Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (14)
Pray Psalm 15.1, 2.
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart…
Sing joyfully Psalm 15.1, 2.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
LORD, who may dwell within Your tent, or on Your holy hill?
All those who keep Your covenant and walk within Your will.
All they who with integrity work peace and righteousness,
forever in God’s house shall be forgiven, kept, and blessed.
Read Matthew 5.1-20; meditate on verses 13-20.
How would you describe the Kingdom of God?
Prepare.
1. What is the righteousness of God’s Kingdom like?
2. What is it not like?
Meditate.
Having explained in the beatitudes that hungering and thirsting for righteousness are identifying marks of those who are blessed in the Kingdom of God, Jesus immediately launched into a fuller explanation of what righteousness entails. In verses 13-20, He emphasized the effects of righteousness, indicated its source, and then began a deeper analysis of true righteousness by telling us what it is not.
Righteousness is like salt and light. It brings out the goodness God has established in the world and guards against decaying influences. Righteousness shines like a light in a dark place. The effect of this salt-and-light presence is that people realize that God is at work, and they give Him glory and honor (vv. 13-16). Our calling is to make ourselves as salty and as light-filled as we can, for the Kingdom of God is righteousness (Rom. 14.17, 18).
That means we must devote ourselves to reading, meditating on, studying, obeying, and teaching God’s Law (vv. 17-19). The Law of God is the source of our understanding about the true nature of righteousness, especially as we see the Law fulfilled and explained by Jesus. Jesus embodies the Law. He fulfilled all its righteous requirements, and He calls us to walk the same path (1 Jn. 2.1-6). We will not make progress in seeking or advancing the Kingdom if we neglect the Law of God or deny its relevance for our lives. Kingdom greatness awaits all those who mine the source of righteousness in God’s Law and teach others to do so also.
But we must not make the mistake of thinking that righteousness is something we can merely patch on or make up to suit our own ideas about what’s best. This was the practice of the scribes and Pharisees, and Jesus denounced their merely superficial righteousness as insufficient for life in His Kingdom. In the verses that follow, He will explain the real meaning of inside-out righteousness.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We are to be salt.
We are to be light.
We are to do good works.
We are to keep the Law and Prophets.
We are to be more than superficially righteous.
We are to be like Jesus.
Why? To glorify God.
We are not to be and do these things so that lots of people will get saved.
Although others coming to know the Savior is wonderful.
We are not to be and do these things to get saved from hell.
Only Jesus could do that; and He did that for us.
We are not to be and do these things to get brownie points at church.
That is what the scribes and Pharisees did, much to God’s displeasure.
We are to be and do these things for one purpose: to bring glory to God—
in humble obedience to Him; through the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians regarding his good works, their purpose, and his heart’s desire for them:
“For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil;
for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
as you know how we
exhorted and comforted, and charged/implored you,
as a father does his own children,
that you would walk worthy of God
Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2.9-12).
Paul behaved devoutly, justly, and blamelessly.
He exhorted, comforted, and implored them
to walk in a manner worthy of God
because God had called them
to glorify Him and
live righteously in His Kingdom.
Paul inclined his heart to do God’s Law
forever, to the very end (Ps. 119.112).
Paul tells us to imitate him, just as he imitates Jesus (1 Cor. 11.1).
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,
which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6.20).
We are to glorify God.
Our salt, light, obedience, and good works will cause others to glorify God.
And the Kingdom of God will be full of everyone and everything glorifying God.
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Ps. 150.6).
“Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His Name together” (Ps. 34.3 NIV).
Reflect.
1. What does it mean to “glorify God”? How can we do this?
2. What would you expect to be the effects of our glorifying God in our Personal Mission Field?
3. Whom will you encourage today to be salt and light for the glory of God?
Consequently nothing in the divine commandments must be abolished, nothing altered. Everything must be preserved and taught faithfully and devotedly that the glory of the heavenly kingdom may not be lost. Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 20.2.1-3
Pray Psalm 15.2-5.
Pray that God will work the righteousness of Jesus into your life, and out into your Personal Mission Field today.
Sing Psalm 15.2-5.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
Let truth from every heart proceed, and slander disappear:
Thus shall we know God’s grace indeed and feel His Presence near.
No evil to your neighbor speak, nor turn against your friend:
Thus shall you know the end you seek – God’s Presence without end.
Let every sinner be despised; but those who fear the Lord
Shall honor have before our eyes, according to God’s Word.
All they who keep their word in faith, though suffering may ensue,
Shall know the favor of God’s grace, His Presence ever true.
No greed and no injustice shall they do who seek the Lord;
But on His mercy ever call and stand upon His Word.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church as Jesus envisions it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
