Matthew 5:21-37

Sometimes people like to push the envelope. They try to go faster or higher and do more extreme things. They like to say that their innovative techniques are pushing the envelope. They are always claiming to be doing something new that is beyond what anyone else has ever thought of. So their extreme actions they say push the envelope of what is traditional or common place.

Do you know the origin of the expression "Push the envelope?" It is actually an expression used in the science or aeronautics and became popularized during the early space race. The envelope is the mathematical limits of what is aeronautically possible for a certain aircraft. There are certain limits of speed and altitude and maneuverability that are safe. Often test pilots would try to push to the limits of that envelope to find where they were. And their attempts would push the limits of what people conceived that envelope to be. So whether it was breaking the sound barrier or reaching new altitudes they would push the envelope.

But the phrase has been universalize to describe anything that is beyond convention. To push the envelope means that you think outside the box. Forgive me for using one cliché to explain another. But you try to push the limits of what is considered safe or possible to create a new definition of what is safe or possible. So athletes push the envelope and business men and women try to push the envelope to find new limits of possibility. And they often find them.

My father was an engineer. He told me the story of attending a lecture in the 1950's where a scientist proved that you could get a man into space but that you would never be able to get him back because he would burn up in the atmosphere. Less than 10 years later we had put a man in space and my father was an engineer on the Gemini project , the 2nd generation of American capsules which took men into space and brought them back safely. That is pushing the envelope.

Well, Jesus is pushing the envelope religiously speaking. In our lesson last week Jesus said "I came not to abolish the law but to complete it. In our lesson today he explains part of what he meant by that. He begins each subject by saying "You have heard it said." He is stating the religion convention of his time. The understanding of how God's people ought to act.

First he says "You have heard it said 'You shall not murder.'" Murder is the ultimate act of violence and hatred. So all can agree that God's people should not murder. But Jesus took that convention and pushes its limits. Not only should you not commit that ultimate act of violence toward a person you should not even hate them. The exact word in the English is "angry." The idea here is that we should not harbor anger. So even if you have a legitimate beef with someone do not harbor anger toward them. Don't even perform the minor violence of calling them a name.

But Jesus pushed the envelope farther. If you remember that someone else has a beef against you go make peace them. If you come to altar without at least trying to reconcile with your sister or brother then your worship is hypocritical. That is why we have a passing of the peace before we have communion, to give people an opportunity to make peace before they come to the altar.

The convention said that God's people do not perform the ultimate act of violence: murder. Jesus pushed the envelope. He said God's people don't even perform minor acts of violence like harboring anger or calling people names. In fact God's people should go out of their way to make peace and not simply avoid violence.

Next Jesus said "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'" In the 10 commandments this commandment is between "you shall not murder" and "You shall not steal." The rabbis said that was because the one who commits adultery murders the marriage and steals a spouse. So God's people should respect marriage and not commit this ultimate betrayal of its sanctity. But Jesus pushes the envelope. Not only should God's people not commit adultery they should not even lust after someone else. Lusting after another is form of betrayal of the sanctity of marriage too.

Then Jesus pushes the envelope even more. He says if anything causes you to sin cut it out of your life. This is a matter of heaven and hell. It is better to live life maimed than to go to hell whole. Of course I don't think Jesus is talking about literally amputating your limbs. But he is saying to cut out things out of our lives that cause us to sin. Guys, if your golfing or fishing is getting in the way of spending quality time with your wife then cut it out. Ladies if your activities are preventing you from having quality time with your husband it is better to cut it out than to endanger the marriage.

Jesus concludes this section with a teaching about divorce. The laws of Moses said that a man could divorce his wife if he found something "unclean"(KJV), or 'indecent"(NIV) or "objectionable"(NRSV) about her. Some of the Pharisees taught that this could include anything. If a wife burned the dinner her husband could divorce her. So the convention of that time was easy divorce. So Jesus is reacting to people taking marriage lightly and getting divorced to marry someone else. God's people do not take marriage lightly and do not use divorce as a means of trading marriage partners.

Finally, Jesus says "you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.'" God's people keep their promises and speak truthfully. If they say their will do this or that then they do it. If they speak if should be truthfully.

Jesus takes this truth telling aspect a step further. Not only should you not swear to the truth of a lie you should not swear at all. Swearing, usually by God or some holy thing as a witness, assumes that some other statements may be false. Just eliminate all false statements altogether. The swearing to the truth of something will be meaningless.

God's people should be so radically true that their honesty is evident. Just say "yes" or "no." Let the truth of your statements be enough.

The conventional wisdom says certain things. But Jesus says that we Christians should push the envelope. The world says that certain things are just and right and ethical. God's people should seek to expand that understanding of right and true. We should seek to push the limits of conventional ethics and find a new depth of righteousness.

Are you ready to push the envelope? Are you ready to be quicker to love your neighbor than convention says you would be. Are you ready to find new altitudes of integrity and truthfulness? Are you ready to redefine the upper limits of love and righteousness?

The verse right before our lesson today says, "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."(5:20) You know a lot of times people hold religious leaders to a higher standard. I think that is right. The end result is that if they are less righteous than their leaders they think that is OK. But Jesus told his disciples to seek to exceed the righteousness of their leaders. Are you seeking to do the minimum in your life or are you seeking to exceed the best examples of righteousness you know?

Push the envelope!