Wednesday 04 June 2008

Background

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters5-7) brings together a whole collection of the sayings ofJesus. They embody the attitude to life one needs to have if one isto do God's will. Our two passages (verse 13-14 and 15-20) concerndiscernment, both of the way we should follow and of the truenature of those we encounter.

'Everything is not as it seems', is the warning Jesus gives. To amotorist the open motorway looks distinctly preferable to themeandering B-road. Experience however, may make you realise thatthe tortuous route might still get you to your destination morequickly. It's the same with the journey of faith. One of the earlyhints in Matthew's Gospel is of the suffering and the Cross thatlie ahead.

Nor are people any more obvious than roads. Once again, appearancesare deceptive and the believer must not jump to conclusions. TheBible has much to say about true and false prophets. When, asin Jeremiah28, God conveniently kills the false prophet, then our task ofdiscerning is made much easier. But God is not usually sohelpful.

Jesus suggests that people will always give themselves away in theend. We shall know them by their fruits, by what they do and whothey are, because that is the only way they can behave. Thiscertainly encourages us to celebrate goodness wherever and inwhoever it is found. But how do we handle the chopping and burningof the bad trees, of which John the Baptist also spoke of earlierin the Gospel (Matthew 3:10)?

To Ponder

Are we bound to stay as we are or can we change?Can wolves disguised as sheep in time become sheep? How might thischange come about?

Do you have to be narrow in mind and outlook towalk the narrow way?

What is your answer to the final question in thebackground notes?