A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Six

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-20 (NRSVUE)

This is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount which goes through chapter seven.  Matthew provides this material of Jesus' teaching that isn't found in Mark (which Matthew is patterned after).  Luke has similar (but shorter) material in the Sermon on the Plain contained in 6:17-49. 

As we begin with the Beatitudes, we begin to see a teaching that varies from the common wisdom of the day.  

Common wisdom believed that God rewarded the faithful within this lifetime through easily identifiable blessings such as long-life, general good health, many children, and plenty of food and resources.  Accidents didn't just occur but were rather judgments on a person for something bad they had done.  

The Hebrew Bible has many verses from Proverbs and other places that seem to favor this view.  But it also contains other wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes or Job as well as many of the prophets that challenge the simplicity of this theology.  Jesus seems to be shaped more by the latter than the former.

As Christians, we are called to a more complex faith.  We are called to humility and compassion through the Beatitudes.  And we understand that through the lens of Christ, we find the scriptures fulfilled.  

Which one is blessed?

We see the term righteousness used three times within today's reading.  As we remember from chapter one, the idea of being righteous would have referred to being a parent or advocate for the outsider or person in need.  To be righteous means that one doesn't observe a poor person and declare, "You must have done something awful to deserve this!  Who am I to go against God's judgment by helping you?"

This isn't meek, merciful or pure in heart.  

Rather, a righteous person would seek to help.  Evidently, Jesus observed scribes and Pharisees with the more simplistic theology because he says that our righteousness must exceed theirs.

To be blessed, we must hunger and thirst for things to be set right for all people.  We must be willing to endure persecution for it.  

Where do we see these values being exemplified today?  If they seem in short supply, how might we be called to live them out as an example of good news for the world?  Today, I would invite you to pick one of the Beatitudes and periodically pray on it that you might understand it for your life and reflect it in your actions.

Prayer for the day:

Vulnerable God,
you challenge the powers that rule this world
though the needy, the compassionate,
and those who are filled with longing.
Make us hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
and single-minded in seeking peace;
that we may see your face
and be satisfied in you,
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer by Janet Morley, England, 20th Century

Photo by Thomas Ricker via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.