Today’s Scripture Passage: Matthew 5
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” ~ Matthew 5:1-2
In the sermon of the mount, Jesus sat down and taught His disciples a new way to live. Now, the overall theme we learn from this chapter is this: it is highly important for every Christian to be taught and undergo discipleship. You and I are not automatically going to live how God wants us to.
Jesus gives us the original template of how God’s kingdom should be like and He taught His disciples (including you and I), a new way we ought to live or be (and it’s far more than having Christian in your bio).
The disciple of Jesus must be:
- Broken in spirit; burdened for others; meek; humble; hungry for righteousness; merciful; pure in heart; wise; patient; loving; joyful and gracious (Matt 5:3-12)
- Salt to preserve and light to shine (Matt 5:13-16)
- A keeper/doer of the truth and a teacher of these (Matt 5:17-19)
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The disciple of Jesus must be:
- Free from hypocrisy, selfishness, and grudges (Matt 5:20-24)
- A peacemaker (Matt 5:9, Matt 5:25-26)
- Free from lusts (Matt 5:27-30)
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
The disciple of Jesus must be:
- A family man / woman (Matt 5:31-32)
- Truthful (Matt 5:33-37)
- Turn mistreatment into willing love (Matt 5:38-41)
- Charitable, neighbourly, and godly in society (Matt 5:38-47)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
How are all these possible?
- It starts with a new birth in Christ (being born again). “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.“
- Walking and living in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18)
- Using the spiritual weapons and tools God has given to us.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ~ Galatians 5:16-17
It’s a new way and a new life in Jesus Christ! Join a discipleship class and be taught the word. And then let’s live it; let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help and guide us to live in God’s will.
Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved!
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