Mattahew 5

Matthew 5 begins Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins his sermon by encouraging his followers to be joyful. The Beatitudes all begin with the word “blessed.” Our English word “happy” would be a close translation, but does not have the depth of the word “blessed.” Happy is derived from the Latin and presupposes that if the circumstances are right in our life, then we will be happy. The word “blessed” presupposes that no matter the circumstance that we will have an inner joy that cannot be taken away. To be blessed means to be “accepted” and to have a bright future. Interesting that Jesus uses terms for the spiritual realm that make us happy that in the physical realm would seem to make us sad. The poor, the grieved, the meek, the hungry, etc. are not people that we think of as having joy in their life. Yet, according to Jesus spiritually that is where all of us have to be to enjoy the Christian life. To be poor in spirit means to acknowledge that when it comes to our spiritual life we are destitute and completely dependent on God. To mourn spiritually is to grieve over our sinful nature and allow God to give us a new one. The beatitudes take the supposedly weak things of this world and make them strengths in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus moves on to the fulfillment of the law. Jesus makes it plain that He hasn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. The Old Testament is full of God’s truths. Jesus shows that the Law was being misinterpreted. The Pharisees and Scribes were looking for loopholes instead of fulfillment. Jesus emphasizes not only the law but the spirit of the law. He gives several examples. You can murder someone by slandering their character as well as killing them physically. You can commit adultery by looking at another with lust in your heart. You are not to divorce for any other reason than marital unfaithfulness. Every oath you make is to be taken seriously. You are not to seek revenge on those who mistreat you but you are to love them. Ultimately, the Law is fulfilled in the person of Jesus. Our relationship to Him and His Spirit dwelling inside of us is the only way for us to know and to practice the Law.

Jesus gives us a completely different way to live. We are not to be negative, judgmental, or looking for loop holes kind of people. The people of God are happy, loving and committed believers who seek the Kingdom.

“Lord, forgive us when we turn the joy and freedom you offer us into negativity and judgmentalism. Keep us looking for the Spirit of the Law which is found in Jesus and the Spirit He sent to indwell our lives. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”