Under the influence: Understanding a Commandment

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Two or three weeks ago I promised to begin looking at the ethics of Jesus in some detail. You can find what I said online of course.

Jesus mapped out his ethics near the beginning of one of the written versions of his life. This one is called Matthew. It is possible that Matthew arranged Jesus’ ethical teachings as we find them. They are found in chapters five through seven, but I am not worried right now about exactly how Matthew was composed.

What I am going to focus on though, as a way to get things started, is a saying of Jesus in the sixth chapter.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God,” (Matthew 6:33). Friends, go on the hunt for the Kingdom of God.

There are different ways that people interpret this expression. University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson has an interesting take on the expression, “Kingdom of God”. He says that it is the highest good you can imagine ( via Jordan Peterson online video, Aim high and live in the Present).

But I think that way of understanding the phrase is problematic. The terrorists who crash planes into towers or use families and children as protection during ongoing conflict probably see themselves as pursuing the highest good. They believe that the good is so important that it justifies killing innocent people.

So, I don’t think that Jesus meant, Seek first the highest good you can imagine. Your imagination might be warped (and probably Peterson would like to qualify his take in some way).

What does Jesus mean then? Well, as a rule, when trying to understand the stories and words of Jesus, it is best to stick as closely to the written text as possible and to know as much as you can about the cultural and historical context. Otherwise you could end up with an interesting, but misguided flight into speculation and you would not be the first.

What Jesus means by “the Kingdom of God”, is, I believe, the influence of God. Seek the influence of God in your own life. Then watch where that takes you and enjoy the ride. In the ethics that Jesus lays out in those three chapters, he reveals what life under the influence of God looks like.

Jesus begins the roll out by commenting on a very well known Jewish law, one of the legendary Ten Commandments: You shall not kill (Matthew 5:21-26). As a standalone imperative, the command is straightforward and non-controversial. There is to be no taking of human life. Actually, I say this command is non-controversial, but terrorists, psychopaths, some military leaders and others, inclined to snuff out the life of a neighbour might take issue with that. Maybe in our darker moments, most of us would.

Jesus affirms the command, but his comment on it runs deeper and ranges further. He claims that it is not only those who murder, but also those who nurture hatred towards another person or express derision towards someone, are in violation of the command. Using some shockingly strong language (called hyperbole in literary circles and used to get attention or make a point), Jesus widens the circle considerably of those who offend against this commandment.

However, he also provides an illustration involving legal action which teaches the positive, flip side, of this command. Live at peace with all your neighbours.

There are several implications to Jesus’ teaching here. First, his comments call for some serious self-examination. How many times don’t I consider someone an “idiot” or not worthy of sharing the road with me? How many times don’t I want to back into a corner someone who holds a different view than me? Finally, wouldn’t we love some real misfortune to befall a person who has hurt us in the past, maybe a former employer, partner or drug dealer?

On the other hand, just around the corner, there is the possibility for me to thrive, to flourish. What if I cease concentrating on spewing out trash against my perceived opponents? What if I instead concentrate on saying and doing things that will give my neighbour a lift? Isn’t that where the influence of God will find an environment to nest in and grow?

In fact, isn’t the very act of denying the expression of rage and instead expressing genuine interest in another, already to be under the influence of God? Perhaps it sounds too sincere, too religious, too pious, too lofty to “seek the Kingdom of God”. However, Jesus breaks it down for us and makes it (possibly) manageable. More to come.

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