A New Life-style

KEY VERSE: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you.” —John 13:34

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:27-38

THE Sermon on the Mount was delivered early in our Lord’s ministry, and while great multitudes were following him to hear his message and to be healed of their diseases, the message itself was directed principally to his disciples and close followers. Since this was before Pentecost, the disciples were not yet begotten of the Holy Spirit and, therefore, the precepts to be followed by the new creation were not understood or even known by them. They had the background of centuries of being under the Law Covenant, which required exact compliance to its laws. Jesus in this sermon, as recorded in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew, demonstrated to the disciples the law of liberty that is in Christ and contrasted this with the precepts of the Law Covenant that were so familiar to them.

Some of these general rules of the law of liberty that is in Christ are recorded in Matthew, the fifth chapter. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (vs. 3) The thought of Jesus, we believe, was expressed in Isaiah 57:15 which states in part, “I [God] dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” It is these who will be teachable and obedient and, therefore, they will eventually receive the kingdom.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (vs. 6) The Lord here used a very powerful simile. In all of our physical drives there are none stronger than thirst and hunger. We know if our hunger or thirst is real and pressing, it will cause us to do almost anything to satisfy the desire. The Lord is saying that this is the kind of drive he is pleased to see in his people in searching for righteousness and truth, because this reveals a hungering of the heart which he is pleased to fill.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (vs. 7) The Heavenly Father wants us to appreciate this wonderful quality of mercy, especially since we are the objects of God’s great mercy and love. We realize that while we were yet sinners and condemned to death, God sent his Son to die for us. (Rom. 5:8) Being the recipients of such mercy ourselves we should be willing and anxious to extend mercy to others. The Lord indicates that our willingness to extend mercy to others would be the measure of how he will extend mercy to us.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (vs. 10) The walk of the Christian is one of faith and obedience under difficult and trying circumstances. The oppositions and trials come from the forces of darkness. Jesus said, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20) It is by the trials perpetrated by the forces of darkness that the Heavenly Father can test our faith and loyalty to him. And it is also through the trials that the Christian is enabled to develop the fruits and graces of the spirit. The Apostle Paul states, “Now no chastening [tutorage] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”—Heb. 12:11; also Matt. 10:24-28; Heb. 5:8,9

These, of course, are but a few of the precepts Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount, but they are sufficient to illustrate the type of thinking that was foreign or new to the disciples, but yet the very foundation of the law of liberty in Christ. Jesus illustrated the application of some of these Christian precepts and shows the contrast of what they had been taught under the Law. “Ye have heard that it was said, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth; but I say to you, Oppose not the injurious person; but if any one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the left; and whosoever will sue thee for thy coat, let him have the mantle also. And if a man press you to go one mile with him, go two. You have heard that it was said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; that you may resemble that Father of yours in the heavens.”—Matt. 5:38-45 Diaglott

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