Breaking the Word

I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. (Mt 5:20-26)

 

 

The Israelites lived with the idea of judgment. Whatever evil done would be judged by God and the consequence was expected. The righteousness of the Pharisees and the scribes was based on this partly. They were extra conscious of this and hence they were even worried about the words they used. Murder was one of the evils for which they were punished for. Life belonged to God and hence no one had the right to take away the life.

 

Jesus goes further deeper into the situation and told his listeners not even to get angry with the other. It is this that will slowly lead one to murdering the other. It is not the action which is alone makes one liable to judgment but also the attitude that one has against the other. One should be positive about life and his attitude should be in no way to hurt the other.

 

There will arise situations in which one is forced to be angry with the other or seeking judgement against the other. In such situations forgiveness should be the guiding force and not judgment. Forgiveness and settlement of the situation before going to the court is far greater than even sacrifice. This is not to belittle sacrifice or rituals but rather relationship, forgiveness are of greater importance.   

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.  (Mt 7:7-12)

 

 

Do we receive all that we ask from God? This is the mystery of all prayers. What Jesus tells us here is that we should relate to God as children to their father. The attitude should be so that we go to him as children go to their father. Father always will want to give to his children what they ask for and what they need. It is not selfish to ask God for things that we need. It is the natural thing that children are supposed to do with parents.

 

There are times in which our prayers have not worked. Yes prayer is a mystery. It is difficult to understand/answer this when what we ask for true and they are legitimate yet we do not receive it. We shall fully understand this only when we see God face to face.

 

What Jesus asks us is to treat God as Father and make him know how things are with us. We have to ask, seek, and knock. We will receive our bread and fish. God will never let us down. This is the belief of the Bible and this is what Jesus has lived in this world and this is what he wants his followers to believe in. The followers should reflect this God in their lives: "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”