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ATTHEW 5 may not be the apex of
the entire Bible, but is is the apex of all the Scriptures that we have studied
from Genesis up to Matthew 5. It is apparent from chapters 1-4 that Jesus is
the One to whom all previous prophecies have ultimately pointed. Now we find
His first recorded sermon. And, the substance of His "Sermon on the
Mount" is quite heavy.
Notably, there is an unmistakable
optimism & tone of hope here. Jesus did not open His mouth & say,
"Cursed are the proud, for they will inhabit hell!" He could have started out that way. That is a fair implication from Matthew 5:3. It is surely taught elsewhere in the Bible.
But Jesus didn't come to condemn the world. He came to save us! So, there are
many positive statements in this sermon. What marvelous encouragement it is to
read these words, realizing they were spoken by our incarnate God. Surely the
hope of nations had arrived & was speaking peace on the mountain on that
day.
But wait! Another thing to notice
here is the impossibility of the expectations of Jehovah. Who can live by the
standards and conditions that Jesus declared? Clearly Jesus wasn't burning the
rulebook. He was publishing a commentary that reiterated, clarified &
intensified it. Why? 1. The law was originally intended to portray
God's holiness loudly, & thereby to convince men of their desperate need
for God's grace & mercy. 2. More can be expected of servants when their
Master is present to guide every subtle movement. Christ came to not only keep
the law for us but also to enable us to live in the very spirit of that law.
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