Reading: Matthew 5: 21-37

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

“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 lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again, 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.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

 
Reflection:

One of the first songs learned in Sunday School is Jesus Loves Me with its repeating, “Yes, Jesus loves me. (3x) The Bible tells me so.” At Camp Mount Luther, Jesus Loves Me is sung to other tunes, too. It’s really cool to take a familiar song and sing it a bit differently; add a new twist like a “We will, we will rock you.” thigh tap and hand clap beat. Still end with “Yes, Jesus loves me. (3x) The Bible tells me so.” (tap, tap, clap) After singing it that way, you are sure to your core that yes, you are loved by Jesus.

Yes, because the Bible tells us so and therefore we can count on that yes. That simple. The Bible also tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no in our relationship with others and with God. Keep it simple. No matter how you say it (or sing it).

— Ruth Gates

Prayer:

Dear God, you ask us to mean what we say in our relationship with others and with you. Yes means yes. No means no. As simple as that. As simple as yes, Jesus loves me. Thank you.

Amen.