February 13-19

Matthew: Chapter Five 5

Matthew 5:9–16

5:9 Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children.

The world is filled with those who will fight with every fiber of their being to establish their space and position. Get in their way and you will be rudely challenged to move or face the consequences. The way of the sin nature is to stand and hold one’s territory at any cost. In a vain attempt to make peace, the world attempts to negotiate a work- able truce between adversarial parties.
However, contrary to the ways of this world order, Jesus advised that his kingdom subjects are already peacemakers, impacting the circumstances of those around them by inviting them to experience the peace that only the King imparts to his subjects. Later on in this chapter, Jesus provides a practical application for this principle. Only in our attempts to share the peace of Christ in the midst of this con- stantly warring existence can we demonstrate that we are the children of God.
Ultimately, of course, this peace can only be achieved when one has been given the blessings of the kingdom. Therefore, it should be understood that Jesus encouraged the crowds not only to make peace among each other but to find that peace inwardly through repentance. The kind of peace that is based upon one’s forgiveness is truly eternal and is never undone by external circumstances. “The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17).

5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

The tone of Jesus’ teaching began to change in this verse. Looking at the previous teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, we find that the true subjects of the kingdom of heaven would never fit into this world’s order. Indeed, they would stand out because their behavior,

6 Matthew: A King’s Ransom

their method of reasoning, and their whole focus would defy normal human behavior.
Thus, it could be expected that such an individual would not be understood by others. Indeed, a worldly person will strike out at that which he or she cannot understand. The subject of God’s kingdom will then become the recipient of ridicule and derision. Nevertheless, the King’s subject will not be overcome by this onslaught since that is to be expected. Jesus told the people that this persecution for living in an obedient relationship with the Father indicates they truly belong to the kingdom of heaven.

5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.

Jesus now elaborated on the extent of this persecution by making it far more personal. Not only is this persecution to be expected, because one behaves differently from the norm of human nature, but the rea- son for the persecution would be centered on the one who was teach- ing this discourse. Although this discourse occurs early in Matthew’s gospel, there are the warnings of some future conflict between the citizens of this world and the citizens of the kingdom of heaven. This conflict would be firmly focused on the person of Jesus Christ. “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you” (1 Peter 4:14). Being a citizen of the kingdom would result in some terrible assertions and accusations, which in turn would result in a sense of great happiness. Jesus promised this internal joy to his subjects when such adversity would assail their lives because of their commitment to him.

5:12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

Indeed, Jesus promised an overflowing joy when such persecution was directed toward his people. This would place them in the same cat-

Matthew: Chapter Five 7

egory as the prophets, who likewise stood firmly for the Lord God and pronounced his message to a rebellious and wayward people. Many of them were ostracized from their communities. Some were imprisoned. Some were put to death. God’s people, faithful subjects to their King, are imbued with the grace to live in such a way that clearly defines them as citizens of another kingdom—a kingdom not of this earth. Such a lifestyle could, and most likely will, result personal persecu- tion that will be difficult to endure. But Jesus taught that his joy and peace will provide sufficient resources despite the circumstances of such adversity. “Be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory” (1 Peter 4:13). “Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be per- secuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

5:13 “You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

In these next few verses, Jesus summarized the position of the kingdom citizen living in a hostile world. He or she is salt for the earth, permeat- ing this world that is so opposed to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told the great crowd that their lives would have an impact upon the rest of humanity in the same way that salt acts upon food. The subjects of the kingdom would flavor the existence of the human race. Most of the people on this earth would not necessarily adopt the principles of the kingdom, but those who did were to function as the responsible am- bassadors for their King. Failure to faithfully reflect the principles of the kingdom would eventually reap the scorn of the people to whom they were to witness.

5:14 “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.

The disciple of the Lord, the true subject in the kingdom of heaven, was also described as the light of the world. In John’s gospel, Jesus told

8 Matthew: A King’s Ransom

the people that he was the light of the world (John 8:12). Throughout the Beatitudes, it is plainly evident that everything that Jesus told the crowds was already evident in his own person. The disciples—those who were subjects of the kingdom of heaven—would also naturally fol- low their Lord, reflecting the light of his life to the rest of the world. Such would characterize the life of Jesus’ disciples. It is as normal and as natural as the day that follows the night.

5:15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.

Jesus further described the purpose of his disciple in terms so simple that the smallest child could understand what he meant. The purpose of a lamp is to provide light to the room. The opposite of this purpose is so ridiculous that it is almost laughable. One never lights a lamp and then hides it so that it cannot perform its purpose.

5:16 In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

This was the purpose for the life that was born in the hearts of his disciples. The purpose of the disciple was to reflect the light of Christ to those around him. If the disciple were true to the King, that light would be clearly seen by those around the disciple, and they, as a result of seeing this light, would praise the Father in heaven.
Jesus tells his disciples who they are in their new identity as citi- zens of his kingdom. He acquaints them with the circumstances they will experience as the mantle of their citizenship is bestowed upon them. He exhorts them to live in the assurance of their position in Christ rather than in the hardships they will experience.

Matthew: Chapter Five 9

Notes/Applications

What a glorious destiny is given to those who embrace the message of the kingdom. What a high calling has been placed upon the life of the redeemed. Many respond to the claims of their King, living under his direction, living as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We must realize that there are tens of thousands of Christians who make the ultimate sacrifice for their Lord. In fact, David Bar- rett reports in The International Bulletin of Missionary Research (January
2000) that there are now about 165,000 martyrs for Christ each year, more than at any time in past centuries.3 Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Jesus teaches us that these people are the happiest of all in his kingdom.
In sharp contrast to the many Christians around the world who live under the constant threat of torture and death, western Christians often remain silent in public life. Simple fear of ridicule and derision has silenced them. They do not witness in the workplace. They do not intend to reveal the fact that they are Christian. Even within the sacred walls of their churches, they very often attend in mute saluta- tion to their meager faith. Silenced by a mammoth media that breeds a contemptuous and begrudging view of those of the “born again” persuasion, some Christians go through life believing that silence is a friend and anonymity is a camouflage. No one will ever discover that they are Christian.
However, in the light of these opening passages of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we would have to conclude that Jesus himself endorses those witnesses who would rather die than give up their faith and harshly judges those Christians who would hide their lamp under a bushel basket.
The call of Christ is clear. The message of Christ is not open to debate. He has laid down the distinguishing characteristics of the people who belong to his kingdom. Dare we give less than our best to the one who has purchased us with his own blood?

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