A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Ten

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-12 (NRSVUE)

This portion of the sermon is very popular for people seeking to justify or excuse their behavior.  "Doesn't the Bible tell you not to judge?"

These verses can be difficult to understand.  Right after we hear the admonition not to judge, we hear Jesus tell us not to give what is holy to the dogs and not to throw our pearls before swine.

That sounds like we would need to judge people (and not in a flattering way) to determine if they are dogs or pigs!

We also have judgments later in Matthew for people depending on what kind of fruit they bear.

Ever feel that this is your life?

It may be that we need to be careful how we judge people.  We must do so in a humble way (blessed are the meek) that views people out of the lens of our own misdeeds.  Most people know the difference between judging and being judgmental.

It may be that when Jesus refers to the dogs and swine, he is referring to the hypercritical.  If you offer wisdom to the hypercritical, they may tear holes in it due to shallow reasons rather than engaging with it.

When we follow this with asking God for things, it may be that we need to ask for a little humility or some patience or mercy as we deal with other people.  We must put the request in context of the whole sermon.  It isn't the First Bank of God that we are holding up, rather as we are in tune with God, the Holy Spirit strengthens us in the ways we need.  We may think of praying the Beatitudes here.

And then, we come upon the Golden Rule in verse twelve.  This reiterates our rationale when seeking to offer judgment upon others.  How would we want someone to deal with us?  Crashing in like a wild bull or offering a little finesse?  

And so, as we reflect spiritually on this passage, we may ask ourselves, "Who is it that I have judged harshly in the last week?"  Have I been a dog or a swine to someone else?  

I find that harsh judgment doesn't often change the behavior as much as it builds up walls and sometimes even reinforces the behavior we dislike!  How might we reengage with the people we have in mind with a recommitment to today's passage?

Prayer for the day:

Bestow on me, O Lord, a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance; a mild, loving, patient heart; kindly looks, pleasant, cordial speech and manners in the exchanges of daily life; that I may give offence to none, but as much as resides within me, live in charity with all.  Amen.

Prayer by Johann Arndt, German Lutheran theologian, 17th century

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Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 40 Holy Saturday

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above the teacher, but every disciple who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.  Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye."

                                                                        Luke 6:37-42 (NRSVue)

 

This passage also reads a little more somberly on Holy Saturday.  One thing about death is that it usually quells our sense of judgment.  

The old saying, "do not speak ill of the dead" crosses cultures and comes out of such antiquity that its origin is untraceable.  When I am eulogizing someone, I try to paint the deceased in the best light possible.  One person at a funeral thought I was a little too glowing and made the remark that they weren't the saint I painted them to be!

I responded that they were in Christ and that God sees them through this lens in judgment.  We don't stand on our own merits but through the grace of Jesus.  We should try to see our brothers and sisters in the same way God sees them - especially in death.  

If I am too judgmental and this is the measure I share with everyone else, people close to me may begin to wonder, "Does he see me in this way too?"  I can certainly see how this is a pit that is easy to fall into.  

Many times, the difficult thing for us in judging the dead may be that we have some unresolved anger toward them.  Sometimes this anger may revolve around them dying and leaving us.  It can stir up abandonment issues that are often difficult to name.   

I wonder if the disciples were feeling something similar on this day so many years ago.

Did they second-guess Jesus' behavior or did they blame themselves?  Did some think, "We should have tried harder to talk him out of coming to Jerusalem during the Passover."?  Did the anger that comes with grief centralize around the Roman authorities or the Jewish leaders?  This kind of anger can certainly blind us.  We might even fall into a pit.  What kind of measure do you think they allowed for their enemies at this point?

What if this was how we always saw people?

This is helpful for us to realize that our capacity to be gracious often rises and falls depending on our circumstances in life.  We all know what it is to blow up at someone who happened to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.  Overreaction comes when our tank is empty.

The most important thing for us is to be self-aware at these times.  To recognize when we don't have it together.  And to admit it and ask for a little grace.  I believe that in this way, we can have a better chance of avoiding hypocrisy.  And if we've extended the same grace to those around us, we are more likely to receive it when we need it.

Sometimes our own blind spots are difficult for us to identify.  If you had to make a list of your top five places that you have difficulty with in relationships, what would they be?  Sometimes if we name the log, it begins to shrink!

Prayer for the day:  Gracious God, guide us on this day as we revisit the grief the disciples had for our Lord.  Help us to recognize who we are with all of our faults and misgivings but also for all of our strengths and gifts.  Let us be thankful for the totality of our identity and allow your Holy Spirit to shape our negatives that they may actually inform our assets.  May this understanding allow us to live into becoming more grace-filled people who are generous in how we see others.  We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ who pulls us out of the pit.  Amen. 

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 New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 31

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?  In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will know them by their fruits."

                                                    Matthew 7:15-20 (NRSVue)

I want to re-emphasize that this chapter started with the stipulation that we should not be judgmental toward others.  So any wolves we encounter must be looked at from the sense of our own lupine behavior.  That being said, we do encounter people that are not good for us and actually harm the community.  We must make choices about leadership and who we choose to follow.

How do we successfully determine who is bearing good fruit and who is bearing bad?  

We must look at the words of Jesus leading up to this point.  Those people who exemplify the Beatitudes, who refrain from judgment, who respect those without power or means - those are the ones more likely to bear good fruit.  

As a quicker way to make this determination, I would turn to the great commandment found in Matthew's twenty-second chapter.  Whosoever loves God with all their being and loves their neighbor as they love themselves is one who will bear good fruit for us.  If the person does not do these things, it is more likely they are sowing thorns.

Fortunately, there is redemption, even for those who bear bad fruit.  This comes from the very lesson in the sermon on judging others with the same measure with which we would want to be judged.  I've made plenty of mistakes in my life and have been fortunate that I've been (mostly) forgiven for them.  The problem is when I encounter someone else's faults, they always seem much worse than my own.  They are worse offenders than I.  Doesn't everyone else see that?

So I could forgive you up to a point, but I can only go so far.  At least that's what Peter assumes, generously allowing for a seven-time offender to receive mercy.  Jesus tells him he hasn't even started yet.  

I'm glad Jesus is the one in charge of judgment!

But in the meantime, I need to watch out for those wolves.  And make sure I'm not howling at the moon myself.

Prayer for the day: Merciful God, thank you for the beauty we find in following your way.  Help us to make good judgments about who we're following.  At the same time, when we are leading others, may we do so with the teachings of Jesus at the forefront.  And when we find that both we and the people we follow are in the wrong, help us to start over with our eye on the fruit you would have us bear.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 26

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.  Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye."

                                                                    Matthew 7:1-5 (NRSVue)

This may be the most oft-quoted part of the Sermon on the Mount!  Most people like to quote, "Do not judge" if they are being held accountable.  Unfortunately for the frequent users, it is not a ticket for libertine behavior!  Rather, it reminds us to approach accountability first with ourselves and then with others.  We should always approach any of these conversations with humility.

I'm reminded of the 4th Century monk, Abba Moses, who lived in the Egyptian desert.  He was invited to take part in the trial of one of the brothers in their order who had crossed a line.  On his way, he filled a cracked jug with water and let it dribble out as they walked to where the court was gathered.  When his other brothers asked him why he carried the leaky jug, Abba Moses replied, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another."

They forgave the brother.

Out of over 31,000 verses in the Bible, this is the one you want to display?

 

If we are to stay in community, from time to time, there are certain unhelpful behaviors to which we call attention.

Otherwise, community begins to break down.  We used to say at church camp, respect the three p's - people, place and process.  Respecting people is primary.  Respecting the place meant that we shouldn't trash our temporary home.  This advice goes farther than our campgrounds.  Finally, respect the process means that we are to show up on time, participate fully, and observe the covenant that we make together as a small group. 

The small groups that I've seen bond well through the years have been able to respect one another through a sense of humility that kept them from judging one another.  

During this season of Lent, how do we give the benefit of the doubt to people more often?  If we were to do this, would we be able to improve the communities with which we are a part?  With our families, it sometimes feels like a tightrope.  At times, there are behaviors which cross a line that we need to call on the carpet but there are plenty of things that we need to overlook if we are to stay in relationship.

Maybe Jesus is calling us to be grateful for all the people who have overlooked the times we have crossed the line.  Maybe we need to keep a cracked jug of our own in the kitchen.

Prayer for the day: Gracious God, we give thanks for the people we love and are appreciative of the relationships which give us life.  We recognize that just as we've had to forgive to keep them from breaking, we have also had our friends and family overlook plenty of things we've done.  Help us to walk the tightrope of accountability and forgiveness with the grace we receive from you every day.  In the name of the Christ we pray.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 5

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

                                     Matthew 5:7 (NRSVue)

 

The 23rd psalm is well known among the devout and is utilized at many funerals.  The psalm puts our trust in God and gives us assurance of God's preceding grace pursuing us throughout our lives.

The final verse begins, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

This is a statement of faith and something hoped for - an outcome that would be favorable to us.

It's easier to forgive when someone shows remorse.

But today's beatitude sees mercy as a consequence of our own actions.  It feels a bit like karma and is similar to what I lifted up recently in the Lord's Prayer about "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

A similar but negative thought from Job 4:8 has Eliphaz declaring, "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."

Paul later echoes this (after the Sermon on the Mount) in Galatians 6:7, "...you reap whatever you sow."  Paul goes on to a more positive take, bidding us not to grow weary of doing what is right.

What does it mean to cultivate a life of mercy?

How do we shape our own spirits when we seek to forgive? 

I've seen those who are more judgmental of others taking a harder fall when they eventually slip up (or their own failings become known).  Those who are more forgiving are judged with more tolerance.

This characteristic can become a discipline - the more we show mercy, the easier it becomes.  The reversal may also be true.

I'm reminded of the fable of the man visited by God and told that he would receive anything he asked for.  The only caveat would be that his neighbor, whom he despised, would receive a double portion of the request.  The man then told God, "Make me blind in one eye."

Bitterness does not sow life.  

As we move through Lent, is there anyone you can think of where you could see yourself having the same response as the man from the fable - even for a second?  In this moment, what would it look like to make an attempt in your heart at mercy?

Prayer for the day: Merciful God, I must confess that I often seek forgiveness for myself but do not always grant my neighbor the same regard.  I'm more satisfied with justice where they are concerned.  Give me eyes to see how they see and then grant me eyes to see how you see.  And only then, bring me back to my seat of judgment.  I pray these things in the name of Jesus who uttered from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.