Third Sunday in Lent

SUNDAY: March 7, 2021 Lent 3 - Matthew 5:27-28

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. –Matthew 5:27-28

To exceed the “righteousness of the Pharisees and the scribes,” you must “exceed” the letter of the law, and Jesus gives examples of what “exceeding” looks like. Take for example, “Adultery.”  Many may claim they have been faithful to their spouse. They have been serious concerning their marriage vows. Yet Jesus explains, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” [1]

Jesus goes well beyond Moses to explain that the problem of the scribe and the Pharisee. They only read the commandment. They had a regard for an outward form in religion. They placed their attention on the letter of the law rather than the spirit. 

Humility is that righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, because humility is directional, it re-orientates man toward God, and it is in that re-orientating that we discover just how ill we really are, and how desperately we need the healing grace of our Great Physician to become “fully alive.” Jesus directs us to see that all these laws have one thing in common; they have to do with the Christian community in the present. Anger destroys community, lust destroys community, divorces destroys community, and hate destroys community.

The fulfillment of the Commands-or works-is not the means by which salvation is earned; rather, salvation begins in the attempt and the failure of attempting to keep them, for it is only in failing that humility is to be found. Humility gives us an accurate picture of ourselves—unlike our friends the scribes and the Pharisees, who were concerned only with outward show. And if we’re honest, humility shows us that we too have often thought merely keeping the Commandments externally was enough-after all, none of us are murderers, but we all have the capacity for anger. None of us has committed adultery, but we all have the capacity for lustful thoughts.

Humility is that righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, because humility is directional, it re-orientates man toward God, and it is in that re-orientating that we discover just how ill we really are, and how desperately we need the healing grace of our Great Physician to become “fully alive.” [2]

Almighty God, You know that I have no power in myself to help myself: Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul, that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen  [3]

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [4]

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[1] Chi Rho copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

[2]  Notes and commentary on Matthew 5 copyright © Pr. Ken Kelly July 2017

[3] Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent,  http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm

[4] Collect for Lent 3, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis