The book of Matthew describes a particular day in Jesus' life when he was walking near a hillside with his disciples (Matthew 5). The 13 of them (Jesus and the 12) were being followed by a GREAT multitude (thousands of FAMILIES) who had come from surrounding communities to see this great healer/prophet/teacher as he moved from town to town. Many had brought their sick... many had been following for days... many would continue to follow for 3-years (the extent of Jesus earthly ministry) and beyond.
Not only had they seen miracles such as healing and blinded eyes opened, but they had also been fed by food (on more than one occasion) which miraculously appeared from no where at the hands of Jesus. Most would have even heard about Jesus raising a man from the dead... and some would likely have even met that man.
According to Matthews account, as they were traveling, Jesus suddenly stopped... seemingly "in his tracks", walked up on to the hillside, and began to speak almost as if in a trance. He said things that were controversial. He said things that were counter-cultural. He said things that were contradictory. He said things that were the opposite of the status quo... the opposite of everything those people would have heard up to that period... and definitely the opposite of what the pharisees were teaching. He said to his disciples and the listening crowd,
The Poor in Spirit are Blessed!
Those who Mourn are Blessed!
The Meek are Blessed!
Those who Hunger for Righteousness are Blessed!
The Merciful are Blessed!
The Pure in Heart are Blessed!
The Peacemakers are Blessed!
Those who are Persecuted because of Me are Blessed!
We refer to these as the "Beatitudes"; the human characteristics that God values and desires to see in all of us. "Beatitude" comes from a Latin noun which means "happiness". These are eight blessings which Jesus declared in his proclamation from the side of the hill (called the "Sermon on the Mount"). Each that Jesus spoke was a "proverb-like" proclamation. Each was "cryptic" in it's narrative. Each was precise and full of meaning. And they all became a major theme to the followers of Christ from the moment Jesus spoke them to this day, nearly 21 centuries later.
The beatitudes contain subjects such as mercy and spirituality; which would have been familiar to this Jewish crowd from the Old Testament scriptures. Only, Jesus taught these values with a fresh interpretation. On this day, there was suddenly a new set of ideas surrounding these centuries-old concepts. The focus now was on a spirit of love, compassion and humility; as opposed to the focus being law and justice which this group would have been taught as children. These are the new attitudes that Jesus reiterated everywhere he went and highlighted with his life. Jesus calls us to be meek and merciful; pure in heart and hungry for righteousness; peacemakers and even persecuted!
When preaching this sermon, Jesus followed each trait with a promise which these new attitudes will cause us to obtain. The morn will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. The merciful will obtain mercy. Those who hunger for righteousness will be filled with it; etc.
And then, after the beatitudes, Jesus taught two more concepts that are extremely important...
So often we close our bibles at verse 12 as if that was the end of the sermon. However, verse 13 and 14 contain statements that are just as critical as the beatitudes and deserve just as much focus as the rest. These two verses are vital enough to be highlighted in your bible study along with all of the other critical passages of "red writing" that you've highlighted.
First, Jesus said you are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).
Salt is an essential mineral, a commodity in that day. It is a natural mineral; meaning it can not be manufactured or duplicated... it must be "mined"; or in other words, FOUND and refined. Salt had many uses in that day. For example, it was used to preserve foods that would otherwise rot. This would have been vitally important for those keeping live-stock such as sheep. It was also important for farmers of that day who could not grow their crops year-round. Salt was also used in medicines.
Jesus said YOU are a precious commodity; as precious and unique to this earth as salt. You are vial in this world, yet you can not be manufactured or duplicated... you must be FOUND; which Jesus has set his mission to do.
Jesus emphasized that, as valuable as salt is, salt without savor is equivalent to dirt. Salt without its precious quality ceases to be useful to anybody and is only fit to be tossed under the feet of men.
Then, secondly, Jesus went further and stated that you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
Isn't that amazing! This cold, dark, seemingly hopeless world has light hidden in it; it's YOU! Believers are the light of this world! We are God's light in dark places; which means that in your world, in your community, in your family, your actions make you similar to a burning torch. Your community, your family, your surroundings might seem so dark, but I tell you your world would be in such worse shape had it not been for God sending His precious light into it through YOUR behavior! You are God's lamp to light your soundings!
Jesus said, a person wouldn't take a lamp burning brightly which was meant to give light and cover it with a bowl. In other words, who would choose to continue to dwell in darkness even though they have access to light? A person possessing light should put it on display; put it high on a lamp stand unobstructed where it can give light to everyone!
When you hide the fact that you believe in Christ, or when you behave like the rest of the world behaves, you hide that beautiful light that God has given you and instead put on the cold, dark, hard masquerade that the rest of the world is wearing. Jesus said your light belongs high on a candlestick for all to see!
We must take the beatitudes with the right attitude: By portraying meekness, mercy, peace and the others, we will receive the things promised to us by God and light up this world! But, without the "savor" of these traits, though precious to God nonetheless, we are useless to Him in this world.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14).
