Friday 12th August - Matthew 5
Today’s chapter is Matthew 5, you can read it here
Tom writes:
O the awesomeness of these phrases. I must have read them 20 to 30 times in the last few days and yet every time I feel like I’m getting claxoned in the face by another surprising truth. Jesus calls ‘good’ a lot of things that I like to keep at arms’ length. It says it is a glorious thing to feel the inadequacy of spiritual poverty, to be wracked with the sorrow of mourning, to constantly be feeling like you are wanting and needing more. I don’t want any of those things. I want to sit pretty and smile smugly and be patted gently on the shoulder by one man and his dog (if only my dog could pat my shoulder- now that would be a wonderful thing). But Jesus seems to be saying that is not how the kingdom works. The rich and succulent pleasures of the kingdom are reserved for those who have struggled and strained and reached the end of themselves. The Kingdom is for the humble - for those who spend their life on their knees, knowing that their help comes not from themselves but flows from their King. And when the King brings help, he wants to drum the beat. Our King wants us to do what he says.
It’s actually a bit embarrassing how strong Jesus is on this point. Why is he like this? Isn’t he meant to be “LOVE”? Well, Jesus is the lover who knows better than us. He knows what we get wrong and he wants to help us get it right. And so, if we let him actually be our King we discover, perhaps surprisingly, that central to his Kingdom are quality relationships. How we treat those around us really matters to Jesus. Even more than things like reading Christing books and re-posting posts of the latest ‘hot’ preacher. Many of us could bring far more pleasure to God if we exerted more energy on reconciling ourselves to our family and dreamed more dreams about carrying others’ burdens. Keeping oaths isn’t sexy. Praying for annoying people isn’t glamorous. But these are the places where mourning comes in, where spiritual poverty and purity are forged and where blessing chases us around like a stray dog on heat.
Question for reflection
If you obeyed everything Jesus says in the sermon on the mount do you think you would be happy?