Scott Freeman

This begins my new sermon series titled “The Scarlet Thread, Part 2: Who Jesus Calls Us To Be.” Today’s text is from Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
I got worked up a little.

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To me, Jesus does not explode off of the page in the book of Matthew as He does in the other gospels.

Instead, He arrives orderly and systematic. He is verified and certified: Jewish, from the line of David. Matthew goes to great lengths to confirm the legitimacy of Jesus’ claim to the throne of David. He has royal blood.

In Matthew, Jesus is posited as the One the Jews have waited for. Yet, Matthew shows us repeatedly that Jesus was rejected by them. The Messiah’s life is in danger before He even sets foot on Palestinian ground.

Many Jews were anticipating two Messiahs: One would be the suffering servant made popular in Isaiah 53. The other would be the Victorious Warrior, the Mighty One who would save.
It was incomprehensible to many that the Suffering Servant could also be the Victorious Deliverer.

Jesus challenged all of those assumptions in Matthew. The Jesus in Matthew was intent on showing the Jewish people all that they were called to be. Some chafed under Roman rule, but not all. Many were comfortable in the “Pax Romana.” Regardless of where they were on the occupation comfort scale, they were a proud people. They had survived exile and returned to their homeland. They had overcome their idolatrous past and were faithful to their God.

But they failed to realize that they had changed idols. No longer, would they bow to Baal or Molech. For many Jews during the time of Christ, their idols were: Nation, Temple and Torah.

For many, they were the chosen of God, not by virtue of their righteousness but because of geography.
Not by virtue of their holiness, but because of the rigid and legalistic observance to the letter, if not the spirit, of the Law.

Jesus, in Matthew, sets the record straight. He is the Nation, Temple and Torah. He is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scripture. He is the One.

In five discourses in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus capsizes their incomplete understanding of faith and righteousness.

In the Sermon on the Mount (5–7) He blesses the poor in spirit, the meek, the peacemakers. He said that the righteousness of the people had to exceed that of the legalistic Pharisees. In a few words, He redefines righteousness: It’s loving enemies, giving to the needy, purity.
In the commissioning of the apostles (10) He promises persecution for following after Him. But rather than laying out a battle plan, He talks about peace. About not having any fear.
In the Kingdom parables (13) He repositions the true identity of His children. All fish will come, it is He who will do the sorting.
In the Greatness Discourse (18), He removes the complexities of faith and champions the humility and innocent wonder of childlike faith.
In the Second Coming Discourse (24-25), He lays out the true path to salvation: care for the least of these.

Jesus comes into Matthew systematically and orderly. But by the time He is done He tears the place up.
There will be no military revolution. The revolution will be of hearts and minds.
The sword will be laid down in favor of the cross.
The Kingdom will not be a chosen place but a chosen people.
Holiness will be defined by loving God and loving God’s people, not pietistic ramblings and legalistic exactness.
In Matthew, cheeks will be turned, enemies will be loved and lives laid down.
In Matthew, there is no chosen Nation-State, but chosen people.
In Matthew, terrorists become followers, skeptics become believers and a Jewish Messiah becomes the Christ of all.
In Matthew, the Hebrew Scriptures have their fulfillment giving weight and significance to the Torah.
In Matthew, the Temple is rebuilt. Not in Jerusalem but in a resurrected Lord.

There is so much for us to learn in this book. For we are just like that 1st century Jewish audience.
We too often favor the sword over the cross.
We too often favor the bank over the least of these.
We too often construct “tests of fellowship” that Jesus never seemed to be concerned about. We have constructed idols of nation, temple and torah. Success is determined by geography or the “killer B’s” of church growth: Budgets, buildings, and baptisms.
We value protection and security over sacrifice.
We have blessed the prosperous, the mighty, the ones with self-esteem and clout.

But Jesus said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Let us learn anew from this Jewish Messiah.
He is the Promised One.