Beatitudes

By Sevil Kuzmanovska

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

The book of Matthew chapter 5 (The sermon on the Mount) is about the Kingdom, the life and actions of those in it and true righteousness. It emphasizes the importance of the inner character over outward actions and personal growth by following the Lord’s instruction and teaching. Believers are called to be salt and light which means they are invited to have a secret prayer and devotional life in the presence of the Lord and an outstanding radical life in the public. 

In the sermon on the mount, the audience were the disciples, the unloved and outcast of society, people who were thirsty for justice and change and the Pharisees and Sadducees who intended to accuse and arrest the Lord. Jesus demonstrated that the shallow interpretation of the Law was insufficient and that every inclination of the human heart is to sin and that man is not able to achieve perfection except only by the spirit of God and the willingness to surrender to the Creator. 

The Lord knows that we are all broken vessels and are not able to contain His glory except by the power of His Holy Spirit. Through Christ dwelling in us we will be able to confront the anger, lust and extend love and inclusion towards our enemies. 

In Matthew 5:11 the Lord calls us blessed if our persecutors hate or say all kinds of evil against us. In Romans 12:20 it says that we should not only pray for our enemies but If our enemy is hungry to feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing we will become a perfect representation of a Perfect God on earth.

This kind of obedience requires utter humility and self-denial as we are instructed to walk the extra mile, to turn our cheek and to show kindness to the unkind. The Lord is the one who exposes evil and shows mercy towards the unjust. We should not only be the hearers of the word but also the doers (James 1:23). If we only extend hospitality and friendship to those who share the same values as us and disassociate with the non-familiar, according to Mathew 5:47, we will not have any reward but will be called traitors (tax collector).

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves, each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” -Philippians 2:3

May we live and walk with the Lord to be more like Him and may our hearts reflect His character so to be called the sons and daughters of the living God.

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How missional love prepares us for the return of Christ