March 10
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.”
-Matthew 5:21-30
(Please read the scripture passage through three times using the practice of lectio divina.)
Reflection
Sins such as murder and adultery aren’t like car accidents, where just a few seconds of distraction causes a wreak. Usually, they grow from long-simmering attitudes of the heart, such as anger and lust.
Jesus imagines a people who so revere God that they take drastic and early action to root out the seeds of sin from their hearts. A woman on her way to worship turns her car around to ask forgiveness from a friend. A man swallows his pride and begins to receive counseling in order to rescue his marriage.
Sin destroys relationships, devastates people, ravages creation, and rips holes in the fabric of God’s wondrous universe. As one pastor said, God’s people live in the land of “Repent-a-lot.” Decisive action can keep heart sins from turning into large tragedies.
Action (Lament)
Recall a time when sin did significant damage in your family, church, or work situation. List all the ill effects it had. Hold the list in your hands and grieve the pain it caused. Know that God feels this pain even more deeply than you do.
