As he closes out the Sermon on the Mount teachings, Jesus emphasizes that his disciples have the dignity of a choice to either follow the teachings and make him the Lord of their lives- or not. Following these teachings offers the narrow road to life, while not choosing to follow them leads down the wide road to destruction.

As his disciples living today, our choices have an impact in the “now and not yet” Kingdom. If we live according to Jesus’ teachings, our earthly lives will be full of connection and meaning. At the appointed time, Jesus will judge who has walked the narrow road and who has walked the wide road. There are and will be consequences to what we choose.

In this section of the Sermon on Mount teachings, Jesus instructs his disciples to not to judge others. In other words, we are not to play God and are instead to examine and attend to our own blindspots. We are to remember our place when we pray as we respectfully, but boldly ask God to meet our needs. Jesus also requires more of his disciples than the well known “Golden Rule.” Taking the initiative to do good to others is the greater righteousness required in the Kingdom of Heaven.

In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus addresses our scarcity mindset. He tells his disciples that they are to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Practically, this means keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, seeking the kingdom FIRST, and being humble, doing good, and being generous with our possessions. By putting these things into practice, we will find that God provides all we need. There is no need to worry about not having enough.

At the beginning of Matthew 6, we see Jesus address three practices that he expects of believers- giving, prayer, and fasting. These things are expected, and the new righteousness in the Kingdom of Heaven requires that we do not do them for human praise. God doesn’t need you to make a show of giving to his people. He sees. God doesn’t need you to use long prayers or flowery language when you speak to him. He hears, and he gives you a framework for how you should pray. God doesn’t need you to make a big show of depriving yourself through fasting. God is aware. It’s not about you. It’s about connecting with and honoring God.

When Jesus commands that we not resist an evil person, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and love our enemies it seems to fly in the face of logic. Does Jesus want us to submit to evil? To cower in the face of injustice? Join us as we dive deeper into the ethic of Jesus and the way of peace.

In the Sermon on the Mount teachings, Jesus says he is the fulfillment of The Law. The challenging teachings found in Matthew 5:17-37 reveal the root causes of many of the symptoms we see plaguing society. Jesus provides a “Way of Transformation” (Richard Rohr) for life in the Kingdom in regards to murder, adultery, divorce, and oath taking. In a culture where dehumanizing others and dishonesty are the norms, Jesus calls us to a new righteousness.

“The Beatitudes” is a powerful list of the types of people who will be able to see that Jesus’ teachings are good news. They represent the upside down ethics of the Kingdom of Heaven. As students of these teachings in 2023, we should read them and ask ourselves how we benefit from the status quo. Which of these convict us and prompt us to turn back to God’s beautiful and life giving reign? We are to strive to be Kingdom people in a broken world- acting as SALT which preserves the “God flavors” in creation and LIGHT which illuminates the “God colors” everywhere we go. (THE MSG)

The Sermon on the Mount is a selection of Jesus’ teachings that serves as “A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Amy-Jill Levine) We need several “keys” if we are to unlock the meaning of these beautiful and challenging lessons. They will help us live into the Kingdom of Heaven NOW, even while we wait for it to be fully realized. Welcome to “Sermon on the Mount, 101.”

In life, there comes a point when the familiar schemas we've clung to no longer serve us. They become confining, insufficient, and we can no longer pretend they suffice. It all starts with acknowledging our involvement in harmful systems, repenting, and accepting the grace that God eagerly offers. Let's embrace the concept that we don't have everything figured out. In fact, perhaps the renewal of your mind begins with the realization that you still have a long way to go. The Christian journey is just that—a journey. There's always more to learn and unlearn along the way. Remember, growth is impossible if you believe you have nothing left to learn.

Mental illnesses are some of the most common health conditions in the United States, and many faithful Christians struggle to be mentally healthy amidst the challenges of life. Instead of being a safe and healing place for struggling believers, the Church has often bypassed mental illness or shamed people for being unwell. How can the Church come alongside those who are struggling with mental illness? Thankfully, our scripture shows us time and time again that even faithful believers struggle with mental anguish. To support those with mental illness, we normalize , believe people, extend grace, act as a comforting presence, and point people to the right resources. We have a God who wants to heal us and make us well. Amen.