Scripture
The Sermon on the Mount
1One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
3“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[1]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[2]
for they will be satisfied.
7God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Teaching about Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Teaching about the Law
17“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Teaching about Anger
21“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’[3] 22But I say, if you are even angry with someone,[4] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[5] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[6] you are in danger of the fires of hell.[7]
23“So if you are presenting a sacrifice[8] at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
25“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.[9]
Translation notes (9)
- 5:3 Greek poor in spirit.
- 5:6 Or for righteousness.
- 5:21 Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17.
- 5:22a Some manuscripts add without cause.
- 5:22b Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, ‘Raca.’
- 5:22c Greek if you say, ‘You fool.’
- 5:22d Greek Gehenna; also in 5:29, 30.
- 5:23 Greek gift; also in 5:24.
- 5:26 Greek the last kodrantes [i.e., quadrans].
23“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
If we want to have peace with ourselves, we have to have peace with the people around us. In fact, refusing to have peace and make things right with others with whom we have conflict will eat away at us. We cannot have peace with ourselves when we carry anger, bitterness, and an unwillingness to say, “I’m sorry”. We will constantly feel angry or upset, and these feelings often become all we can think about. Scripture teaches that there is a better way than having these feelings of anger or unresolved conflict with people around us, and that is through forgiveness.
Jesus gave a warning in Matthew 5 that expresses the importance of making things right with the people around us. He taught listeners in this chapter that if anyone offers a sacrifice to God and remembers that someone has something against them, they must immediately leave to find that person and make amends with them. Then, after they have been reconciled with that person, they can go make a sacrifice to God. Clearly, reconciliation is a big deal to God. It is such a big deal that He would prefer someone to wait and make amends with another person they have wronged before offering a sacrifice to Him.
Reconciling with others is one of the pathways to finding peace with ourselves. It is also clearly extremely important to God. Do you take reconciliation as seriously as God does when it comes to your relationships? Are you quick to offer an apology, or do you refuse to admit when you have done wrong, willing to let the relationship self-destruct instead of apologizing? Are you willing to forgive people, even when it is difficult? I urge you, my friends, to be people who are about restoration. Taking on this attitude can provide healing that many relationships desperately need.
Moving toward action
Is there someone in your life whom you have unresolved conflicts with? Who is that person? Please commit today to reach out to them and make things right. That may mean calling to apologize. It might mean extending forgiveness even if it is difficult. Whatever you decide, take steps today toward peace and reconciliation with the people around you.
Going Deeper
Matthew 5:1-26 (NLT)
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