Abiding at the Feet of Jesus | A Look at the BeatitudesSýnishorn

Have you ever been in a situation where, no matter what you do or how much you try, you just can’t get ahead? Perhaps you went to college, earned your degree, but can’t find a job in your field of study, so you end up taking an entry-level job and are living paycheck to paycheck just to get by. All the while, your student loans continue to accrue interest because you can only afford to pay the minimum payment. Maybe you’re attempting to save for a trip or a home, but every time you turn around another unplanned expense crops up, emptying your savings account yet again. I imagine the people who sat at Jesus’ feet in Matthew 5 felt a lot like this.

At the time that Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount, the Jews in the Promised Land were under the rule of the Roman government. Like most of the people groups conquered by the Romans, the Jews struggled to pay the heavy taxes and to obey the often-unfair laws under the watch of the Roman army. The Jews prayed for freedom from the Roman government and believed that the promised Messiah would rise up and conquer their oppressors. 

The Sanhedrin was a group of Jewish men who were the ultimate authority for all Jews. However, the Romans demanded that they submit to Roman laws. The few Jews who gained power as tax collectors were often dishonest, taking bribes, overcharging their fellow Jews, and keeping the additional money for themselves. 

Life in the time of Christ was often unfair. Men were considered far superior to women, who had few rights. The Roman government and military oppressed all their conquered peoples. Jews considered themselves far superior to all other races. Roman religions preached the worship of many gods, which promoted indulging in sexual exploration, debauchery, and excessive feasting. Even among the Jews, there was a variety of beliefs about God. Members of these different sects looked down on the average Jew, believing that they weren’t as learned and were less deserving of God’s blessings than sect members were.

The end result was an entire group of lost, broken individuals who had little hope of their lives ever being full of the riches that God had promised His people. Jesus came to change all of that. Jesus’ ministry began once He returned from being tempted in the desert. He came back ready to begin teaching about God’s Word, healing the sick, and ministering to the multitudes. It would have made sense for Him to kick everything off in a big way, but that wasn’t how things happened. Instead, Jesus withdrew from the crowd and went to a mountainside to quietly teach disciples. Despite His attempts to be alone, the crowds found them, and what resulted was what some people say is the best sermon ever. This sermon, usually called the “Sermon on the Mount,” is found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. It starts with Jesus describing the Beatitudes.

Questions to Journal: 

1. Why do you think Jesus chose such an unassuming start to His earthly ministry? 

2. In what ways can you relate to the people who sat at Jesus’ feet?