Devotional
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:21-24 
Read the passage
KEY VERSE: Matthew 5:21-24 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.
CENTRAL TRUTH: In this passage Jesus raises the bar so high with righteous behavior that we can’t help but succumb to a position of guilt. And it is in that position of guilt we recognize our common, broken humanity and the need for a Savior.
DEVOTIONAL: Let’s suppose our eternal life with God, as well as a purpose filled life in this age, was dependent upon how good we are. Now, we know that our salvation and calling in this age is dependent upon our confession of faith and belief in our heart that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10), but let’s just suppose it were the other way around. How much good would one have to do to earn their way into heaven?
The question put that way scares me a bit. I would ultimately never know! I might begin to live my life serving the poor, but there are some days I go home to do laundry. Shouldn’t I serve the poor on those days? I must stop and eat, but isn’t that time wasted and I’m not serving the poor enough? I could find myself running ragged about my degree of service and whether or not it is acceptable to God.
I might find solace in comparing myself to others. Surely I can find lazy, uncaring folks who do far less than myself and I can be assured, because of their neglect of the poor, that my service will shine bright before God. Surely that would work, right?
We read a passage like this and think that Jesus is getting a bit ridiculous. “Seriously, Jesus? We can’t even be angry? I know I haven’t killed anyone, but isn’t it a bit extreme to take anger off the shelf?” And we certainly don’t’ want to be extreme, do we?
In this passage Jesus raises the bar so high with righteous behavior that we can’t help but succumb to a position of guilt. And it is in that position of guilt we recognize our common, broken humanity and the need for a Savior.
As well, Jesus was trying to identify the absurdity to much of the rules and laws of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. His examples point out that we all fall short of God’s glory, and so living life out of a grace orientation where the rules aren’t our driving force will enable a life of love and grace to reign.
QUESTION 1: How have you failed to take righteous, holy living seriously?
QUESTION 2: How have you taken holiness so seriously that you failed to love effectively?
QUESTION 3: Have you found a balance between grace and truth that brings God glory?
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