WHAT DID JESUS REALLY SAY?
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
It is important for us to understand the exact words that Jesus uses throughout His message to us. In particular as we begin His message from the Father to us in Matthew 5:3-12 because there have been so many interpretations given to the truth we hear. In verses 3-5 it may appear to be a contradictions to us until we realize just how different Gods view of living is from ours. If we want to live for God there will be many times when what we do may seem strange to the world around us. We must be willing to give when the world takes, and to love while all of the world around us tells us to hate.
There are at least four different ways that the beatitudes are interpreted ( and probably more ) but we will look at four.
1. They can be seen as a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all believers. 2. They can be seen as a contrast in values between what is eternal and what is worldly or temporary. 3. They can be seen as a contrast between what is superficial faith like that of the Scribes and Pharisees, and the real kind of faith that God wants from us that is given from the depths of our hearts intent. 4. They can also show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the New Covenant that Jesus is bringing for the Kingdom of God. It is important for us to realize here that this is not a multiple choice kind of thing where we pick one of these and leave the others behind, but they all need to be brought together, and taken as a whole message to us.
If we look at these beatitudes they tell us how to be blessed or "HAPPY" in life; but actually it means even more than happiness because it implies fortune for those who are in God's Kingdom. What we don't seem to understand is that the beatitudes do not promise us laughter, pleasure or even earthly prosperity. To Jesus the idea of being "BLESSED" is to experience the hope and joy that is independent of any kind of out ward circumstance. That becomes the kind of hope and peace that is beyond this world's understanding. When Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God was near people were naturally asking how do I qualify to be a part of this Kingdom? Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was organized differently than the world around us. It is operated by a change in attitude from being a carbon copy of this worlds selfishness and pride; lust for power, and hate of anyone who stands in the way of whatever sin they want to commit; to an attitude of humility and service to those around you just as did Jesus.
This attitude change begins to effect our very soul as we begin to see God literally take shape within our lives. The persecution of this world can be a good thing if it drives us closer to the Father and to one another. Persecution strips away any kind of artificial belief we may have, and it will strengthen our faith in those who endure it around us, and our very attitude toward persecution in this world will help others to have a stronger faith as well. Jesus spoke about the fact that if a seasoning has no flavor it can be no good to helping the taste of foods, and we as Christians can have no effect on the world around us if we have no spiritual fruit to show for our life in Christ. Jesus said that we should not be able to hide our commitment to God any more than a city which is set on a hill can hide its light in the middle of the night. We should be ready to tell others about that spirit within us that is different from the world around us because that light will draw questions and attraction to it. We should be ready to speak to others about those differences they see within us. Believe me we should be shinning in such a way that is is undeniable who we are in Christ, and if we are trying to hide that light for some reason out of a fear of this world we are certainly not bearing Spiritual fruit.
Jesus also speaks to many other things within this sermon on the mount, and I want to get into some of them as we continue to discuss what Jesus was really saying to us. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
There are at least four different ways that the beatitudes are interpreted ( and probably more ) but we will look at four.
1. They can be seen as a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all believers. 2. They can be seen as a contrast in values between what is eternal and what is worldly or temporary. 3. They can be seen as a contrast between what is superficial faith like that of the Scribes and Pharisees, and the real kind of faith that God wants from us that is given from the depths of our hearts intent. 4. They can also show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the New Covenant that Jesus is bringing for the Kingdom of God. It is important for us to realize here that this is not a multiple choice kind of thing where we pick one of these and leave the others behind, but they all need to be brought together, and taken as a whole message to us.
If we look at these beatitudes they tell us how to be blessed or "HAPPY" in life; but actually it means even more than happiness because it implies fortune for those who are in God's Kingdom. What we don't seem to understand is that the beatitudes do not promise us laughter, pleasure or even earthly prosperity. To Jesus the idea of being "BLESSED" is to experience the hope and joy that is independent of any kind of out ward circumstance. That becomes the kind of hope and peace that is beyond this world's understanding. When Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God was near people were naturally asking how do I qualify to be a part of this Kingdom? Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was organized differently than the world around us. It is operated by a change in attitude from being a carbon copy of this worlds selfishness and pride; lust for power, and hate of anyone who stands in the way of whatever sin they want to commit; to an attitude of humility and service to those around you just as did Jesus.
This attitude change begins to effect our very soul as we begin to see God literally take shape within our lives. The persecution of this world can be a good thing if it drives us closer to the Father and to one another. Persecution strips away any kind of artificial belief we may have, and it will strengthen our faith in those who endure it around us, and our very attitude toward persecution in this world will help others to have a stronger faith as well. Jesus spoke about the fact that if a seasoning has no flavor it can be no good to helping the taste of foods, and we as Christians can have no effect on the world around us if we have no spiritual fruit to show for our life in Christ. Jesus said that we should not be able to hide our commitment to God any more than a city which is set on a hill can hide its light in the middle of the night. We should be ready to tell others about that spirit within us that is different from the world around us because that light will draw questions and attraction to it. We should be ready to speak to others about those differences they see within us. Believe me we should be shinning in such a way that is is undeniable who we are in Christ, and if we are trying to hide that light for some reason out of a fear of this world we are certainly not bearing Spiritual fruit.
Jesus also speaks to many other things within this sermon on the mount, and I want to get into some of them as we continue to discuss what Jesus was really saying to us. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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