January 21 Reading: Matthew 5-7
While I have not been very consistent with my writing and posting, I have been consistent in my daily reading. This year our local church of Candies Creek Baptist is emphasizing the theme, “Face to Face: Spending Time in the Presence of the King.” I have been using this emphasis to read and write with the phrase “That I May Know Him,” from Phil 3:10.
Matthew 5-7 is traditionally known as the Sermon on the Mount. It is where Jesus teaches a great crowd on the northern slope of the Sea of Galilee. There have been thousands of sermons preached and millions clean sheets of paper filled with ink from this sermon.
These chapters are not to be esteemed above the rest of scripture, because 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.Yet these chapters have been given much attention because there is so much that Jesus taught about how to live in this sermon.
Jesus teaches the crowds here and we do well to heed what Jesus has to say to us even in the 21st century.
Who has your ear? Who are you listening to? Who is teaching you? Teaching does not have to occur in a formal classroom or a church service.
Whoever you are listening to, be it FoxNews, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Twitter, Facebook, your friends, your spouse, or yourself just know that the ‘teacher’ is shaping your thinking and understanding and ultimately how you live.
Hopefully, you give ample time to the reading, studying, and meditating of Scripture. Romans 12:2says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
In Matthew 5:2 Jesus opens his mouth and teaches the crowd. In the three chapters that follow Jesus teaches the crowd and us in the 21st century what we should know, how we should think, understand, discern, and live.
It does not take long to read these three chapters, but it takes numerous hours to know the depth of the riches of what is taught here.
Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
There are two things that were impressed upon my spirit during my reading today.
First, Matthew 6:6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Real, earnest, faithful, and unhurried prayer is hard work. I desire more of it in my life. Not so I would obtain a “reward” because spending time with the Father is the reward. Why would I miss out on time with the Creator and King of the universe? How thrilling to have time with the King! What better reward could there be?
Second,Matthew 7:28–29And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The teachings of Jesus in these three chapters astonished the crowds, because he taught with authority. How hungry am I for the teachings of Jesus to fill my ears and my mind? When is the last time I have been astonished at any of his teachings?
Father, please hear my prayer. Make a consistent way for me to spend unhurried and uninterrupted time alone with you. Prepare my ears, heart, and spirit to receive the teachings found in your holy word and may I be astonished. In Jesus name, Amen