What if you could go back in time and be a participant in any part of the bible? What part would you choose to witness? There are definitely some things I would not like to be a part of, but I can think of a lot of stories that would have been great to see.
What if you were there at the sermon on the mount, for example? What would that have been like? You came to hear the man Jesus talk to you and many others, and you probably wouldn’t have known what you were in for. The first thing you hear are what we call the beatitudes:
Matthew 5:3-12
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This alone is radical theology, but it is just the beginning of the sermon. You then hear about being “salt” and “light.” Jesus goes on to talk about the law being fulfilled. Then he starts talking about what I call “augmentations.” He talks about the evils of not only murder, but of simply being angry. There is not only adultery but lust. He mentions divorce, and oaths, and finally comes to a new idea about how we should treat those that don’t treat us well.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Imagine yourself being present and hearing the end of this sermon: a command to be perfect. What would you think today if you went to a worship service and you heard this command given to you at the end?
What does it really mean to be perfect?
Benjamin Franklin thought he could be perfect. He writes about it in his autobiography.
IT was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined. While my care was employ’d in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method.
Franklin listed out each of these virtues in the order in which he wanted to mater them
1. Temperance
Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence.
Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order.
Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution.
Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality.
Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i. e., waste nothing.
6. Industry.
Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity.
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice.
Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation.
Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness.
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11. Tranquillity.
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity.
I find it funny that a Quaker friend of his persuaded him to add one last virtue to this list, that of humility.
If this sounds incredible to you, you are not alone. Many of us would scoff at the very idea that we could carve out a path to perfection. And yet here we are, confronted with the command from Jesus in the sermon on the mount to be exactly that.
Does God demand perfection?
We know from our history and our own experiences that becoming perfect is simply out of our reach. It’s a goal that we can never obtain. So then why command it of us? What was Jesus really talking about?
Let’s revisit that sermon. You are there hearing this for the first time. This is radical theology. You have most likely never heard this kind of teaching before. Jesus is asking you to be poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart, and a peacemaker. He wants you to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. He tells you to love those you will never love you, and to allow your enemies who strike you to strike you on the other cheek as well.
It would take a perfect person to do them all.
But if that is what it takes, says Jesus, then be perfect. Try it, he says. Practice it. Don’t throw up your hands and say “it can’t be done, so I won’t even try.” Instead, see perfection as a goal, one you can never reach, and try to get there anyway.
Get closer and closer to the perfect example of the person you are asked to be. I think that is what Jesus wants from us. A people who take his teachings and strives to get better at practicing them every day. A people who don’t despair at never being perfect, but rather rejoice that they are getting closer to it all the time.
God Bless