Epiphany 6A – 12 February 2023

Sermon

Rev’d Howard Wallace

The focus of the Old Testament and Gospel readings this week is ‘law’. Moses calls the people to obey the commandments while Jesus expounds on some of the Ten Commandments.

As modern Protestant Christians we do not speak much about ‘law’ in relation to our faith. Law is a matter for civil authorities, for governments to manage. If we think about law in regard to religion it is often related to other faiths, Judaism or Islam etc. Law has little to do with our faith, except in as much as disciples of Jesus we endeavour to be responsible citizens and obey civil laws as best we can. Our faith has only a secondary relation to law. But, last week in our Gospel reading and just before today’s reading we have Jesus saying: “Do not think I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.” And then Jesus goes on to take some of the Ten Commandments and he seems to make them even more stringent. What are we to make of the reading from Deuteronomy let alone what Matthew has Jesus saying?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 is really a climax to the Book of Deuteronomy – a book of law. But note that the passage ends not with a curse for anyone who does not obey the commandments, a common practice in law codes of the ancient world, but rather it ends on a more hopeful note. “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.” (v. 19) Moses’s purpose in giving the law and in repeating it in Deuteronomy, is that the people may hear it as a positive call to hearing, loving, walking and heeding the ways of God in their world.

Law in the Old Testament is not to be seen as restrictive and demanding. It is not a return to the slavery of Egypt where life was cramped, hard, confined and driven. The opposite is the case. Law is seen as a means to life; a gift given on the passage toward an abundant life.

There are two other things we can say about the Deuteronomy reading today.

First, in Deuteronomy, a word of legal requirement from God is not the last word in this covenant relationship. The last word is to be the people’s response to God’s invitation to life. To enter a covenant relationship with God requires a decision. A decision to cast one’s lot with the law and way of God. It is a decision not to be servants and followers of other gods. For us, in our age where we do not have shrines to idols, it is not a choice simply of following God or not, as if the alternatives are God or no god, but it speaks of going a way other than God’s. Serving another ‘deity’ in modern terms might mean becoming a slave to work, to reputation, to prosperity, security, safety, comfort etc. Of course, these are not bad things in themselves but they can easily become idols we can serve that can become destructive in nature – not a choice for life.

Second, the life on offer is not simply complicity to the will of a slave master, but rather to follow the God who released his people from Egypt long ago – a symbol of the freedom of this life offered. The life on offer has to do with worship and ethics/morals which:

• govern our actions and behaviour;
• govern our quest for justice and fairness in human affairs;
• govern the honour of parents and the elderly, all people in society;
• govern a concern for creation itself;
• govern a just and honest leadership within the community;
• govern respect for neighbours.

All of these are concerns of the law in Deuteronomy. The choice before the people is a choice to pursue such matters for in them will life as gifted by God be found. A life lived with a concern for such matters is what Deuteronomy deems a ‘good and blessed life’, one lived according to the ways of God. To choose another way is, as one scholar puts it, “to reap the whirlwind of disorder and chaos.” In Christian terms we are talking about our discipleship for after all the word ‘disciple’ is related to ‘discipline’. To be a disciple of Christ is a matter of choice, even constant choice, and adherence to the ways of God evident in Christ.

But what then might we say about the Gospel reading today where Jesus appears to make the law even harder? Not only is it wrong to murder but be careful about your anger. Not only is it wrong to commit adultery but be careful about looking in lust. Not only is it wrong to swear falsely but you should avoid taking oaths altogether.

Now care is needed here in understanding Jesus’s word here for the arguments used are quite subtle. In brief, let me say this. Jesus is not saying that anger itself is wrong. We all find ourselves angry from time to time but anger that is allowed to fester into hatred opens itself up to destructive action toward another. Jesus is not saying sexual feelings are wrong in themselves, after all we all have them and they are necessary for life to continue. But note Jesus addresses men in reference to married women. In the ancient world if such feelings lead to adultery with a married woman then serious consequences arise for all concerned, especially the woman. While Jesus does suggest not swearing oaths at all, what he is getting at is entering contracts or agreements with false intent, or using the name of God in a manipulative way. It is really a plea for honest and open dealings and communication. The Gospel is not about playing games with people by manipulation.

Overall, what Jesus is getting at is that the law given by Moses, which he says he came to fulfil, does not simply require literal observance. Rather it is only really fulfilled when the way of God is something that arises from within. That is something we should all strive for, for in seeking that we are seeking “life and prosperity over death and adversity”. Amen