Of all the words coming at you today, how to choose what’s best
By Dean Collins
How many things have you heard said? Certainly, more than you remember! The Scrabble fanatic and British actor Gyles Brandreth has estimated that we speak 860,351,500 words in a lifetime. I have no idea how Mr. Brandreth got to his conclusion or if he’s right, but it got me thinking about all the words and ideas we hear just in a day. Most of the things we hear we probably filter out of our minds because they aren’t important to remember.
You have heard, but I say . . .
When Jesus was talking to the crowds in Matthew chapter 5, he told the crowd six things they had heard said. Each time he followed with, “but I say to you.” His audience would have heard these six examples by listening to the scribes and Pharisees. They were the teachers of the Law. They knew their content and they were the guys who made sure everyone was following the rules of behavior in the Law, both the written Law and their very detailed explanations of the Law.
The six mentions Jesus referenced were important topics: murder, adultery, divorce, deliberately giving false testimony (lying), justice, how you treat neighbors, and enemies. The scribes and Pharisees had no doubt quoted the Law and explained it thoroughly many times. They also were the watchdogs of who was compliant and who wasn’t.
Jesus was the new guy in town, and his approach to God, to the Law, to people, and to life was informed but different. When he gave his contrasting statements, he didn’t deny what had been said or heard. Jesus knew the Law and could quote it. To rehash the rules wasn’t necessary. Jesus knew that rules give guidance, but he came to bring life, not simply compliance.
You wash your hands, but I look inside
In the fourth Gospel John helps us out by telling us Jesus knew what was inside of a man. He knew that improved and changed behaviors start with the heart. Matthew would later record a similar message when Jesus explained to the disciples that what comes out of the heart is what defiles and condemns, not simply the visible behavior.
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander,” Jesus said. “These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
The list of behaviors in Matthew 15 is almost identical to the one in Matthew 5. The listeners on the mountainside would eventually come to understand what you and I have also come to understand: We can’t change behaviors without first allowing Jesus to fix the heart issues at our very core. Paul would later write in 2 Corinthians that the reconciliation work of Jesus on the cross is what fixes what is broken in us. Acceptance of Jesus, his love, his death on the cross for our sins results in new creation! Now with new hearts and the Holy Spirit to guide us, we move beyond rule-keeping to love and life-giving
We’ve all heard many things said about what’s important, who's right, what will fix all our problems, and on and on. That’s all well and good, I suppose, but if we really want to see life change in us along with real changes in the world, then maybe we need to listen more to what Jesus says than anything else we hear today.
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-35, 38-39, 43-44, 48; John 2:23-25; Matthew 15:16-20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 ESV
Photo by ArtHouse Studio from Pexels
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