SUNDAY: March 14, 2021 Lent 4 -Matthew 5:48
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect – Matthew 5:48
The strict demands of the Law which the Savior requires are laid out in today’s verse. The Lord demands perfection. This, of course should drive us to despair. “I believe that I cannot…believe on my Lord Jesus Christ or come to Him.” I believe that I cannot…keep the strict demands of the Law.” I believe that I cannot…be perfect as the Father is perfect.”
God demands holiness and perfection. Of course, we cannot achieve any quality of perfection by our own efforts. God’s Word makes this so clear: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23
So, what are we to do with this demand for perfection? There’s nothing we can do to make things right with God. All of our good behavior. All of our meritorious conduct. All of noble intentions and works. – Doesn’t cut it with God. But there is something Jesus can do – and has done – to make things right with God our heavenly Father. Through the redeeming work of Jesus – His perfect and sinless life of humble and loving service, His innocent suffering and death upon the cross – you have been declared holy and perfect by God.
None of this rests upon your efforts, but rather upon what Jesus has done for you. This gift of completeness, of perfection is received by faith. It comes to you through the life-giving Word of God in Holy Scripture, through the cleansing waters of Holy Baptism, through the forgiving and restoring power of Jesus’ true Body and Blood found in the Lord’s Supper. All of Jesus’ holiness and perfection is now yours by faith. Witness that great exchange. Your imperfection for Jesus’ perfection in exchange your sin in exchange for Jesus’ holiness.
That great exchange – God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cost of His own Son! For “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Hi should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
The Lenten season is upon us once again, O Lord God, and we come to You with the sign of ashes and repentance. The sign of what we are and what we have been. With repentant hearts, we come to You begging You for forgiveness and life.[2]
Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word, your Son Jesus Christ who reconciles us to you. Let us hasten toward Easter with the eagerness of faith and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen [3]
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread, which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen [4]
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Image Good Friday 2019 copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things
[2] Ash Wednesday Collect from the series “Don’t Be Afraid copyright © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Lent 4 For All the Saints A Prayer Book For and by the Church Vol.1 copyright © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY
[4] Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm
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