Read Matthew 6:19–24

What do you do out of habit? Maybe you always start the day with a cup of coffee or get in a walk around the block after dinner. Many of our habits are based on what we think is important. Habits can take us in surprising directions, either toward God or toward rival gods, priorities, or values.

In Matthew 6, Jesus asks us what we treasure. In other words, what do we truly love? The answer is revealed by our everyday actions. That’s where our heart truly is, no matter what we say on Sundays (vv. 19–21). Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable. By comparison, heavenly treasures are eternal and secure. Which of these would we prefer to be our “reward in full”? The second, of course.

In verses 22–23, there appears to be an abrupt change of topic. After discussing treasure, Jesus turns to a new topic: healthy versus unhealthy eyes. While at first it might seem unrelated, this metaphor is directly related to the treasure metaphor. To be “full of light” indicates that our knowledge and actions are righteous and thus please God. Eyes “full of darkness” indicate knowledge and actions that are sinful and thus dishonor the Lord. Healthy “eyes” discern and follow right teaching. They can see the foolishness of storing up earthly treasures. Unhealthy “eyes” are blind to these truths and thus pursue the wrong goals.

We must choose. Will we seek earthly treasures or heavenly treasures (v. 24)? We cannot serve both; we can have only one “master.” Earthly treasures are represented by money, given that wealth leads to the things that worldly people want most. But we can only love or be devoted to one thing. By definition or by comparison we will hate or despise the other thing. Which will it be? God or money? Heavenly treasures or earthly treasures?

Go Deeper

Psalm 1 also describes choosing between two spiritual paths. What do this psalm and today’s reading have in common?

Pray with Us

God, You are worth more than anything this world has to offer. When we become enticed by earthly riches, remind us that they do not last. Only You and Your words are eternal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:21

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Read Matthew 6:16–18

Have you ever fasted? Choosing to go without food is sometimes required for lab tests. Or we might skip a few meals to lose a few pounds. But fasting is a spiritual practice, abstaining from food, or other things, to spend concentrated time in worship and prayer.

In Matthew 6, Jesus’ comments were aimed at the Pharisees and religious leaders who were known to practice spiritual disciplines such as giving and fasting in flashy and pretentious ways. They wanted people to notice how devout they were, to be seen, admired, and praised. In contrast, others practiced such actions “in secret,” looking only for God’s approval.

When they were fasting, these hypocrites would look somber or gloomy (v. 16). In modern terms, “disfigure” means they would not wash their faces and perhaps go around rubbing their stomachs and groaning. They wanted everyone to know they were fasting and to be impressed by their “piety.” That, said Jesus, would be the only reward they would ever receive. Ironically, though they were going without food, their pride was being well-fed.

He taught His followers, on the other hand, that they should fast “in secret,” that is, so that others couldn’t tell (vv. 17–18). They should put oil—spiced or perfumed olive oil—on their heads, the equivalent of showering and putting on deodorant today. By caring for their bodies in a normal manner, no one would notice anything different. Only God would know, and He would reward them.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were fasting twice per week. But the Law required only one fast per year, on the Day of Atonement (though more were possible). Jesus assumed His disciples and the church would continue this spiritual practice, as He Himself had (Matt. 4:2; 9:15).

Go Deeper

Is fasting recommended as a spiritual discipline at your church? Have you ever fasted? What goals might you have in doing so?

Pray with Us

Jesus, we yearn for closeness with You. Please show us what parts of our own behavior and attitude are getting in the way of our relationship with You. We want to know You better.

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.Matthew 6:18

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Read Matthew 6:14–15

I have been writing or editing for Today in the Word for more than 30 years, and God’s Word has transformed my life in countless ways through authoring these studies. For example, back in October 2002 I wrote a devotional about forgiveness. What I learned from that study knocked me for a loop. God’s love and grace were and are so much more than I ever realized!

At the close of His lesson on prayer, Jesus highlights forgiveness. He’d already mentioned it as part of the Lord’s Prayer (v. 12). In today’s verses, He explained more: If you forgive others, God will forgive you (v. 14). If you don’t, He won’t (v. 15). These are two sides of the same coin. This is not about salvation. It’s not saying God’s love is conditional. It’s about our responsibility to forgive as we have been forgiven (Matt. 5:7; Eph. 4:32).

Jesus also taught this principle in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:21–35). This was told to explain the idea of forgiving someone “seventy-seven times.” When the servant who had been forgiven a large debt refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him only a small amount, the master reconsidered his forgiveness and punished that servant. Jesus concluded: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Forgiving others is a significant issue. We’ve all wronged God far worse than anyone has ever wronged us. Yet He has completely forgiven us! He has “removed our transgressions from us” as far as the east is from the west, that is, as far as is conceivably possible (Ps. 103:12). Similarly, He has hurled “all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:18–19).

Go Deeper

Are you holding any grudges against fellow believers? Have you said, “I’ll forgive but I won’t forget” about a situation? How might you put today’s devotion into practice?

Pray with Us

We praise You, Lord, for Your gift of forgiveness! Though we sin against You again and again, You forgive us completely when we repent. You are always good to us.

Your heavenly Father will also forgive you.Matthew 6:14

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Read Matthew 6:9–13

These days, whenever we want to learn how to do something, we look for a YouTube instructional video. How to jump a car battery? How to make a mushroom sauce from scratch? How to build your own computer? Easy-to-follow instructions are readily available for us to watch.

The most effective learning, though, usually happens in person, often over time through mentoring. That’s why Jesus chose a “class” of twelve “students” to follow Him for three years. Today we get a glimpse inside this personal classroom as Jesus taught His followers how to pray.

This model or template prayer, which can be prayed in less than a minute, begins with the relationship (v. 9). God is “Our Father in heaven.” This warm family metaphor is immediately followed by a reminder that His name is “hallowed” or sacred and should be revered and honored.

Next is a big-picture request for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (v. 10). Earth is a planet in rebellion against its Maker. This rebellion was always a failure, although from our perspective in time it’s still happening.

Then comes a petition for basic needs (v. 11). “Daily bread”—an allusion to the daily manna provided during the Exodus—represents our physical needs of food, shelter, and clothing. Why not ask for more? Because riches are the kind of temptation that make it difficult to pursue committed discipleship (Matt. 19:23–24).

This is followed by two petitions for spiritual needs (vv. 12–13). The first is for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). The petition is structured to remind us that we shouldn’t ask for what we’re not willing to give as well as that the debt we owe God is one we can never repay. The second request is to be protected against temptation and evil.

Go Deeper

Have you memorized the Lord’s Prayer? If not, give it a try today! What might be the benefits of doing so?

Pray with Us

Our Father in heaven, teach us to pray. When we talk to You, remind us of Your power and Your love. Guide us into a knowledge of You that will increase our desire to worship You.

This, then, is how you should pray.Matthew 6:9

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Read Matthew 6:1–4

One day, Jesus taught His disciples a lesson about giving (Mark 12:41–44). They were watching people put donations into the temple treasury box. Rich people were making sure people saw them putting in large amounts of money. Then a poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

This widow gave generously from what she had, trusting the Lord to take care of her needs. That’s the principle behind Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, although He comes at the issue from another direction.

Jesus teaches that those who give large amounts of money in a showy manner for human admiration will receive no reward from the Lord (vv. 1–2). When such people toot their own horn, so to speak, honor from other people is the only reward they’ll ever receive. They’re hypocrites, not giving for the sake of obedience or righteousness but merely to look good in front of others. The term “hypocrite” refers to actors with masks, pretending to be what they’re not. Similarly, these givers are exhibiting only false devotion, not genuine godliness.

Instead, we should give “in secret,” the exact opposite (vv. 3–4). “Give” in these verses is literally “give alms,” which is why the NIV translates verse 2 as “give to the needy.” This kind of giving leads to a reward from God, which is more valuable than any human reward could ever be. It shows that the giving, which is clearly expected as routine from all citizens of the kingdom, is being done with right motives, namely, to obey and please the Lord.

Go Deeper

What is your own motivation to give? Do you find yourself looking for some sort of reward or notice? How can we avoid this?

Pray with Us

We see your generosity from the beginning to the end of the Bible, Lord. You give to us freely, willingly, and joyfully. Help us imitate Your Spirit of giving as we give to others.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.Matthew 6:1

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Read Matthew 5:48

My students often ask me if I’m going to “grade on a curve,” that is, if I plan to make the top student grade equal to 100 percent and “curve” them from there. This type of grading allows more students to “earn” higher grades.

Sometimes we act as if God is going to “grade on a curve,” giving us extra points for effort or participation. Today’s verse teaches otherwise. God’s standard is perfection. Matthew chapter 5 and its Jesus-raises-the-bar commands reach a climax in His humbling and impossible command, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v. 48). Virtually every English translation says “perfect,” though a few commentators recommend “mature” instead. One wisely suggests “perfectly mature.”

One source notes that the word “perfect” used of God echoes the word “holy” as in Leviticus 11:44: “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” Both “holy” and “perfect” are used so as to indicate not a specific attribute but God’s overall perfection.

What are we to do with this command? First, we admit that we have no chance of obeying it in our own strength. Second, we should recognize the connection to our salvation, which we receive by being credited with Jesus’ perfection. Third, we might understand from the alternate translation “mature” or “perfectly mature” that obedience is a process of growth. Fourth and finally, it might be better to see this verse as a promise as well as a command. Some translators render the opening phrase “You shall be perfect” or “You are going to be perfect.”

God will keep this promise of perfection as He sanctifies us! One day all the redeemed, all citizens of the kingdom of heaven, will live as the Sermon on the Mount describes.

Go Deeper

Would you use the word “perfect” to describe yourself? How are you doing in growing toward perfect maturity (James 1:4)?

Pray with Us

Perfect Lord, thank You for the truths You are teaching us this month. As we seek to serve and follow You, please bring us into perfect maturity through Your Word and Your Spirit.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 5:48

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Read Matthew 5:43–47

I was once studying the Gospel of Matthew with a Chinese student. When we came to Jesus’ command on how Christians are to love, he told me he didn’t understand it. I checked his vocabulary and reading comprehension, which seemed fine. I asked him to summarize the passage, which he did accurately. “What’s the problem?” I asked.

“It’s impossible!” he exclaimed. “No one can love their enemies!”

Exactly. Jesus’ command should shock us all. The normal human reaction might be to love our own people but hate our enemies. The greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor. But Jesus said to love our enemies as well—even to pray for those who persecute us (vv. 43–44). This did not fit the expectations of those looking for a Messiah to liberate them from the Romans—nor does it fit the way we typically live today.

The reason for Jesus’ command is “that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (v. 45). In other words, this is what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom of God. If we love those who love us, there’s nothing special about that. We are no better than a tax collector or a pagan (vv. 46–47). Jesus deepens the command, saying: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35–36; Matt. 5:7).

Jesus, of course, modeled His own teaching. While dying on the cross, betrayed and forsaken, He prayed for His enemies and forgave them (Luke 23:34). The first martyr, Stephen, imitated Christ’s example and did the same (Acts 7:60).

Go Deeper

How would following Jesus’ teaching about love change the way we live? Who are your “enemies,” and how can you love them?

Pray with Us

Father, the shocking command to love our enemies is impossible without Your Spirit. Please fill us with this impossible love for the difficult people in our lives.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?Matthew 5:46

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Read Matthew 5:38–42

One of the most famous penny-pinchers in English literature is Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s novel A Christmas Carol. Through a dream on Christmas Eve, however, he was transformed into a generous and cheerful man. How? The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future showed him moments from his life that gave him an accurate perspective on what kind of man he really was. They also issued him an urgent invitation to change his ways.

Generosity and justice are linked in God’s eyes. The old way, lex talionis, an “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” represented a human kind of justice (v. 38; Exod. 21:23–25). As we’ve seen already in His teachings, Jesus raises the bar. Rather than exchanging tit for tat, we are to respond to our adversary with extravagant, unreasonable love or generosity (vv. 39–42).

That means if someone slaps you in anger, you will offer the other cheek instead of responding in kind. (This is not referring to a violent attack or habitual abuse.) If someone sues you for your shirt, offer your coat as well. If a Roman soldier forced you to carry their gear for one mile, you were to go the extra mile despite their being the hated conquerors. These examples, like Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness (Matt. 18:21–22), are meant to shock us. We’re being asked to give up our right to get even (1 Cor. 6:7). All this is faith-inspired generosity: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (v. 42; Ps. 112:5).

Followers of Christ should not worry about keeping score, because we’re trusting in God. In His strength, we can overcome evil with good; He will take any revenge that’s needed (Rom. 12:20–21; see also Prov 25:21–22).

Go Deeper

What is your response to this lesson? Does Jesus mean we should let ourselves be taken advantage of? When, how, or why?

Pray with Us

Lord Jesus, You have shown us extravagant, unreasonable love through Your death on the cross. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Show us who we can love generously!

Give to the one who asks you.Matthew 5:42

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Read Matthew 5:33–37

Promises and vows to the Lord are serious business, as taught by the author of Ecclesiastes (5:1–7). His advice was, “Do not be quick with your mouth,” lest one risked offering “the sacrifice of fools.” To make a vow and not keep it disrespects God and shows a sinful lack of the fear of the Lord.

Oaths and vows are not to be taken lightly. The Old Testament Law had said, “Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made” (cited by Jesus in v. 33; see Num. 30:2). Once again, Jesus raises the bar; this time He teaches us not to swear oaths or vows at all (vv. 34–36).

Should we swear by heaven? No, for that would be presumptuous. Should we swear by the earth? No, for just as the first is God’s throne, the second is His footstool. Should we swear by Jerusalem? No, for it’s His city (Ps. 48:2). Surely, we’re allowed to swear at least by our own heads. No, for we cannot change even one hair on them.

What to do instead? Simply say “yes” or “no” and mean it (v. 37; James 5:12–13). Whatever we say should be true. Our word should be our bond, as the saying goes, meaning that if we say we’ll do something, it should be as good as a formal promise. No oath, vow, or special contract should be needed if we’re people of integrity. In fact, anything more than “yes” or “no” comes from the evil one, revealing the gravity of this issue.

What about swearing on a Bible in court? Jesus was not addressing this kind of situation, which is merely a legal ceremony. Morally and spiritually, we are always obligated to tell “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Go Deeper

Why is it important to take our vows seriously? How does someone earn a reputation as being a man or woman of their word? Is that your reputation?

Pray with Us

God of truth, who is like You? You are trustworthy in all Your promises. Thank You that we can always look to You with our questions, for “every word of God is flawless” (Prov. 30:5).

All you need to say is simply “Yes” or “No.”Matthew 5:37

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Read Matthew 5:31–32

In post-Christian America, an increasing percentage of children are born to couples who are cohabiting but not married. According to the Institute for Family Studies, “such children are approximately twice as likely to see their parents break up by the time they turn 12.” Researchers have also studied the long-term detrimental effects family instability has on these children.

Marriage is not simply a social institution, but a moral and spiritual relationship instituted by God (Gen. 2:24). That’s why divorce is a serious issue. The Mosaic Law did allow for divorce in certain circumstances (v. 31; Deut. 24:1–4). But in Matthew 5, Jesus once again raised the bar saying the only legitimate justification is sexual unfaithfulness (v. 32). What’s more, a man who divorces his wife for any other reason makes her a victim of adultery, and to marry a wrongly divorced woman is to commit adultery. In other words, divorce doesn’t automatically open the door to remarriage. In the early church, as the gospel went out to the Gentile world, the apostle Paul indicated that spousal abandonment due to an unbelieving spouse being unwilling to live with a believer is also potential grounds for divorce (1 Cor. 7:12–15).

In our permissive society, these teachings sound harsh and are often ignored, even by Christians. But the text is clear: We are to take seriously the divine origin of marriage. Jesus spoke in Matthew 19:1–12 on the created sanctity of marriage (vv. 4–6). Both marriage and singleness are callings (vv. 11–12). Moses allowed divorce not because it was God’s desire but because people’s hearts were spiritually hard (v. 8). Jesus taught against divorce, except in the case of sexual unfaithfulness (v. 9). Like many today, His disciples thought this teaching was a difficult one to accept.

Go Deeper

What is the biblical view of marriage, divorce, and singleness? What does Paul teach on this topic in 1 Corinthians 7?

Pray with Us

Loving Father, the words of Jesus remind us how important it is that we prioritize You in our relationships. As we remain faithful to those we love, we thank You for always being faithful to us.

Anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery.Matthew 5:32

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Read Matthew 5:27–30

“I am a sexual sinner,” pastor and author Ray Ortlund told his church one Sunday morning. There was a shocked silence. “I’m not cheating on my wife. I’m not looking at porn. But I am a sexual sinner. If all of the thoughts that went through my head this week were put up on the screens this morning, none of you would want to be my friend.”

Rev. Ortlund understood the high standards for sexual purity taught by Jesus. Here Jesus quoted the seventh commandment: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exod. 20:14). But in Matthew 5, Jesus raised the bar: To even look at a woman lustfully is morally equivalent to committing adultery (v. 28). The “look” is a sustained “stare” that turns her into a sexual object.

We are to fight temptation, and other sins, passionately and fiercely (vv. 29–30). The exaggerated actions suggested here were used to make a point: If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out; if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Sin is serious because the destiny of our souls is at stake. We should do whatever it takes, with God’s help, to resist temptation and pursue righteousness (Matt. 5:6). Frederick Bruner puts it this way: “Take decisive action against that habit, thing, or person that, though pleasurable and perhaps even seemingly indispensable for living, is in fact ruining our lives.”

God called Job “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). To uphold his sexual purity, Job “made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1). He understood that sin often begins with the eyes.

Go Deeper

Why does Jesus suggest this dramatic approach to sin? Do you ever walk too close to the line? What difference would it make if you approached every temptation with this truth uppermost in your mind?

Pray with Us

Give us wisdom, Jesus, to know what habits or actions are ruining our lives. Help us take the “way out” that You provide from every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). We fix our eyes on You!

Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.Matthew 5:28

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Read Matthew 5:23–26

In the classic novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Jane is an orphan taken in unwillingly by her aunt. The woman treats Jane unfairly in comparison with her own spoiled children. Jane is a sensitive, passionate child with a keen sense of justice, and is often angry at her aunt. As a young adult, however, she learns about grace and forgiveness. When Jane is called to her aunt’s deathbed, she forgives her, even though her aunt hadn’t changed at all.

In today’s reading, Jesus addresses the topic of reconciliation. Jesus tells us that seeking reconciliation should be a high priority (vv. 23–24). “Therefore” (v. 23) essentially means “so that you don’t harbor ongoing anger or resentment in your heart and thus come under judgment.” We might be about to worship, but if we remember such a situation, no matter how small, we should leave and go repair the relationship (Matt. 5:9). Any sin, including anger, interferes with worship. Once peace has been made, then we can return to the altar.

In general, we are to keep short accounts and not allow anger to fester (vv. 25–26). This makes sense even at a practical level. If anger is left unchecked, we might find ourselves taken to court or thrown in jail. Obviously, it is best to seek reconciliation quickly. To “settle matters” does not mean just to come to terms or stop fighting. Literally it means to “make friends.”

Since any conflict with fellow believers hinders our worship of God, settling the matter is urgent. After all, since Christ reconciled us to God (Rom. 5:10–11), should we deny reconciliation with another? How otherwise can we have a “ministry of reconciliation” or credibly proclaim the “message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18–19)?

Go Deeper

How important is peacemaking or reconciliation in your spiritual walk? In the life of your church? Is the Holy Spirit bringing any specific people or situations to your mind?

Pray with Us

Holy Lord, Your will is that we love one another in all things. Conflict easily takes over when we feel unjustly wronged. We invite You to be Lord over our emotions, so we will honor You.

First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.Matthew 5:24

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Read Matthew 5:21–22

The first anger recorded in Scripture led directly to the first murder (Gen. 4:1–15). When God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s, Cain became angry. God warned him to be on guard because sin was “crouching at your door” (v. 7), but he didn’t listen and murdered his brother. God therefore put a curse on him and exiled him from his community.

The sixth commandment forbids murder (Matt. 5:21; Exod. 20:13). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises the bar and connects murder to anger (v. 22). The three statements in verse 22 indicate the same sin: To be angry at someone, to call them “Raca”—a term of contempt, meaning “empty head” or “good-for-nothing” or simply “jerk”—and to insult them are all equivalent actions. As Proverbs indicates, the sin of anger multiplies out to other related sins (Prov. 29:22; 30:33).

To be angry in this context means to desire to harm, damage, or destroy, the opposite of loving our neighbor. One commentator explains that the anger here is ongoing or continuing anger, not a momentary emotion but a deliberate and resentful choice to remain angry. If we have been angry in this way, including feeling scorn or hatred for another or expressing derision or disrespect for them, we have broken the sixth commandment. That is, we have broken the spirit of the commandment, God’s standard of true holiness, and are deserving of judgment and hell.

As followers of Christ, we must therefore rid ourselves of anger and rage (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8). As with Cain, this sin crouches at our door and waits for us to yield to temptation. Godly love, by contrast, is “not easily angered” (1 Cor. 13:5). In James’s practical words: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

Go Deeper

If anger is an issue for you, what warning does this passage hold? If not, what type of sin is often crouching at your door?

Pray with Us

Please replace our earthly anger with a deep love for one another, Lord. When we are tempted to lose control, remind us of Your example. Give us patience that only comes from You.

Anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.Matthew 5:22

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Read Matthew 5:17–20

What did Jesus mean when He said that “not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen” will disappear from the Law (Matt. 5:18)? The King James Version translates this phrase as “one jot or one tittle.” A “jot” is literally the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, while a “tittle” is a tiny mark or stroke that distinguishes between similar letters.

Today, we might say that “not even one apostrophe” will disappear from the Law until all is fulfilled. The question Jesus addresses is the relationship between His teachings and the Mosaic Law. Were they in conflict? No. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (v. 17). That is, He would not delete it but accomplish it (v. 18). How? As the only human being who never sinned, Jesus was the only person ever to obey the Law—including the Prophets, meaning all of Scripture—perfectly.

Therefore, the Old Testament should not be “set aside” (v. 19), or as other translations have it, “relaxed,” “ignored,” “broken,” or “trivialized.” Some advocate this position, claiming that the Old Testament is no longer relevant. According to Jesus, however, there is an ongoing responsibility to teach and practice Scripture’s moral and spiritual principles.

God’s standards for holiness did not change in the new covenant. Perfect righteousness is needed to enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 20; Deut. 26:16). Jesus’ listeners would have known this was humanly impossible. Knowing we are sinners is the first step in understanding and receiving the gospel. We can have eternal life only when Christ’s righteousness is credited to us (Rom. 4:24; Gal. 3:23–24). While the Law (from God) is good, legalism and hypocrisy (from people) are bad (Matt. 23:23–24). In the rest of chapter 5 Jesus contrasts “You have heard” with “But I tell you.”

Go Deeper

The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible. Why is the entire Bible important to us today?

Pray with Us

Father, You are perfect and holy in every way. Our sin separates us from You, but Jesus’ death on the cross gave us access to Your perfect righteousness. Praise God!

Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.Matthew 5:18

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Read Matthew 5:13–16

Salt adds flavor to our food, but it is such a flavorful additive that we tend to overindulge. A high percentage of Americans consume more than the recommended daily amount of sodium. If we could cut salt intake by even 10 percent, we could prevent hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and strokes over time. But salt doesn’t just add flavor, it acts as a preservative. Jesus may have had both these meanings in mind when He called His followers “the salt of the earth” (v. 13).

A second metaphor Jesus used for His followers was “the light of the world” (vv. 14–16). This image emphasizes the need for light to see by; we help others “see” by doing good deeds and bringing glory to God (see Eph. 2:10). This makes sense since Christ is the original Light of the World (John 8:12). Our light depends on His light.

Both salt and light are transformative by nature. Adding salt to a dish changes the taste of the food. When we light a lamp, the look and feel of a room are changed. Both metaphors also highlight qualities that can be lost, or purposes that can fail to be fulfilled. Good deeds, for example, can be done for our own glory (Matt. 6:1). Salt can lose its flavor; light can be hidden. Moral and spiritual uselessness is tragic.

We don’t need to try to become salt or light. Jesus simply said that we are salt and light. One implication is that we became salt and light when we trusted Christ for salvation. Another is that we have a responsibility to remain salt and light and not become useless. How can we do so? By faithfully following Christ. In a dark and sinful world, such a person will stand out!

Go Deeper

What are practical ways we can be salt and light? How can we “let our light shine” and at the same time give God glory and remain humble?

Pray with Us

King Jesus, when You walked the earth, You were salt and light in the darkness. Thank You for being our example. Please show us ways we can transform our surroundings with Your light.

You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.Matthew 5:13–14

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Read Matthew 5:13–16

Salt adds flavor to our food, but it is such a flavorful additive that we tend to overindulge. A high percentage of Americans consume more than the recommended daily amount of sodium. If we could cut salt intake by even 10 percent, we could prevent hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and strokes over time. But salt doesn’t just add flavor, it acts as a preservative. Jesus may have had both these meanings in mind when He called His followers “the salt of the earth” (v. 13).

A second metaphor Jesus used for His followers was “the light of the world” (vv. 14–16). This image emphasizes the need for light to see by; we help others “see” by doing good deeds and bringing glory to God (see Eph. 2:10). This makes sense since Christ is the original Light of the World (John 8:12). Our light depends on His light.

Both salt and light are transformative by nature. Adding salt to a dish changes the taste of the food. When we light a lamp, the look and feel of a room are changed. Both metaphors also highlight qualities that can be lost, or purposes that can fail to be fulfilled. Good deeds, for example, can be done for our own glory (Matt. 6:1). Salt can lose its flavor; light can be hidden. Moral and spiritual uselessness is tragic.

We don’t need to try to become salt or light. Jesus simply said that we are salt and light. One implication is that we became salt and light when we trusted Christ for salvation. Another is that we have a responsibility to remain salt and light and not become useless. How can we do so? By faithfully following Christ. In a dark and sinful world, such a person will stand out!

Go Deeper

What are practical ways we can be salt and light? How can we “let our light shine” and at the same time give God glory and remain humble?

Pray with Us

King Jesus, when You walked the earth, You were salt and light in the darkness. Thank You for being our example. Please show us ways we can transform our surroundings with Your light.

You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.Matthew 5:13–14

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Read Matthew 5:9–12

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most highly esteemed honors in the world, given to an organization or a person who has worked tirelessly for peace, reconciliation, human rights, or justice. In 2014, Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for championing the rights of all children to receive an education.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus taught that blessed are the peacemakers (v. 9). This is the seventh group highlighted by Jesus as blessed or happy. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, doesn’t just mean the absence of war or conflict. It signifies overall well-being and can be applied to any set of social relationships, from nations to families and friendships. Those who contribute to peace in this sense “will be called children of God,” a result that focuses on redemption and the gospel (Rom. 5:1,10).

The eighth group of people who are blessed or happy are “those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (v. 10). This is further defined as those who are insulted or mocked, lied about, and persecuted for the sake of Christ (v. 11). Satan and the world have always persecuted worshipers of God and will continue to do so until Christ returns. Like the “poor in spirit” (v. 3), this group will receive the kingdom of heaven.

Followers of Christ should rejoice when they’re being persecuted (v. 12)! Why? One reason is because it shows we’re on the right track. The world will treat us as it treated our Master, and we should follow His example while enduring such treatment (1 Peter 2:21–24). Another reason is we will receive a “reward in heaven.” We stand in a long historical line of faithful worshipers of God who have been persecuted, including the Old Testament prophets (Matt. 23:29–31).

Go Deeper

What does it mean to be “blessed” or “happy” from our cultural point of view? How and why are these different from a biblical perspective?

Pray with Us

What a mighty God we serve! As we pursue peace, fill us with gratitude for Your redemption through Jesus. As we pursue righteousness in persecution, give us joy in serving You.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.Matthew 5:12

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Read Matthew 5:5–8

What does it mean to be meek? Campus minister Derek Rishmawy asserts: “We don’t understand the virtue of meekness and tend to think it indicates weakness. Meekness is a gentleness that restrains us from anger. Meekness is not something we can achieve in our own earthly strength. It is something only Jesus can give.”

The “meek” or gentle are the third group of people named as blessed or happy in the Beatitudes (v. 5; Ps. 37:11). The blessings in the Beatitudes, including meekness, are blessings we can and should pray for; they are also qualities or virtues to which we should aspire. Commentator Frederick Dale Bruner describes the meek as “those who make no claims for themselves before God or before other people.” Surprisingly, for reasons similar to those implied in verse 3, they will “inherit the earth,” despite not being aggressive or ambitious. The earth is the Lord’s to do with as He chooses.

The fourth group are people who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (v. 6). They are in fact starving for righteousness. They desire to be utterly free from the power of sin and completely conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). These people will be “filled” or satisfied, which can only happen through the work of our righteous God.

The fifth group who are blessed or happy are the “merciful” (v. 7). Augustine interpreted this quality specifically as coming to the aid of the poor and needy. Appropriately, they themselves “will be shown mercy.”

The sixth group are the “pure in heart” (v. 8). According to D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, this phrase means genuine, sincere, and single-minded in one’s devotion to God. Such people “will see God,” an incredible blessing and promise.

Go Deeper

Identify one of the qualities or virtues mentioned in the Beatitudes where you desire to grow. Why are most of these attributes not valued in the eyes of the world?

Pray with Us

Lord, the qualities Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount come directly from You. Whether we need more meekness, mercy, righteousness, or purity of heart, will You help us grow in these areas?

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.Matthew 5:8

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Read Matthew 5:1–4

As told by Timothy R. Gaines in Walking the Theological Life, studying the Sermon on the Mount transformed the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Previously, Bonhoeffer had earned multiple degrees in theology, but he hadn’t yet become a Christian. Encountering the Sermon on the Mount, however, was “a revolutionary encounter that moved his faith from one of knowing about the kingdom Jesus was establishing to being caught up within it.”

As we study the Sermon on the Mount, we hope it will transform your life as well! Did Jesus preach from a podium? No. Unlike most pastors today, Jewish rabbis typically sat down to teach (vv. 1–2). Tradition says this discourse was given from a site overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

The Beatitudes with which Jesus begins are statements of blessing or happiness. These are not true for all people but are specifically referring to followers of Christ. These declarations are simple, profound, beautiful, and memorable. Collectively, they describe how we should live as we await His return.

The first group of people who are named as blessed or happy are the “poor in spirit,” that is, those who are humble (v. 3; see Phil. 2:5–8). As opposed to the proud, they know they need God’s help. Unexpectedly—because they are not rich, powerful, or important in worldly terms—they will be given the kingdom of heaven. This highlights the fact that the kingdom is a gift, not earned or deserved.

The second group who are named as blessed or happy are “those who mourn” or are “brokenhearted” (v. 4). This description covers people who are grieving or troubled. Thankfully, “they will be comforted,” ultimately by God (Rev. 21:4). After all, Jesus Himself was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3 ESV).

Go Deeper

What is the “kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God” in Scripture? What does it look like in the present? What will it look like in the future?

Pray with Us

Dear Father, please reveal Yourself to us in a new way as we study the Sermon on the Mount. Please transform our lives as we await Your return, and convict us where needed. We love Your Word!

He began to teach them.Matthew 5:2

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Read 2 Peter 3:17–18

Every semester, I prepare a syllabus for my college courses, including assignments and required reading. On the first day of class, we go over the syllabus to make sure students understand the expectations. Later, if a student says, “I didn’t know a paper was due today!” I point them back to the syllabus. They had been warned.

As he closes his letter, Peter reminds the church that they too have been warned. He has warned about the dangers of false teaching (v. 17). They are to be on their guard and vigilant. They are responsible for the truth God has revealed to them. They are to hold fast to the teaching of the apostles and not be “carried away by the error of the lawless” (v. 17). There is a certain rigidity to the Christian faith. We hold to the truths of Christ’s divinity, His sacrificial death for our sins, the resurrection, and His Second Coming with unshakable faith. No teacher, no matter how gifted, should be able to sway us.

But Christians are not stagnant in their faith either. Peter challenges the church to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v. 18). Over the course of our lives, we learn to live the truth of the gospel. This is what Paul commanded as well: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6–7).

We should be able to look back over our lives and see how God has been at work shaping and forming us into the image of Christ. Peter’s ultimate hope is that we would remain rooted in the faith and growing in holiness.

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Pray with Us

Lord, as we conclude this month’s study of 1 and 2 Peter, may we remain rooted in the faith and grow in holiness. Help us always persevere through suffering and seek the truth in Your Word. Amen!

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.2 Peter 3:18

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Read 2 Peter 3:14–16

In the ancient world, sometimes people would put short sayings on their tombs like this: “Once I had an existence; now I have none. I am not aware of it. It does not concern me.” Today, many people feel the same way. This life is all there is.

Peter had a very different view. He knew the day of the Lord would come and judgment administered. As followers of Jesus, we too hold that truth, giving our lives significance and meaning. This should impact the way we live today. Peter says, “Since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (v. 14). The new heavens and new earth will be a place of righteousness (v. 13). God is preparing us to be the kind of people who belong there.

Peter supports his argument by appealing to “our dear brother Paul” (v. 15). This is a remarkable passage. It shows that Peter and Paul had the same message. Paul also spoke of the return of Christ and of God’s kindness being a reason for the delay in judgment (1 Thess. 4:13–18; Rom. 2:4). But even more remarkable is that Peter puts Paul’s writing on par with the Old Testament Scriptures. Notice what he says: “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures” (v. 16).

There is a warning here. Scripture teaches the truth, but false teachers can twist Scripture for their own purposes. We need to be on guard. This is especially the case when it comes to teaching about Christ’s return. Our focus should be like Peter’s, on how the truth of the Second Coming should lead us to repentance and a transformed life today.

Go Deeper

Have you encountered people who believe that this life is all there is? How can sharing the gospel communicate hope for their future?

Pray with Us

Father, thank You that “every word of God is flawless” (Prov. 30:5). In a world where so many people are led astray by lies, You have given us absolute truth. We praise You!

Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.2 Peter 3:14

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