“According
to Matthew”
A study of the Gospel of
Matthew
Part 6: Mountain Top
Sermon
In
this section we take our first look at the preaching of Jesus. A
Mountaintop Sermon.’. The sermon we have in both Matthew and Luke
appears to be edited highlights rather than a blow by blow report.
Luke places some of the sections in different contexts and later in
timeline of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew places them all together
in an extended section of teaching that both outlines principles and
offers examples of how those teachings work out. We begin where
Matthew 5 begins; verses 1 & 2.
“Now
when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to Him, 2
and He began to teach them…”
There
are hints in the text of the importance of this teaching. Firstly,
Jesus delivers the sermon from a high place. It’s a mountaintop
event. Locations are significant to Matthew.
Secondly,
Jesus sits down. Rabbis traditionally would stand to teach, only
sitting to deliver words of particular importance. His disciples are
pictured as seeing Him sit down and then gathering around Him to
expectantly wait for His words.
Thirdly,
the phrase ‘began to teach’ (translated in the King James Version
“He opened His
mouth, and taught them”)
carries the sense of this being a serious utterance. The Greek word
for used here for mouth ‘stoma’ can also be translated as ‘the
edge of the sword’. Metaphorically speaking this is cutting edge
teaching.
In
verses 3-12 each statement is preceded by the word ‘Blessed’,
sometimes translated as ‘Happy’. In Greek ‘makarios’
does not translate easily. There is no verb in the original. It’s
all in the present tense. “You’re blessed when so and so happens
because it means that you have….”
If you
browse different translations and commentaries on this section of
Matthew you will quickly become aware that these statements have many
layers of meaning and that there are numerous suggested ways of
interpreting them. For myself I have found the biblical versions of
J.B. Phillips and Eugene Petersen’s ‘The Message’ particularly
helpful.
The
way I’m suggesting we look at the sermon is to place different
versions alongside each other, whilst also stating an opposite
viewpoint.
So
here goes!
Matthew
5:3 “Blessed are
the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
NIV
Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
J.B
Phillips How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven
is theirs!
Opposite!
Happy are the self possessed, for they do not need a god
The
Message You're blessed
when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more
of God and His rule.
There
is nothing particularly enabling about poverty. In its most extreme
forms it cheapens life, destroys relationships and turns daily life
into a struggle for mere existence. The word used here is ‘ptochos’
and indicates not simply physical poverty but any form of need. Some
translations, such as ‘New Living Translation’ use the word
‘needy’ ("God
blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him”)
In the
Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, recognizing ones situation
of poverty is seen as a doorway into receiving comfort from God. For
example Psalm 40:17: ‘As
for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You
are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.’
To
quote the New International Bible Commentary ‘From
the time of the composition of the Psalms, “the poor” had been
understood as a characterization of the true people of God, those who
know their lives are not in their own control and that they are
dependent on God. “Poor in spirit” makes this explicit. Persons
who are pronounced blessed are not those who claim a robust ego and
strong sense of self-worth, but those whose only identity and
security is in God.’
A
translation produced in 2006, the ‘MIT’
‘The Idiomatic Translation of the New Testament’ brings out this
meaning; ‘Blessed
are those not full of themselves, for the kingdom of heaven is
theirs’. J.B
Phillips, as we see above, links ‘poverty of spirit’ to humility:
“How
happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs!
Although
we have welcomed Jesus as King, it is only now that we begin to see
that the values of His Kingdom are not what people expected! His
Kingdom is one where everything is turned upside-down and inside out.
His values, just like His life as a King, are in sharp contrast to
those of the world.
The
entrance to this Kingdom comes through acknowledgment of need. The
way of the world, as we have stated in the opposite view, seems to be
“Happy are the self possessed, for they do not need a god”.
Today
religion is often pictured as a crutch or as a weakness. To admit
that we can’t ‘know it all’ and ‘do it all ‘and ‘have it
all’ and ‘be it all’ is beyond what some people, in their
pride, are willing to acknowledge. They have no room for the reign of
God because they believe they alone are the masters of their own
destiny.
It is
only as we realize our need that God’s Kingdom finds an entrance
into our lives. Sometimes that only happens when we go through the
hard times and all our usual protections and defenses are down. Which
is why Eugene Petersen’s version of the first beatitude captures it
so well: “You're
blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there
is more of God and His rule.” (The Message)
Matthew
5:4 “Blessed are
they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.”
NIV
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
J.B
Phillips How happy are those who know what sorrow means for they
will be given courage and comfort!
Opposite!
Happy are those who seek only pleasure, for they can always escape
reality
The
Message You're
blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then
can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
As
with poverty, mourning, in and of itself, is a horrible place to be.
It hurts. It eats at your soul, causes you to lose sleep and even
question the existence of a loving God. To describe the whole
grieving process of denial, anger and emptiness as a ‘happy’ or
‘blessed’ time in our lives would be nonsense.
However,
in Biblical literature (though we seldom go to these particular
passages) there is a strong and deep tradition of lament. There’s
even a whole book on the Old Testament called ‘Lamentations’ in
which the author writes from exile of the despair felt by the
community seeing their nation devastated, the temple destroyed and
Jerusalem laid waste.
Lamentations
offers no explanation for suffering nor suggests that it is possible
to come up with a program to eliminate it, but rather insists that
God enters into our suffering as a companion to help us and sustain
us. In the midst of Lamentations declaration of hopelessness we also
find passages that shine as rays of light through darkened clouds,
for example:
Lamentations 3:25-33 (NIV)
25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks
him; 26
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27
It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. 28
Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. 29
Let him bury his face in the dust-- there may yet be hope. 30
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be
filled with disgrace. 31
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his
unfailing love. 33
For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children
of men.
Passages
such as this resonate with J.B Phillips words: “How
happy are those who know what sorrow means for they will be given
courage and comfort!”
The alternative to mourning is not rejoicing, but being in denial.
Within Christianity there have been those who teach that we are to
rejoice in whatever comes our way as being a blessing and all part of
God’s will. I just don’t buy it! The Bible tells us in its
shortest verse that in His grief over the loss of Lazarus, “Jesus
wept” (John 11:35)
The
psychological damage that can be done by living in denial that life
has a side that can be painful, destructive and terrifying seems
obvious. People are hurting throughout all levels of society and
rather than lament or mourn turn to every kind of escapist activity.
Addictions to Drink, Drugs, Promiscuity, Gambling… these are the
obvious tip of the iceberg. The reverse of this beatitude is “Happy
are those who seek only pleasure, for they can always escape
reality”.
The
tragedy of escaping from the pain is that it leads us to head in the
opposite direction from the One that can really help us through. As
with the previous teaching it is only when we acknowledge we are
hurting and need help that we can be embraced by the love of God.
Again the Message captures this notion, the notion expressed in the
biblical passages of lament, “You're
blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then
can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”
(The Message)
Matthew
5:5 “Blessed are
the meek: for they
shall inherit the earth.”
NIV
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
J.B
Phillips Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will
belong to them!
Opposite!
Happy are the important, for they are so very special to themselves
The
Message You're
blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that
can't be bought.
In the
very satirical movie Monty Pythons ‘The Life of Brian’ a crowd
are pictured listening to Jesus preach. Way at the back are a group
not hearing everything. A spectator comments “Hear that, blessed
are the Greek!” Another comments ‘The Greek?’ ‘Yes
apparently” he replies “He’s going to inherit all the earth!”
“No” pipes up a nearby woman, “It's the meek! Blessed are the
meek! Oh, that's nice, innit? I'm glad they're getting something
because normally they have a hell of a time.”
The
popular view of meekness is that of a meek person being someone who
has become a doormat allowing everybody to walk all over them whilst
they in their shyness do nothing about it!
The
biblical view is that the meek are those who trust in God’s
goodness and control in any given situation. Meekness is seen as the
opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. Thus J.B Phillips
writes: ‘Happy
are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to
them!’
The
corresponding negative view then becomes ‘Happy
are the important, for they are so very special to themselves’.
Biblical meekness is
about accepting our limitations, that we can’t save the world
single-handed and that we need each other. When this verse speaks of
inheriting the earth, the focus is not the physical world but the
world of relationships where love can flourish and life can be truly
enriched.
Again
the Message catches this nuance as we read “You're
blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that
can't be bought.”
Matthew
5:6 Blessed are
they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
NIV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
will be filled.
J.B
Phillips Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for goodness,
for they will be fully satisfied!
Opposite!
Happy are the
easily satisfied for they always find an excuse for their inactivity.
The
Message You're
blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and
drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
Righteousness is an important concept
for Matthew. It means actively pursuing the will of God. People who
hunger and thirst for righteousness are not those who merely long to
be personally pious or idealistic dreamers or do-gooders, but they
are persons who are working to make things right with the world
around them. The thing about hunger and thirst is that you don’t
give up on them. Until they are satisfied you remain hungry and
thirsty. So J.B. Phillips has it: ‘Happy are those who are
hungry and thirsty for goodness, for they will be fully satisfied!’
The reverse of this beatitude would be
along the lines of ‘Happy
are the easily satisfied for they always find an excuse for their
inactivity.’ Or as one
cynic has commented ‘Those who aim at nothing usually achieve it”.
It
feels good when you are part of something that is making a
difference. It gives life shape and meaning and purpose. For the
Christian there is no greater good than doing the will of God. In
Matthew’s gospel that means bringing the reign of God’s kingdom
to rule in the affairs of humankind.
William
Barclay points out that ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness’
means “give us the whole deal”. That it is not just “Give me a
nibble of the crust to satisfy my cravings’, but “Give me the
whole loaf of bread so I can prepare a feast’.
His
point is that this hunger and thirst is a whole hearted commitment to
seeing that right is done and the things of God take center stage.
It’s a “Seek ye first
the Kingdom of God and then all these things shall be added unto you’
type of quest. (Matthew 6:7)
The
Message has it; “You're
blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and
drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.”
Matthew
5:7 Blessed are
the merciful: for
they shall obtain mercy.
NIV
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
J.B
Phillips Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to
them!
Opposite!
Happy are those able to take care of themselves, for they don’t
need anyone else
The
Message You're
blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find
yourselves cared for.
In the
Lord’s prayer we use the phrase, “Forgive us our debts as we
forgive our debtors”. We acknowledge that the path of discovering
forgiveness for ourselves is closely related to our ability to
forgive others. When we carry hateful attitudes they prevent us from
truly loving. So in this verse there is a relationship established
between ourselves being shown mercy, and the mercy we show to others.
What
is mercy? Partly looking unto others interests as much as our own.
Thus it’s negative would be ‘Happy
are those able to take care of themselves, for they don’t need
anyone else’. Mercy
builds community, encourages forgiveness and renewal, opens doors of
possibility in the face of failure and breaks the cycle of revenge
and payback. There’s almost a karma-like aspect to mercy. You give
it out and it comes back at you. The Message transliteration: “You're
blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find
yourselves cared for.”
Matthew
5:8 Blessed are
the pure in heart:
for they shall see God.
NIV
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
J.B
Phillips Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God!
Opposite! Happy
are the broad-minded for they never do anything wrong in their own
eyes.
The
Message You're
blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put
right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
A
re-occurring theme in Jesus teaching is that it’s hard to put the
world outside you to rights if there are things wrong on the inside.
That out of our ‘heart’ (our spiritual center) flow actions for
right and wrong. The first
and greatest commandment
remains 'Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.'
(Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)
When
evangelists encourage people to ask ‘Jesus into their hearts’
they are inviting them to place Christ’s presence and teaching at
the center of all they do. The earliest Christian confession, “Jesus
is Lord” implies a person focussed upon seeking to live under the
guidance and reign of the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ.
They have a particular aim and purpose in mind. They are single
minded, not double-minded.
The
opposite of course is having no particular focus or aim in mind. The
opposite would be “Happy
are the broad-minded for they never do anything wrong in their own
eyes. If the only arbiter
of our actions is our own standards then we can get pretty close (as
long as we keep then low).
Better the advice Jesus
offers. “You're
blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put
right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”
Matthew
5:9 Blessed are
the peacemakers: for
they shall be called the children of God.
NIV
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
J.B
Phillips Happy are those who make peace, for they will be sons of
God!
Opposite!
Happy are the aggressive because no-one can get close to them.
The
Message You're
blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete
or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place
in God's family.
J.B
Phillips makes it clear that making peace is an activity that we have
to pursue. ‘Happy
are those who make peace, for they will be sons of God!’ This
places peacemaking within the context of seeking to be a community.
We are not talking here about an individual quest to find inner
solitude but the work of a community seeking to recognize each other
as fellow children of God. The antithesis of this verse would be
along the lines: “Happy
are the aggressive because no one can get close to them.’
Peacemaking
requires an aptitude for hearing other points of view than your own
and the ability to walk in another person’s shoes. Scripture speaks
of the Church as the body of Christ and how we all have different
roles within that body. Although we all have different functions we
are all equally valued by God as God’s much loved children. None
of us has significance beyond that of any of the others! We are
called to work together, to get along, to work out our differences in
such a way as those outside our community even say, “See how these
Christians love one another”.
The
Message transliterates this verse “You're
blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete
or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place
in God's family”.
We
reach our final phrase in the first part of the sermon:
Matthew
5:10 Blessed are
they which are
persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
NIV
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
J.B
Phillips Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the cause
of goodness, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs!
Opposite!
Happy are the adaptable for they never have to take a stand for
anything.
The
Message You're
blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The
persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
The
early church, just like Jesus Himself, faced persecution. In the face
of strong opposition the temptation is to back down and deny what we
believe. Matthew will later illustrate how much of a temptation this
is to the most faithful disciples, by giving us the example of
Peter’s denials following Christ’s crucifixion.
The
opposite of making a stand for our faith is to so water down what we
believe that it becomes meaningless. Hence our opposite view would be
‘Happy are the adaptable
for they never have to take a stand for anything.’
Not
many of us go out looking for conflict. But there are situations when
what we believe will be in conflict with the way of the world. One
thinks of the battles that took place within both the church and the
nation in regard to the abolition of slavery. Or of Martin Luther’s
confrontation with the Roman Church as he declared “Here I stand”.
Or Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s stand against Hitler in the Second World
War that led to his imprisonment and eventual execution.
In his
book ‘The
Cost of Discipleship’
Bonhoeffer writes “Discipleship
means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is not at all
surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer. In fact
it is a joy and token of His grace. The acts of early Christian
martyrs are full of evidence which shows how Christ transfigures for
His own the hour of their mortal agony by granting them the
unspeakable assurance of His presence. In the hour of the cruelest
torture they bear for His sake, they are made partakers in the
perfect joy and bliss of fellowship with Him. To bear the Cross
proves to be the only way of triumphing over suffering. This is true
for all who follow Christ, because it was true for Him”
(Chapter 4 : para 10)
Let us
conclude this session with ‘The Message’, verses 10-12
‘You're
blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The
persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only
that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or
throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means
is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are
uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer,
even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.
And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have
always gotten into this kind of trouble.’
Next
Time: Even More Mountain Top Sermon-ing