Creating a Counter Culture - a Study on the Beatitudesናሙና

INTRODUCTION

The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus’ greatest preaching where He describes what the Kingdom of God is like, its culture, and kingdom character. I have found Matthew 5 to 7 very challenging to live by.

Let us look at the background before we get into the eight Beatitudes.

What was Matthew’s main message?

Matthew is writing largely for a Jewish audience whose hearts longed for a Messiah King thought would overthrow their oppressors. He makes several references to the Old Testament to show the link between the Messiah they longed for and Jesus, who was God incarnate and indeed the Messiah.

In the gospel of Matthew, the kingdom of heaven was a main running motif. Matthew tells his readers that Jesus did come to establish His kingdom but not how they expected.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows them how they needed to understand the law from God’s vantage point.

The Sermon on the Mount is replete with phrases like “you have heard it said, but I say to you…”, or you believed and lived like this, but know I am telling you how it really should be done.

This Sermon ends in Chapter 7. Jesus is drawing their attention to the heart of the matter, i.e., it is all about relationships and not rules. Love and forgiveness are the currency of this kingdom.

He emphasizes fruit (Ch7:16 -20): by their fruit, you will recognize them and ends with the parable of the wise and foolish builders once emphasizing obedience. How you live in the kingdom of God is more important than what you do.

Jesus came to usher in an upside-down kingdom.

The Jews forgot their “otherness” and consorted with the nations taking on their cultures and even worshiping their Gods. The Sermon on the Mount is a call to return to roots by turning away from the adulteration of the law and returning to true righteous living.

Who is the Sermon on the Mount for?

It was for the disciples. It is not a code of ethics for all society but Christ-followers.

Why practice the Sermon on the Mount? It is the foundation for Christian living. Everything hinges on this.

Tomorrow we will begin our deep dive into the eight beatitudes.

REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF

• Have you ever engaged with the Beatitudes as something to put into practice?
• Evaluate how you have experienced Christian life in the light of these passages.