment, how ‘free of the law’ we are.

 

Amen and amen.