The Law of the Lord

Exodus 16-24

Matthew 1-7

Some years ago, a young man came to my office looking for a new church. We talked for a while and I learned the story of his struggle with alcohol addiction. He was already active in an AA group but he believed a church community might also help turn his life around.  I called the pastor at a nearby community church to find out more about their recovery program and it sounded like a good fit for this man who was living life on survival mode. We stayed in touch for several months and he seemed to be doing well. I sometimes wonder how he is doing now. 

Sometimes some people need rules, structure, clear definitions. This makes sense to us when we are raising our children; independence and healthy self-sufficiency can only come through a process of growing through stages and practicing living within some kind of protective environment. This makes sense to us when we remember our own journey toward maturity.

Sometimes we refer to the people of Moses as “the children of Israel.” The term "children" isn't meant to be used as a contrast to the concept of "adult;" it's mostly the King James Version's way to describe this people's family tree and identify them as the descendants of Jacob. But maybe - in another way - "children" can also serve as a kind of archetypical description of humanity's development in all of our various cultures and societies over the ages. Without thinking of Israel as any more “childish” than any of the rest of us, consider how their story as chronicled in the Hebrew Scriptures might give insight to how all of us - individuals as well as societies - grow through stages toward healthy maturity.

In the remarkable story of exodus and deliverance in the second book of the Hebrew Scriptures, the people emerge from the confining womb of slavery, through the birth waters of the Red Sea and into the wilderness. There is manna here, and clean water, and even fresh meat provided for the complaining, sullen people. Again and again, they test the patience of Moses; they test the faithfulness of the God who Calls, who Saves, who Provides.

As the story unfolds, God calls Moses up to the mountaintop where he is immersed in fire and cloud and sapphired glory for forty days and forty nights. And when he returns to the camp in the valley, Moses comes with the Ten Commandments which summarize for the people all the Law that teaches how to live in relationship with God and with one another.

Of course there is other law in the pages of the Torah as well, not just the moral code. The Mosaic Law also details the particulars of worship, ceremonial law that includes rules for the priesthood and for the sacrificial system. But fundamentally, the Law from Sinai teaches the fledgling people of Israel how to be in relationship, how to behave toward one another with fairness and justice. It is law grounded in a specific culture, time and place. It is law contingent on the particular circumstances of a particular people in a particular day and age.

It’s interesting to read The Gospel according to Matthew alongside the book of the Exodus. Matthew is our most Jewish gospel and throughout, we see comparisons and contrasts between Jesus and Moses.

·      The Pharaoh in Egypt and the King in Jerusalem kill the male infants who may threaten their power.

·      “Out of Egypt I have called my son…” Matthew says of Jesus - while in the background he clearly sees Israel escaping danger and persecution.

·      Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River, passing through the waters and then entering into the wilderness where he too is tempted to test God.

·      But again and again, unlike God’s other “child” Israel (or any of the rest of us sons and daughters!), Jesus is the one who faithfully and persistently submits himself to the God who Calls, who Saves and who Provides.

And then Matthew offers an especially fascinating comparison between the Law of Moses delivered from Mount Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount delivered by Jesus.

“You have heard it said…But I say…”

Matthew’s Jesus is bold to re-read the ancient Law and re-interpret its meaning and significance for the people of Israel in a new day. Jesus does not contradict or critique the Law; rather he goes deeper, he goes to the root - the radix. Radix is the word from which we get the word “radical” and in these six antitheses (or better “hyper-theses”), Jesus radicalizes the Law.

Rules done right point beyond superficial behavior to attitude, perspective, mindset. Rules done right remind what is core and fundamental. It’s not just about adultery or murder or divorce, Jesus says; it’s about respecting relationship and honoring commitments. It’s not just about how you treat your friends, Jesus says; it’s about living together in humility and integrity (even with your enemies!) in the upside down right side up inside out kingdom of heaven.

Of course faithful, pious Jews already knew this. The prophets especially understood the root of Israel’s problem and boldly called for repentance-turning-returning to the heart of the matter. Ancient wisdom did not originate with Jesus when he summarized his sermon: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

But people are people, and in every age most people tend towards superficiality; it’s much more comfortable. Bright lines and check lists may make us feel safe, but they also keep us small. Well-defined guidelines and clear parameters work well for children, but growing up requires self-discipline and complex wisdom.

Besides radicalizing the Law, Matthew’s Jesus does something else, something key to Matthew’s own Christology: Jesus speaks for God.

In Matthew’s understanding, the Law is foundational but it is not ultimate. For Matthew, it is the one to whom the law and the prophets point – the Messiah, the Christ – who embodies the ultimate, definitive will of God.  It is in Jesus Christ that the Law is both affirmed and fulfilled. It is in Jesus Christ that the Law is both validated and transcended. It is Jesus Christ who is the final authority. And – for Matthew – the Spirit of the Risen Christ is still speaking, teaching and leading the Church.

This is Matthew’s way. 

The apostle Paul has his own way of understanding the significance of the Christ Event and the subsequent transition from the requirements of law to the freedoms and responsibility of grace. Reading between Matthew and Paul, it is clear there was some tension among the New Testament theologians about how best to re-read and re-interpret their own Scriptures. The New Testament writers were all faithful Jews who honored their tradition and grounded their lives in the Mosaic Law so it was with deep prayer and care that they pondered new understandings of the Law in light of the Christ. Even so, as faithful and conscientious as they were, they inevitably saw some things differently and so the Christian churches they planted emerged with different understandings, traditions and practices. (This is very much like our own experience of diversity within the Christian tradition of our own day.)

In the ancient wisdom literature, Psalm 19 sings a song of praise:

The law of the Lord is perfect,

            reviving the soul;

the decrees of the Lord are sure,

            making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

            rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is clear,

            enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is pure,

            enduring forever;

the ordinances of the Lord are true

            and righteous altogether.

I can see the Psalmist honoring the Law of Moses in these beautiful words. But I see more. Before there was the Torah, there was the cosmos. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…And God said, “It is good.”

Creator’s law, decrees, commandments, ordinances that structure the universe are knitted into the fabric of the world. Creator’s will and way that give order and meaning to everything that exists are part of nature’s DNA.

The Psalmist begins his praise with this affirmation:

The heavens are telling the glory of God;

            and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech,

            and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words;

            their voice is not heard;

And yet their voice goes out through all the earth,

            and their words to the end of the world.

Here is scriptural acknowledgment and celebration of God’s law of the universe, God’s way in the cosmos, God’s will for creation.

The Mosaic Law flowed from that cosmic law and articulated justice and equity that was probably unusual for its time, but it was always law contingent upon its time and place and people. The newly formed people of Israel who received the Law at Mount Sinai continued to grow in their understandings.  In later commentary and reflection, the Prophets dug deeper into the meaning and significance of the Law. And then in another theological stream, the writers of the Wisdom tradition pondered relationship with God and one another in other profound ways. Growing awareness and deepening maturity always will lead us away from “either-or” and into “both-and” contemplations.

Much as my AA friend needed structure and clear definitions for a time, much as our children need rules and limits while they are learning how to live, so all of us have periodically benefited from the protective environment of law as we have grown through stages into greater maturity. As we continue to grow in our relationship with God and with one another, we grow into grace.

The life and work of Christ has fulfilled the Law of Moses and now brought all humanity within the law-way-will of God that is right for all people in all times and places. I think of it as a way of Shalom: peace and wholeness, unity and harmony. When this law is written in our hearts, there is shalom with God and shalom with one another.

The law and the prophets pointed us to this Way: No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:34).

The Spirit of the Risen Christ leads us in this Way.