If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me

 

 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. 

 

 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."  He said to Him, "Which ones?"  Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth.  What do I still lack?"  Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 

- Matthew 19:13–22 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.  The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"  And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate."  They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"  He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.  And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."  His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."  But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:  For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.  He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

 

  Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.  My study Bible notes that, according to Theophylact, the disciples rebuked the mothers for bringing little children to Christ both because their manner was "unruly" and because they thought that children "diminished His dignity as Teacher and Master."  But Jesus rejects this thinking.  He sets little children as an example of those who inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, in the Orthodox Churches, little children are invited -- even as an example to adults -- to participate in the Kingdom through prayer, worship, baptism, chrismation, and Communion.  

 

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God." According to my study Bible, this man does not come to test Jesus, but rather to seek advice from a person whom he considers no more than a good Teacher.  We might be perplexed by Christ's response, but note that He does not deny that He is God; rather His response is designed to lead the rich man (often called the rich young ruler) to this knowledge.  

 

But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."  He said to Him, "Which ones?"  Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth.  What do I still lack?"  My study Bible comments here that formal observance of commandments does not make one righteous before God.  This man had an earnest desire for eternal life, and sensed that He still lacked something.  So, he continues to press Jesus for an answer.   

 

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.   To be perfect, my study Bible says, one must willingly sacrifice all and follow Christ.  It says that nothing is gained unless this sacrifice is given freely.  Importantly, one must note that the specifics of how one follows Christ will be different for each person.  In this case, because wealth had such a grip on this rich man, his only hope was to sell and give away all his possessions.  Moreover, my study Bible notes, according to St. John Chrysostom, giving away possessions is the least of Christ's instructions here.  To follow Christ in all things is a far greater and more difficult calling. 

 

It might be hard for us to imagine, but if we are to understand today's reading correctly, this rich young ruler (as he's often called), should he have taken Christ's advice and sold what he had and give it to the poor, would simply have made the first step in the journey of being a disciple of Christ.  From there, he would have to "Come, follow Me."  And that would start his journey of discipleship, just as the other disciples who follow Christ and learn from Him are on that same road.  This need given by Christ, to sell what he had and give to the poor might seem like some kind of harsh penalty, unnecessary for others, but in the reading that follows, Jesus will elaborate on this teaching for the other disciples.  In so doing, we'll understand that while none of them was particularly rich with possessions, each has also sacrificed and given of their lives in the deepest ways in order to freely follow Christ in all things.  So, what Jesus is teaching for this rich young man is not so much about wealth or possessions, it's not necessarily saying something about being wealthy per se, but He is giving a teaching about the necessity for detachment in order to freely follow Him.  As St. Chrysostom indicates, this commandment given by Christ is the least of His instructions, in the sense that the discipleship that follows would be more difficult.  But what we find and must understand is this need for detachment; whatever gets in the way of loving God in this sense becomes an impediment to faith and to salvation.  Christ will name as the greatest commandment the first given in what is known as the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (see Matthew 22:36-40).  So, His first commandment to this young man who seeks eternal life is to give away the things to which he is so attached and find a new way of thinking, one that will open him up to the ways of God for him in his life, the key to the beginning of discipleship.  In a very particular and important sense, Christ's advice to this young man is a kind of baptism to set him on the road of discipleship.  For Holy Baptism is meant as a death (when we are covered by water) and rebirth (when we rise from the water).  So it would be with him, if he followed the teaching of Christ.  He would be set upon a different road, re-oriented toward Christ and whatever Christ's mission for him might have been.  Jesus says to him "you will have treasure in heaven" for this reason.  Discipleship is the journey in the kingdom of heaven and our dwelling there and bringing the kingdom of heaven into this world, anchoring our citizenship in Christ's Kingdom, and living it in even in our worldly lives.  Many assume popularly that the kingdom of heaven is only the final fullness of manifestation in the realm where God dwells somewhere far away from this world, but this is not true.  This is not what Jesus teaches.  Indeed, He has come into the world as Christ Incarnate in order to draw us into this kingdom and to live the life of the kingdom as His disciples, until the fullness of that kingdom in this world is complete and He will return.  Jesus will say to the Pharisees, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (see Luke 17:20-21).  This reality of the kingdom of heaven as something we seek to live in this world, and not relegate to the next after we pass from this life, is the fullness of Christ's mission and teaching, for this is discipleship -- that is, what the disciples are trained for -- and this is the understanding of spiritual battle.  It is bringing the Kingdom into this world by living it and following His teachings.  So let us seek the treasure in heaven through discipleship, and find our place in His Kingdom by following as He teaches.  

 

 

 

 

 

Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God

 

 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan.  And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.  The Pharisees came and asked Him, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.  And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her."  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'  'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."  

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.  So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.  And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

 

- Mark 10:1-16 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus warned the disciples about "scandalizing" the little ones in the Church:  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  It is better for you to enter  the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- where 'Their worm does not die,  and the fire is not quenched.'  For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

 

 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan.  And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.  The Pharisees came and asked Him, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.  Jesus has come into the region of Judea, closer to the center of the religious authorities.  Here the Pharisees come to test Him about an issue that was hotly debated in Christ's own time between the ruling parties and factions of the Council, that of divorce.  This extended even to detailed issues that involved money and property, such as what happened with a dowry if a couple divorced and then remarried.  Abuse of marriage and divorce was common enough for such purposes that these became issues for regulation in the ruling Council.

And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her."  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'  'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."   In Jesus' response, He careful to go to the command of Moses.  The Pharisees approached many issues through the traditions they had developed subsequent to the Law, while the Sadducees (the other main ruling party) viewed strictly the Law of Moses as their Scriptures.   As is frequently the case in the Gospels, Jesus not only bases His answer on Moses' command, but also on the intent of the Law, rather than the minutiae of legalism.  So, my study Bible says, in contrast to the easy access to divorce under the Mosaic Law, and because of the misuse of divorce of that day, Jesus repeatedly condemns divorce -- and emphasizes the eternal nature of marriage.  Jesus quotes from Genesis 1:27, 5:2 and Genesis 2:25.   The basis of the Pharisees' test and response is Deuteronomy 24:1-4.  My study Bible comments that God's condescension, or allowance for human weakness, does not override the original principle of permanent monogamous marriage as revealed in Genesis 1 and 2.  Christ here adds His own clear prohibition: "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

 

 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.  So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.  And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."   Again, we see this in context of the easy divorce and abuse of such in Christ's time.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus suggests the possibility of divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality (Matthew 5:31-32), which my study Bible says indicates that marriage can be destroyed by sin.  This is the case for all relationships, however.  My study Bible adds that the permissible reasons for divorce were expanded in the ancient Church to include threat to a spouse's or child's life and desertion, in all cases acknowledging the spiritual tragedy of such a situation.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.  My study Bible cites Theophylact, who comments that the disciples rebuked the mothers for bringing little children to Christ both because their manner was "unruly" and also because they thought children "diminished His dignity as Teacher and Master."  Jesus rejects this thinking, and sets little children as an example of those who inherit the kingdom of heaven.  So, therefore, children are invited (even as an example to adults) to participate in the Kingdom through prayer, worship, baptism, chrismation, and Communion.  In a comment on a similar passage, Theophylact writes regarding the qualities of little children, "A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless.  He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows.  Instead, he lives in complete simplicity."

 

It's quite interesting to think about the simple qualities of children which may be associated with holiness, or participation in the kingdom of of heaven.  One thing that comes to mind is how children -- especially very little children -- view presents or toys.  One can put almost any object in the hands of a little child or infant and it instantly becomes a beloved toy.  It doesn't matter if it's a toy on sale in stores.  I have seen a very young child play with a small box its mother handed to it while waiting in line at the store.  This unopened box served as a teething ring on its corners, an object to hold, something to shake up and down, and when taken away, it was a dear toy to be cried over.  Little children do not care how much a toy costs, in fact they have no idea about prices and do not measure their delight by comparing monetary value.  They just know whether or not they like something, and can play with just about anything in their grasp, taking delight in it.  Perhaps if we see with the eyes of a little child, we also will find much more to delight us, we might perceive much goodness we ordinarily miss, as well as beauty and even the truth of things.  For without all the things we learn that serve as distraction, as measurement, as calculation, and even competition, we might have much clearer lenses through which to see what is there, and possibilities all around us.  We might be able to take delight in the smallest things, and be charmed by a flower, a sunset, a butterfly.  It is this sort of simplicity that it seems is worthy of praise.  We can see something a little similar in Christ's praise of Nathanael, in the opening chapter of John's Gospel (John 1:43-51).   When Philip speaks to Nathanael of Jesus, Nathanael's first response is actually negative:  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  But Jesus praises him, saying, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  In other words, Nathanael's straightforward thinking is being praised.  Nathanael is what we might call a straight-shooter, asking direct questions from what he knows (Nazareth was not known as a place prophesied to produce a holy man or prophet, let alone the Messiah).  It is in this kind of simplicity that we find the quality of a little child cited by Theophylact, and praised by Christ.  There is no guile, no complicated seeking to climb a ladder of social competition, no need to flatter falsely or practice hypocrisy, no attempt to manipulate.  Of course, we're not asked to be exactly like little children, in the sense that we're also expected to grow in the capacity for discernment, for knowing the things of God, even gaining in the wisdom we're taught.  But if we look closely, Jesus tells us, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  We are asked to be like little children in our receiving of this Kingdom; taking in simplicity with delight, what is good, what is beautiful, what is true, and responding to what is above all love and care.  Without those simple and straightforward qualities of children cited above, how will we be capable of doing any of that?  What will we know of God and see in Christ? How can we truly discern the beauty of faithfulness, or purity, or the splendid beauty in God's creation?  From a particularly selfish standpoint, none of these things will point us to God, but only to ourselves as owners or deserving recipients.   But to see life, and the goodness of life, and its beauty, good qualities, and even wisdom as a gift takes a different set of eyes to see, a different heart to know.  It is that quality of the heart Christ emphasizes for that is how we receive the kingdom of God.  Perhaps also it is that quality of the heart that sustains a good marriage between two people, as well as the capacity to know and love Christ, and for this reason marriage is a spiritual institution ordained by God. 

 

 

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

- Matthew 5:27-37

The readings from this week have been from the Sermon on the Mount, and today we continue. In yesterday's readings, we read Jesus' expansion on the law against murder. Jesus is taking us deeper into what it is to be truly righteous - He is drawing us in to an understanding of the depths of ourselves, and how we work at righteousness in terms of not only what we do but also what we say and what we think. See You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder'. Jesus has taught in this Sermon that His disciples' righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees - and today He continues with His exposition of what this entails.

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." It's important to understand what Jesus means here by "lust." This is not a simple mutual and natural attraction between men and women that He is referring to. Jesus is talking about cultivating a desire with intent. In short, it's about covetousness - a feeding of a personal desire. He takes us from the forbidden action to the thinking that starts behind it, and taking us into the territory of righteousness that "exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees."

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell." Here is the great teaching on what it means to really watch our thoughts, to structure our "inner selves" so that the outer self is taken care of, and to practice the kind of righteousness He desires from His disciples. He's taking us from action to the inner self, the thoughts we nurture and cultivate within ourselves (as illustrated by the example of "lust" above). He uses the body as a metaphor for our inner lives, our "inner body" if you will. Things that poison our minds with what we don't need must be discarded, "plucked out", "cut off" or "cast away." It's our own thinking that can harm our soul, our spirit.

"Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." Jesus repeatedly preaches throughout the Gospels against an easy divorce of the type that was used during His lifetime. This left women in a truly defenseless and powerless position in the society, and denied the power of real relationship in marriage - one made in sacrament to God. The clause "except sexual immorality" teaches us that divorce is not out of the question in cases of abuse of the relationship. The early church would expand the grounds for divorce, but the theological understanding behind the concept of all relationship is that it can either be strengthened or destroyed depending on our choices, especially in a spiritual context. That which is spiritual at its heart - such as the sacrament of marriage - needs spiritual nurturing and can be destroyed by our carelessness, and this is what Jesus is teaching here about "causing adultery."

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." This is a teaching about what it means for our words to have meaning, our intentions to be true, our inner life reliable. It's not worthy of our relationship with God - or anything else that we love - that we would bind an oath with it. This is what it is to "swear." None of it is really "ours" to swear by. Rather it is our inner integrity, the truth or falseness of our promises, that really makes our word worth something. If we really think about it, what is it that you need in your relations with others but the ability to trust? So He asks us to cultivate our own integrity. My study bible says, "Jesus teaches us to live in the simplicity of the present moment."

That's quite a marvelous thought, don't you think? To live in the simplicity of the present moment is a remarkable thing. It implies integrity and strength -- minus all the rest of the things that we don't need: covetousness, the nurturing of desires that aren't good for us and destroy relationships, the overbearing drama of swearing by one thing or another that is unnecessary and troublesome, the destruction of relationships only to enter into others just as shallow and with the same lack of understanding of real relatedness. Let us think, then, about what it is to waste our time with diversions from this simplicity, from the straightforward and pure heart He seeks for us. Rather, Jesus asks us to cut out the unnecessary, the things we don't need -- and to construct and build on the positive. "To speak the truth and keep our promises," my study bible says. When Jesus preached that we are to be the "salt of the earth," a great deal of that meaning is about covenant -- our ability to seal relationships, to keep promises. It is all about an inner integrity, beginning with our commitment to God who is love, and the promise of how that means we relate to neighbor. Can we start first today by thinking about the meanings of truth, and how an inner truth reflects our integrity? We recall that Jesus' greatest condemnation comes for hypocrites - in the original Greek, meaning "actor." Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and 'no' be 'no' teaches us about our honest truth. We can "cast away" whatever stands in the way. What is your truth today, right in the simplicity of this moment? All the extraneous things we wish to add we'd best stay away from - and stick to the things we truly love.