Great Expectations
Read Matthew 5:1-48
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1. One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,
2. and he began to teach them.
3. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
6. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
7. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
9. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
10. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:1-10
Have you ever had a teacher who expected a lot out of you? What about a parent or relative who assumed that you would act responsibly and morally? People who believe in you usually expect a lot of you—your conduct and your work. Although it may be frustrating to have someone hold you to such high standards—not to mention trying to live up to them—it can be very beneficial.
Similar to this teacher, parent, or relative, Jesus wanted, and expected, the best for his followers, and he set high standards for them to live by. This passage, known as the Sermon on the Mount, spells out some of those standards. Jesus set them up to help you.
Jesus’ standards required a new way of holiness that neither the crowds nor the religious authorities could grasp. They couldn’t understand because his standards turned their way and their world’s way of thinking upside down. Consider some of Jesus’ teachings: true happiness involves humility, mourning, longing, purity, and persecution (Matthew 5:3-11); anger can place you in danger of judgment (5:22); do not even look at others lustfully (5:28); never take revenge (5:39); and love your enemies (5:44). Jesus’ listeners that day also didn’t realize that to live by his standards required God’s power, faith in Christ, and change brought by the Holy Spirit.
Although Jesus’ standards are steep, they are his formula for happiness and success. Christians should strive to live up to them only with the help of the Holy Spirit. When we get discouraged by trying to live up to such high standards, we should remember that living by them will bring rewards—though not the kind most people seek, and not necessarily in this life (5:12).
