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Chronological Life of Jesus XXXI

Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus is preaching on a hillside in Galilee. The largest continuous section of Jesus speaking without interruption is found in this section of the Bible. If your Bible contains red letters for words spoken by Jesus, then chapters 5 through 7 in the Book of Matthew are red, with the only exceptions being the first two verses of chapter 5 and the last two verses of chapter 7. The beginning and the end of the Sermon on the Mount. And once again we have that first and last thing.

We are working our way back up through the beatitudes and this brings us to the fifth beatitude

Matt 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

NKJV

As mentioned in previous studies, Jesus uses a common method of teaching at that time known as chiastic teaching. Jesus is teaching on the beatitudes in reverse order. Last time we covered the pure in heart (v.8) and this time we move back up the ladder to the merciful (v.7) as Jesus expands on it.

Chronological Life of Jesus XXX

Matthew 5:27-37

We are into the third section covering the beatitudes in reverse order, which is known as chiastic teaching style. A teaching style that was common among Rabbis of the first century. To put it simply it is an inverted ladder where topics 1,2,3 order are listed and then explained in 3,2,1 order. It is the last will be first and first will be last teaching style that is known as chiastic teaching.

So far we have covered the topics –

1. You have to be emptied in order to be filled. (poor in spirit)
2. While being filled you realize and mourn over your sinfulness. (mourn)
3. You begin to have a relationship with Jesus and this gives you strength under control. (meekness)
4. As your relationship with Jesus grows you develop a hunger for God’s Word. (hunger and thirst)
5. Through God’s Word you learn what mercy is. (merciful)
6. Understanding mercy and grace purifies your soul. (pure in heart)
7. You seek the good and keep your anger under control and give forgiveness and take forgiveness. (peacemakers)
8. You are persecuted for following Jesus. (righteousness)

We have covered beatitude 8. In order to be persecuted you have to first become righteous. Satan and his henchmen don’t care about fence sitters or non-believers. That type of person is doing nothing to further God’s Kingdom. But if your standing with God is right, then persecution is always lurking. Satan will try his best to steal a soul through persecution. But persecution for the believer will strengthen your faith.

Topic 7 is about how we react when things aren’t going our way. If trouble arises, which could very well be persecution, how do you respond?  In order to be a peacemaker you have to learn how to handle situations and people. And that means in all kinds of difficult situations. If you are going to wear your faith on your sleeve, then you need to be prepared to respond in a way Christ would respond.