You have heard it said…but I say to you…
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus uses this phrase countless time to frame his teaching. Each time Jesus takes a commonly accepted teaching from the culture or religious establishment, and flips it on it’s head. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
What would Jesus say to some of our cultural assumptions?
You have heard it said…that the American dream is to make a great deal of money and acquire a significant number of goods to make you happy…The bible says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV)
You have heard it said that the world revolves around you and your needs…Jesus says “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)
You have heard it said that the church exists to meet your needs as someone in the pews and it’s the church’s job to make sure I am fed…Jesus says, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)
If Jesus really meant what he said, what impact does it have for you? Or your assumptions? I encourage you to take some of you cultural assumptions and line them up against God’s Word and to see what God reveals to you.
Pastor Bill