Epiphany

February 15, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-37

‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. –Matthew 5:21-26

This scripture reminds me of the reality that people spend more time and energy criticizing others for their behavior than cleaning up their own lives. People seem to identify as sins actions that they would never think about doing while reaping what they did not sow. I sat in court once awaiting another case and watched a teenager being sentenced to a year in county jail for stealing an empty billfold. While wealthy people who renege on paying for services rendered end up not paying either the debt or facing any consequences for their actions because the defendant cannot afford the court costs to win their case in civil court. Stealing is stealing whether it is called that or not.

While all are accountable to governmental statutes and regulations, we are more accountable to God. Our justifying our actions by whatever means makes us feel better does not make the behavior right or just in the eyes of God. I do not think God has a system of offsetting our unrighteousness by our calling out others for what we deem to be unrighteous. If you in your relationship with God deem something as a sin, something that separate you from God, something that makes you miss the mark in your life, I strongly encourage you to seek God’s support in not doing whatever that behavior or thought is. Regarding others, we are called to love them and walk with them in their journey with God not judge them or punish them.

Prayer: Lord forgive us when we work harder at taking the speck out of another’s eye when we are blinded to our own shortcomings by a log in our own eye*.  Amen.

*See Matthew 7:5

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.