3.         Being literal

5:17-48

            fulfil prophets - Ye heard.. but I say .

 

5:17-48  "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.  For truly I tell you, not one iota or point of the law will pass away from the law, in heaven or earth, until everything comes to pass.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do this will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.  But whoever keeps the law and teaches it will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  You heard what was said to the ancients “You shall not kill and whoever kills is liable to the judgment.”  But I tell you that anyone being angry with his brother is liable to the judgment.  Whoever says to his brother “Raca  will be liable to the council.”  And whoever says “You Fool” will be liable to the gehenna of fire.  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and remember there that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go first to be reconciled to your brother and then coming offer your gift.  Be well disposed to your opponent while you are with him along the way in case your opponent delivers you to the judge and the judge to the attendant and you are cast into prison.  Truly I tell you that you will definitely not come out until you have paid back the last farthing."

 

"You heard that it was said “You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who sees a woman and lusts after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  So if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you.  It is better for you to lose your eye rather than for the whole of your body to be cast into gehenna.  And if your right hand causes you to stumble cut it off and  cast  it from 

you.   It  is better  for  you to lose one of your limbs rather than for your whole body to be cast into gehenna."

 

"It was said “Whoever dismisses his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.  But I tell you that everyone who dismisses his wife, apart from a matter of fornication, makes her commit adultery.  Whoever marries a dismissed woman commits adultery.   Again you heard that it was said to the ancients.  You shall not commit perjury.  You shall keep your oaths to the Lord.  But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven because it is the throne of God, nor by earth because it is his foot stool.  Nor (should you swear) by Jerusalem because it is the city of the great king.  Do not swear by your head either because you cannot make one hair go either white or black.  Let your word be “Yes yes, or No no.  For there evil in all these excesses.  You heard that it was said “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  But I tell you not to  oppose evil.  But rather if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn  the other cheek.  And if someone wants to judge you and take your tunic, allow him to take your outer garment as well.  And whoever shall impress you to go one mile, go two miles with him.  To the one who asks you to give and to the one wanting to borrow from you, do not turn away. You heard that it was said ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may become sons of your Father in the heavens.  He makes his sun rise on evil and good men alike and it rains on both just men and unjust.  If you love those who love you what reward do you gain for that?  Even the tax-collectors do the same.  And if you only greet your brothers, what is there extra about that.  Even the gentiles do that.  Therefore be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect." 

In the early part of Matthew’s gospel Jesus is expounding on the Kingdom of God.  John the Baptist proclaims that it is coming.    In term of the analysis in Reality Search  what would the Kingdom of God mean?  We recall that the ‘argument’ shown by Reality Search  sets out how to build a society based on time or law and how to build a society based on place or order.  It also points out the weaknesses of these societies and tries to address them.  In this kind of context the kingdom of God could be  Cont.