02052020 – Matt. 5. 1-12
When you read Matthew, you have to understand that he is Jewish.
He is “uber” Jewish.
For him, Jesus is the “NEW MOSES.”
Jesus is BIGGER than Moses.
If Moses was a PROPHET – Jesus is a BIGGER and BETTER Prophet!
Matthew’s gospel is actually divided into FIVE sections…each section mimicking one of the FIVE BOOKS OF THE LAW OF MOSES.
SO, like Moses, Jesus GOES UP on a MOUNTAIN to teach/preach.
And like Moses, Jesus teaches/preaches a NEW law, a NEW WAY of living…and a BETTER WAY of living. “GOD’s way” of LIVING.
SO NOW, Jesus starts getting “down to business” and begins preaching to the masses.
And they are “LOVING IT!”
His opening number: The Sermon on the Mount. “THE” sermon of ALL TIME.
This “super-famous-world-renown- sermon” in which he tells the crowds WHO is blessed and WHY.
The OLD way is OUT.
The OLD way no longer APPLIES.
The Old Way is the familiar WAY of the WORLD. You know HOW it works:
Blessed are who THINK they’re “PRETTY SPECIAL,” they are in control of “this place.”
Blessed are the “TRIUMPHANT,” they celebrate “THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.”
Blessed are those who look out for THEMSELVES, they don’t let ANYTHING stand in the way of getting WHAT THEY WANT…DESIRE and DESERVE.
Blessed are those DRIVEN to have MORE and get BETTER and NEWER THINGS they WILL STAY MOTIVATED.
Blessed are those who TRAMPLE on ANYONE standing in THEIR way, they don’t allow themselves to get PUSHED AROUND.
Blessed are those who BOAST in their CONQUESTS and VULGARITIES and IMPURITIES, they get lots of ATTENTION on the internet.
Blessed are you when you GO ALONG with the crowd – so people say NICE THINGS “about you” and don’t VIEW YOU as a THREAT, for you will get your reward here and now since THIS LIFE is ALL there really IS. So grab that brass ring and run with it!
Follow “these standards” and you will be a WINNER at life in THIS world. There will be lots of warm fuzzies for you!
But Jesus’ approach was different!
It was counter-cultural. It went “against the grain.”
His main point was basically: “God’s favor” RESTS on “those” who the WORLD – looks UNFAVORABLY on…
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN about the “next life”…the life in the world TO COME?
Have you forgotten about GOD?
Jesus said: Those who completely RELY on God will basically “OWN heaven.”
Mourners will have their tears DRIED.
The meek will get a whole bunch of LAND.
Those who CRAVE “doing right by God” will be SATISFIED in a “righteous kind of heaven.”
Those who are KIND to others will be given KINDNESS BACK.
Those with PURE hearts will get to “CHILL” with God forever.
PEACEMAKERS will be called “children of God.” They will literally be HIS sons and daughters…and he will HONOR and LOVE them.
Those who get BULLIED and PUSHED AROUND because they want to do God’s will also “OWN heaven.”
And those who get HARASSED and BEATEN and TERRORIZED because of Jesus…
Well, their gonna make out like BANDITS with all the REWARDS they’ll get in heaven.
The point is…
You don’t need LAWS.
You don’t need ordinances.
You don’t need more statutes or principles.
You don’t need more regulations, rules, decrees, edicts or commandments.
When it comes to the “BIG TEN” – you ARE NOT even keeping THEM. Ten- that’s-ALL and they are being ignored and trampled on and scorned and laughed at.
When it comes to “the 613 Jewish Laws”- now THAT IS –downright laughable…they are an IMPOSSIBILITY to uphold…on a daily basis.
LISTEN…
You NEED to DO what is RIGHT and JUST and FAIR. You NEED to be KIND and honorable to one another. You NEED to hold YOUR HEAD up high. You NEED to let LOVE rule YOUR hearts and YOUR minds. You NEED to set GOD as your HIGHEST GOOD. You NEED to CENTER your lives around GOD.
Do these things and you will indeed be BLESSED.
Amen.