Peculiar Blessings
MATTHEW 5:1-12
1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach 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 gentle, 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 of God. 10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Overview
The words Jesus taught in this incredible combination of sermons are words revealing the Kingdom of God. From these words, we can see the Kingdom and Heaven displayed in all simplicity and beauty. Here, in the “Attitudes for Living,” Christ moves us beyond servants to followers, from commands to paths of joy for his children. If we want to know the Kingdom and ultimately heaven, we must strive to walk in these paths.
The concept of the kingdom is also laid out in exceedingly clear language. The kingdom is not a someday place; it is present in immediacy. It is available the moment we walk as Jesus walked.
We also learn there are challenges to walking with Christ — there are supposed to be challenges! Not only can we expect them, we can gauge our closeness to Christ by them. For the closer we get to our Lord the more the enemy will become hostile towards us. To follow Christ is to suffer. That term, dioko, is used throughout this teaching and means to suffer and to follow.
Jesus makes it clear that we will suffer in this life but the suffering will be purposeful. We needn’t go out and look for ways to be martyred. However, the closer we come to Jesus, the more he will become transparent to us. We will become increasingly focused on him if we become more vulnerable — especially in our love of those in need.
Like the face of Stephen, alight with the Glory of God even as he was being stoned. We will see the face “paniym” of God and he will be our light, strength and joy (heaven — ouranos). We will become his light to others and the Creator will reside in us.
MATTHEW 5:1
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
Word Study
Sat [G2523 kathizo (kath-id’-zo)] In Christ’s time, teachers would sit to begin teaching. “Then Jesus sat;” meant the Savior was calling his students to attention for an important lesson. Here is Matthew at his glory as an instructor, telling us we should attend to this reading because he is about to share some of the compiled greatest wisdom of our Lord. The other writers don’t have Jesus seated.
Luke gives us an image of Jesus as moving and preaching, barely stopping to talk over his shoulder to the following apostles. I love this image of Jesus as leader and see it as a great image for leaders of all types today. Take your people to where the pain is and preach while healing. It is if Jesus is preaching in the middle of triage. Healing people on the left and right, casting out demonic spirits and diseases alike [Luke 6:17-49].
His disciples came to Him [G4334 proserchomai (pros-er’-khom-ahee)] To their credit, when Jesus was ready to teach, his disciples were ready to listen. The strict meaning of this verb for, “to listen,” would be; “they were called forward [G4314 pros (pros), forward], to worship [G2064 erchomai (er’-khom-ahee), to worship] the Lord.”
Do I come forward for the Lord’s teaching? At the moment he sits, am I prepared with an attentive ear and open agenda? Do I hear the call to worship and respond without hesitation? Do I keep the “Professor’s Chair” open for Jesus in my life? This reminds me of times in churches where people would say, “Speak louder, I can’t hear you.” True disciples moves forward so the teacher doesn’t have to raise his voice (or slow down) to teach.
Larger crowds
When Jesus saw the multitudes gathering he wasn’t drawn to preach to them. He was drawn to go higher up the mountain and start teaching to his disciples. There were two reasons for this:
1. The multitudes would be unable to hear him. So, he would prepare his teachers to go out among them.
2. Large crowds didn’t stimulate Jesus to increase his fame but instead, it reminded him of his responsibility. He knew his earthly time was limited and he had to prepare others to reach out ‘‘to the multitudes.” A prideful person would have used that occasion for personal glory. Jesus used the occasion to start building community.
MATTHEW 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Word Study
Blessed [GSN 3107 makarios (mak-ar’-ee-os)], blessed is a concept difficult to translate into “Consumerese.” We tend to think in terms of lucky or fortunate, not blessed. We also tend to seek to quantify our luck and fortune. However — to the Hebrew — blessed was an inner state, not an outward appearance. Far greater than wanting more, being blessed was needing less, being satisfied (satiated with gratitude) with the goodness of each day.
When we teach our children this (and experience it ourselves as adults) then we will have a chance at truly understanding the nature of God. Until then, we will only create another generation that cries for “more, More and MORE.”
Yet, not for more justice or more compassion, but for more distractions to fill an empty void in our souls that is really crying out for God and community
Haggai 1:2-9
2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”’” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways! 8 “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD. 9 “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the LORD of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.
The Poor in Spirit [G4434, Ptochos (pto-khos’), G4151 Pneuma (pnyoo’-mah)], this term for poor is the same word for a “cringing beggar,” someone who is completely impoverished and beaten down by the anger of the crowd from whom he begs. Here is the proper spirit wherein we are ready to receive God. When we are humble and hungry — God will rush to our aid. When we are prideful and blaming — we hide our hearts from our Creator.
The Kingdom of Heaven [G932 Basileia (bas-il-i’-ah); G3772 Ouranos (oo-ran-os’)], the impoverished spirit will be beckoned by God and experience the Creator in fullness! This is not a “someday” promise, but a ‘‘today” covenant. At the moment we admit; “I can’t make it anymore — I don’t want to continue without you.” At that moment, we enter God’s kingdom.
Heaven: The today promise
Heaven (ouranos) is not a someday promise. It is available to us the moment we turn to him and say; “Help!” Our circumstances may not change and our problems may still loom. We might not be lifted from our chains or pains — but God comes into our circumstance with purpose, forgiveness and hope. We are freed not by outer circumstances — but by inner joy.
Where will my freedom — my blessing — come from? The lottery? A new truck? Or will it come from a grateful heart, where God is calling us?
”Bless us with less, Lord. Be our heart’s longing and fulfillment.”
MATTHEW 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Word Study
Mourn [G3997 Pentheo (pen-theh’-o)]. The original word for grieving is to be “God-Absent.” Indeed, that is the heart of grief or agony, to experience meaningless pain. Where can the “God-Absent” life lead except to sorrow or vanity (which literally means to be “Dust in the wind”)?
Comforted [G3870 Parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh’-o)] those who grieve can “call near” the Lord. This term, parakaleo, is akin to a word used for the Holy Spirit [G3870, Paraklētos, comforter]. It means that God will “come near” in comfort.
He will come near
Those who grieve and call out to God will receive comfort. He will come near and comfort you (“comfortis” literally means to “unite with strength”).
MATTHEW 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Word Study
Meek [G4239 Praus (prah-ooce’)] Translation scholar and Scottish preacher, William Barclay, traced this word back to its original usage, which means a “Chariot horse’s bit.” A thin bit of leather used to control a powerful animal.
Inherit the earth [G2816 Kleronomeo (klay-ron-om-eh’-o) G1093 ge (ghay)] To be an heir to the soil.
Horse’s Bits
Meek doesn’t translate well from Greek to English. Our concept of the term is of one who is impotent in the face of problems or afraid to speak out. The concept Matthew portrays is of a powerful horse that is perfectly attuned to the master’s subtlest touch. Meek isn’t timidity — it is directed power — giving the reins of our lives over to the Lord.
Without training, even the most powerful horse is worth more as leather and glue. However, when trained, that horse is worth more than it’s weight in gold. Am I attuned to the Master? Do I know his subtle touch and go where he sends me?
Those who give their strength to the Lord will inherit a substantial responsibility. They will receive a land from which God’s fruit will spring. Those who live their lives under the premise of “power directed by God,” will not become warhorses on a field of battle — but plow horses in the harvest of life. They will be Leaders in the new kingdom — the soil of the New Jerusalem.
MATTHEW 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Word Study
Hunger [G3983 Peinao (pi-nah’-o)] To be “pinched” with the pain of hunger or to toil endlessly just for sustenance.
Thirst [G1372 Dipsao (dip-sah’-o)] To be panting with thirst, insatiable — as if needing the well, not the water.
Righteousness [G1343 Dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay)] Notice the similarity between this word and disciple. As if the root of our existence is a longing for what is right and just.
Filled [G5526 Chortazo (khor-tad’-zo)] To gorge — to be satiated. “I couldn’t have a bite more!”
Exploding with joy!
Those who have toiled endlessly for justice only to see scraps, those who have seen injustice and oppression and felt it like a blow to the gut, those who have crossed a desert of desperation seeking fairness for a just cause but tasted only the salt of tears, for all of those; hope has arrived!
The Christ has arrived and you will know justice. Such great justice that tears will flow from our eyes and we will cry; “Lord, Lord, our hearts are exploding with joy!”
MATTHEW 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Word Study
Merciful [G1655 Eleemon (el-eh-ay’-mone); Mercy [G1653 Eleeo (el-eh-eh’-o)], those who gave compassion (united in passion with the needy), will receive compassion from God’s abundant joy!
Blessed by blessing
“To those who have much, more will be given.” “Bind my wounds as I bind the wounds of others / give me mercy as I am merciful / forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
Our love will never compare to God’s love, but the moment we offer our slightest gift to him — it returns like an egg transformed into an eagle. What is beautiful is that we can be assured that it isn’t results God blesses — but desire. Imagine, God will match our desire (not our result) beat for beat. The widow who gave only a penny will receive all God has to offer in return. Why? Because she gave all she had. The Chief Priest, who gave a trinket to show off in front of others, receives only the pleasure of the crowd’s approval. Unless that priest changes, the only words awaiting him are; “Hope you enjoyed the applause — it’s all you’re gonna get.”
In God’s economy, it isn’t the amount that’s compensated it is the depth. How deeply do I love God? How deeply do I serve those in need around me?
MATTHEW 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Word Study
Pure in heart [G2513 Katharos (kath-ar-os’); G2588 Kardia (kar-dee’-ah)], blessed are those whose hearts have pure intentions. The term for pure heart, katharos kardia, applies to pure feelings and pure thoughts — even more as transparent. We might use the word integrity, a seamless bond between thought and action.
Shall see [G3708 optanomai (op-tan’-om-ahee); G2316 theos (theh’-os)], the more transparent we become, the more God shows himself to us. The more pure or focused our vision, the clearer we see our Lord.
Single-Sighted
The closer we get to God, the more transparent we become, because not only do our words reflect him, but so do our actions, gestures and finally even our entire being. The purer our desire or “single-sightedness,” for God, the more he becomes visible to us.
Soon, our face glows with his face. His glory shines from inside us! It happened to Moses when he descended the mountain with the law of God. It happened to Stephen when he was being stoned for preaching Christ.
The closer and more focused we become, the clearer and more desirable he becomes.
MATTHEW 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Word Study
Peacemakers [G1518 Eirenopoios (i-ray-nop-oy-os’); G2564 kaleo (kal-eh’-o)] blessed are those who call others — invite others — to live “beside them” in peace.
Called the children [G5207 Huios (hwee-os’); G2316 Theos (theh’-os)] you will be called “a foal” of the Exceeding God; a child or an heir of God.
From slave to child
Here is a tender blessing; “When you call others to live beside you in peace. I will call you my child; my little foal, my heir.”
Imagine that! To offer peace and live in peace changes our essential relationship with the Eternal One! From stranger to child!
Yet, what is peace to God? To be in relationship with him and love with all the richness of the child of the All Powerful One! We don’t offer peace from our own empty war chests. We offer peace from the wealth of the Author of Life. Indeed, let’s get out of the way so the blessings can flow.
Too many people define peace as control. “When things are going my way, when people agree with me, then we have peace.” That is not God’s definition of peace. God’s peace is trusting his way is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. That God knows all and is bringing all to purpose — even through bouts of pain and discomfort.
Isaiah 26:4
“Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
MATTHEW 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Word Study
Righteousness’ sake [G1377 Dioko (dee-o’-ko); G1343 Dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay)] Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God sees as right. Persecuted means to be pursued, to suffer and yet to still press on.
The discipline of a disciple
How important is justice to God? This reading could be translated as saying; “Righteousness is the discipline of the disciples.” You cannot have faith without righteousness or righteousness without faith if you want to inherit the kingdom (joy) of God.
It is necessary to clarify between this type of Godly righteousness and self-righteousness. Most of our anger is of the self-righteousness kind. Jesus never experienced self-righteous anger, but he did experience anger over injustice — the rights of the poor. When the poor were disbarred from worship because of temple taxes, bribes and exchange rates, Jesus was livid enough to draw his belt and chase the temple squatters away [Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, John 2:14-15].
MATTHEW 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Word Study
Revile you [G1377 Oneidizo (on-i-did’-zo)] blessed are you when people “bite at you” (the literal translation for defamation of character).
Say all manner of evil against you [G1343 Dioko (dee-o’-ko)] blessed are you when people pursue you nonstop, yet you press onward.
For my sake [G55744 Epo (ep’-o); G3956 Pas (pas); G4190 Poneros (pon-ay-ros’)] blessed are you when people bring all manner of curses or law suits against you. Another translation would be; “send demons your way.” Today, we might say, “Be grateful when people call the sheriff on you for my sake.”
Think of Sheriff Bull Connor forming his lines of deputies to spray the CORE Freedom Riders in Birmingham, Alabama (1961).
Failing for compassion
I have been called all sorts of things for caring about the alienated, weak or wounded. Bleeding heart, impractical, troublemaker, these are a few I can write down. However, I have been led by the Lord to feel that if I am going fail in my life — I want to fail on the side of compassion.
The key phrase in this beatitude is, “For His name’s sake.”
I constantly pray that God’s love through me won’t be limited by the weakness of my own humanity and that I will love out of his endless vault and not out of my shallow piggybank.
MATTHEW 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Word Study
Rejoice [G5463, chairo (khah’-ee-ro); G21, and be exceedingly glad, agalliao (ag-al-lee-ah’-o)] Rejoice was a common greeting or good-bye in Paul’s day, like; “farewell” or “g’day.” However, agalliao was the word for exultation. “Be elated!” “When you are slandered for my name, jump up and down in excitement.”
Be exceedingly glad [G4183, polus (pol-oos’); G3408, misthos (mis-thos’)] We could also interpret this as; “You will be abundantly rewarded if you receive this type of suffering in my name.” Misthos meant wages, being paid for services rendered.
Heaven [G3772 Ouranos (oo-ran-os’)] The reward is once again, heaven. Heaven is the abode of God — but the term also means “the power or joy of God.” On occasion, heaven was used interchangeably with “the Gospel.”
In this way [G3779, houto (hoo’-to); G1377, dioko, suffered, (dee-o’-ko); G4396, prophets, prophetes (prof-ay’-tace); G4253, before, pro (pro); G5216, you, humon (hoo-mone’)] The word for “to follow,” dioko, is the same word as “to suffer.”
In short, Christ is telling his closest followers; “This is how it’s always been, if you’re preaching the Word of God you are going to be under attack. All of those before you were, all of those after you will be. However, I will be your sustenance. I will be your immediate power and joy, your sustenance in pain.”
Consider the 27 years, Nelson Mandela spent in isolation on the desolate island for South Africa’s worst criminals (Robbin Island). Did he draw some sustenance knowing that Gandhi had also spent time in that awful prison (he was sent there four times between 1907 and 1913)? Throughout history, many of our most famous people have spent time in prison, not for crime but for justice. When a system is oppressive, it will always lash out against those who speak on behalf of the excluded.
To follow and suffer
Jesus is telling his people they are not alone in being attacked for speaking in truth. All of the prophets (forward or inspired articulators of God’s way) from across the ages were persecuted in like manner.
Remember Jesus is speaking to his closest followers here. He is sharing a very critical point with his inner circle. One side of the sword would say, “If people curse you for speaking out my truth, then you can count on my joy and power to sustain you.” The other side of this challenge is just as real; “If people aren’t attacking us for our beliefs, then maybe we’ve grown a little too complacent — too politically correct.”
To follow Jesus is to suffer in this world (diokos means to “follow and suffer”). This world is hostile to the Gospel, if you are living by these precepts, you will be under attack.
Simultaneously, Jesus promises his immediate power and joy to those who are under attack. Ouranos or “Heaven in the real world.” The closer we come to Christ, the less we are concerned with the things of this world, concerns about, “What the neighbors will think,” should be the last thing on our mind.
If you have or teach children, that is the message we need to share with them. What others think is inconsequential compared to what God thinks. And — if the beatitudes are any example — the closer we are to what God thinks the more our neighbors are going to think we are crazy and even attack us for our beliefs. Here our Lord tells us, being attacked is truly a sign that you are on the right path.
However, we don’t just act anti-socially for the sake of being attacked — this is not about being contrarian. This isn’t a dramatic license to condemn those around us. In fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a commission to love dangerously. To take the alienated in our arms and declare ourselves “sanctuary.” “Embrace and Advocate,” those are the identifying words of the Christ follower.
These blessings — these “being attitudes” — are peculiar to our culture, but we won’t experience God’s “ouranos” living by the precepts of this culture. Instead, we need to be eager to live new lives where our attitudes become those of Jesus.
You are salt
MATTHEW 5:13-20
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Word Study
Salt [G217 Hala], Tasteless [G3471 Mōrianò] without taste or foolish
Light [G5457 Phos], World [G2889 Kosmos], All [G3956 Pas]
Abolish [G2647 Kataluō], Law [G3551 Nomos], law or principle, fulfill [G4137 Plēroō] accomplish, make full, complete the task
You are the salt of the earth
Without refrigeration, salt was critical to the economy of Jesus’ time. It had three essential purposes.
1. Preservative, without refrigeration, food was salted to make it last on long journeys.
2. Curative, salt also had a curative power that prevented meat from becoming rancid.
3. Additive, salt added to the flavor or meats or any meal.
Will our faith be preservative, curative and additive? Do we help people last through the long journeys and strengthen them against diseases that disable the soul? Do we add flavor to people’s lives? If we do, then we are the “salt of the earth.”
It is also interesting that when salt looses even one of its properties it becomes more than tasteless. Tasteless was also the word for foolish. Think of a tasteless joke told in noble company or inappropriate humor. This is what it means to lose our “saltiness.” We become tasteless, foolish or inappropriate.
Jesus also says when salt becomes “Tasteless,” it is to be thrown out, trampled by “men.” The last reference is not a gender reference but a cultural reference. By “men” Christ means unbelievers. It has become pathetic to believers and even unfit for non-believers.
What type of humor does this include? I think the cultural icons of our time see humor as sarcasm and cynicism as wisdom. I don’t think Jesus would find any mirth in these cheapened varieties of humor. Sarcasm comes from the word Sarkazein (from sarx meaning flesh and twerk — to cut), which means to tear apart a carcass (as when a vulture or pack of dogs tore at a crucified body). Cynicism comes from the philosopher, Anisthenes, but its direct translation means to be doglike or canine.
Anisthenes was known for vehemently attacking the other philosophers of his time —like many of the cynical wise people of our age, he didn’t have his own philosophy — he just mad fun of other people’s. He was also present at the death of Socrates and spent many of his years hunting down those who pushed for the death of Socrates (the Thirty Tyrants).
Let your light shine
Light was also a meaningful term to the people of Christ’s time. Plato, the philosopher also discusses the concept in his allegory on the Cave from his work, The Republic (514a-520a). In that allegory, some people are chained to a wall only seeing shadows from those behind the curtains walking in front of the fire. These people give names to the shadows and that is their only reality. Plato describes the philosopher as one chained to the wall of a cave before he discovered reason and that wisdom releases her/him from that chain to gain perspective and see the shadows are not reality.
Plato’s ideas would have influenced the entire world by Jesus’ time and would have been widely circulated throughout the Roman Empire. John also infuses the themes of light and darkness in his writings.
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not *comprehend it.
Paul also uses the metaphor of seeing through a mirror dimly.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
We are called to be “phos kosmos,” light to the world. This is a very particular type of light. Phos light is chemically generated not reflected. We might say we reflect Christ’s light, but Christ wants his light to shine from within us. Angels were seen to be dressed — not in white — but in light.
Light to the world meant — especially to the Gentiles (the nonbelievers of Christ’s time). Many of us rarely venture beyond being candles in the chandelier factory. We might shine in church, but we dim by the parking lot. Christ asks us to be light in the darkness and streams in the desert. Not where it is comfortable or safe.
Where is the darkest corner of my city? Will Christ find my light shining there?
I did not come to abolish but to fulfill
Jesus tells us he is not present to cast out the law, but to go beyond the law to decency. There are many times a law is unethical or that the law protects those with the ability to make the laws. “Living Above” the law means making sure no one is damaged or undermined by the law.
This is what Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to do. The law of the land in his time forced upon minorities unethical standards. Rather than submitting to those laws he practiced, “Civil Disobedience.” Nonviolent resistance to the unethical laws of his time. King wasn’t the only person to practice this concept. It was a style of protest Jesus developed and used and will be described later in these Beatitudes. Gandhi, also used Christ as an example practicing civil disobedience against both the white government of South Africa and the Colonial Government in India. Gandhi compelled more people to move beyond Christianity as a religion and to instead, live like Jesus, saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.”
Gandhi credited the Sermon on the Mount with changing his life and perspective of how to use power (the power to influence instead of manipulate).
Repentance [G3341 Metanoia] is often times interpreted as “change of mind.” In truth, it is to see and live beyond knowledge — beyond what we know and into faith. What Jesus is describing here is MetaKritēs above or beyond the law. Beyond law to love.
Jesus himself broke the law (and was condemned for it) when his disciples and he winnowed grain on the Sabbath and when he healed a palsied man on the Sabbath [Matthew 12:1-21]. We studied this in Luke [Luke 6:1-11] reaching the conclusion that when Jesus says, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” he is stating that compassion is Lord of the Law.
The law meant the Ten Commandments, the Old Testament and finally the writings of the Scribes. These people spent their whole lives translating the commandments (guidelines for living) to particularities for each day. For example, “Was it legal for a tailor to carry a needle on the Sabbath?” “It was illegal to write two letters on the Sabbath of for a father to pick up his son.” It was illegal to heal on the Sabbath, one could bind a wound but not begin healing it.
These laws were kept orally until the middle of the 3rd Century AD, when they were codified into the Mishna, a book that measured almost 800 pages!
William Barclay, famed Scottish Commentator, stated that the law of the Old and New Testament could be summed up in two words: Reverence and Respect. Reverence for God and Respect for people.
In our own lives are we adding to the legalese of people’s lives or simplifying the Gospel of Jesus to Compassion, Reverence and Respect?
MATTHEW 5:21-30
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be *liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘*You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before *the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the *fiery hell. 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last *cent.
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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Word Study
Angry [G3710 Orgizō], there were two words for anger in Christ’s time. There is Thumos, which is described as the quick-burning anger of a fire in straw. The type of anger Christ uses is like a deep inner fire that is continually fed over time. It is an “orgy of anger.”
Good for nothing [G4469 Rhaka], this word describes more of an attitude than the act of name-calling. It is to speak of someone with contempt and disrespect.
Fool [G3474 Mōros], this type of fool doesn’t imply intellectual difficulty. It implies moral depravity.
Hell [G1067 Geenna] the place “The Valley of Hinnom,” was just southwest of Jerusalem and has a long history. Ahaz sacrificed children to the god, Molech, in that valley [2nd Chronicles 28:3] and Josiah condemned the area. Eventually it became the rubbish heap for Jerusalem and fires continually smoldered there. It continually had a pall of foul-smelling smoke over it and even bred a worm that was known for being nearly impossible to kill.
Lust [G1937 Epithmeō] this is the combination of two words Epi and Thumos. Epi means about or regarding. Thumos is to covet or passionately desire.
Right (eye, hand) [G1188 Dexios] refers to the right side. It was on this side that the advisor to the king stood. It was also the right hand that people would use for handshakes and other public activities. The left hand was for personal grooming and cleansing purposes and would never be offered to someone in friendship.
Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court
Wow, this is certainly MetaKrine (fulfilling and greater than the sum of the laws). Jesus moves from ugly actions to ugly intentions of the heart. His standard seems almost impossible to uphold. The person who is continually divided internally loses most of their focus and energy trying to keep their passions in check.
Plato used a similar metaphor saying humans have a two-horsed chariot they must continually drive. One side is reason and the other is passion and we must continually keep the two in tandem. If I have a battle constantly raging inside of me it uses up energy, undermines health and I will soon lose focus over time.
If your right eye makes you stumble
The focus on the “right” (right eye and right hand) alludes to the practice of the closest advisor standing behind the king’s right side. Thus the phrase, “right hand man.” If my advising eye or guiding hand is prone to wandering, Jesus says it is best to get rid of it than to continue being led by it.
This is also a caution about the friends we keep and who we allow to be in an advisor’s position in our lives. We must make sure that those who advise us are also willing to challenge us and not just agree with us or allow us to continue in erroneous or self-righteous paths.
Paul talks about being bound to unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
This, of course, does not mean we don’t reach out to unbelievers. It just means when it comes to making decisions in our lives we should seek the advice of those whom also have the same mission of Jesus Christ. To be bound together [G2086 Heterozugeō] literally meant to yoke together two different types of animals (like a donkey and an ox). These animals were far too valuable to be yoked together because the cross pulling of the weaker or unfocused animal would wind up causing blisters on the stronger one’s shoulders, which could lead to an infection and the death of the animal.
MATTHEW 5:31-42
31 ”It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 ”Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ 34 ”But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36 ”Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 ”But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
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 an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 ”If anyone wants to sue you and take your *shirt, let him have your *coat also. 41 ”Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 ”Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Word Study
Divorce [G647 Apostasion] from desert, to cast away, to forsake
Unchastity [G4202 Porneia] Fornication, immoralities
Adultery [G3429 Moichaō]
Makes her commit adultery
This was a radical statement at Jesus’ time and would also be radical for many conservative Islamic and Judaic cultures today. The ability to demand a divorce was totally in the husband’s power — the woman virtually had no rights or recourse under the law. The husband only had to say (in front of three witnesses), “I divorce thee…” three times and the wife would immediately have to leave everything behind.
Current Islamic law allows the man to do that by cell phone in front of three friends.
Here, Jesus is placing the blame of the divorce and the heavenly consequences solely on the man’s shoulders. That would astonish the religious authorities of his time. Like the other statements of Jesus, this turned the entire system upside down to favor the woman. At a time when women are 70% of the world’s poorest of the poor. It only makes sense to remember this viewpoint of Jesus. How would Jesus seek to turn over our systems that treat women so unfavorably?
Let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’
There’s no need for embellishing a promise. Our actions should speak for our words to the smallest detail. No one should ever have to doubt our words mean action. The best way to build trust in any organization (relationship) is to consistently let your actions lead your words rather than the other way around.
There was a great phrase used by Tom Peters in his book, In Search of Excellence (1982) decades ago. “Underpromise, overdeliver.” It not only builds customer loyalty but also customer surprise!
Give to him who asks of you
This particular verse is the root verse of civil disobedience and Gandhi’s, “Satayagraha.” He first introduced this powerful idea in South Africa and it reached its peak in India. However, he gave credit for his actions to this verse and to Christ for the philosophy.
Under Roman Rule, a soldier could demand you carry his 60-pound pack one Roman mile, but not a step over. If you went one-step more, the soldier became liable for punishment (for cruelty). He could slap you on the right cheek but not the left (a slap on the right cheek was an admonishment, a slap to the left was a beating). He could take your shirt, but not your coat (that would be like taking your coat and then your underwear too). The punishment for that soldier became severe at the point. Suddenly, he would become the servant and do everything within his power to get the citizen to return his pack or prevent slapping that person more or get the person to put on his clothing instead of taking it off.
Our world would have been wise to remember this after WWI and the way the world retaliated at Germany, leaving them so destitute as to set up a path for a Fascist-dictator like Hitler. We would do well to remember this in statesmanship today, making sure we don’t devastate a population so much that they hate us as a result (as the people of India hated the British colonialists).
We could even argue a case that our blockade and sanctions against Japan left them little choice but to attack during WWII.
This type of attitude begins young as we teach our children gentleness and compassion as opposed to pride and competition without humility. In our school curriculum we teach children to continually seek the unconditional dignity of others. Putting it as simply as possible, we say this means to continually ask, “What’s best for YOU, for ME, for EVERYONE I SEE?”
As a former Little League and swimming Coach, I’ve seen some of the worst behavior among parents who had personal issues with their own stifled athletic careers and were now living out their fantasies through their children. Children learn more by watching adults than listening to them. That is one of a myriad of reasons that slogans on school walls about bullying backfire and increase bullying.
Another reason is because anti-bullying does not tell a child what actions will be expected and rewarded. It is management by not. I would compare that to getting in a cab at La Guardia and telling the cabbie, “I don’t want to go to New Jersey.”
Wherever the cabbie takes you, you can bet it is not likely to be where you want to go and it is going to be very expensive.
MATTHEW 5:43-48
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 causes His sun to rise on the evil and thegood, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Word Study
Vows [G3727 Horkos] fence, enclosure, oath, vow
False vows [G1964 Epiorkeō] swearing falsely, to perjure
Evil [G4190 Ponēros] toilsome, bad, crimes, envy, malignant, worthless
Resist [G436 Anthistēmi] to set against, cope, withstand, oppose
Perfect [G5046 Teleios] completed, having reached it’s end, mature, to finish a goal, to be focused continually and solely on a goal
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Jesus continues in his statements that turn the world upside down. “Pray for your enemies?”
Prayer means to forward desire and then offer those desires to God. Remember when we pray, we are asking God to align our hearts with his desire not asking God to do our bidding. In our heart of hearts, deepest desires and wishes, we are not to want evil (what is toilsome or mean-spirited) even on those who persecute us.
Persecute doesn’t mean those who take our parking place at the mall or cut us off in traffic. It means those who torture or imprison us — for the sake of doing justice. Think of the way Nelson Mandela reached out to Frederick De Klerk after Mandela was release from his 23 years of confinement and became Prime Minister of South Africa. We need also to remember that forgiveness followed justice, it didn’t precede it.
Once again, let me refer to the curriculum we use with children. We do not ask kids to say, “I’m sorry,” if they have taken the dignity of another by bullying them. We ask them to seek forgiveness of that person, “Will you forgive me?”
For the person who has committed the offense, they retain power if they say, “I’m sorry.” They need to restore the imbalance (injustice) they have created by victimizing another (make it right). If I tell you I am sorry. I still hold the power. If I ask if you will forgive me, I give that power back to you. You may refuse to forgive me — if you think I will harm you again — and that is your option. But the option becomes yours again. You are no longer my victim. Like Christ saying, “Walk the extra mile,” we exchange positions of power when we ask forgiveness.
You are to be perfect
There is much misinterpretation about this statement and it has to do with out contemporary understanding of perfection. Perfection is not “doing all things right.” It is aligning our spirit with our actions. The term for perfection means to be so focused on our goals that every action we take and thought we think leads towards unity with God.
When our actions flow from a unity of Spirit that is aligned to God in prayer. When forgiveness emanates from our being like a light in darkness. Then we will display the perfection of God. This perfection cannot be obtained through human means and effort. Only through allowing the Holy Spirit to take hold of our every thought and very being.
This type of forgiveness is closer to vulnerability than the pride of doing all things flawlessly. Stephen Covey (Habits of the Heart, 1989) would talk about doing the right thing instead of doing things right.