Contents
Introduction
Today’s First and Second readings underline two facts: ‘Decision (making)’ and ‘Wisdom.’ On the other hand, the Gospel is a pragmatic exposition of our decisions and the application of wisdom or lack of it in our actions and decisions. Since the 4th Sunday, we have been reading and reflecting on one of the major Matthean discourses – the Evangelical discourse, otherwise known as the Sermon on the Mount.….….….……
Decision
The indispensableness of discernment cannot be overemphasised. Hence, Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees and the Sadducees for their ability and agility in foretelling the weather, but not being able to discern this time. Kairos differs from ordinary time and timing. The inability to discern is summarised by Jesus either as hypocrisy (Greek: upokrisis) or as foolishness (Greek: aphrōn), or even a combination of the two. Hence, a fool who cannot discern concludes in his or her heart that there is no God (cf. Pss 14:1; 53:1), a conclusion, that is, wrong decision that leads to recklessness, ungodliness, unguided and unguarded comportments and utterances.
Wisdom
In the biblical world, wisdom has an extended range of meanings. But in our context, it is discernment and judgment; discretion, enlightenment, and accumulated knowledge. It is the result of judgment, practical truth and knowledge. Wisdom is insight into the true nature of things. “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment” (Prov 8:12).
I have come not to abolish…
Guided by the wisdom of the Father, Jesus can confidently affirm and clarify that he has not come to render invalid the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them through his actions and teachings. On its literal level, plēroō is to make something full. Figuratively, the same verb means to fill someone or something with spiritual qualities (cf. Matt 23:32; Acts 5:8). As regards laws, prophecies, predictions and promises.….….….…
Unless your righteousness…
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus sternly warned the disciples “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Now, the question is how is or how was the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees? On various occasions, Jesus confronted the Scribes and the Pharisees and condemned their externalism and advertised spirituality. Though they gloried in outward conformity to biblical and extra-biblical regulations, yet, their hearts were impure and miles away from God (cf. Isa 29:13). They knew how to clean the outside of the cup, forgetting that it is the same person that owns both the outside and the inside (cf. Matt 23:5.23.25–28).
If you are bringing your offering…
In the words of Jesus, if you are bringing your offering to the altar, and right there close to the altar, you remember your brother or sister has something against you, Jesus advises that you suspend everything, go and reconcile with your brother or sister before coming back to continue with your offering (cf. Matt 5:23–24). The idea of bypassing this instruction by insisting that since the person is already at the altar he or she should continue with the offering, and do the reconciliation later is not intended by Jesus.….….…
If your right eye…if your right hand…
The call for mutilation. That is, the advice to cut off your eye, hand, leg or any other part of your body is a metaphor, an ardent appeal to apply wisdom in all that we do. It is not to be taken literally. The link between the eye, the hand and the heart is exceptional. They eye is the means through which a person lusts for something or for someone. Unless the eye sees, the heart cannot decide. Attention! This conclusion is limited only to our text. It is not everything the heart contemplates that passes or passed through the physical eye. On its own, the hand is the instrument for the actualization of what the eye has seen and what the heart has desired. I wonder why the leg is not included. But why right eye and hand? Do remember the slapping on the right cheek? In the biblical world, the right side has great importance. Hence.….….….….……
Conclusion
An able leader is supposed to be filled with administrative ḥokmâ (wisdom). Solomon (though he derailed when he decided to please his wives) understood this. Hence, he asked God to grant him wisdom to enable him do well as the King (God’s representative). Keeping or not keeping the commandment on love of neighbour is our choice. Obeying or disobeying the rules of life is strictly our choice. To be faithful or unfaithful is our decision. Fire or water? You are free to pick the one you prefer. Life or death? It is up to you to take one (cf. First Reading). Whichever choice you make, be ready as well to accept the consequence positive or negative. But remember, you need wisdom to know the difference. And you equally require wisdom to avoid legalistic conformity to societal rules and regulations.
The inability to apply wisdom in our everydayness simply leads to godlessness and sin. And since God, the absolute owner of creation including our lives, has neither commanded us to be godless nor given us the permission to sin, we need to redress our steps now before it is too late (cf. First Reading). The recourse to wisdom implies veracity of our deeds and utterances. With wisdom, your yes will always be yes, and your no, no. Always remember that any wrong decision you take can seriously condition or even ruin the life of others. Therefore, always seek divine wisdom in your decisions. God bless you. Shalom!
[1] The Hebrew equivalent is nākar. Cf. for instance Ezra 3:13 where the sense is to distinguish.
[2] Cf. William D. Mounce (ed), Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testaments Words (Zondervan, Grand Rapids – MI 2006), p. 793.