Commands are things we should do, but some of what Jesus taught has more to do with responding to the Holy Spirit in faith and allowing him to do a transformative work in us. Much of what is mentioned in the opening of the sermon on the mount identifies who his followers are, and a reward that will far outlast the difficult seasons of life.
Returning to the words of Jesus, and seeking out his commands, we’ll examine the teachings in the Beatitudes, and continue to verse 20 of the chapter. With our earlier episode, this will take us up to the first 20 commands, using the term loosely.
In the teaching on beatitudes, or blessings, what commands are given or implied?
7. Be poor in spirit (humble)
8. Mourn (over sin or loss).
9. Be meek (controlled strength, gentle).
10. Hunger, thirst for righteousness (justice).
11. Be merciful
12. Be Pure in heart.
13. Make Peace (preserve the peace).
14. Be persecuted for righteousness
15. Be Hated falsely for Christ
16. Rejoice over heavenly reward.
As pointed out in remarks by J Vernon McGee, these oughts to be considered “Be” attitudes, and not “Do” attitudes. The point: What exactly is it to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek or to hunger after righteousness? Elsewhere in scripture the problem is stated that no one seeks for the truth. How can we? Why should we, unless the Holy Spirit draws us to him?
Therefore, we are identified as is followers when these attributes mark our lives. We don’t do anything, other than listen to his call and respond with repentance.
The Holy Spirit transforms us when we follow in obedience. We can rejoice, knowing the same hardships and unjust treatment was also dished out on the prophets, and an eternal reward awaits.
Matthew 5
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 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.
The matter of being salt and light is the next teaching of Jesus.
These are not so much commands, but identifiers of who we are as followers of Christ. In applying the commands, we show ourselves to be a good example and presence in the world.
The statement is made, “You are salt.” Natural salt does not go bad. It’s a simple chemical compound. It either exists, or it’s the separate chemical elements, sodium and chlorine. Additives, like iodine and other things are put into it to make table salt. If anything, it’s the additives in table salt that goes bad. Salt remains salt. Should the chemical compound somehow be ripped apart, then you don’t have salt. You have two deadly poisons to deal with in its place.
What about light? Again, this is a statement, an identifier, “You are light.” Light is a difficult thing to pin down. Is it matter? Is it an electromagnetic wave? Is it both? We do know that in the narrow spectrum of the electromagnetic range that we call light, we are able to see the world around us.
Filtering light through a colored lens produces the effect of making our environment appear in gray scale. Shadows can hide or distort the truth in the world around us. Increased shadow, or even utter darkness can lead to fear and mysteries that hide evil.
The commands:
17. Stay salty (no additives, flavor the world).
18. Let your light shine. (don’t hide it, so people will glorify God)
Matthew 5
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 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
Christ is adamant about his mission and the eternal nature of what he is to accomplish. He doesn’t abolish the law; it’s curse of death is still real. He fulfills or completes the law, living a perfect, sinless life in our place.
The judgment the law contains will endure until it is fully completed. What are his commands then? Are these a deal-breaker for those who believe in him? Though he encourages correctly following the law, Christ warns that following it alone is not enough to be in the kingdom.
19. Don’t be slack in keeping or teaching the law. (You will be least in the kingdom).
20. Keep the law and teach others to do the same. (You will be great in the kingdom).
Matthew 5
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.
For as much as is possible, we should keep the law. This means the Old Testament law. It is still the benchmark in knowing what is right and wrong. It always will be.
The bad news is that it’s impossible to live up to the standard. But that’s how high God has the bar set.
The good news is that Jesus came to fulfill the law. For all those shortcomings where we fail, he takes up the slack. We can be holy because he was holy. Jesus lived the sinless, perfect life that fulfilled the law. Because he fulfilled the law, and because he was both men in nature, and God in character. he paid the sin debt for all mankind, for eternity.
We can’t even pay for our own sin debt, but God made a way to pay for everyone. To claim salvation from an eternal sin debt, all you have to do is trust in Jesus. Then for all the commands, you haven’t kept, they’re paid. For all the commands, or identifiers we learned about today, the Holy Spirit is working those transformations.
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Thanks to the recorded comments from J Vernon McGee. His ministry and daily bible study lives on through Through the Bible Ministries (ttb.org)
NASB.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
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