Day 289 - Blessed

Daily Reading:  Matthew 5-7

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

 

Matthew 5:3-5

 

Footnote:  Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum.  This sermon probably covered several days of preaching.  In it, Jesus proclaimed his attitude toward the law.  Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom -- what matters is faithful obedience from the heart.  The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day.  It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance.

 

Jesus began his sermon with words that seem to contradict each other.  But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's.  If you want to live for God you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world.  You must be willing to 

 

GIVE when others take,

 

to LOVE when others hate,

 

to HELP when others abuse. 

 

By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.

 

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.......  5:17

 

Footnote:  If Jesus did not come to abolish the law, does that mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today?  In the Old Testament, there were three categories of law:  ceremonial, civil and moral.

 

1.  The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship (see Leviticus 1:2,3, for example).  Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection.  While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them -- to worship and love a holy God -- still apply.  Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of violating ceremonial law.

 

2.  The civil law applied to daily living in Israel (see Deuteronomy 24:10,11, for example).  Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically.  But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct.  Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.

 

3.  The moral law (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (see Exodus 20:13, for example).  The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today.  Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.

 

This is probably the best explanation of the law that I've ever read.  There are soooo many good footnotes for these chapters -- I wish I could type them all for you!  Hope you are enjoying the first few chapters of the New Testament!

 

Keep reading -- 76 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV