Matthew 5:1-12
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
One of the greatest joys of being a Child of God is the privilege of sharing in the dissemination of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Nothing in this life can compare to the exhilaration of knowing the Sovereign of the universe has entrusted us with the most precious and powerful message in all of human history. Sounds a bit dramatic? Trust me, I haven’t even begun to unravel the intricacies of the grace we’ve been given through our trust in the words of Jesus Christ. So as you can imagine, we must be prepared to handle his Word with extraordinary care; maintaining context, cohesion and coordination.
You do know the Bible wasn’t originally written in English, right? So when preaching, teaching or sharing the Word of God, the challenge is to always maintain the integrity of the message. Too often I’ve noticed we have a tendency to emphasize scripture memorization over scriptural revelation. Just reciting scripture after scripture doesn’t necessarily inform the listener of the deep and profound spiritual truths behind the statements made. Moreover, the limitation of the English language coupled with the ever changing cultural dialects over these many years make spiritual revelation imperative for any meaningful dissemination of truth.
Matthew 5 begins what is commonly called the Beatitudes. The word beatitude means blessings. So these next few passages refer to the blessedness of partnership with Christ. But as we read each verse, all of them aren’t what we would readily consider “positive”. Especially the portion that says, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. These beatitudes aren’t what we would generally consider blessings. But regardless if we like it or not, Jesus said what he said!
In full disclosure, any true finder of facts can easily uncover multiple scriptures that appear to be inconsistent and in contradiction to each other. And without giving this dilemma much thought there are really only two schools of thought to consider. Either the words of Christ can’t totally be trusted, or they can, and we just don’t understand them. And if the latter is true, we have work to do. Instead of constantly being uncertain of the purpose, plan and process of God, the pathway to enlightenment is to get to know the author better. I assure you there is no inconsistencies in the words of Christ because he is the Word. The Word made flesh.
Our studying, research, theology and philosophy must be united to the intent of the Word of God, and evidenced by the works we do for God. As we receive the Word in our spirit, it instructs our actions, thoughts and deeds. The Word is more than an intellectual ascent, or academic accomplishment. The Word is food and fuel for our souls. In it (Him) we live, breathe and have our being. So, if there are any questions, we must question our own understanding, working to better comprehend what the Lord is conveying to us. And never doubt, because, He Said What He Said.
God Bless
