Daily Bible Reading (Friday, January 5th)
15Matthew 5 (ESV)
The Sermon on the Mount
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b]they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Anger
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e]of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[f]
Lust
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.[g]
Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 5:9 Greek huioi; see Preface
- Matthew 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that
- Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
- Matthew 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
- Matthew 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
- Matthew 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
- Matthew 5:37 Or the evil one
- Matthew 5:40 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
- Matthew 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
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15 Comments
Arturo Jan 14, 2018 @ 10:50 pm
Amen pastor
NIcci Hunt Jan 6, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
We have been going through the sermon on the mount in high school and college ministry since summer. Jesus takes truths that are so easy to just read over and makes them very practical. The whole theme of putting off and putting on is throughout the entire sermon. Going through this sermon and being able to talk about it with our high school and college small groups has been very convicting. Am I going to to look at my sin the way Jesus does and the action it
takes to have victory over it or continue in it as though it isn’t that big of deal?
Jeanie Solomon Jan 5, 2018 @ 11:12 pm
Lord! Help me to hunger and thirst after Your righteousness. For Your glory alone.
Tyler Bull Jan 5, 2018 @ 6:45 pm
So many points of interest! I've been thinking a lot about the beatitudes since I read through them a few months ago. All these very different characteristics of those who will be in the kingdom. Particularly when working through less-than-biblical professions of faith with others, I turn to "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness". As this, I think is the easily relatable and it helps folks get to thinking about their motivations and heart towards God. Are we in this because we have come to despise our sin, and cling to our savior? Or is there some other reason..
On a personal note, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b]they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." A reminder that I should be displaying Christ's likeness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, and to keep my motivations in check. All the the glory of God; heaven forbid my heart turn to the glory of self, reminds me of the passage in Corinthians summarized "those who judge themselves, by themselves and among themselves have no understanding". I don't want to let my heart seek and settle for man's approval, but to seek and strive for the glory of God.
We don't want to hide our good works in some sort of un-biblical humility, we certainly don't want to be like the pharisees who trumpet their good works for their own gain; we want to act in such a way as to bring maximal glory to God.
A great reminder to set my heart on that goal, to forget myself, instead be a neon sign pointing to Christ.
Nina wolff Jan 5, 2018 @ 6:01 pm
So much information! I love it all! God says so much to us about what he wants us to learn and do! I’m reading it all again such great words fr our Lord!
Kelly Bellinger Jan 5, 2018 @ 9:29 am
There is so, so, so, so much to consider here: convicted on all counts, falling so short of striving for the perfection of v48 and circling back to v4 - Lord that I may continually hunger and thirst for your word, and learn to keep eating constantly! so that I may be always fully satisfied!!
Kelly Pilkinton Jan 5, 2018 @ 9:17 am
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Speaks on to the SJW movement and Christians. God is sovereign in all things.
Personally...challenged.
Michael Sifuentes Jan 5, 2018 @ 8:51 am
The way of the New Testament breaks down blessed, it's so different from what we hear people say today of how they are blessed. All the trials that I face draw me deeper into the blessings which are my dependency on Christ Alone. I know that is good for me to have been Afflicted in for me to have tasted adversity, so that I would have a word in season for the next weary Soul. That's the blessing!
Art Wachdorf Jan 5, 2018 @ 8:31 am
Amen to Bruce's comment. We could spend a month meditating on this great sermon from Jesus and still not exhaust its richness. For me, when I think about my heart as compared to the Beatitudes it reminds me how much I must "hunger and thirst for righteousness." Imagine what impact we could have in our city if we all were lights like this.
Mike and Shauna / Beeville Jan 5, 2018 @ 8:25 am
amen & amen. We would like to hear an in-depth teaching on this. This is a lot to unpack. (ie) Reading this and acting upon this is 2 different things. These scriptures can really unveil the heart, especially when your being persecuted often. (pray, pray, pray)
This chapter reminds me of what Paul said in Romans, how we all fall short of His glory.
Tommy Hard Jan 5, 2018 @ 8:19 am
Theme summary: Jesus proclaims the good news of the heavenly kingdom and who is truly blessed (contrary to appearances), the characteristics of its citizens in this world that give glory to God in Heaven, and where their reward will be (in heaven and not on earth).
I'm reminded by these great teachings that the kingdom is heavenly and that many of its rewards are not realized until we have passed into Heaven and the new earth God will make. Living in the kingdom today means persecution, the need to be a peacemaker in the midst of turmoil, pure in the midst of great sin, merciful in the midst of spite and aggression, meek among the proud, mourning and comforted in the midst of suffering, and poor in spirit because I am not deserving to be a citizen of the kingdom, but by the grace of God. I shouldn't be living like this life is where I am to have reward and the ease of a kingdom of this world, but to continually look to Christ for the grace to live as a citizen of heaven and to hope for his return.
Johnnie Smith Jan 5, 2018 @ 8:07 am
Very convicting. All the tools to live a righteous life before God and to be salt and light to the earth and the world, and I miss them daily. To much of me and not enough of Him.
Keagan McLeese Jan 5, 2018 @ 7:55 am
The Law of Moses was not only given to show us just how sinful we are, it shows us how perfect Jesus is. Then Jesus preaches this sermon and shows us another whole layer of our sinful hearts while demonstrating how perfect He is! I know I’m cheating and hitting on things Paul speaks on in his epistles (e.g. Galatians), but it’s what I see this morning. Father, let me show my hate for my sin in my actions and my love for my enemies in my prayers.
Forrest Tilger Jan 5, 2018 @ 7:51 am
I remember when we went through Matthew in the old sanctuary. The Sermon on the Mound took Bruce months to teach and God used those sermons greatly in my life. If you were not around for those messages I highly recommend them.
Bruce Blakey Jan 5, 2018 @ 7:27 am
What a sermon this is that Jesus preaches! He calls His followers to live a whole different kind of life than the normal religious teaching of His day. I am reminded today that I can easily fall into keeping the accepted routine rather than truly following Christ with my whole heart. I can easily fool myself into thinking I'm ok until I look again at what Jesus says about anger, lust, and loving your enemies. This sermon is just as revolutionary today as it was the day He preached it and I must decide each day to focus my attention on Him and not the religious norm.