What if Jesus Was Serious?

Sep 3

At the height of Jesus' ministry, he delivered his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the gospel of Matthew. People from all walks of life gathered to listen to Jesus' important teachings that day and his message remains as challenging to hear now as it was 2,000 years ago. Scholars have even come to refer to this sermon as the "Ethics of the Kingdom" as it has acted as a fundamental recipe for conduct for Jesus’ followers for centuries.

One fascinating part of Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, is known as the “Beatitudes." A series of eight simple but powerful blessings, these verses are widely quoted and set a remarkably high standard for those who follow Jesus. Many see these blessings as an impossible demand, making it natural to wonder if Jesus was simply making a point or trying to grab the attention of the large crowd.

But what if Jesus was serious? What if these eight blessings are meant to show us what’s truly valued in God's coming kingdom? What if these blessings are actually “core values” that we, as citizens of that kingdom, must prioritize if we want to see a glimpse of heaven here on earth?

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