Jesus' View of the (Old Testament) Law

Jesus and the Law of God: His View of the Law

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Jesus, Matthew 5:17–20)

            There is much confusion over Christianity and its relation to the law of God found in the Old Testament. Some Christians feel the law is simply not for us today–it was only for people back then. Now that Jesus has come (they say), we don’t really even need the Old Testament, and to promote law is contrary to grace. Other people feel confused because it seems to them that Christians pick and choose which Old Testament laws to keep. One criticism is that we hold to laws concerning sexuality but throw out laws concerning food and clothing.

Well, by looking at what Jesus says concerning the law, it will help to dispel much of the confusion perceived in our day. Jesus presents four concepts about the law in this part of His sermon (two of which will be looked at in this post).

Concept 1: Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law and the Prophets

            Jesus clearly says that He “did not come to destroy, but to fulfill” the Law and Prophets (the Old Testament Scriptures). He was certainly critical of the religious system of His day, and it is possible that some thought He wanted to do away with everything and start something entirely new. However, Jesus explains that what He teaches does not negate the Old Testament but rather builds upon the Old Testament. He fulfills what the Scriptures are all about.

            He, first of all, fulfilled prophecy on an unimaginable level. The prophets had foretold that the Messiah (the Christ) would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), that he would be of the lineage of David (Jeremiah 23:5), and that He would be pierced (Psalm 22:11–18). It is said that for a person to have fulfilled even eight prophecies (and Jesus fulfilled many more), the probability would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (Slick).

            Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy, He fulfilled the law itself. It is helpful, on this point, to note that the Old Testament law contained three elements: ceremonial, judicial, and moral. The ceremonial aspect of the law has to do with the sacrifices and temple worship practiced by the people of Israel. God gave them statutes to help them understand how to honor and worship Him rightly. Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial aspect of the law by becoming the true sacrifice for all sin, making a way for people to be able to enter the presence of God. (The book of Hebrews sheds light on all of this).

            The judicial aspect of the law has to do with ordinances given to uphold the theocratic system instituted by God. Israel was meant to be under the rule of God through the mediation of a king. When Jesus came, the Jews (as a nation) rejected Him, and Jesus established a new people (termed the church) who live under the rule of God. The judicial, theocratic law is fulfilled in Christ, who reigns as King over His people. His kingdom is spiritual (not of this world) and awaits His earthly arrival (cf. John 18:36; Revelation 11:15).

            Finally, the moral aspect of the law includes moral principles that reflect the righteousness of God, which is the standard for all people, times, and places. Jesus fulfilled the moral aspect of the law perfectly. He never sinned, and those who sought to accuse Him could never find any credible grounds by which to indict Him. The moral aspect of the law is also fulfilled in Christ’s followers, who carry out the moral principles contained in the Scriptures. The apostle Paul speaks of this, saying “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).

            We see, then, that Jesus did not come intent on casting the law aside but rather fulfilling it in every way. The law was given for a purpose, and that was ultimately to point to Jesus Himself, the true fulfiller of the law.

Concept 2: Jesus Says the Law Is God’s Unfailing Truth

            Jesus says: “till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). A “jot” refers to the smallest Hebrew letter, and a “tittle” refers to a small stroke that is part of a Hebrew letter (Walvoord and Zuck). In other words, the law is firm down to the very last detail. It is God’s infallible truth.

Since Jesus gives such esteem to the Old Testament, so should His followers. In reality, one cannot fully understand the New Testament portion of the Scriptures unless he has read and comprehended the Old Testament. Concepts in the New Testament are predicated on the historical and instructional information presented in the Old Testament. A follower of Christ should regard Scripture in the same way as Jesus and make sure to thoroughly read and study the Old Testament in order to grasp the full import of why Jesus came and what He has established. The Bible, as a whole, tells God’s overarching story of creation, and Jesus’ ministry and teaching must be seen in the context of the Scripture that will be fulfilled down to the last stroke of a pen.

Works Cited:

Matt Slick (quoting Peter Stoner), “Prophecy, the Bible and Jesus” (available at http://carm.org/prophecy-bible-and-jesus, accessed June 2012; Internet.

John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (editors), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament (Colorado Springs: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1983), 30.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How to Let Your Light Shine

How to Let Your Light Shine

            So we see that Jesus calls His followers to be light, but exactly how do we let our light shine? Jesus explains: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). A primary means of showing God’s light is representing the goodness of God through our works—our actions. In the words of the Christian songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, we are to “live out loud.” We do so by acting as God would want us to in our friendships, marriages, families, work, and so on. As people see attributes such as kindness, joy, love, patience, and regard for God in our lives, it stands in contrast with the darkness so prevalent in this world; it is light shining through the lives of Christ’s people.

            Sadly, we can be tempted to hide our light (as Jesus points out). This is because we may be afraid to stick out because of our lifestyle and beliefs. Society today is increasingly antagonistic toward those who openly claim belief in Christ and who seek to persuade others to follow Him. The high regard for relativism does not coincide well with the exclusive claims of Jesus and His form of righteousness. But we must remember that the way of Christ has never been popular, which is why Jesus encourages His followers not to hide their light. To put one’s light under a covering is to squander the very purpose of light itself—to shine in the darkness. So we must openly let our light shine for Jesus and not succumb to the pressure to in some way hide it.

            When we do this, Jesus says, people will “see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The ultimate purpose of living as Jesus calls us to is to reflect the reality of who God is. People will be drawn to God and glorify Him as they see the work He does through His people. So are you having an effect on the world as God’s salt and light? Are people being drawn to God by the way you live? Jesus calls us to live in community as His church (meeting together regularly) that we may become saltier and brighter and have an increasingly greater effect on this world. The following parts of Jesus’ sermon will detail specific ways in which His people can carry out living as salt and light. We will see what kind of righteousness Jesus is calling us to. It is a righteousness that is different than what humans (even religious ones) naturally strive for, but it is a righteousness that will lead us to stand out brightly and be used in a tremendous way for God.

           

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Effect of a Christ-Follower - Part 2

The Light of the World

            The second metaphor Jesus uses to describe His followers is light. He says they are the light of the world. In the Scriptures, light and darkness have a moral connotation. Even in popular culture today, we see this concept brought out various ways. The Star Wars movies, for example, speak of the “dark side”—referring to the evil side of the force. People may talk about dark magic. In the Bible we read, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). In other words, God is absolutely perfect in nature. The world, in contrast, is characterized as being in darkness. Matthew says of Jesus’ coming: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light” (Matthew 4:16a). And Jesus Himself said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). God is described in terms of light (perfection), and Jesus reflects the same nature. He who is light has come into a dark world.

In this sermon, Jesus calls His followers light. They, as Peter states, have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of God (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus’ people are light in a derivate sense. They do not shine in and of themselves but are reflecting the light that has come into their lives. Just as the moon shines on a dark night, not because it is bright on its own but because it reflects the sun, followers of Christ are to be those who reflect “the Son” into a dark world. Paul says Christians are to strive to “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14–15).

So if Jesus’ followers are light, what exactly are they supposed to do? First of all, light exposes what is in the dark.  The Scripture instructs believers to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11). It is noteworthy that many people feel uncomfortable when they perceive someone to be righteous. R.C. Sproul tells about a professional golfer who had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Gerald Ford, Jack Niklaus, and Billy Graham (the famous preacher). When the game was over, the professional golfer was irate when asked about how things went, mentioning he doesn’t like religion stuffed down his throat.

His friend said quietly, “Was Billy a little rough on you out there?”

The pro heaved and embarrassed sigh and said, “No, he didn’t even mention religion. I just had a bad round.”

Astonishing. Billy Graham had not said a word about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro had stormed away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat. How can we explain this? It’s really not difficult. Billy Graham didn’t have to say a word; he didn’t have to give a single sideways glance to make the pro feel uncomfortable. Billy Graham is so identified with religion, so associated with the things of God, that his very presence is enough to smother the wicked person who flees when no one pursues. (Sproul, 67)

Jesus said that “everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Jesus, as the light of the world, revealed the evil nature and practices of people, and his followers will have this same effect if they are reflecting His light in their lives.

            But light not only exposes, it also shows the way. If you are walking through a room in the light, it may seem that there is plenty of space to move around without bumping into anything. But try walking through the same room in the dark, and the task will become much more difficult and dangerous. In a dark world, it is difficult for people to really know where they are headed and how to traverse safely. Jesus brought the light of the gospel (meaning good news), and his followers are called to do the same. The gospel not only exposes the presence of evil but shows the way to God. Paul says that the gospel “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Most people are groping about, trying to find a way to be good enough and make some sense out of life, when Jesus says what we really need is Him; what we really need is the power of God in our lives. Jesus’ lights are to be showing people the way to God—the way to peace, safety, and blessing.

Works Cited:

R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1985, 1998).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Effect of a Christ-Follower

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Jesus, Matthew 5:13–16).

            Jesus began His sermon describing the truly blessed life. This sets the precedent for all He has to say about being His follower. Now He goes on to talk about the kind of effect these people, those who follow Him, will have as they interact with society. Without a doubt, those who identify with Christ stand out and have an impact on the world around them.

The Salt of the Earth

            First, He says His followers are the salt of the earth. So what is significant about salt? For one thing, it is a distinct substance. It is different than that which it seasons. Jesus, in one sense, is saying that His followers will be different than the world around them. In the book of John, we hear Jesus praying for His disciples, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:15–18).

On one hand, it is clear that Jesus did not intend for His people to be completely separated from society. They are to be part of it, fully engaged in the operations of the surrounding culture. On the other hand, they are to be sanctified (set apart) by the fact that they adhere to God’s truth. They are salt; they are distinct.

            But salt is not only distinct, it actually serves a purpose. In Jesus’ culture, a common use of salt was for preserving things. If meat was to be kept from spoiling, salt could be used as a preservative. The interesting thing to realize is that, historically, it is easy to see to tendency of societies to decay. Even in biblical history, we see examples of this. The book of Judges depicts Israel in its infancy as a nation, where they often needed special leaders (called judges) to help them preserve strength as a culture:

Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate ways (Judges 2:18–19, HCSB).

Here, we see the tendency of this particular society to follow a moral downward spiral,

which led to great turmoil and the need for reform. The apostle Paul describes a similar pattern in his portrait of society. He says of people, that “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. . . Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. . . And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:21, 24, 28, ESV). This is the Bible’s view of the pattern of culture. It always tends toward decay, unless there is something to counteract this phenomenon.

            Jesus says there is, in fact, something that can help prevent the decay of culture: salt—His people living according to His principles. The only factor that could keep salt from being effective is if it loses it flavor (distinctness) by becoming polluted. Jesus says if this happens, then it is useless. The only way to fulfill our purpose is by being different than the world around us. The author Jim Berg writes of the “principle of influence”:

You have to be different to make a difference.

You cannot change anything by adding more of the same.

Suppose you have in front of you a glass of unsweetened iced tea, but you do not like unsweetened iced tea. You wish, therefore, to add something to your glass of tea to change the taste. You cannot change the taste by pouring more unsweetened tea into the glass. You must add something different to the glass, such as sugar, lemon, or ginger ale.

To have an influence on other people, you cannot just be “more of the same” kind of people they are. You must be different to make a difference. (Berg, 211)

            Jesus wants His followers to make a difference; that is why He explicitly tells them they are salt, and they must maintain their distinctness, not becoming polluted by the evil influences of culture. Paul gives a principle that goes in hand with this when he says:

            “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (2 Timothy 2:19b–21, NIV).

There is a disconcerting tendency in many American churches (which claim to have Christ-followers) for there to be little difference between them and the culture at large. Often, it seems that we can be pursuing the same things as everyone else (fame, fortune, a life of ease) but putting a Christian label on it. Jesus shows that His people are to be radically different, and this begins in the heart (as seen in His beatitudes). His sermon will go on to show just how radically different He is calling us to be, but we must accept from the outset that society tends toward decay, and we must be purified to be useful to God and effective in our culture.

Works Cited:

Jim Berg, Changed Into His Image: God’s Plan for Transforming Your Life (Greenville: BJU Press, 1999).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

The Blessed Life - Part 6

            Now when I think of being hated, ridiculed, and reviled, these aren’t things I would associate with a happy experience. My personality is certainly that of a people-pleaser (to a fault, at times), and I tend to feel horrible when someone looks at me the wrong way, let alone rebukes me. But Jesus gives a command here, not just a descriptive statement. He tells us to rejoice when we face opposition. Don’t just grin and bear it when people rise against you, but “rejoice and be exceedingly glad.” On what basis can we be happy about persecution?

            Well from one perspective, being hated for our righteousness is not good. However, Jesus is seeking to give people a different perspective, and so He provides two reasons as to why we can actually be happy about facing opposition and ridicule for following Him. First, He says “great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5:12). As with the first beatitude, Jesus says that to these people belongs the kingdom of heaven. All of these characteristics (poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart, peacemakers, etc.) are descriptive of those who have the truly blessed life–a life of inner peace with God and the ultimate blessing of living in God’s presence forever. Though living the way Christ calls us to will bring opposition, division, and even persecution, it is a life that has much to look forward to. This is something which can allow us to be exceedingly joyful. Paul, who suffered tremendously as a Christian, gives this perspective: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

            Jesus also says that those who are persecuted for righteousness are sharing in the same experience as the prophets of God. In other words, if people are against you because of your allegiance to Christ, it demonstrates that you are a true follower of God, as the prophets were. The prophets in the Bible were great men of God who spoke a true and necessary message to their society, but they were often met with apathy, anger, or even violence.

            A story I have appreciated for quite some time is written by Michael Card of a man who endured as so many have had to because of their faith in Christ. It is entitled “Joseph the Masai.”

Joseph is a tall, slender man, like most Masai. He is a warrior. His face bears the ritual scars every young man receives after killing his first lion with only a spear and a shield. But the scars on his face and his ordeal with the lion are not what make Joseph special.

The story began when Joseph, who was walking along one of those hot, dusty African roads, met someone who shared the good news of Jesus Christ with him. Then and there he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The power of the Spirit began transforming his life. He was filled with such excitement and joy that the first thing he wanted to do was return to his own village and share the good news with the members of his local tribe.

Joseph began going from door-to-door, telling everyone he met about the cross of Jesus and the salvation it offered, expecting to see their faces light up the way his had. To his amazement the villagers not only didn’t care, they became hostile. The men of the village seized him, holding him to the ground, while the women began to beat him with strands of barbed wire. He was dragged from the village and left to die alone in the bush.

Joseph somehow managed to crawl to a water hole, and there, after two days of passing in and out of consciousness, found he had the strength to get up. He still wondered about the hostile reception he had received from the people he had known all his life. He decided he must have left something out or told the story of Jesus wrong. After rehearsing the message he had first heard he decided to go back to the village and share his faith once more.

Joseph limped into the circle of huts and began to proclaim the good news about Jesus. “He died for you, so that you might find forgiveness and come to know the living God,” he pleaded. Once again he was grabbed by the men of the village and held while the women beat him a second time, opening up wounds that had only just begun to heal. Once more they dragged him, unconscious, from the village and left him to die.

To have survived the first beating was truly remarkable. To live through the second was a miracle. Again, days later, Joseph awoke in the wilderness, bruised and scarred and yet determined to go back.

For the third time he returned to the small village. This time he found everyone waiting for him. They attacked him before he even had a chance to open his mouth. As they began to flog him for the third and probably the last time, he began again to speak to them of Jesus Christ, the Lord, who had the power to forgive sin and give them new life. The last thing he remembered before he passed out was seeing the women who were beating him begin to weep.

This time he awoke in his own bed, not in the wilderness. The very ones who had so severely beaten him were now trying to save his life and nurse him back to health. The entire village had come to Christ. (Card, 496–497)

            To follow Jesus often means facing hardship at one level or another. Though not every incident of persecution may be as drastic and inspiring as Joseph’s story, Jesus assured us that we can take heart in the midst of whatever we are enduring for His sake because we have heaven as our home, and we are in good company with those who have gone before.

Conclusion on the Blessed Life

            In the beatitudes, Jesus shows that the blessed life is for the humble, holy, and hated rather than the self-promoting, self-indulgent, and self-protective. It is counterintuitive to what we tend to think will bring us happiness, but it is the way of true blessing, peace, and fulfillment because it is a life of enjoying the grace and favor of God with the ultimate hope of the kingdom of heaven.

            The character traits found in the beatitudes are also a very helpful spiritual diagnostic test, helping us to see where we are at in our lives. Many people think they are spiritually just fine because they are not particularly bad (in comparison with others). But when we go to the doctor, he not only looks at how healthy we may first appear, he also examines other signs (our blood pressure, heart, lungs, and so on) because this provides a more accurate diagnosis of our physical condition. The same is true with Jesus, who conducts a spiritual examination by highlighting the essential attributes that are characteristic of those under the blessing of God. The spiritually healthy life found in sincerely seeking God and His righteousness, not by merely appearing to be as good as or better than others.

Much more will be said by Jesus concerning these matters, but His description of the blessed life provides a hope-giving introduction for what He will go on to teach about what it means to be His follower. So the question we must begin with is: are you living the blessed life, and if not, do you want to? Jesus shows the way to life as it was meant to be lived, and as we continue to look at His message, the way of Jesus will become even clearer. I hope you will continue to listen to what Jesus has to say, because it is earth-shattering and life-altering, but it is worth more than anything this life can offer.

Works Cited:  

Michael Card, “Joseph the Masai,” as presented in The Book of Jesus: A Treasury of the Greatest Stories and Writings about Christ, edited by Calvin Miller (Nashville: Broadman and Holdman Publishers, 1996, 1998).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Blessed Life - Part 5

The Blessedness of Those Who Are Hated

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Jesus, Matthew 5:10–12)

            Awhile back, the rap-turned-music group DC Talk recorded a song that said “we all wanna be loved,” which captures a reality for the vast majority of us—we want to be accepted, not hated. In looking at the character traits outlined in Jesus’ beatitudes, one would think that people like this would be admired and accepted by everyone. After all, they are humble peacemakers who pursue righteousness. Why wouldn’t everyone love people like this?

            But Jesus ends his list of blessings by characterizing these people as “persecuted for righteousness sake.” The reality is, people who live righteously are not always accepted. A couple of cases in point are John the Baptist (the prophet mentioned earlier) whose head was presented on a platter for speaking against Herod Antipas’s incestuous and adulterous relationship. Then there is Jesus, who was plotted against and sent to execution on a Roman cross (an instrument of torture) because of people who absolutely despised Him. The sad truth is, the kind of people Jesus describes as blessed are often rejected and ridiculed by certain others.

            If we are characterized by the traits Jesus has spoken of, then we are becoming more like Him; and if we are becoming more like Him, then we will suffer persecution just as He did. Jesus actually stated so in these words:

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (Jn. 1:18–20).

The follower of Christ Paul wrote to one church: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:29, emphasis added), and to Timothy, he says that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).

Why have people disliked Jesus and those who follow Him? Perhaps the best explanation is wrapped up by these thoughts penned by John MacArthur:

The world went along for thousands of years before it ever saw a perfect man. Until Christ came, every person, even God’s best, were sinful and flawed. All had feet of clay. To see God’s people fail and sin is often taken as an encouragement by the wicked. They point a finger and say, “He claims to be righteous and good, but look at what he did.” It is easy to feel smug and secure in one’s sinfulness when everyone else is also sinful and imperfect. But when Christ came, the world finally saw the perfect Man, and all excuse for smugness and self-confidence vanished. And instead of rejoicing in the sinless Man, sinful men resented the rebuke that His teaching and His life brought against them. They crucified Him for His very perfection, for His very righteousness. (MacArthur, 228)

Astounding as it is, people will hate and even kill others because of their righteousness, as we see in the life of Christ, and Jesus continues to evoke reaction today as well. I read recently of an armed services chaplain who was considering not praying in Jesus’ name anymore because of the pressure he is receiving from others. We can see cases all throughout history of people who have faced various levels of persecution because of their allegiance to Christ.

            Jesus even said to His apostles before sending them out for ministry that “brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matt. 10:21–22). A man was telling me last week about the fact that his family has been opposing him on various issues since he has begun to follow Christ. Jesus makes it clear that those who live for Him will be hated, even reject by their own family at times.

So when Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” we see that this is a reality for those who follow Christ. He says that people will “revile” and “say all kinds of evil against you falsely.” In the book of Luke, Jesus is quoted as saying, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). If everyone likes you and loves what you are saying, then this is actually a sign that you are not aligned with Christ. The blessed life is characterized as one of being rejected by certain people, but Jesus goes on to show that there is cause to rejoice if you are being persecuted for His sake.

Works Cited:  

John F. MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1–7 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Blessed Life - Part 4

The Blessedness of Those Who Are Holy (continued)

            Further showing that the blessed life is connected to righteousness and holiness, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). A pure heart is one that is undivided. As the Psalmist prays: “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11, emphasis added). He knows it is possible for his heart to be swayed in various directions and desires a heart that is solely focused upon God. A pure heart truly desires God, and it is thus, a morally upright, clean heart.

            One who sincerely desires God, Jesus promises, “shall see God.” Many people scoff at belief in God because they cannot see Him, but the Scripture indicates that our inability to relate to God is due to sin. Therefore, sin gets in the way of seeing God, and it is vital for us to be pure in order to enter the presence of God. As a matter of fact, the follower of Jesus named John says, “we know that when he [Jesus] appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:2b–3, ESV). Those who have the great hope of being with Jesus and being made perfectly like Him are already seeking purity in their lives. They shall see God in the kingdom of heaven and live in His presence eternally.

            Do you have this hope of seeing God? Even right now one can have the joy of knowing God and perceiving Him in a spiritual sense. But again, this comes with a heart unified toward seeking God. I heard of a man recently who (though being a professing Christian for many years) is having a crisis of faith, wondering if God even exists. He said he is looking for God to really show Himself in some tangible, unmistakably clear way. The problem is He is asking God to come on his terms, when God says He will reveal Himself to those who come on His terms: in faith, seeking purity. If you want to know God and one day see Him, then realize what is getting in the way of this is not lack of evidence but rather the presence of sin. Ask God to purify your heart, to work in you, to change you that you may know Him and perceive Him personally in your life.

            The final beatitude related to holiness is: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). At first, this trait may seem quite in keeping with the most valued ethic of our culture: tolerance. Peacemakers, many would assume, are those who affirm others’ right to believe and do as they please. However, Jesus Himself was not one who merely affirmed everyone, and being one who “lets things go” all the time does not actually breed peace. For example, I know as a parent that if I simply let my children do as they please, my household will not be filled with peace. My observation is that home-life tends toward dissention and chaos unless there is oversight and intervention. True peacemakers are not simply those who avoid conflict; they are people who are willing to confront and deal with issues that ultimately harm the condition of humanity (as Jesus did).

            On the other hand, peacemakers are not contentious people. If one is always concerned about getting his or her own way, peace will not abound. Marriage demonstrates this reality. The only way to have a peaceful marriage is for the husband and wife to have a sacrificial rather than selfish mindset. When they become obstinate and focused on their own desires and perspective, it results in relational turmoil.

            Ken Sande’s depiction of peacemaking provides a good summary of all of this. He says there are peace-breakers (those who are aggressive), peace-fakers (those who are avoiders), and true peacemakers (those who are alleviators of conflict). Being a true peacemaker means having a willingness to deal with problems but also having an attitude of love and kindness. The previous beatitudes show that being a follower of Christ stems from a heart that has been changed. Godly character is the true means of peace.

            Those who are peacemakers, Jesus says, “shall be called sons of God.” As with all the beatitudes, this blessing finds ultimate fulfillment in the kingdom of heaven, which peacemakers will reside in as sons of God–the receivers of His inheritance. But this also points to a reality we see all the time: children resemble their parents. Therefore, children of God resemble God and are shown to be in His family. God is the ultimate peacemaker who, as the Scripture says, “shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8, ESV). God did not wait for us to wave the flag of surrender before acting. Instead, He made the first step toward peace with humanity in the Person of His Son, who gave Himself up that we might have peace with God. To follow in the footsteps of the heavenly Father is to be one who sacrificially gives whatever it takes to strive for peace in relation to others. Those who live as peacemakers are rightly “called sons of God.”

Works Cited:

Ken Sande, “Peace-breakers, Peace-fakers, and Peacemakers,” (available at http://www.peacemaker.net/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=aqKFLTOBIpH&b=1043497&ct=1254849, accessed May 2012; Internet).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.