As I reflect on my forty days with Jesus Christ in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 I am trying to decide what the Holy Spirit has taught me. What does Jesus Christ have to say to me in the twenty-first century after his death? How is his message relevant to my life today? I wonder if I would recognize him any better today than the folks did in his lifetime. I am looking for His second coming; the question is what am I looking for that is different from the Jews of His own time? Would I receive the message of God’s desirable attributes: to be poor in spirit (humble), mournful, meek, seeking righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, and being willing to accept persecution for His sake? I would not be very successful in the eyes of the world if these words were a description of me.

When I think of being humble and meek my dad’s response when faced a particularly sticking problem comes to my mind. “Never use force, get a bigger hammer.” I didn’t understand the wisdom till much latter. When you have great strength you can be gentle and not need to force things. I am sure that dad was not thinking of spiritual truth and yet there it is.

Would world see me as either salt or light? I think not. The critical point of course is does God see me as salt or light.

In this day of relativism, secularism, and narcissism accepting that Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law of God and the prophecies of the Prophets is not even politically correct. People would think me insane if really tried to live by the Ten Commandments and establish a right relationship with God. Even in many gospel teaching churches they preach that it is impossible to follow God’s law. Jesus was very clear when He said “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:20 this statement does not leave much room for deciding right and wrong by popular vote. Was he just kidding?

Just in case I might be struggling with the original laws Jesus raises the bar. Jesus says that unprovoked and unresolved anger is the same as murder, Matthew 5:17. And it get’s worse when he tells me that just looking at woman with lust in my heart is the same as committing adultery, Matthew 5:27.

Oh and by the way Jesus says don’t resist the evil man. If some guy slaps me on the cheek I should turn the other cheek. Jesus says “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” Matthew 5:42. He wants me to love my enemies. What he really says is that as far as it my doing I should not have enemies.

It is good to give to the poor only I should do it in secret so that only God knows what I have done. He wants me to pray in private, again so that only God knows.

He teaches me a very simple prayer; “Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom com, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” Matthew 6:9-13.

Can you see why Jesus Christ is not popular today? Can you see why His message is not well received? The world teaches that it is every man for himself that I should be out to get everything that I can. If it feels good it must be okay. The world even teaches that there is nothing evil. Sex with anybody and everybody is just fine. Drugs are no problem. Even in the church there are people denying that Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God.

The truth is that in these three chapters on the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ outlined exactly what God expects from me, how he wants me to live, and how I will be rewarded.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33.

Jesus goes on to tell me not to judge my brother, to pay attention to my own shortcomings and seek the wisdom of God. He tells me the gate is small and way narrow that leads to heaven.

Clear back in high school sociology I was taught that acceptable behavior is determined by what any given society decides is acceptable. There is no absolute truth about how people should live together. In some cultures it is acceptable to kill and eat people who are not part of the culture. It can be acceptable to have more than one wife. We are told today that marriage can be defined any way the majority wants. So marriage could be two men, two women, one man, a woman, and a dog, or any other combination of beings. I was taught that morality cannot be legislated, that it is strictly a personal thing. I was not a very good student as I refused to believe the teaching.

The bottom line is that it is up to you. You can decide what is right or wrong or even if there is a wrong. When you believe this you are making yourself sovereign, making yourself God. When it comes right down to it do you believe that there is absolute truth or is everything subject an individual point of view, opinion?

The question then is: “how is that working for you?” “How is this working in the world today?” I believe that I will try to walk more like Jesus Christ. It will be a process and I will surly stumble. The good thing is that Jesus Christ has already picked me up. I am seeking the small gate that leads to eternal life with God.