Notes for Trinity 4

This Sunday's Gospel lesson ( Luke 6: 36 - 42) offers us the well known words from Jesus, "Judge not, and you will not be judged." Perhaps, there has been no text so abused as this. Often people use this to say, “See, closed communion is wrong. Everyone should be allowed to commune at this altar because who are we to judge.” Or, we hear, “See, you can’t say anything about my sin. I can do what I want. Who are you to judge?” The problem with these protests is that they are not listening to what the text is about. In Galatians 1, Paul condemns false teaching. In Matthew 18, Jesus instructs us to address those who have sinned against us telling them their fault. In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul tells the church to expel an immoral brother who would not repent.

So clearly the gospel lesson before us is not license to believe or live contrary to God’s word. Therefore, what is Jesus getting at? The key is to look at how Christ contrasts what we are not supposed to do with what we are supposed to do. We are to forgive. We are to give freely. We are to show mercy. That’s what Jesus is driving at here. He wants you ready, willing, and able to forgive those who have wronged you. Interesting, that it is our nature to use this text to say we shouldn't worry about false teaching or "You can't judge me." Yet, when people sin against us, it's a different matter. Then we are all too ready to judge and hold a grudge. This is probably because both options require the least from us. But what God desires is self-sacrifice. When someone sins against us, God wants us to sacrifice our rights for retribution. Instead, He wants us to respond in kindness. He wants us to show mercy. He wants us to forgive. That is what this text is about.

Now, Jesus does not ask us to do anything He's won't prepare us for. So as you think about this text and discuss it with your family consider how the other things Jesus says serves to foster true forgiveness and mercy. Consider how the death and resurrection of Jesus brings the text to light and enables us to be merciful.