Matthew 5

http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+5/

Jesus went up a mountain and began teaching his disciples what would later be known as the greatest sermon of all times: the Sermon on the Mountain. He starts by saying that the kingdom of Heaven belongs to the spiritually helpless because they are the ones who need God and who can be lifted up by God. Those who mourn will be comforted. the gentle will inherit the Earth. Those who hunger and thirst for God's approval will be satisfied. Satisfaction for our needs only come from Christ. We cannot find satisfaction in dating, alcohol, success, education, or anything else that people try to turn to instead of Christ. Most of those things are okay if they don't interfere with our relationships with Christ. Those who show mercy will be shown mercy. God extended to us His mercy through Christ that we do not deserve. He saved us from death because He killed His Son and put all of the wroth of God on Him. How little is it for us to show mercy to those who wrong us? Those whose thoughts are pure will see God. Those who make peace are God's children. We often act like our parents because they have instilled their behaviors into us both genetically and by us mimicking them. God is also our father, and He loves peace, so we too should love peace. Those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of will inherit the Kingdom of God. How can you test if you are truly following God in all you say and do? People will persecute you, try to hurt you (mostly emotionally), and try to change your mind. All of that is the devil trying to pull you towards Him instead of Christ, but use that as your fuel to go wholeheartedly after Christ because if this persecution is not happening, you are not a threat to the devil.

Jesus says that we, as people of faith, are the salt of the Earth. Salt at the time was one of the most valuable substances. People used it for not just flavoring food. It could also be used for perserving food. Not only that but salt is a vital part of life for humans and animals. When Jesus says we are the salt of the Earth, He says that we are to preserve His word here on Earth after He leaves to remind humanity what He commanded. Additionally, we can provide life to people. Ephesians 2 says that before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we were dead, not lost or unchurched, but dead. With the gospel in us, we provide what is necessary for life. If we lose the saltiness or the ability to trust Christ who uses us for these purposes, we are useless. The only thing we are useful for after that is to be thrown on the ground and trampled upon. Onwards, Jesus says we are the light for the world. You often hear people who know about theology refer to this light. We believe that God gives us a visible change in life that we can show to all those around us. We shine into the darkness when we associate with people who don't have the light. It is good to fellowship with unsaved people, but we need to remember a flashlight is not helpful in a room that is already fully lit. Jesus calls us the light because we take light to places where it is dark. We are a city on a hill according to Jesus. You cannot hide a city on a hill. Likewise, you cannot hide God in your heart. If you truly trust Jesus and what He came to do, wear Him visibly for all to see. Finally, Jesus says you do not put a lamp under a basket but display it so that it lights everyone in the house. When you shine in front of people, the glory goes back to God. That is the point of why we are here, we must give God all of the glory.

Jesus tells the disciples that He did not come to Earth to set aside Moses' Teachings or what the Prophets said, but to fulfill them. Until He enters the Kingdom of Heaven, all will still be the same. Anyone who finds any laws unimportant and teaches others this will be unimportant in Heaven. Until Jesus fulfills what He came to do, people must follow all of the Old Testament laws perfectly in order to reach Heaven.

Jesus goes deeper into some of the Ten Commandments. First, He talks about murder. It has been one of the Ten Commandments since the time of Moses not to murder. Jesus says not only is that true but also anyone who is angry with another believer has committed murder. If you've called another believer an insulting name, you've murdered him or her in your mind. If you tell a believer they're a fool, you will answer for it before God. If you make an offering and realize that another believer has a quarrel with you, leave the temple and go make peace with the other before giving. If you are going to court, try to make peace with the accuser so that he or she will not hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer. If you end up in jail, you will pay every penny of your fine. This refers not only to in life but also the afterlife. If you sin against God and man then you must make peace through Christ Jesus before you reach the ultimate judgement. Otherwise, Jesus may condemn you and send you to Hell until you pay your entire fine, which will take all of eternity.

In the Ten Commandments, God states that adultery is a sin. Jesus extends this by saying that anyone who looks on someone with lust has committed adultery in his or her heart. Jesus says if your right eye causes you to sin to cut it out rather than let it send all of you to Hell. Not really sure of the practicality of what He means in this and when He says if your right hand causes you to sin to cut it off. I'll have to research that later. The law at the time also said if you divorce your wife, you must give her a written notice. Jesus says that if you get divorced for any reason other than adultery, it makes it look as though your partner has been unfaithful. Additionally, whoever marries the divorced person looks as though they committed adultery.

Even after some research, I don't really understand what God is saying here.  I'm sorry some of this is not good. I've been interrupted from this a lot, so I actually started this morning and am just now finishing.

Jesus tells them that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is not a good way of doing things. Instead, we should not oppose evil people. Turn the other cheek. At the same time, a Christian is not meant to just be weak. It's really complicated. The part about walking two miles if forced to walk one means that in Roman times, a roman soldier could make a Jewish man carry all of the Roman's gear from one mile marker to the next along a road. God also says to love your enemy because that's what sets us apart. Everyone loves their friends. After all, the rain doesn't refer to bad things happening to good people but that good things happen to bad people.