The Terms of Jesus' Kingdom
January 22, 2023
Matthew 5:1-20 | Psalm 1:1-3
We’ve finished a chapter of the sermon on the mountain. Today - a Sunday - we’ll sojourn again where we began with the beatitudes.
Some see the beatitudes as the terms of Jesus’ Kingdom. But these terms aren’t as much attributes to ascribe to as much as they are descriptors of those who live into the way of Christ. They are certainly invitational, even participatory to a degree. But they cannot be purchased or received as a reward in response to the right amount of effort. The blessings and happiness of Christ’s Kingdom come along through seeking after him in purpose. Christ’s terms aren’t mimicked as much as they are accepted.
Certainly Christ’s Kingdom is concerned with morality. But it is not a morality simply achieved by behavior modification. Of course, righteous living is important and seeking to know God’s righteousness is part of living into it. But God’s righteousness is accepted before it is lived. Grace is something to fall into - not grasp on to.
As you read the beginning of Christ’s sermon again (from a different translation this time), seek to receive the statements more than aspire to them.
Blessed Sunday to you.
Matthew 5:1-20
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:
“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
“Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them. I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality. Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the legal experts and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Psalm 1:1-3
The truly happy person
doesn’t follow wicked advice,
doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,
and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
Instead of doing those things,
these persons love the Lord’s Instruction,
and they recite God’s Instruction day and night!
They are like a tree replanted by streams of water,
which bears fruit at just the right time
and whose leaves don’t fade.
Whatever they do succeeds.
Prayer
God, your son Jesus taught many things that helped people know how deeply you love humanity. Help us to live in your love, so that we might be beacons of light for others. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.