text:_ Matthew 5:21-48 Reflections

At first glance as I was reading this passage this morning, I thought to myself two things: (1) nothing new here; and (2) these are a lot of things to do and not do strung together! (If you are like me, it can be a bit overwhelming... sometimes I just scan over these passages, thinking to myself, "yeah, yeah... I get it... be good!")

But then I re-read the whole section and tried to figure out what the overarching BIG IDEA was.

I think I might have it down to two:

1. Following Jesus touches every aspect of our lives -- public and private, relational and devotional, ethical and practical.
   

2. The goal is not GOODNESS, but GODLINESS (vs. 48). We cannot become God (or gods as some cultish religions teach), but we can become more GOD-LIKE and GODLY in our character, in our relationships, in our thought life, and in our actions. This is the goal of discipleship.

With those two thoughts in mind, I went back and re-read all of chapter 5 (yesterday's reading and today's) and realized what Jesus is doing here precepts than painting a picture. He is painting a picture of what a fully devoted life would look like, of what life in the Kingdom can be... it is s much about vision and hope and perspective as it is about ethics and behaviors and practices. It is about all of those things and more!

I love the way Eugene Peterson paraphrases the end of this passage in The Message:

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

I feel like I could spend a lifetime reading the Sermon on the Mount and never cease being challenged by it, stretched by it, formed by it, and encouraged by it. This is masterful teaching from our master...

I would love to hear what struck you today...