Sermon Notes Sept. 10 Ex. 12, Mt. 18, Rom 13:8

Ex. 12 God knows the system of death for what it is. Brick-quotas (Exodus 5:7-18), beaten backs (2:11), bitter lives (1:13), murdered babies (1:22): God sees the suffering and hears the cries of God’s people (3:7).(See Brueggemann)The people must let go of this past together. Letting go is the very root of the word to forgive in Greek.The third verse emphasizes the unity of the congregation of Israel at the same time that it commands action that every member will undertake (12:3; cf. 12:6). , now emphasizing the inclusion of every household (12:3). In the following verse, we learn how the smallest households will join together and support one another in the hard work of letting go (12:4). In our charged environment, we are not about the work of letting go of old pain and resentment and the forging of the bonds of community.The people are called to remember their origin and their sufferings and struggle.When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future. Bernard Meltzer

Rom. 13:8 follows a section on government.  put on Christ We are given "night vision" both to name the ways we and our world are still in darkness. In the night of hurting or being hurt, forgiveness gives us new vision.We are summoned to battle, not with other people, but with the forces of destruction that enslave and divide humanity through hurt, dislike, and fear.

We "put on" Christ, playing the role given us in baptism and sharing his destiny, just as in the incarnation Christ took on the role of all of us.. What does it mean to wear forgiveness? It is not a coverup or armor.

Forgiveness is living out Rom. 13:10   Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Eastman

Mt. 18-15 forgiveness method in church (rare use of the word, interesting that it is used for a locus of conflict)It seems to be a basic set of guidelines. In short, the steps Jesus lays out here are not a mere blueprint so much as a statement of communal values and an acknowledgment of both the frailty. Bringing in others is a check on our fallible memories and understanding. Love requires that we address the inevitable conflicts that will arise among us. It is not enough to sweep them under the rug and thus allow them to fester. Unaddressed conflicts can render a community unable to function as God hopes. But neither is rejection our first instinct. Separation is not to be taken lightly even when it proves necessary.Barreto   Jesus promises us that he is present, that his presence is real for us, when we are gathered in his name -- both in agreement, and in sin. We use the passage to speak of a small gathering at worship ro bible study, but look at it. Here it is about people learning forgiveness, of trying to resolve disputes. Mt. framed by  the promised real presence of God, in the promise of child named Emmanuel, God With Us (1:23) and in this God's parting assurance to us that he is with us always (28:20)Jacobsen

Love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Let go of our own disappointments, even in ourselves.

Our presbyterian system of courts is based on this passage to an extent. It used the civil courts and procedure as a model o over time. In our time it is little used, and most would not accept jurisdiction.