January 5: Matthew 5
Look up!
In Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” he takes what man sees and interprets on the horizontal, human level, and then calls us to look up and see the same thing as God sees it.
In this life, the poor in spirit are, well, poor in spirit, and that’s it (3). But Jesus says God will exalt such ones His own kingdom. God will comfort those who mourn (4). The meek - like Moses - will inherit not just the Promised Land, but the whole earth (5). Even the pain of persecution is transformed: when they revile you for Christ’s name (11), go around the corner and dance a little jig (12), for you resemble God’s own Son.
The vertical perspective transforms everything. Man in his human courts judges murder as bad (21). But in fact the heart of murder - anger - is just as problematic, because the courts of heaven will judge it (22a), We are “liable to judgment” in both courts. In other words, our situation is worse than we thought. If you slander someone (22b), human courts can find you liable. But think vertically: the courts of heaven can find you liable to hell for less (22c).
In many ways, on a number of subjects, again and again Jesus calls us to see our world from the perspective of a holy, holy, holy God (20), who calls us to His own righteousness.
But take another look at this chapter, and ask yourself “Why?” What is our motive for obedience according to Jesus? It is not just that we might escape judgment. It is also that we might receive reward. “Blessed are . . . Blessed are . . . Blessed are . . .” Jesus wants us to experience blessing. Jesus wants us to experience all the privilege and pleasure that He knows, as the Son of God (45). He wants to receive “reward” from the Father (46).
This is not “health and wealth”, prosperity gospel. Yet Jesus clearly commands us to live for reward - the reward that God grants to those who live with a vertical perspective. That reward will still be all of gracel; we will not feel as though we earned it. It’s the reward of faith, from looking up to a generous God and believing that He exists, and that he rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
So look up, Jesus says. Whatever you are experiencing today, look up. Look at it with God’s eyes. And you will see it in a different light, and all its jagged angles and shadows you will change. You will wonder if you’ve ever seen it before. And by that faith, you will overcome.