Self-Control

Some say the Galilean understood the strictures that he outlined on the Sermon on the Mount were unachievable. They were stark. There’s no doubt of that. If we grant that “thinking is sinning,” we have to anticipate falling short. If we imagine cutting off a hand if it sins, we cringe. We have brothers and sisters whom it is hard to love. Many pray for riches and power as opposed to forgiveness for their sins, sins that they don’t even admit.

In short, we fall short. About half the marriages in the United States end in divorce. Some individuals achieve more than one. Of those, some are even deemed holy and righteous by their followers.

Professor  Francois P Viljoen observed, “When considering Matthew’s use of the word ‘righteousness’, it appears to describe one of the primary actions or virtues expected from the community.”

We could interpret that to mean that they are what the Galilean expects from us and what we should inspect for within our own hearts. What we find there will tell us what we know about our place in history. Our soul mirrors our actions, not our intentions, claims, or accolades. We must “self-police.” He spelled out a constitution for a righteous life there on the side of that hill and left us to live by it as we choose.

That is an area in which the messages of the Old Testament and New Testament depart in basic theology. Old Testament transgressors found themselves struck by lightning, drowned, consumed by a sudden fire, swallowed into the earth, or allowed to die in battle. A jealous and vengeful god communicated quite clearly to those who had lost favor. Judgement came fast in the form of either retribution or prophetic condemnation.

The Galilean more or less leaves it up to us. As the southern people of our country say, “That’s a tough row to hoe.” Self-control is not one of Americans’ strong points. That prompted Ralph Waldo Emerson, almost two thousand years later, to observe, “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” We must, then, take responsibility, no matter how difficult it seems.

These contemplations have commented on how we are commanded to be more righteous than our leaders. That wasn’t hard back when the Galilean spoke and it’s not hard now. But woe to us, we not only must rise above those who claim leadership, but above the worst impulses of our own nature.

Where do we find guidance?

Thankfully, we have the Beatitudes, no matter now embarrassing they may be to some who call themselves holy.