Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany 2023

Matthew 5:21-37

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

Today, Jesus reads and interprets some of the commandments of God´s Law. He begins, “You have heard that it was said…” and then he interprets the commandment, “But I say to you…” In this exercise, Jesus neither erases nor discounts the teaching of The Law but addresses its original meaning, JUSTICE.

Today, we as Christians continue to believe that the Bible is the written Word of God that guides our daily life. Yet, it is difficult to see how biblical teachings impact Christian societies because we continue to observe and experience injustices where so many people suffer violence and death. 

The Holy Scriptures, the Bible, arose amid a historical context in which God spoke to a community through sages and prophets—women and men. The memory of God’s manifestation was then put in writing as a testimony for the community itself and for future generations, which would also be enlightened by the written testimony of God’s word.

The Law quoted by Jesus in today’s gospel is contained in the Old Testament in the section known as the Pentateuch. The Old Testament is a written memory of God’s presence among the people of Israel, and it is how God spoke to them in different situations. A central event in the Israelites’ history was when then received God’s Law. They were in the wilderness, emerging from the injustices of slavery in Egypt, and they were walking toward the land of their ancestors, Canaan.  During this journey, God made a covenant with them and called them to be the people of God, witnesses of the God of justice among nations. They were called apart to build a renewed humanity living in justice and peace. God’s covenant required the Israelites to observe The Law, a series of commandments that would guide them to build a dignified and just society. Thus, from its original context, God’s Law was to be read and interpretated according to the principle of justice.

From that moment on, all new generations of Israelites would read, interpret, and observe God’s Law. Sadly, however, in Jesus’ time, the Holy Scriptures were in the hands of an elite group, the religious leaders who read and applied The Law at their convenience while the people continued to suffer injustices and the powerful violated the rights God had given to all. God’s Law lost its primordial sense of justice and became a series of regulations that burdened the people instead of liberating them.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes evident how the religious leaders had stuck to the letter of the law and neglected the weightier matters: justice, mercy, and faith, that is, caring for others and seeking the well-being of all.  

Jesus reads three of the “Ten commandments” and a law related to divorce: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not murder…, You shall not commit adultery…, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce…, You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord…”

Many would be happy and satisfied thinking that they have never murdered nor would ever do so, but Jesus’ interpretation goes beyond. He applies the commandment to any kind of violence we perpetrate against others in our daily life. For example, when we get angry with our brothers and sisters, when we are not patient and insult them, when we treat others with contempt calling them fools (idiots, stupid…).  In Jesus’ interpretation, we become murderers when we do not treat our neighbors with compassion, respect, love.

The commandment about adultery has been manipulated in many respects producing suffering, discrimination, and violence against women. However, Jesus interprets it in terms of respect and justice for women.  He  links adultery to lustful actions, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. In a society, where women are considered inferior and sexual objects, suffer harassment, violence, and death, it is important to remember that Jesus sees women as human beings, subjects of respect and justice. He also relates this commandment to the divorce law, which allowed a man to divorce his wife for trivial causes sometimes, like burning dinner. The original spirit of this law was aimed at favoring the wife and protecting her against any abuse from her husband during the divorce process. However, many used this law at their convenience. Jesus called them adulterers for hiding behind the law and divorcing as many times as possible.

Finally, Jesus refers to the Law that commanded one to not swear falsely. He tells us that if we refrain from swearing, we will not incur guilt, “Do not swear at all… Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Sisters and brothers, Jesus’ reading and interpretation of God's Law in the midst of the religious society of his time, portrays our Christian society that reads God’s Law; but yet it is plagued with injustices. Certainly, we are lacking a reading and interpretation of the biblical teachings guided by Jesus’ methodology, which consists of finding the primordial meaning of God’s commandments, and that is JUSTICE!

May we continue reading, interpreting, and teaching God’s Law that calls all of us to live in justice. Amen.