Help us to love you and our neighbour.
The Sermon on the Mount epitomises Jesus teachings (It may be worth reading them from yourself – Matt 5-7). Like most of Jesus' teachings they are never straight forward, but something to strive for. To the world they may seem impossible or even foolish, but this does show God can do the impossible, and man's wisdom is foolishness to God.
They start with a series of blessings. It exhorts us to be meek, to make peace, while at the same time offers comfort to those who are having difficulties.
It contrasts the idea of religion for religion's sake to that where we should want to continue to improve. True religion is not something that we can tick a box and say 'done', then move on to something else. Nor is it repetitive ceremony carried out on a daily/ weekly/ monthly/ etc basis.
It tells us what Jesus gave as the precepts he lived by: that we should love God, and our neighbour as ourselves. It gives us warnings to help us. The Pharisaic law had become very defined. Unfortunately this was not so they could please God, but like today's laws, so they could spent more time looking for loopholes to exploit. Like temptations we become too good at justifying our actions even though, deep down, we know that they are wrong. The law said just how far you could go wrong, but what Jesus said (and God wanted) was that we should try to be as close to God as possible.
Jesus also tells us just how we should praise God. Not to be seem by men for our advantage, but how God wants us to praise him. He also gives us the perfect prayer;
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
As mentioned above Jesus gave us the perfect examples for us to love God and our neighbour.
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There's no specific questions this week, but I would like to hear your comments on the Sermon on the Mount – what effect you think it had on the listeners and what effect it should have on us.