When you watch an illusionist, you begin to wonder where is the trick? Where's the magnet in the shoe or string? But when Jesus does miracles, there is no trick or rite or ritual. There is nothing outside himself. And that is one of the main things Matthew teaches us in this narrative section.

Contrast, contrast, contrast, contrast! That is the name of the game in this passage as the Sermon on the Mount that begins with a blessing (two groups of four) ends with a warning (four contrasts, or four groups of two).

How easy it is to see in others things that we don't want to admit in ourselves and thus end with a bit of overjudgmentalism of others. And that is just the last seemingly impossible standard for the follower of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. Is there hope for the disciple? Yes, listen in as Jesus teaches that innreliance upon God we are to treat people kindly.

Anxiety. Being so stressed about needs of tomorrow that you can't pray, sleep, or do the tasks God has intended, but we are called to undivided loyalty in the day. How are we to do this? With uncompromised trust. Listen in as Jesus brings these together.

Prayer is a difficult topic for many. But it is not meant to be rocket surgery. Here's a reminder that our God is not inattentive or petty and need not be bartered with.

Pretending... it's not quite the end, but it is something we do far too often. But certainly we wouldn't play a pretend game with our righteousness, right? In this text, Jesus shows us that we should do our righteousness in order to strive after God's reward, not man's.

What connects oaths, kindness, and love in place of vengeance together? The fact that Jesus call his followers to completeness in respect to each of them: complete honesty, complete kindness, and complete love. What an impossible standard!

Anger, insults, even lust is everywhere. Certainly that's no big deal, right? I don't think so, and more importantly, I dont think Jesus would say so either. Join in in Matthew 5 as Jesus clarifies the heart and spirit of the law.

Sometimes, spot the difference puzzles can be easier than identifying Christians in the midst of the world. But this is not how it should be.

We tend to use blessing to sanctify prosperity and the American Dream, but though it may be right to enjoy God's good gifts, this is a thin meaning if blessing that cannot account for the beauty of the Beatitudes which show that divine favor does not come to the prosperous, but the poor in spirit.