2014-02-16 Daniel Daring 2013 articles 2012 articles
Fulfilling the Law
Sirach 15:16-21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37
The Religious Society of Friends, known as the Quakers, among its principles such as pacifism, simplicity of life, and equality, also has the principle of saying the truth in all circumstances, and so rejects taking oaths. As one of their members said: "If you speak the truth in the first place you do not need to take an oath to persuade people that you are telling the truth."
The
principle is taken directly from the Gospel: "Again, you have heard that it
was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out
the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all . .
. ." (Matthew 5:33-34a). It is surprising to know that the Quakers -
founded by G. Fox in the 17th century in England - could suffer harsh
persecution for applying the principle of saying the truth in all circumstances
into their lives.
Among many underlying themes of the Gospel of Matthew is that of presenting Jesus as a new Moses. "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet" (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus was that prophet. Matthew portrays Jesus as being searched for and narrowly escaping death in his childhood, like Moses (Matthew 2:13-23; Exodus 2:1-25), and then as a law-giver in his adulthood (Matthew 5-7; Exodus 20:1-17).
However,
Jesus was not just a prophet like Moses. He was much more. The letter to the
Hebrews states the difference between the two great personalities: "Now
Moses was faithful in all God's house as a
servant . . . . Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a
son . . ." (3:5-6). Notice the highlighted nouns: a servant and a son.
The same difference is assessed in the Gospel of Matthew: "You have heard
that it was said to those of ancient times . . . . But I say to you . . ."
(5:21-22.27-28.31-34.38-39.43-44). Jesus is portrayed as having an authority to
modify the Law given by Moses that was considered holy and given to Moses
directly by God.
Jesus' teaching surpasses the requirements of the Law of Moses. Let us look at some of his modifications. First, where the Law of Moses forbids killing, Jesus forbids anger, and in case we get angry with our brothers and sisters, we are told to reconcile ourselves before the anger gets out of control causing harm (Matthew 5:21-26). Jesus realized that anger is the first signal of an approaching quarrel that can lead to killing. Think about the so-called traffic rage that has caused many fights and even deaths.
Second, where Moses forbids adultery, Jesus forbids lust. Imagination precedes action (Matthew 5:27-30). The acts are often done first within our heads and then we put them into action in the real world. Think about those teenagers who after playing violent video games picked up a gun and went on a shooting rampage.
Thirdly, where Moses allows divorce, Jesus forbids it with the exception of a controversial case of porneia - fornication - that should be interpreted as unfaithfulness and not as "unlawful marriage" as the Revised New American Bible has it in the Daily Roman Missal (Matthew 5:31-32).
Finally,
there is our passage about telling the truth always (Matthew 5:33-37). Moses
wanted to solve the problem of lying by evoking within us the fear of God. Jesus
found it's either not working or superfluous. History gives us many
examples of people who lied publicly through their teeth under oath. Thus,
the memorable phrase is uttered: "Let you word be "Yes, Yes" or
"No, No"; anything more than this comes from the evil one (Matthew
5:37). Are the Quakers right then in refusing to take oaths?
There is an even more perplexing issue. In front of the requirements of the law, we are often powerless. "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want" (Romans 7:19). Is there a way out of this problem? "Christ is the end of the law" (Romans 10:4). Jesus is leading us beyond sets of rules into the underlying principles that should be applied within a particular situation of our lives. Trying to defend his own religious tradition Paul was ready to kill. His zeal or anger blinded him entirely. Only in the light of Jesus, was he able to realize how much pain and suffering he was causing other people with an apparently clean conscience. "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25).
It
is hoped that we also can realize that. Obeying rules can get us safely home
from work or school. Much more is needed, however in life. Life is built on
principles not on sets of rules. It is our responsibility to make sure that the
principles we want to build our lives on are sound ones, otherwise they can ruin
our lives. In Jesus we have that assurance.
Let
me end this reflection with a statement from one of the Quakers - Advices and
Queries: