Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

- Matthew 5:38-48

We are going through Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. We began with the Beatitudes; then Jesus' teachings to His disciples You are the salt of the earth - You are the light of the world; teachings on the fulfillment of the Law - Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; and expansion of the law against murder: First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. In yesterday's reading, Jesus expanded upon the laws against adultery and swearing falsely. Jesus' expansion of the "outward" law extends to an inward reality: the cultivation of lust and covetousness is something one must do away with inwardly. Furthermore, He extends His teaching to condemn an easy divorce without real reason. He teaches us also to swear by nothing, but let our Yes be Yes, and No be No. See You have heard that it was said to those of old . . ..

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." A friend has pointed out to me that the instruction to turn the other cheek, to give the cloak, to go an extra mile are all instructions that give us the incentive to take charge of our own lives. In that sense, these actions teach us that we are not victims nor slaves of what others will do to us -- and that makes good psychological sense. Christ will always teach us His strength, and who we are in His sight, what we are capable of being and becoming. On another note, my study bible points out that Jesus is warning His disciples not to resist violence with more violence (contrary to Ex. 21:24, Lev. 24:20, Deut. 19:21). It says, "Evil, and the evil person, can be overcome only by good. This keeps us free from anger -- from being poisoned by the evil directed against us and its destructive forces -- and instructs others through Christian forbearance. It brings both us and our enemy under the yoke of God's love." It adds, however, that "this teaching does not contradict a state's right to protect its citizens and to punish criminals." If we see it one way, it's a dire contradiction between the laws of this world and the laws of the kingdom of love that Jesus is bringing into the world. And it's up to us to elect to build that kingdom through our own choices. This is what we keep in mind, whatever we encounter in life. What's our currency, so to speak? What rules do we choose to live by? In all of Jesus' teachings, we must realize that they elevate us out of automatic responses and slavish devotion to a worldly sense of self. They teach us who we can be, to transcend and elevate, that we are always capable of going beyond limitations we may place on ourselves or assume belong to us. We can make important choices to be like Him, like God.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." This is another strong and powerful exhortation to go beyond, to do better -- and to be "like God." It is, indeed, a command for the Kingdom. We go beyond the old law and into a new fulfillment of that law. We really must add here that the old laws were a form of regulation that improved the condition of man: the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" was actually a curbing and regulating of acts of retribution. So we must see the forward movement of the Law given in the first place, and now expanded upon by Christ. To practice love, of course, is the regulation of the Kingdom. My study bible says that to love our enemies is "a true expression of the life of the Kingdom. Having freed us from hate, sadness, and anger, He offers the greatest possession of all -- perfect love. That is a gift which can only be possessed by the one who, by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, manifests God's love for all."

"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?" How are Christ's disciples going to be distinct from others? How are they going to represent the Kingdom in the world? A note in my study bible adds to our understanding of how this kingdom is at work in the world, and through us: "Love is not merely an emotion. It is a divine grace -- an uncreated divine energy -- which inflames the soul and unites it to God and to other people."

"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." My study bible says, "Christ is our guide, and He is able to bring us to participate in the very life of God, which is love." It is a summing up of all the Christian aims for, and of the life of the Kingdom, which is shared with us through grace down to our deepest levels. Can we let Him in?

Ultimately, Christ's laws, or His teachings on the fulfillment of the Law, bring us into a place where we are taught to fulfill the reality of His Kingdom in this world. Through love, which is its true "gold standard," its currency, we are brought into relationship with God and with neighbor. We form bonds with each and through God's grace that allow us to participate in that Kingdom here in this world. But we have to want it. We have to try. We have to say "yes" to that which is offered to us and wishes to be at work within us. How do we remember or recall to ourselves that "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust"? How do we keep in mind that we should be perfect, just as Our Father in heaven is perfect? The great thing is that, even through our imperfections, we can recall and try. We can pray. We are capable of doing more and being more. And we have a lifetime of effort to learn to make. Let us remember that Jesus' teachings are not about slavery, but about what we elect to do, how we elect to be. They don't teach us to be doormats! Rather, they teach us to turn to love, to God's teaching for us, to the relationship God wishes for us. When in doubt, turn to prayer. Saying No at appropriate times can also be an act of love. But our behavior is mediated through Christ, through grace, through relationship to God. Can we make the effort to be perfect, just as Our Father in heaven is perfect? We have a lifetime of chances. It's all about learning love.