The Thursday after the Second Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 23, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 5:17-26 (NKJV)
5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Devotion
Yesterday, in the reading from St. John’s Gospel, we learned that “the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). But this does not mean Jesus came to abolish the Law. Jesus introduces today’s reading with this statement: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Jesus first fulfills the Law by teaching what it means to fully keep it. The Fifth Commandment cannot be kept until anger has been eradicated. When the Law is taught in its fullness, the hiding places of self-righteousness are stripped away and our sin is laid bare.
But Jesus has also fulfilled the Law in another way. He Himself has taken on its burdens and met its demands. He kept both the outward form of the Law and its demand for love from the entire heart, soul, strength, and mind. He produced a righteousness which exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees. This righteousness He gives to us through faith, rescuing us from the condemnation of the Law and reconciling us with God.
Now, if God is reconciled with us, then we must also be reconciled with our brother. Zacchaeus understood this quite well. After receiving Jesus and His salvation, Zacchaeus proceeded to do everything he could to repair the wrongs he had done to others. God’s Holy Spirit makes us able to do the same according to His grace.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
