But I Say

Jesus gave the best sermon ever recorded on why we need a savior. His words were radical and counter-cultural and cut deep. He addressed the problem with the law. Following rules might keep you out of prison on earth, but it won’t get you to heaven. The Israelite people were very good at keeping the rules and even adding rules that God didn’t ask from them. And Jesus shreds their form of righteousness piece by piece in the Sermon on the Mount. What he says is so powerful, read it in Matthew 5.

The big problem is, we have the same problem the Jews did. We (our society) is consumed with our outward appearance on social media, with makeup, or surgery. It is really in style right now to hate people who don’t agree with everything you say, to unfriend them if they have a different opinion than you or if you post something they don’t like. We put our latest campaign or media hype on our profiles or wear it on our t-shirts. But Jesus says that the outside is not what is important! The words recorded in Matthew 5 are still just as radical as they were 2000 years ago.

His last point is the clincher. Matthew ^5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

Love your enemy! Pray for those who persecute you! Love has spoken.