It's what goes on in a person’s inner life that Jesus is mostly concerned about in that block of teaching that has come to be known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’. I have heard this described as ‘a blueprint for living.’ The world would be a better place if we put the Sermon on the Mount into practise. What is often missed is that the qualities and standards of Jesus’ teaching can only become a reality in the lives of men and women by the grace of God. What is emphasised in Jesus’ teaching is the inner life, and this can only be transformed towards His qualities and standards, indeed His likeness, by the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell”. (Matthew 5: 21-22)
He is not seeking to enter the endless debates of his time as to the exact meaning of the sixth commandment. He is calling people back to the original intention of the Jewish Law which is the inner transformation of men and women such that they walk closer to God and are mindful of those who share their progress through life. Jesus cuts through the debates and exposes the core purpose of the Law: ‘Love God and love your neighbour.’
What is startling about this teaching is that it leaves no room for surface politeness and phony tolerance in relation to others. What do we really feel? It is our inner being which matters. It is there that the anger, curses and contempt boil and erupt in harmful words, broken relationships and sometimes physical harm. Jesus said:
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of ther evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6: 45)
We cannot escape Jesus’ declaration that there is such a thing as spiritual murder.
Which brings me back to Donald Trump. I have never met him. He has never said or done anything to harm me personally. But he has stirred up negative thoughts and feelings within me that lead me to Jesus’ teaching and the inescapable challenge of spiritual murder. Those thoughts and feelings, how are they regarded from the standpoint of eternity? Am I any better than the would-be assassin? I am clear that there is such a thing as ‘righteous anger’ when directed against exploitation, torture, slavery and anything else that deepens the darkness in the world. But too often that ‘righteous anger’ has been an excuse, leading to no good for the victims, doing nothing to bring the perpetrators to account, settling in my inner being as the luxury of the armchair pundit.
The way forward when faced with someone whose views and attitudes we deplore is not just to shout at the wireless or the television which in the end changes nothing. Be sure of what is wrong in what he/she stands for, argue your case, work and pray to perceive what is right and just from the standpoint of eternity. Remember, followers of Jesus are called to go deep.
