000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany/Year A 23
The Gospel lection for today, Matthew 5:21–37, neither cites nor
alludes to Deuteronomy 30:15–20. Deuteronomy’s emphasis on consciously
choosing to serve God does have a slight reverberation with Matthew in
that Matthew wants disciples to choose to be faithful in the ways described
in 5:21–37 (e.g., seeking reconciliation) as part of the path of faithfulness
that will eventuate in being included in the realm of God, the eschatological
counterpart to Deuteronomy’s promise of living in the land.
Deuteronomy 30:15–20 is also assigned to Proper 18/Year C, where it
is paired with Luke 14:25–33, a passage with an affinity with Deuteronomy
as Luke stresses the importance of making a conscious decision to follow
Jesus that takes into account the difficulties that come with discipleship.
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany/Year A
Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18
Chapter 19 of Leviticus is an assemblage of Torah-teachings, mostly
moral, directed to the people to empower them to live the life of holiness
as fully as did the priests in the Temple. Today’s reading provides pastors
with an opportunity to communicate to their congregations the purpose
of torah (way, teaching). Torah was a gracious gift from YHWH provided
to make it possible for the people of God to lead lives characterized by
well-being (blessing) in every respect. The God who graciously elected
Israel also graciously gave Israel the mitzvoth.
The chapter opens with a call to holiness. The Lord told Moses to say
to “the people of Israel . . . : You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God
am holy” (v. 2). The rabbis interpreted this in the light of Exodus 34:6
where God characterizes God’s self as “merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” “As YHWH is gracious and compassionate,
so you should be gracious and compassionate.” 5 Israel is to
imitate God, as indeed Matthew and Luke call the church to imitate God
(Matt. 5:48; Luke 6:36). Imitation of God is manifest primarily in responsible
action toward the vulnerable: YHWH “executes justice for the
orphan and the widow, and . . . loves the strangers, providing them food
and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in
the land of Egypt” (Deut. 10:18–19).
Verse 3 reminds the people to “revere your mother and father,” because
elderly parents are vulnerable and have needs that their adult children are
called upon to meet. This was ancient Israel’s safety net—not only
orphans and widows but the frail and elderly were included in it. Verse 3b