What we have studied in the Manifesto of the King so far has been challenging, to say the least!  We have been able to see however that properly understanding what Jesus was actually saying makes His description of Kingdom life seem possible rather than impossible.  For example, understanding that lust is desire conceived rather than temptation or mere sexual thoughts gives a lot of relief to those who thought they have committed adultery in their mind for as long as they can remember!  These next two paragraphs in our study will need careful explanation and interpretation as well.  An "eye for an eye" seems a lot more appropriate than "turn the other cheek."  When Jesus says we should not resist an evil person, is He actually commanding the police and soldiers to "stand down" and let bad men run wild?  Is He suggesting we give everything we have to anybody who wants it whenever they want it?  Is this what it means to live by faith?  Who is sufficient for these things?  My mind is filled with questions about these matters.  I want to ask about various scenarios.  What about crazy people with guns bent on mass murder?  What about a wife getting smacked around by her husband?  What about a child being abused?  Does Jesus expect those kinds of scenarios to go unaddressed?  What kind of Kingdom does He think we live in anyway, Mr Rogers Neighborhood?  I will mention some helpful interpretive tools on Sunday that M.L. Jones lists in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount.  I think one of the most helpful is simply, if the interpretation is ridiculous it is wrong.  In other words, we need to begin with the presupposition that Jesus knows what is going on and that He is brilliant!  He is not in a bubble and He is not ridiculous, the problem is in our understanding of what He is actually saying.  He would not tell us to do something we are unable to do.  He is with us, He has given us the Spirit and if we'll cooperate, the work He started in us will actually begin to produce the fruit He intended.  The question is not His readiness...it is our willingness.  He is ever ready to help us "get on with it" when we are willing to employ the means to participate.  The illustrations He gives of what we could be like should whet our appetitites to engage with Him.  Are you in?

Remember that line from your childhood?  "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye...."  Who comes up with this stuff?  As children we used that line as an oath to guarantee we were telling the truth.  People finally grow out of that stage and start saying things like, "It's the gospel truth" or "I swear to God" or "On my mother's grave I swear" etc.  You may not think these are important matters to be dealing with but Jesus thinks they are.  In His manifesto He taught the disciples that truth telling and keeping our word is imperative.  Again, imagine a society that actually took Jesus' brilliant advice to heart?  If we, by His grace, eliminated anger, contempt, refusal to reconcile, lust and unjustifiable divorce from our every day life, our culture would be transformed.  And, add to that a "yes" that actually meant "yes" and a "no" that actually meant "no" and police and courtrooms might actually be looking for stuff to do instead of being overcrowded.  Lies, manipulation with words and broken promises have become so much a part of our culture that people are understandably cynical and suspicious.  But the church is to be the "pillar and foundation of the truth."  If we don't look different than the culture around us, we are going to have a hard time communicating the gospel truth.  Sometimes, telling the truth and keeping our promises is inconvenient and it even costs us money.  We must remember that the Kingdom of Heaven us among us, we have a generous Father who cares for us and we are His dearly loved children.  Christ wants us to become the kind of people who never need to swear by anything...we must simply give our word and do what we have said.  The more we meditate on the reign of God that is "among us", the more such a lifestyle will seem right...and possible!