Preaching Resources

Preaching Mission for the 6th Sunday after the Epiphany (February 12, 2023)

The Change Begins With Grace and a Changed Heart
by Bishop Chris Giesler

Preaching Text:  Matthew 5:21-37

First, here are a few quotes that I have recently stumbled upon:

Leo Tolstoy, 19th century
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Steve Bruce, 20th century
When people get to invent their own gods, they invent easy gods that demand very little.

Michael Jackson, later in the 20th Century
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

The bottom line is that Jesus demands more than we think.  In this section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he confronts those listening with the issues that divided people from God, communities, and things that tore apart families.  We are talking about anger, adultery and lust, divorce, and profane language.

Jesus starts with what his community of faith already knew, these were the Biblical principles of their day, but then he digs a bit deeper.  For instance, it was undoubtedly known that you should not murder another person.  And we might smugly say, “Well, I’m safe there; I’ve never murdered anyone – I don’t need a savior.” But Jesus digs to the heart of the matter and says, “But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.” Maybe I do need a savior.

Or it was well known that “You shall not commit adultery.” Some of us might say, “I’ve never actually gone on a date with somebody, or I’ve never actually engaged in relations with somebody outside my marriage, so I don’t need a savior.”  But Jesus digs to the heart of the matter and says: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” I guess I do need a savior.

Divorce laws were well-known in Jesus’ day. It seems like divorces were pretty easy to come by, for men, that is. All a man needed to do was get himself a certificate of divorce. But according to Jesus, there is more at work here than just getting a certificate.  While a man could divorce a woman at will for no reason, his ex-wife would have little defense and be sent to the streets without a home, income, or standing in the community.  So, Jesus is asking to get to the heart of the matter.

Let’s not get ourselves too wrapped up in the specifics of any of these cases that Jesus cited because had he more time and had the writer of Matthew’s Gospel had more space, there would have been many more examples.  The bottom line is this, God demands so very much, and we can’t get to the kingdom of God without the grace of Jesus. This is the heart of the matter! This is grace!   It is hard enough to dodge the ten commandments without feeling like it is impossible to keep each of them for a lifetime.   But it is harder still when Jesus turns up the level of sensitivity with them.

The truth is, this passage and those like it are here not only to convince us of our weaknesses but also to point out the incredible grace that is ours through Christ. This should remind us that we need to be honest with ourselves, God, and the people around us about those places in life where we fall far short of God’s intended will for our lives.

We can easily fool ourselves, blame the world for our weakness, and claim that we don’t know why we have done the things we have done.  But complete honesty needs to be brought here to the throne of grace.  Honesty about the weakness of our souls, our ease in sinning, AND our need for a savior.  As noted at the beginning of this post, when people get to invent their own gods, they invent easy gods that demand very little. The truth is that much is required and expected of us, but the grace that brings us home to God is amazing.  So be honest with yourself, be honest with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and be honest with God.  Then, open your heart to accept the full grace that is yours.  As we ponder our need for a Savior, let us be thankful for God’s grace.

Again, from Michael Jackson (slightly amended this time):

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at Jesus, then take a look at yourself, and then make a change.

As it has been since the beginning of time, our world does not need Kings or rulers; it needs servants.
Our world does not need fences or walls; it needs handshakes and hugs.
Our world does not need demands and ultimatums; it needs bridge builders.
Our world does not need insults; it needs acts of kindness.
Our word does not need a scorecard to say who is in and who is out: it needs unconditional acceptance.

Our world needs the grace of our Savior and people who know that deep in their hearts. It needs people willing to share that grace with their families, their neighborhoods, and the world. AMEN.