Theological Commentary: Click Here
In
continuing the study of leadership, Jesus makes two points quite clear. The first point is that Jesus does not mind that
for which the Jewish leaders are standing up.
He makes this point twice. First,
He says that He has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Second, He says that unless the people have a
righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees and the Sadducees that it is
impossible to enter the kingdom of God.
Both of these statements indicate that the problem with leadership isn’t
necessarily what is be led but rather how the leadership is going about the
task.
The rest of
this chapter takes this thought even further.
How do leaders act while pursuing righteousness? Leaders turn the other cheek. Leaders walk the extra mile. Leaders love their enemies. In other words, leaders think about others
while they are leading. Leaders are
willing to rise above human concepts like vengeance, payback, and grudges. Leaders pursue what is good for the
community, not what is good for them.
Leaders also
do the right thing even when an easier way is accepted. Jesus tells people that even though divorce
has been made legal, it’s still not the best course of action. He tells us that while lust is natural and
human, it is the spiritual equivalent to adultery. The same thing is true for anger; it is
completely natural, but it is the spiritual equivalent to murder.
In fact, the
only way that leaders can accomplish this kind of living is through a change in
perspective. Those who mourn and are
persecuted are actually blessed. The
meek and the peacemakers will see God.
The rejected and poor in spirit follow in the footsteps of the righteous
who came before them. Godly leadership
requires a complete paradigm shift.
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