This is Part 2 of 2 of Lesson 6: The Challenge of His Sayings. Click here to return to the introduction to this lesson.
2. Perfection
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:48 (KJV)
This statement comes from the Sermon on the Mount. Before considering what kind of ‘perfection’ Jesus is looking for, it is worthwhile to look at the parallel texts from the same set of teachings (those about loving your enemies), as reported by Luke:
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:35,36 (NKJV)
This latter text I think shows the type of perfection that Jesus was referring to in Matt 5:48.
Some might see this equivalence as a ‘cop out’, but it does seem to be consistent with Jesus’ focus on his followers having a radical love for both their brethren and enemies – the same love Jesus had. The following sayings of Jesus link ‘love for Him’ with ‘obedience’ and ‘love (mercy) for one another’:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15 (NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (NKJV)
From this you can see that whatever your interpretation of the perfection text, Jesus plainly says to keep His commandments, but in the context, and flowing from, a love for Him. And adherence to His commandments will not result in a sterile perfection, but a loving, giving, sacrificing attitude towards others.
A couple of questions to ponder:
- Do you think sometimes that it’s easier to comply with the a set of ‘outwardly good behaviours’ than to practice the radical love Jesus requires of us?. (This is not to take away from the importance of things like the ten commandments – Jesus clearly thought these eternally important from his interchange with the rich young ruler.)
- How can we have a heart that is willing to show love to those who seem intent on evil?
3. Divorce
It is with trepidation that I approach this subject. Divorce must clearly be one of the most stressful situations that you can go through.
The joining together of man and woman in the marriage contract is one of the most profound, sacred and joyful human experiences that God has prepared for us. He summarises the act vividly as becoming ‘One Flesh’ in the book of Genesis. And this probably underlines the difficulty then of separating this one flesh.
What seems to emerge from a reading of Scripture is that marriages need to be entered into with careful consideration, as well as the injunction to protect and restore faltering marriages wherever possible. Jesus said the following:
And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew 19:9 (NKJV).
Paul also provides advice which is consistent (although it misses the exemption for adultery):
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. I Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV)
Ellen White’s thoughts:
God gave only one cause why a wife should leave her husband, or the husband leave his wife, which was adultery. Let this ground be prayerfully considered. Adventist Home p342
Two other interesting observations from Ellen White’s statements. Firstly, she suggests in some cases that there is a spiritual solution to those having marital difficulties:
“You both need to overcome pride and selfishness. Do not wound one another by harsh words. Speak kindly and gently. I cannot give you better advice than this. No tongue can express, no finite mind conceive, the satisfaction that comes from appreciating the goodness and love of God.” 1 Manuscript Releases p161
In another instance though she counsels a ‘mistreated wife’ not to return to her husband which provide some clarification of the earlier advice about adultery being the only grounds to leave a marriage:
“I have received your letter, and in reply to it I would say, I cannot advise you to return to D unless you see decided changes in him. The Lord is not pleased with the ideas he has had in the past of what is due to a wife. . . . If [he] holds to his former views, the future would be not better for you than the past has been. He does not know how to treat a wife.” Adventist Home p343.
I didn’t however find any mention from Ellen White of any dispensation for this wife to remarry apart from the biblical teaching of it being permitted in cases where the other partner is sexually unfaithful.
The material I’ve presented above doesn’t provide any easy solutions for those facing marital difficulties. I have sympathy for those in such situations and don’t wish to present an oversimplistic representation of the problems. I also know that while God talks plainly on matters of sin, he is abundantly merciful to those who have erred in the past.
Anyway as always we’re interested in your thoughts on these difficult subjects.
That’s it for this week…see you again next time…
