Matthew 10.24-39 (NRSV)

²⁴ ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; ²⁵it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

Whom to Fear

²⁶ ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. ²⁷What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. ²⁸Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. ³⁰And even the hairs of your head are all counted. ³¹So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

³² ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; ³³but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

³⁴ ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
³⁶ and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
³⁷Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

My text is Matthew 10.39:

^{39 ‘}Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’

Jesus tells his disciples that they cannot expect to be treated in any way better than him. If people showed no respect for Jesus, they will not show respect to his disciples. Jesus refers to Beelzebul, which in Aramiac means Lord of the house. We as Christians belong to the house of Jesus, and so those giving their allegiance to others are going to have little time for them. But we are not to be afraid, because the truth will prevail. Jesus had explained the truth to the disciples, but the world was not yet ready to receive it. But the time would come when our Lord’s suffering, death and victory over sin, death and evil would be proclaimed from the rooftops for all to hear. The sad truth is that this proclamation often lead to the martyrdom of those who proclaimed it. But even this should not concern us, because Jesus explained that people can only harm – even kill – the body; who we really are is present within our souls, where true life happens. Who and what we are is not contained in our bodies, the God life, the true life, the real life, the life in all its fullness – what God offers to all and what we have accepted as Christians - is a gift from God alone. But if the life of a sparrow matters to God, how much more do we matter.

God’s knowledge of us, even our physical bodies, is intimate and detailed – even the hairs on our heads are numbered by him. But why ought we to ‘fear’ God. Here we see our Lord once more using hyperbole to get his point across.  Death comes when we deny our Lord by betraying ‘… the love which he has manifested to us …’ When we live in a way that fails to imitate our Lord, this is when we perish, this is when our lives are compromised and some even die. People in this state can be in perfect physical health, but have died inside!

This is the truth that we need to declare from the rooftops; that there is life, real life, life in all its fullness, and it is a free gift, offered by Jesus to all who would receive it. Once more Jesus goes into hyperbole, stressing the need to proclaim this message, loud and clear, so that people might know what it is to live, and not merely exist.

Our world is full of people who merely exist. They have everything that money can buy and then some, but they still have nothing. We need to be eager to pass the message on. Love, is at the heart of what it means to be fully human, for it is the nature of God himself, as John explains in his first epistle.

What then is it that we must proclaim?

We are to announce salvation to all people, for ‘… such a pardon is only truly received if we are eager to pass it on …’

In Romans 10.14-15 Paul writes: “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

We bring the good news that real life is possible, full life is possible, but it is not what people think it is; it comes when people live for others and not only themselves. Fulfilment follows selflessness.

And what it our motivation: In 2 Corinthians 5.14-15 Paul explains: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” Unless our motivation is love, then we are doing everything for the wrong reason; for God is love and he calls us to follow the ways of Christ which are the ways of love.

From verse 34, Jesus returns to his earlier theme … the struggles his disciples will need to face up to. These even happen within one’s families. Verse 34 is shocking in its hyperbole and paradox. These seem strange words to come from the person who exalted peace in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. De Dietrich explains: ‘… to announce the peace of God is to denounce all false ideas of peace, which are only frightful caricatures of it …’ Verses 34-37 have been sadly abused at times and have been invoked to justify some dreadful behaviour – but only if they are embraced in their literal expression. The division comes when the disciple of Jesus follows his ways of selfless love and their family oppose it. This could be seen in South Africa where children opposed Apartheid and were opposed by their parents; where parents opposed the money grabbing dishonesty of a child who was using unjust business practices or when a daughter-in-law supported her husband in doing what is was right and his parents objected. Our love and obedience to the message of Jesus must be prominent. And this can imply the cross of forgiveness and self-sacrifice in the midst of hatred, dishonesty and injustice. Real peace comes when people follow the example of our Lord and live for others, even those who might harm us.

Sadly, we today live in a world where real peace is not the experience of many. Today’s ‘peace’ is a mask, a cover up, disguising falsehood – and so there is no peace. This is what Jeremiah spoke of … ‘they have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace’, when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6.14)

Jesus came to disturb all false ideas, to tear to pieces with the sword – his words – all the false masks that people use to pretend and not be themselves as the author to the Letter to the Hebrews explains:  Hebrews 4.12-13:

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

There might come a time when the call will come and we will need to leave all to follow Jesus. It could even mean a Cross. This is not a symbol of death, it is the mark of humiliation – the condition of a slave. It is in this that a disciple is not above his master. But we are seldom asked to go this far. The question is would we be prepared to, if the call came?

Again, this passage reminds us of the folly of literalism. We know that throughout the ages, the New Testament and the Christian leaders throughout history have warned about taking things literally that are meant to explain and reveal a deeper truth, for this is to limit the real depth of gift we are being offered. What we are called to is the willingness for extreme self-sacrifice, for this is the way to the only true life. When we are willing to give up everything, then we find the real meaning of life.  This is summed up in the prayer of Ignatius Loyola:

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous,

teach me to serve you as you deserve,

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labour and not to seek reward,

except that of knowing that I do your will.

Christians are those who live selfless lives. In reality the Christian parent lives for their children and their children for their parents. It is selfishness that is the cause of division within families and when the Christian calls for selflessness, conflict arises.

Jesus said: ^{39 ’}Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ This verse is pivotal; it occurs in six different forms. Here the word translated as ‘life’, is the same as can be translated as ‘soul’. As Argyle explains: ‘Both meanings are included here. By gaining his (physical) life, a person will lose his real self; by losing his (physical) life, a person will gain their real self.’

We look after our bodies as best we can, but never at the expense of the soul. As Bonhoeffer explains, Jesus was the example of true love, divine love, the expression of the nature of God himself he was – ‘a man for others …’ and we are called to be the same. As Jesus put it:

^39’Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’

Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Results of Justification

¹Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. ³And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. ⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. ⁸But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. ⁹Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ¹¹But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

My text is written in Romans 5:1-2:

¹Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 

Through Jesus our status changes from one who was at enmity with God, to one who has peace with God. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are placed in a right relationship with God – because we have been declared right with God by our faith – a gift that God graciously gives us. But Paul goes on and states that more than mere status has changed, also our state is transformed and so the saved sinner cannot go on sinning, we need to become what we have been declared to be. Barclay puts it this way: Christ’s death changes our status; Christ’s risen life changes our state. Jesus is not a dead person from history, he is alive and is here to help us, guide and direct us, to fill us with his strength to enable us to overcome temptation, “... to clothe our lives with something of his radiance if we live forever in his presence.’ J A T Robinson explains: ‘... the prodigal has been allowed to enter a new status, when henceforth, everything is different. ... Now everything can be enjoyed as a child of God!’ He who changed our status with God can also change our state.” (Barclay) God does not love us because we are good. Maly explains ‘... rather, we are good because God loves us ...’ and this is expressed most clearly in verse 8. This says something really important about God: He is not an offended deity, appeased by a self-sacrificing Christ; he is a Father who takes the initiative because he is filled with love for us. We were reminded of this in the Gospel reading where we read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes on him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

This is really good news to reflect on during this season of Lent: Jesus enables us to quit sinning and become good people; our sanctification is where the saving process goes on and never ends, “... until we see him face to face and are like him.” (Barclay)

Our salvation is a process which includes the original coming of Christ. His death and resurrection are all proof of God’s love – it happened because God loves us and to show how much God loves us.

But it is important to stress that it is not a matter of a vengeful God and a loving Jesus. Jesus did not change God from being angry and vengeful to being gracious. The whole thing springs from the love of God. Jesus did not change God’s character; he revealed God’s character and show what God’s character has always been; as Barclay concludes: “He came to prove unanswerably to men that God is love.”

Barclay describes this passage as one of Paul’s most lyrical in which ‘... he almost sings the intimate joy of his confidence in God ...’ Trusting faith, the accepting of God at his word ‘... has done what the labour to produce the works of the law could not do; it has given a man peace with God.’ Before Jesus came and until a person accepts as true that which Jesus says about God ‘... no person could ever be intimate with God.’ In effect, Paul is saying that outside of Jesus, God is ‘unfindable’.

Others, including Jews at the time had an image of God that was fierce and frightening. Barclay continues: “It is only when we realise that God is the God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that there comes into life that intimacy with God, that new relationship which Paul calls justification.”

Through Jesus we have an introduction to the grace in which we now stand. Barclay explains that he word translated as introduction is the same one used when introducing one into the presence of royalty – it is also used of a worshipper as they approach God. So, Jesus ushers us into the presence of the King of Kings and when we go in we find grace, not condemnation; not judgement, nor vengeance ‘... but sheer, underserved, unearned, unmerited and the incredible kindness of God ...’ In later Greek thought, the same word was used to refer to describe a harbour or haven for ships. As long as we rely on our own efforts, we are tossed about by the winds and tempests of life; but now Jesus welcomes us into a haven of safety – the haven of God’s grace. We no longer rely on what we can do for ourselves, but on what God has done for us.

Writing this again now, reminds me of the joy I experienced when I first came to understand this ... and I rejoice once more in the beauty of God’s grace and His love for us.

But all this does not alter the fact that this life can be hard. Our lives are often filled with pressures: sorrow, persecution even, want, need, loneliness (to name a few). But united with Christ, and relying on his grace all this can lead to fortitude (what the NRSV translates as endurance) – hupomone – but Barclay says it is endurance – and more ‘... the spirit that can overcome the world.’

We do not passively endure, but actively overcome and conquer the trials and tribulations of love. Barclay explains using the example of Beethoven, who when he was told he was going deaf responded: “I will take life by the throat.” This is hupomone! He continues: ‘Sorrow colours life ... but you can choose the colour.’ This too is hupomone. This is fortitude, and this produces character.

In the experience of the Holy Spirit, people have a foretaste – a first instalment as it were – of the glory of God that shall be. This experience makes us long for the fulfilment of what adoption into the family of God really means. The final completion of this experience will come with the resurrection of our bodies. We are not disembodied spirits as the Greeks thought, we are both bodies and spirits, and this is how our salvation will be completed; only we will be given new bodies, ones that will not be subject to decay. Our new bodies will be spiritual, but they will still be bodies. I love the way Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians: just as a seed is planted and grows into a flower, so our earthly bodies will be ‘planted’ and a new body will emerge, one with the earthly body – just different and eternal.

So, our human situation is not hopeless: Paul was an optimist. He saw sin, the state of the world and the human condition realistically, but he also knew of God’s grace and it is this that filled him with hope – ‘... life was an eager anticipation of a liberation, a renovation and a re-creation wrought by the glory and power of God ...’

There is eager expectation – this life ought to be (in Barclay’s words) ‘... a throbbing, vivid expectation ...’ like a person leaning forward looking to the horizon in expectation. But the reality is that life can also be a struggle. Within we also battle sin and without we live in a world of death and decay.

But: we don’t only live in the world, we also live in Christ. We do not only see the world, we also look beyond the world to God. We do not only see the consequences of human sin, we also see the power of God’s mercy and grace and love. Because of this, the keynote of the Christian life is always hope and never despair – ‘... the Christian waits not for death, but for life ...’

Verses 9-11 provide the wonderful explanation of the consequences of our justification by faith. In verse 9 it is explained that we are justified by his blood – this is a reference to his passion and death. Justification is the starting point. But it is more than us being declared right with God; verse 10 speaks of how this makes it possible for us to be reconciled with God – this means that our relationship with God is restored.

Reconciliation is never the movement of a person back to God, ‘... it is rather God’s action of drawing the person back to himself ...’ this is why the verb is always passive and why we ‘receive’ reconciliation. All this because we have been offered the free, gracious gift of faith. Maly continues: ‘By faith we are what we are not.’

Jesus spoke of entry in through a narrow gate – it is both necessary and impossible. But what is impossible for us humans is possible with God and so He does all this for us in and through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And so we have peace, that which passes all understanding, keeping our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The key words of Paul in this letter are: peace, glory, endurance, hope, love, the Spirit, salvation, reconciliation and life. J A T Robinson claims that all these words ‘... are given their full orchestration and reach their crescendo in Chapter 8.

Philosophers challenge us by saying that there is a difference between what is and what can be. I think this is a wonderful challenge, especially in this time of Lent. But the Gospel makes this so much more possible. We all know the frustration of trying to change and failing over and over again. The good news is that God gives us His Spirit, to enable us to become what we want to be (and what God wants us to be because he loves us so much). J A T Robinson explains in the simple statement: ‘... The Christian life is based on the pattern – become what you are ...’ The apostle put it this way:

¹Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 

Amen.