Day 243: Matthew 5-7; Luke 6:20-49; 11:1-13

The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most well-known and most studied section of the Bible. It seems to capture in a few chapters the essence of Jesus' moral and ethical teaching. It's been praised as one of the highest standards of moral conduct. I suppose if you're a "fan" of Jesus you could read these chapters and say "Amen!"..."Great sermon!"...Preach it!" But I have to say that, as a "follower" I don't really enjoy reading this sermon.

Don't get me wrong, it's a truly revolutionary teaching. I still remember the day that Ralph Shead (a college classmate of mine) preached his senior sermon in chapel. His sermon was simply preaching verbatim Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He didn't read it...he preached it...word for word...as he thought Jesus would have. It was extremely powerful.

But to be honest, the teaching in this sermon is quite intimidating. I could probably spend a lot of time and words on my reactions to virtually every sentence...but I'm going to react to just a few.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:46-48)

I don't know about you...but I find this somewhat challenging. Ok...let me be honest...I find this impossible to live out. Luke also records the Sermon in a very abbreviated form and this is one of the sections he chose to include...probably because he found it so astonishing. That last bit about being perfect reads a little different in Luke...and sounds perhaps slightly more attainable. He says:

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

But still. That's a tall order. One that I honestly don't think I'll ever be able to do.


Here's another hard teaching in this sermon:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

See what I mean? I can't say that I really enjoy reading this sermon. It's too hard. It's too convicting.


But here's the thing...Jesus expects us to live this way. It's not some lofty standard to study and admire...it's the practical day-to-day life he expects his followers to live out...

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Hear these words of mine...and put them into practice!

I mean it when I say I can't do it. It's impossible.

I'm gonna need help.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thank God for grace.