Gardening in the kingdom of God

Just as Jesus directed us to seek the kingdom in the context of what He was teaching about anxiety, much of the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are also related to cultivating the seeds of the kingdom of God within us. These are not just "nice" things; these are not platitudes. What Jesus taught is essential to nurture life within us.

The good seed has been sown in our heart; but tares have been sown as well. We cannot just let the things in our heart have free expression. Many things are designer weeds, meant to choke out the life of the kingdom. The parable of the tares explains what is behind what Jesus taught. We must deal with tares.

Jesus addressed murder; for human society to function, murder must be unlawful. But Jesus taught what we need for the kingdom of God to function within us. Anger against a brother is a tare that chokes out the life of the kingdom. Jesus had no intention that human society would try to implement what He taught; it cannot. But we can. What Jesus taught is for us to cultivate the kingdom of God within us.

"If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering at the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." Matthew 5:23-24

Relationships are significant; Jesus taught what is vital for us to find the workings of the kingdom of God.

Jesus addressed adultery; for human society to function, marriage must be given some respect. But the desire for adultery within us is a tare, whether or not it is fulfilled. Human society cannot legislate a pure heart; but we can watch over our heart. Again, Jesus addressed this in strong terms, using a frightening picture.

"And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matthew 5:29

Without considering further what He meant, we can see the importance that He is putting on direct action against the tares within us. Nothing in what He said suggests that we should let this slide.

Jesus addressed vows in their culture; for human society to function, contractual agreements must be binding. But vows in their culture carried a presumption of power. These are just quaint cultural practices, but Jesus called it evil. He was not looking at this from the Law of Moses, or from a sociological point view, He was looking at cultivating the kingdom of God.

The ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are not high ideals, which we should all try for, but which no one will really fulfill. The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount are a gardening handbook, a practical guide to cultivating the kingdom of God. This section is on weeds, spiritual weeds.

If we feel like the kingdom of God is hard to find, we should consider how healthy the weeds are.