Experiencing God - Surrender 147

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law.  I have come, not to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
Gospel of Matthew

This gospel starts off with "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of God".  If you continue to read through Chapter 5 of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus gives six teachings on subjects where the Old Testament law has been compromised by the Pharisees.  Each of these teachings start off with the words: "You have heard that it was said".  In other words, Jesus is saying: "You have heard that it was said that this is the case, but it goes much deeper than this. 

These six teachings of Jesus that identify where the law has been compromised are broken up in the following manner:

1.  concerning anger
2.  concerning adultery
3.  concerning divorce
4.  concerning the making of oaths
5.  concerning retaliation
6.  concerning love for one's enemies

Each of these teachings, as Jesus presents them, are much more radical than practiced by the Scribes and Pharisees based on their ideal of holiness.  Jesus takes us beneath the forbidden action to deal with the root disposition that gives rise to the action.  The Pharisees followed the more literal interpretation of scripture by forbidding only the action itself. 

Jesus stresses that we must curb and root out the anger and hatred that lie in the depth of the heart.  We must purify the underlining intentions that lead to name calling, slander, revenge, retaliation, stealing, murder, etc.  We must purify our hearts and undergo an internal conversion.  If and when we do, the forbidden action will never be a problem.

The big question we are challenged with is how can we undergo this radical conversion of the heart?  The answer is: we can't!  At least, not by ourselves.  But by surrendering to Christ, by asking for His Grace and love to overcome the human tendencies of the heart, then conversion can take place.  Our human nature is very fickle.  It is inclined to react to so many different things.  We move so easily to a righteous indignation when we are offended and hurt.  Only Grace that comes from Christ can keep us steadfast on the road that leads to the Kingdom of God.  And the Kingdom of God lives among us. 

Through the Grace provided by our surrender to Christ, we have the means to bring the law to fulfillment in our lives and in the world.