Jesus teaches believers how we are to respond to those who hate us. The context is personal persecution and mistreatment for Christ's sake. He commands that we do good, bless, and pray for those who hate and curse us. He gives examples and tells us the reason why we are to live this way as believers. It is because our God is merciful and we show the world who He is when we are merciful.

Jesus preaches the sermon on the level describing what a life in right relationship with God looks like. The "blessed" life is not what most people expect. Jesus is giving a description of what this life looks like - it is those who are poor, hungry, mournful, and hated. That is not what a "blessed" life looks like to the world.

Jesus, facing increasing opposition, chooses the 12 Apostles from among His disciples. He secludes Himself on a mountain and prays all night before making the choice. The choosing of the 12 is born from increasing opposition, communion with the Father, and a dependence upon His power. These are the same things that characterize the church and the Christian life.

Phillip witnesses to the Ethiopian Eunuch on the road to Gaza. The principles we see in this witness encounter illustrated the biblical principles of being ambassadors for Christ.

Jesus demonstrates that empty ritual (especially man-made rituals) is not good enough to make man right with God. He seeks a heart devoted to Him which only comes through the new birth. The Pharisees object to Jesus' actions on the Sabbath, but He instructs them on the proper observance of God's commands.

Jesus answers the Pharisees' question about ritual fasting by showing that the gospel He proclaims is incompatible with all religions that work for righteousness. Jesus didn't come to be an accessory added to the religion of men. He came to save mankind and give men new hearts. The gospel is an all or nothing proposition.

Jesus calls an unlikely person to be His disciple. Levi (Matthew) is a tax collector. Tax collectors were thought to be the most wicked, vile, and hated people in Israel. Yet Jesus extends the call to this sinner. The call is to follow Jesus and Levi leaves all to do so. This is the same call made to us today.

Jesus demonstrates that He possesses the authority to forgive sin, as desperate men do whatever it takes to get their paralyzed companion to Jesus. At the same time, religious men sit satisfied, not recognizing their need for Christ.

Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. This wasn't just his inheritance of servants, money, and livestock - the inheritance from Abraham and Isaac came with a promise from God. The "seed" would come from the line of Abraham and Isaac. God already told Rebecca that Jacob would be the promised seed, but here we see Esau couldn't care less about his spiritual inheritance. He was a profane man (Heb. 12:17).

A man full of leprosy desires Jesus to make him clean. The leper is unclean and shut out of the presence of God in the Temple, and the community of God. He must yell, "unclean, unclean" to warn those who come near. His uncleanness defiles everything he touches, but when Jesus touches him...