In a certain famous story from the synoptic gospels, Jesus casts out a legion of demons into a herd of pigs. And while the primary point of these stories in Matthew, Mark, and Luke seems to be the demonstration of Jesus’ authority and power over the demons, one has to wonder about the collateral damage of the pigs. While some historical commentators have interpreted the story to support the conclusion that Jesus cared about the souls of people more than the bodies of animals or people’s properties. But that’s not the question I’d like to ask here. It’s worth asking, “What about the pig farmers? How did they react to Jesus and his miracle?”

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I would think that I’m not the only Christian who has felt both convicted and blessed by Jesus’ words “You therefore must yourselves be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). Probably the first thing that usually comes to my mind when I hear these words is the concept of God’s holiness; as Leviticus 19:2 says, “You must be holy, for I YHWH your God am holy.” Jesus’ words in Matthew seem to draw on the words of Leviticus. As such we often feel convicted because we are not perfect like our God but blessed as we remember that Jesus has given us perfect standing before God through his righteous obedience. And that is consistent with Jesus’ words earlier in the sermon that “if your righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt 5:20). But in the immediate context of Matthew 5:48 Jesus is talking about love. How does this fit?

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