rose_griffes (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rose_griffes) wrote2011-03-13 03:15 pm
rose_griffes) wrote2011-03-13 03:15 pm
Entry tags:
New Testament: Matthew 5-7
I don't have access to regular TV channels, but just listening to the news about Japan on the radio and reading reports/seeing photos online is... well. Insert the adjective of your choice here, because nothing seems to suffice to cover the scope of the situation. My thoughts and prayers are with those dealing with the aftermath.
I didn't forget about my plan to post something about the New Testament at least once a month. It's a bit hard to accomplish this when I keep missing the Sunday School lessons. I've been at church, but working with/watching the children instead of going to the adult classes. Apparently that's going to happen a lot. (A few other things happened in February as well.)
So I'm reading on my own. Also, I was able to get to an adult class last week for the first time in over a month, and they were up to the Sermon on the Mount.
One thing I've been thinking about is how Christ's teachings focus on the two great laws: love the Lord and love your neighbor. Even the sayings in the Beatitudes can be aligned with one or both of those greater laws.
Poor in spirit = humility, a quality that can impact our relationship with others and with God. Meekness as well. Peacemakers bring about positive change in the lives of others. I like seeing this pattern of love God/love others repeated in the Beatitudes, particularly in how those who do so are blessed.
Moving on, Christ teaches a higher law than the law of Moses. Looking at life now, almost two thousand years later and we're still not doing too well living up to those standards. He also specifically mentioned the Scribes and Pharisees in a negative light, stating that we need to exceed them in righteousness. He often talked of them in their focus on the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law. That ties into the next part of the sermon--doing the right thing for the right reason.
Short version for me: stop worrying so much about what others will think. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is not going to bring me closer to God (or bring me a more Christlike attitude).
I didn't forget about my plan to post something about the New Testament at least once a month. It's a bit hard to accomplish this when I keep missing the Sunday School lessons. I've been at church, but working with/watching the children instead of going to the adult classes. Apparently that's going to happen a lot. (A few other things happened in February as well.)
So I'm reading on my own. Also, I was able to get to an adult class last week for the first time in over a month, and they were up to the Sermon on the Mount.
One thing I've been thinking about is how Christ's teachings focus on the two great laws: love the Lord and love your neighbor. Even the sayings in the Beatitudes can be aligned with one or both of those greater laws.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Poor in spirit = humility, a quality that can impact our relationship with others and with God. Meekness as well. Peacemakers bring about positive change in the lives of others. I like seeing this pattern of love God/love others repeated in the Beatitudes, particularly in how those who do so are blessed.
Moving on, Christ teaches a higher law than the law of Moses. Looking at life now, almost two thousand years later and we're still not doing too well living up to those standards. He also specifically mentioned the Scribes and Pharisees in a negative light, stating that we need to exceed them in righteousness. He often talked of them in their focus on the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law. That ties into the next part of the sermon--doing the right thing for the right reason.
1 Take heed that ye do not your balms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Short version for me: stop worrying so much about what others will think. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is not going to bring me closer to God (or bring me a more Christlike attitude).