The Law Is Taunting You | Matthew 5:38-48 with Nick Hopman

In this week's lectionary text we hear Jesus lay out terms of the law such as:

"...if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also""Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"and, the kicker, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." 

We hear this and think to ourselves, "How is this even possible?" That's the law functioning on you. 

Luther House of Study's Nick Hopman teaches Adam, Kiri, and Mason how Jesus is using the two functions of the law to kill us. 

That's right. Jesus is using the law to kill you. He's not building his kingdom in a world ruled by the law. It's a heavenly kingdom through resurrection—and to have new life you have to first die. 

SING TO THE LORD

Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the Lord!

Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world."

To understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church, Lars Olson and I sit down with Zachary Brockhoff each week to discuss the lectionary's hymns, their meaning and history, and how the music preaches the Gospel. We hope you enjoy this new venture! 

Follow or subscribe to Sing to the Lord to hear the weekly episodes. Links to the Sing to the Lord podcast feed are in the show notes. 

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GOSPEL

Matthew 5:38-48

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

*Note: the text we discuss (Matthew 5:38-48) is not the lectionary’s Gospel reading for this week. If you’d like to hear us discuss the Transfiguration, listen to, “What Makes Something Holy? | Matthew 17:1-9”

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