Let's study the Bible
March 25, 2022
In Matthew 4 Jesus begins His ministry of teaching and healing. Just prior to this He was baptized by John the Baptist, tempted in the wilderness, and starts choosing His apostles.
People are coming from everywhere to be healed. In chapter 5 Jesus sits down to teach and gives the Sermon on the Mount.
He begins with the Beatitudes, the statements of blessings. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. These were people who were following Jesus for the healing they needed today. They were looking for a blessing for today, not in the future, not for eternity.
Jesus began His teaching by giving them exactly that. All of these beatitudes carried immediate blessings. For the poor in spirit and the persecuted, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. The merciful shall obtain mercy. Those who mourn will receive comfort. Those hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. The pure in heart shall see God, the peacemakers shall be called sons of God. If each person, both then and now had those characteristics, how much better would our world be?
Every nation on earth needs peacemakers right now. Every person needs mercy and righteousness, and to be pure in heart. We all need the comfort and peace Jesus offers. Jesus says later, “My peace I give you”. Imagine a world where everyone is at peace with each other, with themselves, and with God. What a blessing that would be!
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