You Think You're So Smart

Matthew 5:21-22 (NRSV)

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

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If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinking like a fool, cause it's a case of do or die
Out there is a fortune waiting to be had
If you think I'll let it go, you're mad
You've got another thing coming
You've got another thing coming

"Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest from "Screaming For Vengeance" (1982).

Matthew 5:17-48 is Jesus' commentary on The Law. Jesus makes sure the people know that he does not replace the law. He will say that every "jot and tittle" is still part of the law. Jesus fulfills the Law. He is the Law Incarnate, the Law in Body & Spirit. Since He is the law, he is in a special position to interpret the Law.

What Jesus tells us is that we think we might understand the law, we may have a grip on every "jot and tittle," but we do not know the law. To know Jesus is to know the Law. Now that the Law walks the earth, there is a time to help fix some of those nasty misunderstandings that had reared their ugly heads over the past several centuries.

Starting with murder, we know what murder is--it's killing somebody with malice and forethought. In its own way, using the word "murder" instead of "kill" opens the door to the difference between murder and taking a life in self-defense or in war or by manslaughter. But if that's where the difference between murder and killing ends, you've got another thing coming.

Jesus tells us that slaughtering the reputation of a brother and sister is a form of murder. Even calling someone a fool will bring upon us judgment. This radical reinterpretation of the Law continues and challenges the priests of the day. And it must continue to challenge us today. If we think we understand all the law says to us still today, look out, you've got another thing coming.

Jesus could have very easily said the words sung by Judas Priest: "If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by, you're thinking like a fool, cause it's a case of do or die." Jesus does not sit around. He teaches. And when the time is fulfilled as the Law is fulfilled, He teaches us the ultimate lesson. He doesn't sit around; he climbs to the place of the skulls and dies. Then he does even more. He lives.

Ghost Riders

Revelation 6:1-8

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, "Come!" And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!"

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, "Come!" I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
If you wanta to save your soul from hell aridin' on our range,
Then cowboy change your ways today, or with us you will ride,
Tryin' to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies

"Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Stan Jones. This recording by The Outlaws

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Anyone who can tell you what the Revelation of John truly absolutely means is either lying, delusional, or experiencing an apocalyptic dream themselves. Frankly, none of these options provides much reverence.

With the opening of the seals in Revelation Six, calamity, one greater than the next, rode across the face of the earth.The first four seals bring what are commonly known as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." These horses, the white, red, black, and pale green horses bring bow, sword, scales, death and hades to meet creation. And they will have their way.

But imagine if you will, hearing this in the wind as they blow past, "Cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride." We have a word in English that isn't nearly as flowery but it means the same thing. Repent.

It is never too late to turn from the things that harm ourselves and others. It is never too late to turn toward things that benefit. It's never too late to turn from greed and turn to love. It's never too late to make amends. It's never too late, unless of course you hear the riders call your name. Repentance is the first step toward redemption.

Giving with Love

1Corinthians 13:3

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I'll give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my love for you
Now's the time that we need to share
So find yourself, we're on our way back home

"Give a Little Bit" by Roger Hodgson originally recorded by Supertramp

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We are constantly being asked to give. People who want a cleaner planet ask us to "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!" Scripture tells us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. I won't tell you these aren't good ideas, these are great ideas. Give! Give! Give!

But attitude is just as important as gift. If gifts are given with an uncaring heart, they aren't gifts at all. They're obligations. Gifts, true gifts are given with love. So if I give everything and do not have love, I gain nothing. Truly, if I give everything and do not have love I have given nothing.

Give a little bit of your love to me and I'll give a little bit of my love to you. If I have one problem with this song lyric it's the order. Love risks, true love gives first. I guess the poetry and flow of the song is better as it's written, and it's a beautiful song; but love risks.

Love is worth risking everything.

Love Opens All Doors

Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

I have the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today, you'll find this way
Come on and give me a chance to say
Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
Only one thing's gonna set you free
That's my love

Let My Love Open the Door, Pete Townshend, from Empty Glass, 1980

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Ask, seek, knock; this is a very specific order; ask, seek, knock. There is logic to the sequence. It is important, maybe most important, to ask first before seeking and especially before knocking. Ask first, what is important? What do you want? Is it really worth wanting? Will this build or tear down? Sure, Ecclesiastes reminds us that there's a season for each of these things, but we need to know whether this is the season for building or tearing. If everyone who asks receives as scripture promises, is what we ask for worth receiving? If it's not, what's the bother.

From asking we must then seek. This isn't like the television commercial where we sing the company jingle and what we want magically appears. God is great, but God will not be some magician who snaps a finger and what we want appears. There is seeking involved. So if you ask you will receive, but seeking is important.

In these two elements, asking and seeking, when we are in accord with what God wants for our lives then what happens will happen in accord with what God wants for us too. I would love to promise that it will happen immediately, oh my, I would love to promise that, but that hasn't been my experience. There is still hard work. There is still hard prayer. There is still seeking help when needed. There is bucking the crowd when that's needed too.

But God has the key to our heart. Even when we deny God, God does not deny us. We are God's children even if we reject our Heavenly Father. God can help us from falling apart, God provides the folks who support us and assist us that keep us from falling apart.

Pete sings,

Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for

Imagine, God lives for us, for relationship with us. God loves us so much he sent his Son so that we might know the extent of God's love and want for us to be close.

We can all agree with Pete, there's only one thing that will set us free.

Friends, ask, seek, and knock--Let God's love open the door.