THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
The Righteousness of Jesus: Mt 5,21-32
Anger: 5,21-26
Verse 21 begins with what is known as a "divine passive": it was God who spoke on Mount Sinai.
"Thou shalt not kill" is found in the ten commandments, but killing is not necessarily murder. However the penalty for murder is found in Ex 21,12 or Lev 24,17.
"But I say to you" indicates how Jesus is speaking on his own authority, it is parallel to the divine passive. Thus Jesus in these teachings is claiming the authority of God himself. In 7,29 we will see as the conclusion to the sermon that Jesus spoke with authority.
The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 shows well how anger can lead to murder. Jesus therefore is going to the root of the problem by stressing judgement for anger and the need for reconciliation and forgiveness.
The gospel of Matthew can be a very harsh in its judgements but the evangelist is well aware of the need for forgiveness. Peter asking Jesus about how often he must forgive (18,21-22) makes this point.
A practical point here is the place of anger as an emotion that needs expression. That is rather a matter of how to deal with anger which is certainly not to take it out on a brother or sister.
Jesus then gives in verses 24 to 26 two examples, one cultic, one legal in order to stress this point.
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Adultery: Mt 5,27-30
Adultery is also covered by the ten commandments (Ex 20,14; Dt 5,18). These in the Old Testament are effectively a tribal law. Even more obviously than killing, adultery threatened the harmony and stability of the tribe. Lev 20,10 is one of several texts which require death for adulterers. In the independent tradition which is found in John 8,1-11, we see that only the woman is being threatened with stoning.
As with anger, so once again Jesus goes to the root of the problem: adultery begins with lust. This picks up the ninth commandment, thou shalt not cover thy neighbour's wife (Ex 20,17, Dt 5,21).
The language of verses 29-30 is then typical graphic warning language, used again by Matthew in 18,8-9. It underlines the seriousness of the sin.
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Divorce: Mt 5,31-32
Deuteronomy 24,1-4 seems a piece of old case law but permitting a second marriage. The implication therefore is that divorce is permissible - and Matthew will return to the issue in 19,3-9.
In verse 32 therefore, the extra righteousness of Jesus says that divorce leads to adultery. Here it is the principle which is stated. Chapter 19 will give Jesus' teaching about this in more detail.
Matthew now inserts an exception - one which is not found in the other Gospels (Mk 10,11-12). It is most likely that Matthew is referring to a particular issue within his community, perhaps to Gentiles married to closer cousins than Jewish law permitted (which is which is addressed in Leviticus, Lev 18,6-18). However, we will never have certainty on this matter and it is difficult to use it in pastoral matters concerning broken marriages.
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6th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The reading from Sirach is a clear statement of our free will, that we are free to choose and, remarkably it seems we can do so by our own efforts (Sir 15,15). If we go back to verse 11 though, the purpose of the passage is that we must not blame God but rather we must take responsibility for our actions. God as verse 20 says has never given anyone permission to sin. At the same time, God's wisdom is great (Sir 15,18) and his eyes are on those who fear him, those who are open to that wisdom.
In Gospel terms, that is a life open to grace. Jesus with his "But I say to you" requires the very highest standards of behaviour, standards which have often seemed impossible to many over the centuries. Sirach therefore balances the Gospel this Sunday by first reminding us that we have a choice but secondly that we also need God's wisdom.