Sunday 04 November 2012

Background

This passage marks the beginning of the 'Sermon on the Mount',which continues through chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew's Gospel. Itis one of five separate sets of teaching in Matthew's Gospel. Itwas not really one sermon but a collection of Jesus' teachingswhich were collected by Matthew because he saw them as containingthe important themes of Jesus' ministry and mission.

In these verses Jesus is announcing that in him God is doing anew thing, bringing a new age to pass - the long-anticipatedpromise of redemption is beginning.

It was integral to Jewish thinking that the coming of theexpected Messiah would constitute a return to the glory days ofIsrael. In contrast for Jesus this coming kingdom, which he wasushering in, would not be one of unadulterated joy and prosperity.Rather it would entail suffering for himself and for those whofollowed him.

Some people read these 'Beatitudes' - the 'blessed are you'statements - as if the promises they contain will only come to pass'in heaven', that is, after death. But such a reading is amisunderstanding of 'heaven'. Heaven is not somewhere beyond thisworld, but God's space interlocking with human reality both now inthis life as well as beyond: "Your kingdom come, your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven" we pray regularly. Jesus' life andwitness calls us to live that promised future life now - howeverchallenging that might be.

To Ponder

• To what extent are you prepared to be reviled by people in yourfamily or workplace by making it plain that you seek to be afollower of Jesus?

• "Pie in the sky when you die" is the cynical phrase sometimesused by doubters to ridicule Christians and their beliefs. Howwould you try to explain a different understanding of'heaven'?