I try to read the Bible with fresh eyes. It’s hard to read the familiar Sermon on the Mount as though I were hearing it for the first time. But I try. Jesus created images, ideas, and poetry as rich as anything by Shakespeare or MLK.
And what a poetic opening! “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.” The masterpiece gets better:
“You are the salt of the earth…” [Salt? What a creative image.] “You are the light of the world… Unless you are more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never see the Kingdom of Heaven… You have heard ‘do not commit adultery,’ but I say to you, when you lust with your eyes, you have committed adultery already in your heart….You have heard ‘an eye for an eye,’ but I say if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, offer him the other also… You have heard ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ but I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Pray this way, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…’ You cannot be slaves of both God and money… Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than many sparrows? Do not worry, but seek first His kingdom… Beware false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves… Everyone who hears my words and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand, and the rains fell… the winds blew, and the house fell, and how great was its fall…” Matthew 5-7.
There was never a more gifted wordsmith than Jesus.
Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-10. Which of the statements apply to you? Are you blessed because you are a peacemaker? Or merciful? Or persecuted? Or poor in spirit?
You are BLESSED. God will bless you, even in hurts and humiliations.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 