Those who put their trust and hope in Jesus will find that, day by day, their walk with Him will become closer and less in the world.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, is one of the most misunderstood messages that He gave. Some believe that it summarizes God’s plan of salvation, that those desiring to be in heaven must obey the rules. Others believe it has no significance today, but that it will apply at some future time during religious trial and persecution.
The key is found in verse 20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The theme is righteousness.
The Pharisees taught a superficial, external righteousness based on law, but Jesus described a righteousness that comes from within, in the heart. Where the Pharisees were so concerned about minute details of conduct, tithing, fasting, and presenting themselves in holy robes, they neglected the major issues of character.
The lessons that Jesus taught to His followers and recorded in the Gospels were foreign to the rules they had come to believe necessary to be saved.
In the Beatitudes and the pictures of the believer, if you do not fix the inside, it does not matter what you do to the outside; it is not going to work. The crowd’s attention was fixed upon Jesus as He spoke the first word: “Blessed” Matthew 5:3. This was a powerful word to those who heard that day, one they had never heard from the Pharisees. To them it meant divine joy and perfect happiness. It was not a word used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. Jesus presented to them a message that would enter their hearts.
There are four attitudes described in Matthew 5 that are common among men and women today.
-
Attitude toward self
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Verse 3. To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of self.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. It is not for anyone to consider himself any better than others, as all are equal in God’s sight. Jesus died for all. Attitude makes the difference; we must look at others with the sympathy and love with which God sees us. This does not mean to be without a backbone or have false humility saying, “I am not worth anything!” To be “poor in spirit” exhibits honesty and acceptance of self, putting into practice the best of one’s ability to the glory of God without self-praise and self-assertion that is common in the world.
-
Attitude toward sin
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Verses 4–6.
Meekness is not weakness, for both Moses and Jesus were meek men. The word translated “meek” was used by the Greeks to describe a horse that had been broken. It refers to power under control.
In Numbers 12:3 describing Moses, it says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses surrendered his faculties to God, which enabled him to complete the assignments that God gave him. We also can become conquers over our own problems by surrendering our powers to God.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29. This is the rest and contentment that Jesus had as He surrendered totally to His Father. This is available to all today. We struggle with the righteousness issue because we are not able to totally surrender. We mourn over our sins and think we need to have some control, but rest comes only after total submission and being under the control of God.
While the Pharisees claimed to be defenders of the law of Moses, they forced people to comply with those laws, demonstrating that they did not reflect the character of Jesus.
-
Attitude toward the Lord
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:7–9. We experience God’s mercy when we trust Christ. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:4–9.
In very simple words that means that no matter how hard you try you will not achieve righteousness. No matter how hard you work or how dedicated you are to work, or how much you volunteer for work, you just do not have what it takes and never will—only Jesus has it. It is only through Him that we can reach that righteousness. It is only through Jesus Christ and Him in us that we can do anything. His righteousness is a free gift, His life in us. It is through Christ that we attain to eternal life.
-
Attitude toward the world
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:10–14.
Sadly, this experience is often repeated in our church today. Many say, How dare these people come in here to worship; he is a tax collector. I am better; I fast twice a week; I pay tithe; I pray; what are they doing here? This is an attitude problem. In the story it was the man who humbled himself who went home justified, rejoicing with peace in his heart.
All need the infilling of Christ in the heart to have peace. It is in Christ that all become equal.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10–16.
It is not easy to be a dedicated Christian. Our society is not friendly to Christianity. If it is not friendly to God, it will not be friendly to God’s people either. There is a conflict between the principles of Christianity and the world—conflicting attitudes.
The amusements and fashions of the world do not reflect Christ’s righteousness. There is no Christianity in these things. As your plans for each day are consecrated to God to be carried out or given up as His providence indicates, your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. [See Steps to Christ, 70.] The Beatitudes represent an outlook radically different from that presented by the world. The world praises pride and not humility. Where the world endorses sin, especially if you can “get away with it,” God seeks to reconcile His enemies and make them His children. The world is at war with God so it must be expected that those living godly will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12). But be sure that suffering is not due to personal foolishness or disobedience.
We are told: “All who serve God with purity of soul will know that He is jealous that His honor should be preserved. Many of the most glorious revelations recorded in the Bible were made by the Lord in the darkest days of the church’s history. The Lord has given these revelations of His glory in order that men may be deeply impressed regarding the sacredness of His service. Impressions have been made that should bear with solemn force on the mind, showing that God is God, and that He has not lost His glory. He requires the utmost fidelity in His service today. The impression must be left on human minds that the Lord God is holy, and that He will vindicate His glory.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1160.
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33.
Note, seek first the kingdom of heaven and righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus, will be provided. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn righteousness; we simply do not have what it takes to gain righteousness.
“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7.
“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:25.
This instruction applies to you and me. We need to be willing to submit to Him. We must be willing to give all to Jesus in order to receive His righteousness. We have none of our own.
Christ’s righteousness, the wedding garment (Matthew 22:11, 12), the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), is the covering necessary to inherit the mansions that Christ is preparing in heaven. He went to prepare a place for us, and when He comes again He has promised to take us home with Him.
The indwelling of Christ transforms sinful man into humble, obedient and faithful people.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17–20.
In the law of Moses, God revealed His standard for holy living. The Pharisees defended it and sought to obey it, but Jesus said that the true righteousness that pleases God must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. To the common people, the scribes and Pharisees were the holiest men in the community! If they had not attained, what hope was there for anybody else?
Jesus made it clear that He had come to honor the law and help God’s people to love it, learn it, and live it but He would not accept the artificial righteousness of the religious leaders that was merely an external masquerade. Their religion was a dead ritual, not a living relationship. It was artificial and did not reproduce itself in others in a living way but promoted pride instead of humility and led to bondage instead of liberty.
We can fulfill the Law by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in our lives. The Holy Spirit enables us to daily experience the “righteousness of the law.” This does not mean we live sinlessly perfect lives, but it does mean that Christ lives out His life through us by the power of His Spirit (Galatians 2:20).
Within the Beatitudes, we see the perfect character of Jesus Christ. While Jesus never had to mourn over His own sins, He was still a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3. He never had to hunger and thirst after righteousness since He was the holy Son of God, but He did delight in the Father’s will and find His satisfaction in doing it (John 4:34). The only way we can experience the righteousness of the Beatitudes is through the power of Christ.
How do we get victory? By allowing Jesus to purify the desires of the heart and bring into subjection the actions of the body. “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:30.
Obviously, this is not talking about literal surgery; for this would not solve the problem in the heart. Concerning sin, the eye and the hand are usually the two “culprits.” Jesus said, “Deal immediately and decisively with sin! Don’t taper off—cut off!” Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery, for the sins of the body can lead to eternal judgment. We think of passages like, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Colossians 3:5, 6.
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:13.
We are never to retaliate. Jesus replaced a law with an attitude: be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer. Of course, He applied this to personal insults, not to groups or nations. The person who retaliates only makes himself and the offender feel worse; and the result is a settled war and not peace.
In order to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), we must stay where we are and not run away. This demands both faith and love. It also means that we will be hurt, but it is better to be hurt on the outside than to be harmed on the inside. It further means that we should try to help the sinner. We are vulnerable, because he may attack us anew; but we are also victorious, because Jesus is on our side, helping us and building our characters. Psychologists tell us that violence is born of weakness, not strength. It is the strong man who can love and suffer hurt; it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others; then runs away to protect himself.
We are to love our enemies. Nowhere did the law teach hatred for one’s enemies. Passages like Exodus 23:4, 5 indicate just the opposite! Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, hate us, and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. Praying for our enemies makes it easier to love them. It takes the “poison” out of our attitude.
There are several reasons given for Jesus’ admonition:
This love is a mark of maturity, proving that we are sons of the Father, and not just little children.
It is Godlike. The Father shares His good things with those who oppose Him. Matthew 5:45 suggests that our love “creates a climate” of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends so graciously.
It is a testimony to others. “What do ye more than others” (Matthew 5:47)? is a good question. God expects us to live on a much higher plane than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. As Christians, we must return good for evil as an investment of love. We must remember that God is holy and we must do all we can to preserve His glory.
We rob ourselves of today’s joys when we worry about tomorrow. Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today. If anything, it robs us of our effectiveness today—which means we will be even less effective tomorrow. Someone has said that the average person is crucifying himself between two thieves: the regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow. It is right to plan for the future and even to save for the future. In II Corinthians 12:14 it states, “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” There is also counsel in 1 Timothy 5:8, which says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” It is a sin to worry about the future and permit tomorrow to rob today of its blessings.
There are three things that point the way to victory:
Having faith in God to meet our needs. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30.
Trust in our heavenly Father, knowing that He cares for His children. “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:32.
Putting God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. We must put God’s will first in our lives so that He might be glorified. If we have faith in our Father and put Him first, He will meet our needs.
All hypocrisy and anxiety must be put away. Hypocrisy and anxiety are sins. If we practice the true righteousness of the kingdom, we will avoid these sins and everything that goes against God’s word and allow the righteousness of Christ to be totally reproduced in us. The Lord said that without Him, no one can see the Father.
The number one priority in life is to have the righteousness of Christ. We each need to surrender all of our ways into the hands of our Redeemer right now while time lasts.
Pastor Domingo Nuñez is director of Outreach Ministry for Steps to Life. He is involved in the coordination of world mission projects and he travels extensively, encouraging the many home churches supported by Steps to Life. He may be contacted at: 316-788-5559 or by email at: domingonunez@stepstolife.org.