How readily do you listen to how someone interprets the rules? Do you listen when someone is explaining a new process? Do you listen attentively, attempting to gain a good understanding? Or do you only listen half-heartedly, not really caring to know?
Our culture is full of rules, laws, processes, guidance, and directives. There are so many we cannot begin to understand them all. It is only when we must follow them in a specific situation that we may attempt to understand them. Then it is likely we will turn to someone we trust to explain them.
Sometimes, we may find the explanation doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t follow what we thought we knew. We may not believe the person explaining them to us, even if we think the person is trustworthy. We find ourselves in a quandary.
Jesus redefines what the Jews thought were the rules or law of God. Perhaps redefine is the incorrect word. He explains to them how God originally intended them to be. Not only does Jesus’ explanation cause the Jews to wonder if they heard Him correctly, but we may also ask the same question–Did I hear that right?
When Jesus explains God’s original intent of the Law, He upsets many apple carts. He may upset yours or mine. We don’t really want to hear it. Yet, Jesus states exactly what God originally intended. After all, shouldn’t He know? He is God!
I pray we all read Jesus’ explanation with a desire to understand. I pray we seek to abide by His explanation to the best of our ability. I pray each one of us will seek to understand God’s truth. Read Jesus’ words. Understand what He is saying. Take His explanation to heart. Seek to follow Jesus.
Matthew 5:22a, 28a, 32a, 34a “But I say to you…”
Marty Pressey 