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Hear the devotional https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Fulfillment-of-the-Law-e1uh44t
View here: https://www.tiktok.com/@eradiovalverde/video/7196888758904507691
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca ,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:21-37 New Interntional Version)
There existed a secret Father's School in the 1950s. Or, at least I'm firmly convinced. I can't say all fathers attended there, but the good ones did. I count my Dad as one ot is graduates and whose sayings solidified my belief that the good dads went there. "Do as I say, not as I do." This was one. The other, "This is going to hurt me more, than it will you." Those who know, know. Those who don't, let me tell you. This was done immediately prior to a spanking. It was, from my perspective, a lie. Well, until I had kids of my own and thought about, without saying, this saying. He was right.
Today's passage made me think of my Dad. He was a loving, but stern man, who wanted the best for, and especially from us. My Dad knew and loved God, was thankful to God for the children he and my Mom were blessed with, and knew and accepted the huge responsibility of trying to raise us right. And this passage from our Lord is right in line with what God wants from you and me. And the beauty of this passage is that Jesus is making come true what He had been saying about the law, and His personal role in fulfilling the Law. The Ten Commandments have as one of the big ten, Thou shall not kill. For years, people understood that straight forward that we respect life and we not take the life of another. We hear now, a phrase that I don't particularly like, but hear it more and more, "We don't unalive someone." Jesus said, "that's all fine and good, but listen, if you're angry at your brother or sister, you are guilty of murder." Ouch, what? Yes, that is how serious God takes the "un-aliving" any part of another's life, including anger, insults, anything that takes life away from another person by you. Wow! Okay, we can better understand the law now. Jesus did and we wonder what did the priests, scribes, and other religous leaders understand this too?
Then Jesus gets really personal. Jesus goes into marriage issues! The law against adultery also was a solid one that most understand, but again, Jesus goes into the root of the sin; If you look at another in a lustful manner, Jesus says, you're guilty of adultery. And He further stresses personal control as a way to help your mind and spirit stay on God's path. Jesus explains our controlling our eyes, and calls to mind, the old Sunday/Vacation Bible school song, "Be careful little eyes what you see..." (Okay, I know that's your earworm for today...sorry).
Then Jesus discusses the seriousness of marriage by explaining divorce is not a good idea unless it is for the right reason. Jesus knew that even in the days of Moses, people chose frivolous reasons to divorce and so, Jesus stresses that those who divorce for the wrong reason cause furhter sin on the ex-spouse. Truly, no bueno.
Then, Jesus closes out this part of the Sermon on the Mount by talking about vows. Now, admit it, you have have said, at least once in your life, "I swear to..." Some have said, "to God, " or any number of things. It was meant to truly and completely convince the other person we were telling the truth. "Cross my heart and hope to die." Really? Jesus is asking this, too, "Really?" Jesus asks who we think we are to swear by anything, since nothing really is ours on which by which we can swear. Can we really swear by Heaven? No, Jesus says, "Heaven is God's throne." He also says the earth belongs to God as well, for it is "His footstool." Can we swear by our heads? How much control do we truly have over our heads? Can we make a hair white or black? No. Jesus says, be people whose yes is yes, and no is no; beyond that anything we may say comes not from us, but from the evil one.
PRAYER: Loving God, help us to be truly Yours. Help us be the people You meant us to be. Let us be honorable and genuine in all our dealings. May we truly glorify God by our thoughts, our words, and actions. May we transform the world by who we truly are; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Say yes when you mean yes, and no when you mean no.
Receive my blessings of joy and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
May we continue to pray for Lupe and her recovery; for those who have asked prayers from us, and for those who don't even know they need healing. Pray for one another. Be people of contagious love!
