Monday 10 February 2025
"But I say to you..." (v. 34)
Background
Today's Bible reading comes from Jesus' teaching that we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount.
In verse 34 we get to what I see as a very significant statement. Blink and you miss it! "But I say to you."
Jesus is not addressing a vast crowd. Matthew 5:1 makes it clear that when Jesus saw the crowd he went up the mountain with his disciples. These are intimate words for those who have decided to follow him as disciples, followers.
We who call ourselves Christian are thus drawn into the intimacy of listening to the words of Jesus through the gospel writer because we, too, have heard the call of God in Christ and have chosen to follow him.
Jesus is talking about taking oaths in today's Bible passage. If we follow the ways of God then our lives should be honest, justice-seeking and therefore loving throughout, without the need for making oaths to affirm truth being spoken.
Life cannot be divided into compartments in some of which God is involved and others where God is not involved. There cannot be one kind of language for our Christian lives and another for our everyday lives. There is no such difference. Either we are or we are not God’s people called Christian. "But I say to you let your yes be yes and your no be no", says Jesus. (v. 37) Ensure that the whole of your life – not just a part – is clearly reflecting the words and ways of Jesus.
Listen:
‘All to Jesus I surrender’
To Ponder:
- What challenges you about today’s reading and reflection?
- Do you find it difficult to allow your faith to affect and inform particular areas of your life? If so, why?
Prayer
Here I am, Lord. Here to follow you; here to listen for you; here to offer your hope where you call me to be. Let my yes be yes. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Andy Fyall
The Revd Andy Fyall is Chair of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District.