What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued:] "You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

—Matthew 5:14-16 NLT

Key Thought​

One of the great things about camping out in the country is that you can get away from the...

 

[After saying that he came to accomplish the purpose of the law of Moses, Jesus continued:] "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved."

—Matthew 5:18 NLT

Key Thought​

The intent of Jesus' teaching is to shift the focus away from just an appearance of adherence of the law and rivet our attention on the heart of the Lawgiver, God. The validity of the law's truth is enduring down...

 

[Jesus continued:] "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose."

—Matthew 5:17 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' statement is shocking! To the devoted Jewish believer, nothing was more sacred than the law of Moses. But Jesus came and said he was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. In other words, he was claiming that the goal of Scripture is found in him. This incredibly...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."

—Matthew 5:13 NLT

Key Thought​

How does salt become "unsalty"? That's a logical question for folks who get their salt out of saltshakers and primarily use it for seasoning. In Jesus' day, salt was also an essential preservative. If salt were to lose its saltiness, then it would be good only...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
"God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way."


—Matthew 5:10-12 NLT

Key Thought​

You mean we are really blessed by being...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God."

—Matthew 5:9 NLT

Key Thought​

"Wage Peace." That's a fairly popular bumper sticker around our neck of the woods. At first, it may sound similar to the old Hippie song, "All we are saying is give peace a chance." However, deep in our hearts, we know there is a tremendous difference between being a peace-lover and a peacemaker. Peace-lovers like the calm and security and...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God."

—Matthew 5:8 NLT

Key Thought​

"Purer in heart, O God, help me to be ..." That's a powerful line of Fannie Davison's old hymn. Being pure in heart is also an amazingly pervasive theme in Scripture, whether articulated by the prophets, the psalmists, the wisdom teachers, Jesus, or the apostles. A clean heart is a signal of God's coming new age and is mandatory for true, authentic worship. Much of...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy."

—Matthew 5:7 NLT

Key Thought​

God treats us much, much better than we deserve. That fundamental, undergirding spiritual truth is the reality of grace. He has seen us in our sin and had mercy on us because of his great love for us (see Romans 5:6-11). Even though we have repeatedly proved unfaithful and undependable, both individually and as a group, God has been gracious and merciful. He has...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied."

—Matthew 5:6 NLT

Key Thought​

Other translations use the wording, "hunger and thirst for righteousness," where this translation refers to those who "hunger and thirst for justice."* Except for a voluntary fast, most of us who spend our time on the internet don't know what it's like to be really hungry. But nearly all of us, at one time or another, have been very...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth."

—Matthew 5:5 NLT

Key Thought​

Everything in our culture and experience says the meek and the humble will get run over and will be targets for bullies. But God says these are the very ones to receive the earth as an inheritance. Why? Because their strength comes from their dependence on God and not on worldly power, an accumulation of possessions, or unleashed violence. They don't try...