Isn't this Supposed to be Easy Once reading the Gospel, I was immediately challenged by the teachings of Jesus in Mathew. This was honesty not what I was expecting, and I'm not 100% sure why. Its not that I thought Jesus was soft, quite the opposite. But I was stunned at some of the initial teachings in Mathew. There are a few I'd like to discuss briefly.
Concerning Divorce: Jesus comes out really strongly against divorce in this text, going as far to say that the only acceptable reason for a separation is "unchastity" (a women who was not a virgin before her wedding). In my reading, it seems to heavily imply that only the man has the power to end a marriage. To Top it all off, the final shocking aspect of this passage is that Jesus says that women who are divorced commit adultery and those who marry a divorced women also commit adultery. With divorce being such a prevalent and sometimes necessary situation in society today, my own values currently stand at odds with this teaching. How am supposed to explain to a women in an abusive marriage that not only are they unable to end the marriage, but would be committing a sin if they do. Marriage is not something to be taken lightly and this verse emphasizes that. However, this teaching is something I struggle with for sure. Expanded Definition of Adultery A second teaching that I find challenging is what Jesus says about adultery. Jesus teaches that not only does adultery consist of sexual conduct outside of marriage, but that a man has committed adultery in his heart with every women he has lusted after. To me, this doesn't leave much grey area, and seems to suggest that I have committed adultery with every women I have ever had the hots for. Perhaps there is some grey area regarding whether or not you are married or in a relationship and having these thoughts verses being single and thinking about these things. But it is a teaching that expresses the value of extreme mental and sexual self control and not something I expected Jesus to comment on. Love For Enemies and Golden Rule The final text I'll comment on today is the idea of loving your enemies and treating all people how you would want to be treated yourself. These values are at the core of Christian teachings, yet they are often the most challenging to do, and we often fall short. It is easy to love those we already love. It is much more difficult to find love, forgiveness, and compassion for those we hate. What makes this more difficult is that Jesus put no limits on this commandment. It extends to the likes of terrorists, sinners, the sick, the mentally ill, the violent, the evil, and the people who have done us personal wrong. It is this challenge that makes following in the path of Jesus so difficult.
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