“RECLAIMING RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Matthew 10:40-42
The Rev. Ms. Laurie A. McNeill
Montclair, New Jersey
June 26, 2005
Few people describe their relationships in terms of righteousness. Inquire how a
couple is getting along – rarely is the answer, “We are experiencing great righteousness.”
Ask students in a class how they like their teacher, – doubtful it is they will say, “Our
teacher is righteous!” When is the last time, if ever, any of us had one of our friends
described us as a righteous person?
Righteousness is not a word we ordinarily use, yet it is a characteristic we often
embody. Without even knowing that we are righteous people, we are. Without realizing
that others demonstrate righteousness, we enjoy the harmony yielded by them.
Righteousness is a wonderful quality, a wonder to behold, and yet its meaning escapes us.
We have difficulty understanding Jesus’ teaching when he instructs his disciples,
“Whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the
reward of the righteous.” (Matthew 10:41b)
Few people describe their relationships in terms of righteousness, yet that is how Jesus
describes the potential encounters his disciples will have when they minister in his name.
To begin to grasp Jesus’ message, we need to reclaim the Biblical concept of
righteousness. To speak of righteousness in the New Testament is to speak about
relationships. Righteousness is understood in the context of a relationship, a covenant
relationship.
The foundation of our Christian faith is secured in our belief that we are in covenant
relationship with God. God has promised to be our God, and we have promised to be God’s
people. The pledges exchanged between God and us are easily spoken. Honoring our vows,
actually keeping the covenant, is more challenging. Maintaining a relationship requires
vigilance, faithfulness, attentive behavior. Maintaining a relationship requires
righteousness.
The acts that sustain a relationship are righteous. Unrighteous acts are those that
tear apar t a relationship. Righteous acts strengthen the covenant bond. Unrighteous acts
break up a partnership.
We may think of righteousness as a quality of goodness, in and of itself. We may
value particular actions and place them in a category for righteous behavior. The virtue to
which we ascribe righteousness may not be a worthy action, however, depending on the
context of a given situation.
Consider how honesty is a characteristic we tend to prize. We may believe that one
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