What God Hates

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32, NKJV).

What God Hates

Believers are to understand what God hates for two reasons: it informs us about His character, and provides us with signposts as to what to avoid. Here they are:

“You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. (De 12:31)

“You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates. (De 16:22)

The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. (Psalms 11:5)  

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19, NKJV).

“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. (Isa 61:8)

Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.” (Zec 8:17)

“For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” (Mal 2:16 )

Of these things, idolatry and idolatrous practices, murder, violence, pride, deceit, thievery, perjury, and contentiousness, the one in view here is the last, divorce. In ancient Israel, rather than simply put aside a wife, or worse, Jewish law commanded that divorce be legally formalized with cause, with specific prohibitions and penalties prescribed if the husband's accusations were found to be false. Contemporaneous pagan cultures during Moses' time, and afterwards, were far less scrupulous about such things, and often dealt with problematic marriages by more severe actions taken by the husband, including abandonment and murder. Over the centuries, through various rabbinic interpretations, these Jewish restrictions became more liberal, until by the time of the first century there were two basic schools of thought.

On the one hand, there were the relatively strict constructionists, under the leadership of Rabbi Shammai, who taught that just cause for divorce was limited to moral delinquency on the part of the wife (theft, dishonesty,  laziness, gluttony, etc.). On the other hand, there was the "progressive" position, under the teaching of Hillel, which basically expanded cause to include anything displeasing to the husband. Both schools, however, agreed that once divorced, it was forbidden to remarry the same person.

In the New Testament  however, Jesus made it clear that God's perfect intention and purpose for marriage "from the beginning" was a life-long joining of one man and one woman. Divorce was only instituted as a remedy because of the "hardness" of man's heart. In contrast to either Shammai or Hillel, Jesus also made it clear that there was only one just cause for divorce: sexual immorality. Here are the general Scriptural references concerning divorce: Ex 21:7-11; De 21:10-14; 24:1-4; Ezr 10:1-16; Ne 13:23-30; Jer 3:1; Mic 2:9; Mal 2:14-16; Mt 5:31,32; 19:3-12; Mr 10:2; Lu 16:18; 1Co 7:10-17.

Divorce is a hard subject today, partly because it is so very prevalent (50% of 1st marriages end in divorce, even in the church), and partly because tragic issues like spousal abuse and the well-being of children come into play. Some think that in the New Testament, Paul broadens Jesus' provisions on divorce, but that is technically inaccurate, since Paul in 1 Corininthians 7 is speaking specifically of abandonment and separation, not legal divorce. The bottom line for a Bible-believing Christian is that divorce is evil and marriage is sacrosanct - too important to be messed with - something the apostles clearly understood when they responded to Jesus' teaching by saying, “…If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” (Matthew 19:10, NKJV). 

Divorce being evil and marriage being sacrosanct are perfectly consistent teachings, and for generations most of the Christian church looked at divorce largely from a New Testament perspective: It was wrong and to be avoided at almost any cost. Even Jesus did not make divorce a requirement in cases of sexual immorality, only permissible. And this prohibition against divorce makes marriage that much more important, and the choice of a spouse exponentially more significant. The old adage, marry in haste - repent at leisure is an adage precisely because it encapsulates a solemn truth. 

So, beloved, what do you do?

If you are not yet married, WAIT upon the Lord to get married. THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!!!!! If it is in His perfect will for your life he will rearrange the world and the course of history to bring you that spouse. You are His beloved. Do not be unequally yoked. Make sure that man's or that woman's first priority is Christ. Do NOT count on matrimonial evangelism. It almost never works the way you hope. Flee the impulses of lust. They are deadly in the long term.  Wait, I say, on the Lord.

If you are married and in physical danger, separation is a viable (and perhaps an urgent) option. Spousal abuse is a form of abandonment. It is certainly the opposite of being cherished and protected. Chances are the abusing spouse in not a Christian. If the ultimate result is divorce on the part of the unbelieving spouse, then you are free. If he (it is usually the male that is abusive) is a believer it is very likely the Lord will use that separation to work in his life. A loving church should protect and provide for you in those circumstances. Should you initiate divorce? Only if sexual immorality is also involved. Is this hard to accept? Yes. Is it an opportunity to trust in the Lord to work His perfect will in your life? Yes. Will the world agree with your decision not to end the marriage? Very likely not. Most in the church, if they are not properly grounded in the Word, won't either. 

If you are divorced because of the unilateral decision of your spouse, that is abandonment. You are free. "But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace." (1 Corinthians 7:15, NKJV).

If you are divorced after salvation because of your own decision for other than sexual immorality on the part of your spouse, you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. Welcome to the club. Can you remarry in the Lord? That is a big question, indeed. "Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. "(1 Corinthians 7:10, 11, NKJV). If you do or did remarry in that case, you have committed adultery, compounding your sin. Does that disqualify you as a child of God through faith? No more than any other sin. Does it disqualify you from certain service in the church? Very possibly. 

What should you do under those circumstances? Certainly, you need to confess and repent, and He is faithful and just to forgive your sin. But then what? Divorce yet again to make it right? What if there are children from either marriages? Sin is ugly and complicated and there are very few formulaic answers. Note however, the last part of 1 Corinthians 7:15, "…But God has called us to peace." Certain things that are done, can't be undone. Any attempt to rectify these things in human strength is likely to make them worse, "…but God has called us to peace." I believe the Lord will give you the proper guidance if you prayerfully seek Him, and do now what you should have done before: WAIT ON HIM.

If you were divorced before salvation, then I believe the pertinent guidance is here: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

Here is the key: if you are now married in the Lord, or if you are contemplating marriage in the Lord, the command is to STAY married. There is no requirement to divorce, and the only permissible cause for divorce is sexual immorality on the part of your spouse. But be very afraid if you are resting on the actual doing of adultery to protect you. In this same sermon, Jesus has already equated looking with lust as morally equivalent to committing adultery.

One final thought, and here's where we all should tremble: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7, NKJV).

Marriage is very important to God. He looks at its dissolution as bloodshed. It is His picture of Christ's relationship with His church. Among other things, He has ordained it for the purpose of raising godly children. His view of marriage is not just old-fashioned in the eyes of the world today, it is much more than that. It is ancient, original, authentic and authoritative. It is His institution. Mankind dare not mess with it, or there will be Hell to pay. 

Literally. Not just for individuals, but for society.

Ruthless

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30, NKJV).

Ruthless

Sin and the temptation to sin has a life-cycle, or more accurately a "death-cycle". It's outlined in the Book of James. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:14, 15, NKJV).

If the institution of marriage was created by God in order to "raise godly seed", and, in so being, is actually a primordial picture of the intimacy representative of Christ and His church, then the unique relationship between a husband and wife is perhaps the most significant invented. Violation of that special intimacy and commitment through adultery becomes very destructive indeed. It destroys a foundation of life and culture essential not only for the physical, but moral and spiritual survival of the human species. When and where marriage and family are no longer valued, society fails. When and where an individual marriage is not valued, a family fails.

All sexual sin is unique in that it involves the joining of (at least) two physical bodies, one with another. All other sin is done "outside" the body in that context, but illicit sex (that which is in opposition to the standards declared by the Creator Himself between one man and one woman in marriage) involves a perversion of the original intent for marriage - the conjoining of two individuals on the physical level to represent a greater merging in the spiritual. Sex outside the confines of marriage explodes that purpose literally to Hell.

For a Christian, there is an even greater degradation involved because we are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1Co 6:19). All three Persons of the godhead indwell each one of us (John 14). "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV).  "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17, NKJV). This, of course, includes sex. It has to because sex itself is an invention of God. Done in accord with His wisdom and will it is one of the most sublime of human activities. Done outside His will it is a pathetic rutting parody.

For marrieds, adultery is the ultimate trust killer. It is a betrayal of the very foundations upon which a successful marriage is built. It is a destroyer without pity or mercy. That is not to say that those guilty of adultery are any worse than any other sexual sinner, nor any more or less forgivable. It is to say that the destruction caused by adultery involves more than the sinner himself. The blast radius includes the betrayed spouse, the other illicit partner, and most tragically, any children. There is much collateral damage.

The ancient Jewish standard of obedience was based on the letter of the law so that it was the actual physical act that made one guilty. As in everything else contained within Jesus' Mountain Discourse, He elevates that standard above and beyond the final death throes of sin, and moves it back to its conception in the sinner's eyes, mind and will. The mere looking with lust at another is adultery. It is exactly in accord with the statements the Lord made just previously: evil intent is equivalent to evil action. While this may seem a teaching on adultery specifically unique to the New Testament, it is not. As early as the writing of Job we see the foreshadowing of this very thing: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? " (Job 31:1, NKJV).

The remedy for adultery is personal ruthlessness. If your eye leads you astray, pluck it out and throw it far from you. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it far away. Why? Because it is better to be temporally maimed than to be eternally condemned. The question arises, Did Jesus mean this literally? There are some cultures even today that punish thieves by amputating the hand. Some that pluck out the eye. But if you look carefully at what Jesus is saying He is not referring to those punishments being done to you, but you doing them to yourself. And in a sense, almost as a preventative rather than an after-the-fact judgment.

If Jesus is advocating actual self-mutilation here, it is the only place in the New Testament where that is the case. In fact, elsewhere, the Apostle Paul condemns even the practice of circumcision as a religious requirement and defines such as meaningless mutilation. While there have been historical and modern accounts of sects practicing this in its various forms, self-flagellation, self-piercing, even crucifixion, it seems unlikely in the extreme that is Jesus' purpose. Instead, I believe He is emphasizing, not physical ruthlessness toward the outward implements and appendages of sin, but with the inward conception of sin: the heart and the mind. Otherwise, it would imply that no blind person or amputee sins, or that once amputated or blinded, a perpetrator would not sin again. That is simply not the case. 

His exhortation is "Don't even look!" "Don't even reach out toward temptation!" Pluck it out, cut it off BEFORE the "death-cycle" of sin takes hold and what is conceived in the will is brought forth in death. To practice this kind of ruthlessness requires zero tolerance for succumbing to personal temptation; a turning away, a severing of the impulse before it occurs. This in turn is only successful if the individual purposes AHEAD of time to abide by that covenant of fidelity and strict self-control.

That is why our permissive Western culture is so perilous. Things that less than a generation ago were considered unmentionably shameful are boasted about in the streets as badges of honor. Things that were done in the dark are now paraded out in the light.  Pornography, so easily accessible through modern technology, is one of the Enemy's greatest weapons in obliterating godly marriages, and is effective in undermining even the very foundation of marriage before ever a matrimonial vow is uttered. We live in sexually dangerous and explosive times. Much of our culture accepts the unacceptable, and increasingly thinks the unthinkable in a slow side into perdition. If I have heard the excuse "It's no big deal!" once, I've heard it a hundred times.

Be assured beloved, it IS a big deal. Faithfulness in a godly marriage is NOT optional. Be ruthless on yourself, lest the circumstances of your fall be utterly devastating, not only to you, but to everyone around you.

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4, NKJV).

It's the Thought that Counts

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:21-26, NKJV).

It's the Thought that Counts

This is the first of five "you have heard" passages in Matthew 5 (Mt 5:21,27,33,38,43), and coupled with each counterpart "But I say to you" or "But I tell you", it is the Lord's understated but emphatic method of declaring His preeminence and authority over the Law of Moses. This was one of the reasons "…that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:28, 29, NKJV).

The scribes, on the other hand, used "precedent" to make a point or argue for this or that Scriptural interpretation. Jesus did not. Instead, He simply and unequivocally stated the correct meaning of the various Laws He mentioned, without relying on any prior citation or decision from some august or credentialed source. This would have been beyond arrogant if He were not Messiah, the Son of God, and the author of all Truth. His authoritative stance in this is one of the many proofs in the New Testament that Jesus claimed to be God. As C.S. Lewis wrote,

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

In the six verses referenced above, Jesus is establishing the following as bedrock truth:

1. Evil intent is equivalent to evil action (But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother…)
2. Evil intent is worthy of judgment (whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment)
3. Evil speaking is equivalent to evil action (And whoever says to his brother)
4. Some evil speaking is worse than others (whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.)

This was a radical interpretation of ancient Hebrew jurisprudence that had rested upon centuries of precedent. It would have indeed been astonishing to anyone in His audience who was paying attention, and understood exactly what Jesus' declarations were overthrowing. I can hear the murmurs in the crowd. "You mean to say that that just feeling or saying something is equal to the doing? What's next? Merely thinking something? Who does this Man think He is?"

Of course, the Law was always about both intent and deed, thought and action, but the Rabbis over the centuries lost that distinction, focusing exclusively on the letter of the Law and not the spirit. Although His listeners may have thought that Jesus was laying a new foundation, He was in fact, reestablishing the original.

And it is because the "thoughts and intents of the heart" are always what has been in view in regard to the Law that we are totally incapable of keeping the law. That is why it was always intended as a "tutor that would bring us to Christ", the Savior whom we so desperately need. The prideful in His audience were angered by the Lord's astounding  proclamations on many levels. One, that He dared to say such things. Two, that He would put Himself in a position of such authority over them, and three, that He was destroying everything they relied upon to think themselves better than those cursed people who did not know or follow the Law. It is ever the case. Humanity's long war against God has from the beginning been motivated by the same impulses of pride and self-worship, summarized in nine simple words screamed impotently from earth to the heavens: "WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS ONE RULE OVER US!"

As to why saying "Raca!" ("empty-headed") was worthy of more severe judgment than saying "You fool!", I believe the answer lies along the same line of reasoning. Insulting another's intelligence (head content), however bad that is, is less arrogant than condemning his moral and spiritual state. In ancient Hebrew, the implication of calling someone a "fool" was equivalent to saying that "God has forsaken" that individual. It was putting a fallen human on the judgment seat of God, for only God Himself can determine whether He has cast someone aside forever.

The Lord then proceeds to emphasize His teaching by offering two practical examples and with two respective remedies. The first paints the picture of someone piously rendering to God worship, or homage or sacrifice with the stain of having offended or being at enmity with a "brother", e.g.; someone in a close relationship. The cure: "First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Why? Because it's not only the thought that counts, but the entirety of attitude that counts before God, the Holy and Righteous Judge. Proper worship of, and adoration for God is incompatible with harbored hostility and lack of forgiveness toward a "brother". The only One who has the right to be offended by sin is God Himself. If there is festering offense and lack of forgiveness, God is not on the thrown, you are. Just like declaring someone a "Fool!".

The second example illustrates the principle best described as "don't let the sun go down on your anger". The longer an offense in either direction is left unaddressed the more infected it becomes. No one in any human interaction is completely guiltless. No one. "There is none righteous. No, not one." Mutual recognition of that fact is best accomplished with the most ameliorative effect early on, through humbly seeking agreement with your adversary (presumably someone not as close as "your brother"). Otherwise, escalation of hostility is inevitable and drastic consequences are incurred.

And Jesus' final point in this passage: all unforgiven offenses are always paid in full (Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny). There can be no deals struck or bargains negotiated in God's perfect justice. As every last "jot or tittle" of the Law must be fulfilled, so must every "jot or tittle" of debt be paid. This aligns with the Lord's statement later on in this same sermon, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15, NKJV).

Our forgiveness in Christ is to be reflected in our forgiveness toward others. How could it be otherwise? And if it isn't, if we hold onto offenses from others or are ourselves chronically guilty of offending others, can we truly be Christ's?

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. “And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. “But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. “So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. (Matthew 18:23-34, NKJV).

Mega-righteousness

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19, 20, NKJV).

Mega-righteousness

The key words in this passage fall into contrasting logical word pairs: "breaks" and "teaches"; "does" and "teaches"; "least" and "great". These are followed by a single complimentary pair, "these commandments" and "righteousness".

The word translated breaks also has the connotation of dismiss, unloose, melt, or destroy.

Didasko is the Greek word for "teaches". It's a prolonged form of the word, signifying a continuous rather than a one-time action. There was an ancient, very early Christian writing called The Didache, attributed either to the Apostles themselves, or their immediate successors whose title is reflective of the same thought. It was perhaps the very first extra-Biblical Creed, and it taught the basic precepts and tenets of the Christian faith. It was thought to be the required catechism of early converts to the Church.

Poieo means "does", and is another prolonged verb form indicative of, again, continuous doing, more like a state of being.

Elachistos and mega comprise the last pair. The first means basically shortest or smallest - a "bottom of the totem pole" kind of ranking in terms of significance or impact or distinction, with mega being its opposite - greatest, most significant, most distinctive.

In addition, I believe that when Jesus says "these commandments" He is referring specifically to the ten instructions for continuous action He has just completed: 

1. continuously recognizing the need for a Savior (poor in spirit); 
2. abiding mournfulness over personal and corporate sin (those who mourn) 
3. having a steadfastly humble and teachable spirit (meek); 
4. a craving for what is right and true (hunger and thirst for righteousness);
5. being merciful;
6. having a pure heart;
7. being a peacemaker;
8. being steadfast in the face of persecution;
9. having a purifying and preserving effect on the world (salt);
10. being a reflective source of the truth and goodness of God (light).

I believe also that "these commandments" and "righteousness" are inextricably tied together. Being righteous is being these ten things. Don't get me wrong. This is not a works thing. It's a state-of-being thing. YOU can't change your essential nature, but CHRIST can. And when He is done conforming you to His image in this life, sanctifying you, "these commandments" are HOW YOU WILL BE, not WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN YOU'RE GOOD.

So here's my point. In this passage Jesus is completely destroying the so-called righteousness upon which the professional law keepers, the scribes and Pharisees, were relying. There's was an outward righteousness, the result of their own fallen and corrupt human will. They did stuff in superficial compliance to their own interpretation of God's law, but inside their motivations were filled with rot and decay. They were "white washed sepulchers". Furthermore, in comparison to that kind of surface goodness, the elemental regeneration in Christ was so far superior that even a born-again Christian who dismissed the importance of consciously conforming to Christ's images, and mouthed off about it being unimportant, were more righteous than the professional law keepers. Quite a shock to human pride, then and now! Jesus was basically saying "without Me, no matter what you do, no matter how well you comply with doing right outwardly, you are prohibited from entrance into Heaven". Beware, He is warning, "without Me, you can do nothing…".

However, that born-again who understands the blessing that comes from BEING like Jesus inside (along with the outward goodness that flows naturally from that) and teaches others about that blessing and goodness, is mega-righteous in the eyes of God.

All of this is extremely good news for those who believe, for those of us who continuously desire to "…be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" (Philippians 3:9, NKJV).

Magnificent Details

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17, 18, NKJV).

Magnificent Details

In ancient Hebrew tradition, the Old Testament is divided roughly and generally into the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the Prophets (Isaiah through Malachi), the History (1st Samuel through Nehemiah), Wisdom (Proverbs), and Worship (Psalms). Different scholars may have different categorizations, but most agree that Jesus is here referring to either the writings contained in the first two groups, or the entirety of the Old Testament (my personal preference). In both cases, His point is the same. God's Word, those oracles committed to the Jews by the Holy Spirit, is indestructible.

Some in 1st Century Israel thought Jesus preached the overthrow of both the existing religious (Judaism) and civil (Roman) authorities. Others believed Messiah would inaugurate a kind of divine Antinomianism, whereby the Earth was no longer under God's official Old Testament jurisdiction. Both factions were dead wrong, and Jesus is making that clear, and in doing so is giving us His view of Scripture, something to which we should pay very close attention. Consider the three following passages (there are more, of course, that speak to the same points, but these are Jesus' own words about the issue):

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27, NKJV).

“If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), (John 10:35, NKJV).

“Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust. “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:45-47, NKJV).

The first point - the Bible, all of the Bible, is about Christ in one way, shape or form. I do not mean to say that it is not about anything else, but I do mean to emphasize that He is the main focus. That Bible study on the road to Emmaus that He gave those two disciples after His resurrection in Luke 24 must have been one of His most magnificent teachings. I believe we are not given the details for a reason - so that we can search out these treasures ourselves. One of the benchmarks of a born-again Christian is a CRAVING for God's Word, like an infant craves milk.  We desire to know more about God and the things of God, and the reward is the discovery of those wondrous truths that sustain and grow us in Him. When I read and begin to understand God's unimaginably brilliant plan of Redemption ordained before the foundation of the world, and the Divine motivation behind it, I am literally speechless; without words to describe the "hugeness and power" of it all.

The second point - not even God Himself will abrogate His Word. What He says MUST come to pass. What He purposes WILL be fulfilled. His every communication is UNBREAKABLE, even down to the most minute details. This is incredibly good news to those who believe, and incomprehensibly bad news to those who don't. Make no mistake, when we are told in Scripture that every act, word or "thoughts and intent of the heart" will be judged, it WILL be. No exceptions. This is both a gracious warning and a rock-solid guarantee. The judgment will either occur in Christ, atoned for by His substitutionary death on the Cross, or on its own merits. The first inevitably leads to eternal life, the second to eternal punishment. There is no third alternative.

The third point - it is not possible to be a Cafeteria Believer in God's Word. Discard one part, and you have discarded the whole. "Puh-lease!" you say. "How narrow-minded! How unscientific! How quaintly simplistic! How embarrassing!" Look, I happen to know and can formulate many rebuttals to whatever objections an honest skeptic may have to the authenticity, authority, accuracy, sufficiency, and inerrancy of the Bible. But if you claim to be a Christian, a follower of and believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as portrayed in Scripture (I've always wondered exactly what other Jesus you have any rational reason to believe in - the one in your own mind? To that I say, "Puh-lease!"), you have ABSOLUTELY no basis for NOT believing the entirety of God's Word. Jesus did, even the parts (or more pointedly - especially the parts) you don't like. 

And don't give me that blather about there being many possible interpretations to the passages you personally find offensive or not in keeping with your own infallible view of things. It is clear and obvious when and where the Bible is to be interpreted literally or symbolically. It makes perfect sense that an omniscient and omnipotent Being would be capable of saying what He means, and meaning what He says, and PRESERVING that meaning, in ways that even idiots like us can understand.

Jesus is saying that there is NOTHING more sure than God's Word. Nothing. It is more solid than the material Universe. More consistent and powerful than any scientific principle, more durable than Creation itself. And, even more amazingly, His purpose in the Incarnation includes PROVING (fulfilling) that, down to the last crossed 't' or dotted 'i'.

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV).

Lightbearers

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NKJV).

Lightbearers

Light the world. Light the city. Light the house. Light the heart. Light the way.

Of all the magnificent purposes of a Christian living in the world, bearing the light of Christ into the chaotic darkness of Fallen creation is to me the most glorious, the most precious. Think for a second. One day in the future, the Lord will rip open the sky and declare Himself the only rightful Sovereign of the Universe, but until then, we, His Ambassadors, are to bear the beacon of His glory and power and love. What an incredible privilege!

As from a spiritual perspective followers of Jesus are an ever-expanding disturbance for good in the fabric of existence, so from that same perspective I believe we shine as brilliant stars of His radiance through the spiritual darkness in ways we cannot perceive or imagine. I suspect even the weakest among us, even the most carnal, are like bright flames in the blackness, unquenchable torches of Christ's oncoming victory against evil and death. And those of us who have purposed in our hearts to make Him the sole center of our hearts are as supernovas, blasting the darkness into eternal oblivion. How could it be otherwise? The Son of God Himself has invested us with His Spirit and glory, as He cries triumphantly in His High-priestly prayer,  “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (John 17:22, NKJV).

We are His lightbearers, recipients and reflections of His majesty and glory, chosen from before the foundations of the world to illuminate the entirety of existence with His radiance. We are vessels of unimaginable glory in common clay pots. The Apostle John elaborates on this same theme. And while many refer to John as the Apostle of Love (and who am I to argue), one of the most beautiful lyrical threads that is woven through his glorious Gospel is that of light. In fact, all 16 "light" verses  in John (John 1:4,5,7-9; 3:19-21; 5:35; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9,10; 12:35,36,46) contain a central unifying theme: Jesus is the source of that which divides light from darkness, good from evil. It is what He came to show and do, and what He came to provide His children by faith. 

It is also fascinating to me that even as far back as the Genesis creation account, we see light being created before there were any astronomical bodies to contain it. This leads me to believe that one of the primary purposes of spatial heaven is to reflect that quintessential Light of God. David says as much, as well: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalms 19:1, NKJV). There is something about physical light then that is substantially representative of God's glory and radiance and majesty.

Paul also uses that creation of light and darkness to illustrate the same principle. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6, NKJV).

There is nothing more impacting in human interaction than simple, sincere, undiluted godliness. The kindness, for instance, that refers not at all the human giver, but is focused entirely on the recipient. The same is true of unselfish love and care, of generosity, of loyalty, of honesty, of doing what is right with a pure intent, of comfort, of protection, of provision, of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. For one human to bestow any or all of these things on another, without thought of reward or payment of any kind, shines a blazing light into the darkness. I am not speaking of a self-serving, showy display of virtue, but a child-like gentleness of spirit that is both ACTION and INTENT done solely for the unadulterated benefit of someone else, especially someone else in need.

This is what the Lord is referring to in Matthew 5:14-16 above. We blaze into the darkness by displaying His character and love and priorities and righteousness. We are to DO this, not just THINK or TALK about it. The DOING is the shining part. And we are to do it in such a way as to not block out His radiance with our fleshly shadow. Of course, being godly in our own strength is futile. It is impossible. There is nothing intrinsically about us that is good. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:18, NKJV). Yet, I as a believer have within me Christ's Spirit, and that is the true source of whatever radiance I might possess. His light is what I am to shine, and unless I step aside and get out of His way, all that the world will see is me, and that is a sorry sight indeed.

I can't do it, but He can through me. I don't know why, but that is how He wants it, planned it and decrees that it should occur. My part is to surrender and know this: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6, NKJV). That is the way we are to so shine before men, that they may see your [our] works and glorify [our] Father in heaven.

Seasoning or Sidewalk Grit

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matthew 5:13, NKJV).

Seasoning or Sidewalk Grit

Salt is a mineral that purifies, preserves and flavors. It is an essential building block of life, and for all its uses it is as common as clay. It serves as a symbol of a binding covenant because it keeps things in an unchanging state.  But when it becomes diluted or impure it is irretrievably ruined, and is good for none of its original purposes. The only possible recourse is to throw it out to be trampled into the lifeless dirt.

Jesus likens His followers to salt because we, through His Spirit within us, can act as a purifying and preserving agent in a decaying world. We, through our knowledge of the truth, can bring flavor and meaning to an otherwise seemingly random and purposeless existence. But when we allow ourselves to become diluted with the things and cares of this world, we lose our flavor and effectiveness and become no different than the common clay upon which the rest of humanity walks.

Salt, as mentioned, is not rare. It is not valued as a gemstone. It is not hard to procure. It exists in abundance, and has almost never been the cause of strife or warfare. By its very commonness it is often taken for granted, and is usually only noticed by its lack. The flavorlessness of a salt-free diet is notoriously difficult to become accustomed to, and individuals without salt have been known to crave it to the point of distraction or obsession.

With those images in mind, it is easy to see what Jesus is illustrating in this passage. Christians are both common and essential. There are not many mighty or noble or wise, but where the influence of Christ is absent, decay, putrefaction, and meaninglessness abound. This is true in the lives of communities and individuals. One of the most condemning things that could be said about a fellowship of believers is that it is saltless. It is the equivalent of saying that Christ is not there; His Spirit was never resident; God is honored by the lips only, and not the heart of that place or people.

Have you ever eaten sand. The grit gets all in your mouth and between your teeth and crunches unpleasantly and painfully with no taste. That is what it's like to be in the company of professing Christians who say they are His but are not, who make a big outward show of fealty to the Lord but their true center of worship is themselves. Better to be among honest haters than dishonest lovers.

In contrast, life among true followers of Jesus, whose hearts have been regenerated, who have come to the end of themselves and have surrendered to the call to worship the true and living God, that life is flavorful and satisfying. It is like a good solid meal that gratifies and nourishes, that sustains and renews.

Until we become His, we are just dirt, filler, placeholders. Once reborn in Him all that changes and I suspect strongly that from the spiritual perspective each believer in Christ is like a far-reaching gravity well, a perturbation in the fabric of the spiritual realm, a source of disturbance far greater than we might think, drawing others toward us and Him in ways surprising and good. That is why the enemy and the world hates the child of God, that is why the fervent prayer of a righteous one is powerful and effective, that is why one person of faith can change history.

But, to whom much is given, much is required. It is no accident that Jesus teaches here that the choice is stark before us: salt or grit; flavor or refuse; use or uselessness. Our purpose as His followers is to make a difference in this life. To draw people to Jesus so that they can see us and come to know Him.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalms 34:8, NKJV).

This Time It's Personal

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11, 12, NKJV).

This Time It's Personal

The last Beatitude, moves from corporate persecution in verse 10 to personal persecution in verses 11 and 12. Jesus goes from "Blessed are those…" to "Blessed are YOU…", and again hits the theme of harassment for Christ's sake.

When the Lord emphasizes a particular teaching by repetition it makes sense for us, His students, to pay attention. And notice he says "when" not "if" "they revile and persecute".

Christianity has costs. If anyone says to you "Come to Jesus and life will be just swell!" they are not giving you the whole story. In one sense of course, your life will be just swell. Your sin debt is paid, your eternal destiny assured, your inheritance laid up for you in Heaven, but temporally here and now? Not so much. Jesus makes no attempt to conceal the truth about following Him.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30, NKJV).

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20, NKJV).

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV).

I like that about my Lord. He's not interested in making the sale at any price. He ensures that you read the fine print at the bottom of the contract. He repeatedly says, in effect, "Here's the deal, the whole deal. Take it or not."

I know people who have signed on the dotted line in pencil, so to speak. It has not gone well for them. Straddling the fence between this world and the Kingdom of Heaven is necessarily painful. Forsaken in that lack of commitment are both the temporal benefits of Christianity and the temporary pleasures of fleshly sin. Eventually, the straddler WILL come down on one side or the other, either relieved and at peace, or bitter and resentful.

I find a big difference between being unpopular in a group context, and being harassed personally. I hate both, but the personal one is the more unpleasant. All kinds of emotions ensue, and because the laser gun sight is painting my own personal forehead, the impulses to either duck and cover or do some drastic self-defense moves are compelling. Plus, the comforting (and illusional) "safety in numbers" aspect is missing. I also find it singularly distasteful to be "lumped into some group" or to be labelled, or categorized and then singled out because of it. That has never worked out well for me. The "Oh, you're one of those people!" attacks have caused much pain to me one-on-one.

But Jesus promises that is EXACTLY what we should expect from the world. And to personal harassment add reviling (literally to be sucker punched in the teeth), and to reviling add falsely accused, because when you live this life for Christ, you are a natural target. Oh joy!

Actually though, joy is what He mentions next. In response to being mistreated for His sake (His sake mind you, and not because of your own unpleasantness), we are to rejoice!. And not just rejoice, but be "exceedingly glad", not because we are a bunch of metaphysical masochists, but because the world singling us out for Christ's sake is proof that we are truly His and therefore "great is your reward in heaven". This is all part of the contract, as well. If you believe and pay attention to what Jesus says (and that's the whole point, really), then you MUST come to the same conclusion that the Apostle Paul does here:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18, NKJV). 

And here:

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV).

And our examples are "the prophets who were before you." 

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- (Hebrews 11:37, NKJV).

Look, life is hard, and sometimes it is very hard. And often times other people, even people in you own household, make it even harder, still. 

Jesus wants you to know that, but not stop there. As His disciple, this life is not all there is, actually whether His disciple or not, this life is not all there is (say this quietly though, because immortality upsets a lot of modern people), and what you experience during your time here on earth is only a very small part of the story. Jesus offers an iron clad contract and spells out in graphic detail all the provisions and fine print. When viewed rationally, comprehensibly and in good faith, it really is the only sensible deal in town.

Harassed for Heaven's Sake

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10, NKJV).

Harassed for Heaven's Sake

This is one of two Beatitudes regarding persecution, and the second involving the promise of possessing Heaven.

We often think of persecution in regard to what is happening in places where Christianity is an offense and Christians are targets for imprisonment, beatings, property and child confiscation, torture, and even death. These things are common in various and hideous parts of the world today, and even a cursory internet search will yield thousands of results on a daily basis. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ are to pray fervently for those individuals chosen by our Sovereign God to suffer these things for Christ's sake. Martyrdom in the true church is nothing new, and is nonetheless incomprehensibly horrible.

But Christianity is an offense everywhere. And persecution takes many, many forms. The definition of the word translated "persecuted" in Matthew 5:10 includes ANY form of harassment, trouble, molestation, hostility, or discrimination from any source. As such it is a completely accurate description of what Jesus and the New Testament writers all warned that believers in this Fallen, Christ rejecting world will suffer.

Mr 10:30 “who shall... receive… persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

Lu 21:12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons… for My name’s sake.

Jo 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

It is clear that if we Christians are not harassed in some way at some time in this life then we are being too silent about our faith. We are covert disciples either too lazy, too mistrusting of Christ, or too afraid to make our identification with the offense that is Christianity public. Was that harsh? Good, I meant it.

But great care needs to be taken here because I, for one, am personally capable of much offense that has NOTHING to do with my being a follower of Jesus. And I know you are too, simply because you are human and Fallen, and at war with your new nature in Christ. My own obnoxious potential is remarkably high. Ask anyone, especially those who know me best. And note that persecution because of my own offensive behavior is as far from what Jesus is talking about as  participating in a Holy War for material profit. Whatever harassment or hostility comes my way because of my way is probably more or less deserved. But whatever comes for His name's sake is guaranteed to bring reward. That is why our response to persecution is so very important, and our desired reaction is one of the many paradoxes of the Christian walk. So how are we to be when persecuted? (Hold onto your hats.)

Mt 5:12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mt 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Ro 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

These are encouragements to be supernatural; commands that are humanly speaking, impossible and counterintuitive. These are exhortations to be like Christ.

If I am harassed for Heaven's sake, I am to respond like a citizen of Heaven because doing so is proof that I already am. This earth is NOT our home. I am not to behave as a lowly denizen of this planet, giving as good as I get, but as an Ambassador of Christ, giving far better than I get. I can't do this by gritting my teeth and proceeding in my own strength. Sooner or later my resolve will dissipate and I will dive into the pre-Christian muck from which I emerged when I became a believer. But I can do so as a child of God empowered by His Holy Spirit within me, and when I surrender to His impulse and guidance, I will be blessed.

Simple.

Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9, NKJV).

Peacemakers

Lovers or bearers of peace are in view here; those who "give birth to"  and "nurture" peace like a mother gives birth and cares for a newborn.

For all the modern feminist accusations that the Bible is "hopelessly patriarchal and sexist", in reality it is mostly gender-neutral in some very important contexts: man, woman and child are all either "sons" of God, or "sons" of the Adversary. All who are saved are the "bride of Christ". And the Father, who is the "ultimate He", inscribes the name of His children on the palm of His hand in the same way that a mother is unlikely to forget her nursing infant. The Apostle Paul, that preeminent 1st Century missionary and primal church-planter portrays himself as both spiritual father AND mother of those to whom he has bequeathed the gospel. In the church, "[there] is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, NKJV).

Birthers of peace; those children of God who give their all to make and keep peace. They can be mothers or fathers, young children, adolescents, grandparents, or anyone else in Christ who understands that God has declared peace on everyone who accepts forgiveness through His Son. These are the beneficiaries and benefactors of an unconditional surrender (and therefore victory) in the long war against God. And their deep, abiding desire is to spread that peace everywhere.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where interpersonal tensions are approaching meltdown and, unexpectedly, someone says just the right godly thing and resentments and anger evaporate? Or have you ever been involved in a heated argument with a brother or sister in Christ (perhaps a spouse), and have it dissolve suddenly in mutually self-deprecating laughter from both combatants? If so, you were in the presence of blessed peacemakers, "sons of God". It is a unique and supernatural experience, possible only amongst those who have humbled themselves before God.

True peace is a rare and precious commodity in this life. It is very easily counterfeited in the world today through denial, or "la la la" ear-covering, or head-burying, or frenetic distractive activity, but when it comes, that true peace is like a cosmic sigh of relief. It is a peace based on the blessed assurance that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8), and that He never leaves nor forsakes, and that His promises are sure and certain. A child of God by faith can be the ONLY recipient of that kind of peace, and once known and understood, there is a natural God-given desire to share that peace with others as a blessed peacemaker.

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

Purity

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8, NKJV).

Purity

The Biblical definition of purity comes from the Greek word denoting "refined in the fire".  It pictures something inherently impure that, while potentially valuable, cannot be rendered so without extreme external force or energy. As a description of the regenerated human heart it could not be more accurate.

Prior to faith in Christ, the inmost part of our being, our "heart", is filled with dross, dreck, and impurities. It is "dead in trespasses and sins", at "enmity with God", "desperately wicked", a "slave of sin", "fleshly", and bound for "perdition". It cannot be purified unless it is created anew in God, who is a "consuming fire". On his own, a man can do nothing to make himself valuable to God, except this one thing: believe in His Son as Lord and Savior. And even that capacity for faith is a "gift of God" dealt to each one of us by a sovereign act of Divine will.

At that moment of regeneration in the Spirit when a new believer is made alive again in Christ, that stone-hardened heart of sin is made pure, and eternal life is granted in a priceless transaction made possible by the death of God the Son Himself on our behalf. When that happens, Jesus tells us, we are made "children of God", we are "born again" and guaranteed "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places". We become coheirs with Christ, adopted as sons and daughters of God the Father, "from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named".

And here is the thing that makes this amazing chain of events even more incomprehensible for me personally: I will SEE God. "[whom] I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" (Job 19:27, NKJV).

David says: "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." (Psalms 17:15, NKJV).

Ancient Israel, that Chosen People whom God designated to be His special witness, and to receive and guard His word for millennia, longed to see God. But they knew, generation after generation, that such was impossible. "No one can see God and live." To even begin to approach Him, their sinfulness had to COVERED with a sea of innocent animal blood, and then only one man, the High Priest, could enter into His Presence, and that only once yearly.

But now, through faith in Christ, that veil of separation has been lifted. We who are children of God by faith can BOLDLY approach the Throne of Grace, we have perfect access "where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever…" (Hebrews 6:20, NKJV). We can come before the very throne of the Almighty God as beloved children and gaze upon His majesty and worship Him face to face. 

To understand even a glint of what this means should drive us to our knees in gratitude and awe and love. He who made us pure through the fires of His sacrifice invites us into His presence, fulfilling the ancient longing of the human heart to LIVE in the presence of God.

Beyond-words amazing!

Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7, NKJV).

Mercy

When I was a younger man, I thought I wanted to be treated justly. Now I know better. I do not want justice. I want mercy. 

Justice is getting what I deserve. As a student of the Bible I understand what I, a sinner by birth and inclination, deserve: eternal punishment.

Mercy is not receiving the punishment or judgment I have earned. It is, instead, being shown pity, kindness, and goodwill.

Do not get me wrong. I have no problem with justice being served on those who wish me ill, or whom I dislike, or who are egregiously infuriating. I would be lying if I said any different. But personally, mercy is what I crave.

There is so much that is not merciful in this life: time, disease, poverty, violence, evil people, nature. One mistake and you could very well be toast.

Yet that is clearly not what God intended in the beginning before sin entered the world. He took great pains to demonstrate His goodness and kindness from the onset of Creation, bringing into existence all very good things solely for the benefit of His creatures and His good pleasure. But then the universe through Adam rebelled, and all Hell broke loose.

Even so, God did not withhold mercy, though He could not be God and let sin to go unpunished. Rather than pour out His perfect justice on rebellious creatures who deserved it, He poured it out on His Son who most emphatically did not. Jesus, in infinite mercy, gave Himself as payment for our sin on the Cross. And the Father, in immeasurable love for us, and in perfect accord with His Son, made Christ our perfect substitutionary sacrifice. His death took away our sin. Forever.

Now, if I crave mercy, it behooves me to understand how best to receive that mercy, and that's what the focus verse is about. It is a very short, very powerful distillation of a profound spiritual principle. Basically, you reap what you sow. Do you desire mercy? Then be merciful. Simple to understand but hard to do.

I believe it takes a tremendous amount of self-awareness to be merciful. You have to have no illusions about who and what you are and what you are capable of before you can bestow mercy freely on someone else. In that regard, I'm convinced it is easier to show mercy the older you get. You also need to be convinced that whatever you have, talent, money, good health, a nice pet, are gifts from God, as is your very breath. Your life could change for the worse in an instant, so whatever pedestal of self-importance you've managed to perch yourself upon is resting on a foundation of fog.

In this sense, mercy is almost a twin of forgiveness, but it has another aspect that is somewhat impersonal and even more profound, and that's being kind and showing goodwill to someone not because you know them or they've done something to you, but simply because they are miserable and in need. That too is what Jesus is talking about. It's exemplified in His parable about the Good Samaritan, a man who became the benefactor of a complete stranger for no other reason than that stranger was in need. The Samaritan had no ulterior motives, and no expectation of reward, and lavished kindness anyway.

This is exactly what God has done for us, His children. We are desperately miserable and bound for death; rebels without a cause. In His infinite kindness He showed us the ultimate mercy, sending His Son as our Savior without whom we have no hope of escape from our helpless condition. He did so not because He expected anything in return, but as one of the manifold expressions of His lovingkindness. We are to do the same.

Ardent Craving; Painful Desire

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6, NKJV).

Radical Living - Part 006: Ardent Craving; Painful Desire

The Lord's word choice in this beatitude is interesting. It follows His characteristic pattern in these passages of counterintuitive blessing followed by ultimate reward.  It is a divine promise of fulfillment (literally, BEING FATTENED) for those who CRAVE and are PAINFULLY THIRSTY for righteousness. These are powerful emblems of fundamental desires patterned after undeniable bodily needs. It is a picture of fervent, steadfast longing, not squishy middle-of-the-road fondness. It is a willful, decisive commitment to justice and right behavior; the virtual antithesis of so-called "situational ethics".

The reward for such desire: fulfillment. I can barely imagine what it will be like to live in such an environment. No fear is the first thing that comes to mind. Why should there be?  No one would be looking to exploit or manipulate or harm anyone else. Peace and safety will naturally follow. Why? Because righteousness precludes being weak or compromising. If justice prevails, there is no incentive for injustice. If unrighteousness is consistently and fairly punished, with nothing unfair being left unresolved, then no one would have to worry about self-protection or "wagon-circling." These mind pictures are very foreign to me; like I said, I can hardly conceive of these things in real life because they are the opposite of my experience and expectations.

Today, however, the very word, righteousness, has been painted with negative connotations by a society and and culture that thrives on lack of personal responsibility and encourages victimhood. Hollywood and the liberal media portray anyone who takes an unmistakable stand for "old-fashioned" virtues as psychopaths or misanthropes, when the exact opposite is true. The "popular and kewl" viewpoint is so far removed from actual reality, it would be funny if it weren't so destructive.

All of this is no surprise to Jesus, of course.  Everything in his mountain discourse anticipates and is applicable to the increasing lawlessness of modern life, and while legislative bodies throughout the world attempt to impose various views of right and wrong, the attempt is, and will be, futile until a change of human heart occurs. And when that happens their will be no need of mere human regulation, but all will live according to the perfect Law of Liberty in Christ.

I, for one, can't wait. But in the meantime, my heart's desire is to cultivate that ardent craving and painful desire for righteousness, and to instill the same in my precious children, who will, in turn, instill the same in their children, and so on until the Lord returns.

One final thought, righteousness INCLUDES mercy and forgiveness. It must, especially in the life of a Christian, because the Son of God paid the price for our sin on the Cross so that God is both "just, and the justifier" of those who believe in Jesus. While unrighteousness has its temporal consequences, its stain in the life of a believer has been forever washed clean. It is therefore right that love and grace be an integral part of our steadfast longing for "Kingdom Life".

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23, NKJV).