As Jesus is making his application regarding "practicing [our] righteousness," he speaks of giving, prayer, and fasting. In each case he begins, "When you..." John Wesley, summarizing both historical Christianity and current church practice at the beginning of the 18th century wrote, “Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason and others have utterly disregarded it.” Are we guilty of 'utterly disregard[ing] it"?

Obviously, your right hand will always know what your left hand is doing. Jesus's point is that we should not do our giving to be seen, nor should we be self-conscious about it. Our reward should be seeing that the need has been met.

Pinchas Lapide has written, “the commandment of the so-called love of enemy is probably the most frequently cited, yet least often practiced saying of Jesus in the entire New Testament” (The Sermon on the Mount, 77). Are we neglecting this command of Jesus, if not in our words, certainly in our practice?

"But what if...?" What if we strive to be more like the teaching of Jesus instead of looking for loopholes? Instead of self-preservation, what about giving to the point that it does hurt?

Why do we sometimes feel the need to say, "This is the truth..."? Is it because we are prone at times to not tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? How about letting our yes be yes? It might help our relationships!

Where is your heart on the matter? We err when we focus on the dissolution of marriage instead of on the blessings of an enduring relationship. Are you taking radical actions to insure the future of your relationships? Where is your heart on the matter?

What if we have missed the main point because of an improper perspective? How can the six teachings of Matt. 5 be considered 'antitheses' if Jesus just said, "I have not come to abolish them [Law and Prophets] but to fulfill them? What if...

How are we to understand Jesus' statement that he came to 'fulfill' the law? How does it relate to the baptismal statement that he needed "to fulfill all righteousness"?

There have been many interpretations proffered as to the meaning of the metaphors Jesus used when he said, "You are the salt...You are the light." What is clear is that the metaphors indicate that we are on a mission... and it is God's mission, not ours. Are you being 'salty' and shedding light in the darkness?

We have often missed the point! It is not that we have been "blessed". The beatitudes provide a description of a lifestyle that will flourish -- even in the midst of persecution. It is not about being happy; happiness can come with luck. Jesus is sharing what an abundant life will look like.