What is
significant about Jesus going up a mountain to speak with the people???
This resembles
Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive God’s commandments. To the largely Jewish
audience that Matthew was writing for, this would be most significant. This
would mean that Jesus would be giving new meaning to the teachings of old.
Where certain interpretations had gone astray, Jesus would be returning people
to the basics. Jesus spoke to this a little later at verse 17 – “Do not think
that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish
but to fulfil”. Jesus was going to point to the ultimate meanings of
what they had previously been taught. It would actually be in the very life of
Jesus that the ways of God would be truly revealed! Examples of this will be
found right through verses 18 to 48. Jesus would get behind the letter of the
law right to where people’s hearts were at. So the law against murder would
stretch to any heart attitude that allowed anger toward another person to
persist (where this would likely have a negative outcome). Also, it was now
time for the good ways of God to be shared with the rest of humanity across the
world (starting with Jesus’ disciples).
And in Jesus
sitting down???
This is what a
respected rabbi would do … sit down to speak important truths.
This teaching was
for everyone (the “crowds”), but not everyone would listen … just “disciples” –
those that would come under the discipline of Jesus.
Jesus commences
with a series of statements regarding the basic lifestyle, inner attitudes or
character traits that need to be embraced if one is to be a follower of Jesus
and to be able to live out their faith in God with credibility. If we are to be
the sort of salt and light that Jesus goes on to talk about later (in verses 13
to 16), then here is the beginning point.
There is also
here various promises of “blessing” for those who live in a certain way. The
Greek word is makarios, generally translated “blessed”. This means –
being fulfilled, endowed with (distinctive) spiritual joy and peace,
experiencing God’s grace and presence. This “blessing” is not only what will be
perfected later, but also what is available now!
The nature of
this “blessing” is covered in each of the second parts of the verses … “for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven” etc. Therefore this blessing will take the
following forms:
·
being
a participant in what God is doing within his reign,
·
receiving
comfort,
·
inheriting
the earth (or, land) – this draws upon the close connection between the
Israelite peoples and their land, whereby their sense of well-being with their
land was connected to the closeness of their relationship with God … so the
particular “blessing” here, is experiencing well-being and spiritual
fulfilment on earth and in our communities,
·
being
filled with those things that are most necessary and that lead to God’s glory,
·
receiving
mercy,
·
experiencing
the intimate presence of God, being regarded or deemed to be so like God that
we are his children, and,
·
being
vindicated in heaven for our (righteous) sufferings on earth (the “reward” of
verse 12).
So there are
certain characteristics that bring about such “blessing” as this:
Being “poor in
spirit” – this means basically a humility that allows us to see ourselves
properly, where our failings lie, and how much we need God. Rather than
self-dependence, this leads us toward God-dependence. In this way, we are in
the position where God can work on us – unrestricted by pride or self-seeking
agendas or material possessions. The world honours power, wealth and status
(unfortunately), but God honours those who seek Him in their powerlessness,
poverty and simplicity. This means that we are open to learn, that we are
prepared to listen, that we are teachable.
Being prepared to
“mourn” – this is akin to being prepared to regret and repent, especially where
there has been hurt to other people. This is about making amends where possible
and certainly seeking to change for the better. Also, where burdens are carried
by others, we see these as our burdens as well. This is also about being
emotionally open (wearing our hearts on our sleeve) and being vulnerable,
rather than covering up our pain and suffering as if it didn’t exist, and thus
closing ourselves off to others.
Being “meek” or
“gentle” – being “meek” is, of course, not at all about being weak, nor
being passive, but rather about showing spiritual strength through gentleness.
This involves being sensitive to the dynamics occurring around us, aware of a
wide range of possible feelings and opinions. This means being a ready
supporter and encourager, able to bring careful responses into conflicted
situations. This is also about one being under self-control, better … under
God-control, where forks in the road and various difficulties are dealt with
through growing maturity and calmness.
Being hungry
& thirsty for the important things and being hungry & thirsty for God –
it is often those that desire something the most, therefore go after it the
most, that get where they want to go. Hunger and thirst take us to the edge,
where we are desperate for satisfaction. This is about being fully committed
and focussed, never wishy-washy nor half-hearted. Such a person is not easily
diverted, but rather is thoroughly involved in the mission of God and the
defeat of injustice. Such a one as this will receive all that they need from
God to attain the “righteousness” they desire.
Being “merciful”
– this is the path to experiencing mercy for ourselves. Just like we read later
in the “Lord’s Prayer”, the forgiveness of God only applies to those who are
willing to be forgiving to their neighbour. Where we have been personally
offended makes offering mercy difficult, yet this remains the way to our own
freedom. Bitterness and unforgiveness will destroy our own soul. Harbouring
resentment or ill-will towards others (both those that we know, and also those
that we don’t know and generalise about) demeans us and dishonours God. Mercy
often depends upon being willing to wear someone else’s shoes, and imagining
what life might have been like for them. This is about being non-judgemental
and not giving in to destructive generalisations. To be merciful is to have a
naturally occurring compassionate reaction to suffering of any kind. This might
also promote what we might call practical mercy, i.e. offering a helping hand.
Being “pure in
heart” – this refers to our motivations, goals, attitudes, priorities … all the
internal workings that lead to the decisions, actions and words that follow.
This is about being truly in harmony with God’s grace and God’s ways. This is
to see things purely as God sees things. Evil and darkness is to be rejected,
and light is embraced. Worthless pursuits are shunned, while the treasures of
heaven are pursued. This is to be honest, prayerful, a regular searcher of
scripture, a sincere and consistent worshiper. The deepest motivation is likely
to be others seeing Jesus in us.
Being a
“peacemaker” – this is not just a believer in peace, but also an active
participant in actually making peace … within all relationships, and
breaking any negative cycles of abuse. This includes being a reconciler … a
person who tends to bring individuals, groups and communities together, out of
disharmony and into a pursuit of common and worthy goals. You cannot initiate
or perpetuate conflict and truly be a child of God. Again, this stands in stark
contrast to the way the world generally operates, through the corruptions that
have arisen over time, that have led to such a mindset of revenge and reprisal.
And, of course, very effective peace-making will be facilitating people in
reconciling with their Creator.
Enduring
persecution without denying God – we know that life, and maybe even especially
the life of faith, brings extreme testing and deep challenges. John Stott wrote
that, “Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value
systems”. The trick is to endure and grow through these occurrences while
appreciating that God dwells in our trials and is enduring with us. In this
way, rather than rejecting or denying God, or giving in to certain adverse
cultural norms, we actually become more certain and more faithful. It is those
on the edge (out of their comfort zone) sharing their faith (against the tide)
– thus likely to face persecution of some description – who will experience a
special measure of God’s presence and enabling effectiveness.
Fair to say in
conclusion that we are all works in progress. In one way we should be gentle on
ourselves and realise that the Spirit of God is doing a slow work of
transformation on us. But in another way we should be discontent, looking for
ways of expediting this growth curve toward living in the image of our Lord and
Master Jesus Christ.
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