"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 17 February 2017 with Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48| ------- |
Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’[Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21] 39 But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! 40 If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! 41 And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! 42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.
43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! 47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! 48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Well there's a lofty goal for the day! I was planning on having pretty low standards today, actually. It's Friday before a long weekend, so I'm pretty well checked out for the week.
The Greek word teleios, translated here as "perfect," more broadly implies "complete" or "fulfilled." The same word is used by Jesus in John 19:30 when he is dying on the cross: "It is finished," he says, meaning "it is fulfilled." That is to say, here on the cross all of scripture has been fulfilled.
Fulfilled? Complete? Rather than perfect. Whew! That's a different thought. Well, maybe. How might we be complete, if not perfect? Maybe teleios is about returning to the ABCs of holiness from Psalm 119: "turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain." Maybe it's about turning toward the one who is perfect, the one who loves us and calls us to love the world.
Turn me back to you, O perfect one, and toward my neighbor. Teach me to love once again. Amen.
Christine Hallenbeck Ask, '15
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[New Revised Standard Version]
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43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! 47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! 48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Well there's a lofty goal for the day! I was planning on having pretty low standards today, actually. It's Friday before a long weekend, so I'm pretty well checked out for the week.
The Greek word teleios, translated here as "perfect," more broadly implies "complete" or "fulfilled." The same word is used by Jesus in John 19:30 when he is dying on the cross: "It is finished," he says, meaning "it is fulfilled." That is to say, here on the cross all of scripture has been fulfilled.
Fulfilled? Complete? Rather than perfect. Whew! That's a different thought. Well, maybe. How might we be complete, if not perfect? Maybe teleios is about returning to the ABCs of holiness from Psalm 119: "turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain." Maybe it's about turning toward the one who is perfect, the one who loves us and calls us to love the world.
Turn me back to you, O perfect one, and toward my neighbor. Teach me to love once again. Amen.
Christine Hallenbeck Ask, '15
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[New Revised Standard Version]
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