What you have looks GOOOODDD!

Adultery -- having sexual relations with another man's wife.  In a patriarchal society everything is from the man's perspective.  If the command "love you neighbor as yourself" summarizes God's law concerning human relationships, it's not difficult to see that having sexual relations with the neighbor's wife is near the top of unloving acts toward that neighbor.  Once again, however, Jesus moves from the outward action to the inner intent.  If a man's eye and imagination lingers over the figure of his neighbor's wife, is he not already failing to love and honor his neighbor?

In our sex-focused society we tend to dwell on the lust here rather than the endangered relationship between the two men involved.  Jesus is focusing on that relationship.  The woman and the sexual desire are not central to the message we need to hear.  The message is this:  Loving one's neighbor goes beyond actions and involves what is happening in our hearts.

Will I care enough about my neighbor to refrain from gazing lustfully on what he has and focus on loving him as a person?  And, in our society where women are recognized as people in their own right, will I love her as a person?  Will I look past her desirable looks and confident, flirty manner and see and value and love the person within?  If her husband or something else she has is attractive to me will I still see her as a valuable individual in her own right apart from those "things" that stir up desire within me?

Any application of this passage that moves away from the underlying principle of love for one's neighbor -- in this case the husband of the desirable woman -- may contain valuable lessons supported by other passages of scripture, but seems to me to miss what Jesus is really saying.  Love is not just an action verb; it goes much deeper than that to confront the covetous, dishonoring thoughts within us.

You're Killing Me!

In last week's passage (Matthew 5:17-20), Jesus spoke of the law as a whole.  This week we look at the first of six specific examples.  It comes straight from the Ten Commandments:  Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13 KJV).

There have always been exceptions to that command, some of which are included in the law itself.  Multiple violations were punishable by stoning.  To death.  Capital punishment is part of the same law that forbids taking the life of another.  On top of that, there are the later conquests by the Israelites when God commanded that no lives be spared.

Instead of examining the exceptions, however, when taking a life is a legitimate action by an individual or nation, Jesus goes deeper, into the heart that fails to value the lives of others.  He speaks of words that take life from others.

When I tell someone they are a fool, I show disregard for the fragile soul within that person.  I don't care that my pronouncement is killing something precious within the other person.  Their fragile inner life is of no concern to me.  I congratulate myself on my ability to identify foolish acts and the people who commit them.  And as I toss the word "fool" around something dies within the heart of those who are unable to refute my words for whatever reason.  I kill their confidence, their joy, their dignity as a person.  My words crush their spirit.

But, really, hellfire?  For calling someone a fool?  For recognizing that someone is acting foolishly and telling them straight up?  What's up with that?

I find it helpful to view hell not as some faraway place and time but having the same characteristics as the kingdom of God -- "now and not yet".  Hell is already present in this life in the form of unpleasant consequences for straying from the law of God.

So ... how does sucking the life out of someone by labeling them as a fool cause me to feel the fire of hell coming too close for comfort?  Several ways.  When I label someone as a fool it puts distance between us.  There is a rift in our relationship.  They are hurt, dying inside; I am triumphant over them.  We are both dealing with a broken relationship.  We are no longer relaxed companions on a journey.  Which leaves us both more isolated than we were before.  Loneliness is hell.  When I diminish others in a way that prompts them to draw back from me, my own life is diminished because I have fewer (if any) strong, healthy relationships.  I too die a little inside as a result of my disregard for the inner life of others and their intrinsic worth in my world.

Murder, extinguishing life in another, goes way beyond physical death.  Jesus is taking us deeper, fleshing out -- fulfilling -- the law by driving into the principles behind it.  He is labeling all aspects of life as "FRAGILE:  Handle with Care!"

What do you think?  Have words and actions from others caused you to die a little inside?  Does that make them murderers?  Have you ever been guilty of murder when seen in this light?  I have.  And it's something I deeply regret and for which I need forgiveness and grace.