Matthew 5
The Beatitudes
A crowd eagerly fills the hillside hoping to hear this new
teacher--but there's something different about him—he has the power
to heal, starting with their hearts. The mass mood turns ecstatic as
the word gets around: he might address the crowd. His figure rises to
a high place carved into the hill. He takes his seat like a rabbi
about to teach, with all the authority of a king declaring a change
of law. He is the king of an invisible kingdom soon coming, and if
these people are to bear his royal crest upon their hearts they must
follow His statutes.
The Beatitudes are not lovely sayings to read when the inclination
strikes, they are the statutes of Christ's Kingdom, what every
Christian is (impossibly) to supposed to be. When read in this
context, the believer understands why they must rely heavily upon the
Holy Spirit, in this life especially.
“Blessed are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
First off, the word “blessed,” as it is used here, refers to an
internal satisfaction, not necessarily a physical gift or provision:
free cars, boats, planes, jewels, coffee but the sense of a “free”
Heaven. This is our major frustration with faith and religion at
large isn't it: how the physical and spiritual intersect? How our
relationship with God effects life as we live it?
Jesus shows us how we except the truth of the Gospel, His work done
on the cross for us—recognize we're spiritually bankrupt.
A well-loved pastor is fond of saying that most folks like to
consider themselves “spiritually middle-class,” admitting they
can't be considered rich because of some 'awful' past sin, but
won't acknowledge their utter depravity...they only have 'character
flaws'. Though the truth is, we are all corrupt.
Our spiritual life is a home in which Christ is invited or excluded.
When He sits at your table and asks: “What do you have to offer
me,” so often, we respond foolishly, showing off. “Oh Lord, check
out my vast Christian music collection, look at my lengthy prayers
and Bible readings, oh, oh, and let's not forget that I don't drink,
smoke or engage in premarital sex.” These may be good things, but
incapable of making us right before God. They're just filthy rags
we've sprayed with perfume (Isaiah 64:6), an unfit gift for a king.
The idea of somehow evening the score with God, creates a multitude
of evils for the believer. Take for example, the pastor or ministry
leader, according to the heresy of self-justification, they have
somehow ascended the slippery ladder of morality that others are 'too
weak' to grab a hold of. In their mind, sinning is a near
impossibility (for a 'CEO-level Christian,' like themselves), thus
building their taste for it, underneath the gloss of superiority. It
becomes desirous and forbidden fruit. Being at the top becomes so
lonely,to choices seem to either alienate one's self or...take the
dive.
Matthew 5:3 begs us to be honest with Jesus, that we have nothing to
offer the One who created Heaven and Earth, that we are in need of
His complete support.
Questions:
- What do you need Jesus for daily?
- What does being spiritually middle class look like in your life?
- How can you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit more?
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