It has been a long time since my last blog. Life has been so busy it can make your head spin. Today I was thinking about the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. I challenge you to read these chapters on your own, remembering it is one sermon from our Lord and King-Jesus Christ the Maker of the universe. Despite what the name implies, the most outstanding part of this sermon is not where it took place. What sets this sermon apart is its context and content.
Jesus lived in a world where being religious meant following all the rules like the Pharisees did. With this sermon, Jesus turned their idea of spirituality upside down, and it will turn your idea of Christianity upside down as well. In fact, Jesus went so far as to say, “…unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” –Matthew 5:20. WOW, just imagine what must have been going through the minds of those that heard Him! Jesus the Savior was not saying they needed to follow the rules better like the religious elite, but His point was that they needed a completely different kind of righteousness—the internal righteousness of a conquered, surrendered heart. The same is true for us. Our treasure must be God alone, our treasure must be for Him and His Kingdom, and that is what will change our lives, change our actions. Not rules to change what we treasure, but our treasure will change our actions. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 6: 21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What would Jesus discover if He walked among us today? Would He discern hearts that are humble, broken, and poor, aware of how much they need a Savior? Or, would Jesus view us a prideful and satisfied with the kind of righteousness we can get through our own effort? What sermon would Jesus preach to us today? I think He just might preach Matthew 5-7.
With the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus draws a line in the sand. Hew makes it clear that the self-righteous, legalistic work of the Pharisees stand on one side of that line, and He stands on the other side. On which side are you standing? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful…Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:2-12
