The End (Matthew 24:1-51)

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:1-3 NIV)

The people of Jesus' day were looking for the Savior/Messiah.  They also knew that God had given many clues (prophecies) about recognizing this person when he arrived.  While Jesus was fulfilling many of these prophecies, they also started to realize over time that he had no intention of fulfilling some of the prophecies about the Savior/Messiah...at least not yet.  He taught them that he would leave for awhile and then return.  Some of those prophecies would not be fulfilled until he left.  Others would not be fulfilled until he returned.  This return is what we commonly call his "second coming."

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:4-14 NIV)

Jesus encourages his disciples not to be tricked into believing in a different Savior/Messiah because all these prophecies have not been fulfilled yet.  The prophecies fulfilled in his lifetime should be more than sufficient to convince them he is the one.  In addition, he tells them about more things that would happen in their lifetime, to build their faith even more in him.

"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:15-22 NIV)

Some of the things they would encounter would be quite difficult.  They would be persecuted for their faith in Jesus.  Many of them would be put to death for following Him.  Less than 50 years after Jesus leaves for heaven, the entire city of Jerusalem would be destroyed, over 1 million people would be slaughtered, and the Temple would be destroyed by fire and then stone walls knocked down.  Many of his disciples would live through the "abomination that causes desolation" as prophesied by Daniel.  Jesus tells them more details so their faith will be strengthened.  Jesus knew how all these things were going to happen.

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.  "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'  (Matthew 24:23-29 NIV)

Once again, he reminds them not to waiver in their faith.  Not only would Jerusalem, the Temple, and many people be destroyed, but other people would be running around at the time claiming to be the Savior/Messiah.  "Don't listen to them," he is essentially telling them.  I am the Savior/Messiah.  When I come back, everyone will know it.  Don't gather around "dead" teachers like vultures to a carcass.  The world is not coming to an end yet.  These terrible things shouldn't shake your faith in Jesus.  They should strengthen it because He told you it would happen.  More prophecies are simply coming true exactly as God, and His Savior/Messiah, had said.

"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31 NIV)

When the Savior/Messiah returns, there won't be any humble entrances hidden in a barn with beds made out of animal feed troughs.  When the Savior/Messiah returns, it will be as a warrior, a judge, and with lots of fanfare.  Everyone will know who he is when he comes back the second time.  We may not know when he will return, but we can be sure that he WILL return.

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:32-51 NIV)

Get ready, then.  
You haven't repented of your sin and returned to God?  Do it now and get ready.
You haven't forgiven people who have hurt you in the past?  Forgive them now and get ready.
You haven't made Jesus YOUR savior and been baptized into him?  Receive him now and get ready.
You haven't shared your faith with someone on your heart?  Share it now and get ready.

Jesus is coming.  Get ready.  When He returns it will be too late.

How about you?  Are you ready?

No More Mr. Nice Guy (Matthew 23:1-39)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. "Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by others. "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12 NIV)

One person from Life Bridge shared a conversation with me that they had with a friend.  In the conversation, the friend asked who the Priest or Reverend was.  
The Life Bridge person said, "We don't have one."  
"What do you have," the friend replied. 
"We have a 'Pete.'"  
"What's a 'Pete?'" 
"I can't really describe it.  But, every church should have one."

The Life Bridge person wasn't trying to be difficult and I'm not trying to be coy.  We're both just trying to remain true to our Savior/Messiah's teaching about leadership.  While teaching is a Spiritual gift to be used to build up the church, it's no better than any other Spiritual gift given for the same reason.  We all report to and follow the same One.  Titles that put us above other members of His Body, then, are not a part of our culture.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. (Matthew 23:13-36 NIV)

Yesterday we got a chance to learn what kind of leaders we are called to be.  Today, we get to read specific examples of ways leaders fell short in Jesus' day...and in ours.  Lists like these, both the positive and the negative, can be helpful in two ways.  First of all, they help us choose to follow leaders wisely.  We should look for the "fruit" in their lives.  They should practice what they preach.  Secondly, it helps us learn how to lead wisely.  You may think this second one does not apply to you because you're "not a leader," but that's simply not true.  All of us are called to go and make disciples of all nations.  That takes leadership.  We must start, then, by leading ourselves to be good followers of Jesus.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Matthew 23:37-39 NIV)

Jesus is getting ready for his main ministry: to die on the cross.  He knows that he will not return to Jerusalem until the day he rides in on a donkey's colt - fulfilling yet another prophecy about the Savior/Messiah.  He also knows that this will be, for him, the beginning of the end.  Jesus will be killed just like the prophets of old.  His death would be different, though.  It would save the world.

How about you?  Do you see the ministries that God has called you to fulfill?  Do you accept your role of leadership in those ministries?  Do you start by leading yourself?

The Great Communicator (Matthew 7:1-29)

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:1-6 NIV)

Jesus continues his challenging teaching by reminding us of a simple principle.  Whenever you point a finger at someone else, you point three fingers back at yourself.  (Try it.)  Perhaps the most common response that we have to difficult teaching is deflection.  We don't like what we hear Jesus teaching so we try to discount Jesus, what he said, or the way it got preserved and passed down to us (the Bible).  When that doesn't work, because the evidence is too strong in favor of God, we begin to deflect.  We start pointing out the flaws of others and even try to "teach them," but what we are really trying to do is get the attention off ourselves.  We are afraid that when people look at us, they will see our sin.  That may be true, but that's kind of his point.

Jesus isn't satisfied with having crowds gathering around because he can heal them.  He's not even satisfied that they take the time to sit down and listen to his sermons.  He is only satisfied when they listen and put his teachings into practice.  He wants them all to walk together with God.  It starts when we listen to what he says.  It happens when we follow what he says.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12 NIV)

When deflection doesn't work, we move on to the next stage: excuses.  "Its too hard.  Satan is too strong.  I don't think I can do it."  The list goes on and on, but the premise is the same: I know what God says, but the change is too big.  I don't have what it takes to walk together with God.

Jesus explains to us that it is simply not true.  If your problem is forgiveness or reconciliation, Jesus provides everything you need.  If the problem is not having the wisdom to know God's will or the power to overcome God's enemy, His Spirit gives you everything you need.  When we desire to walk together with God, He provides everything we need to make it so.  It doesn't matter how big the "log" is in our eyes, He provides the tools to remove them.  Any loving father, even an imperfect one, would want his child to be able to see.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:13-23 NIV)

He gathers us with miracles, teaches us clearly, empowers us to follow his teachings, and then lets us choose.  We get to decide whether we will follow the "wide gate" or the "narrow gate."  Teachers, he tells us, will show us more than they tell us how to follow Jesus.  Growing in our walk together with God is actually about walking together with God first.  Leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  Leadership, as Jesus describes here, is about walking together with God first and then helping others do the same.  He warns us not to follow leaders who don't live it.  He also warns us not to be leaders who fake it.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)

He's not just talking about leaders, though.  He's talking about all of us.  His teachings are challenging, yes.  But they are not impossible to follow.  We've come to him this far.  We "sat down" and listened to his teachings.  He's given us all the gifts necessary to follow him.  Now, we get to choose. Which gate will we walk through?  Where will we build our houses?  Will we choose to walk together with God?

How about you?  Do you choose to remove the "log from your own eye first?  Do you walk through the narrow gate?  Do you build your life on the solid rock of Jesus and his words?

Hungry for God (Matthew 6:1-34)

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1 NIV)

This may be confusing to read when Jesus just told us to let our good deeds be seen by others.  He called this letting our light shine.  When you look at the statements between the last chapter and this one, though, there is one small difference: our purpose.

When Jesus told us to let our light shine, he was telling us to do what is right regardless of the circumstances.  Overcoming anger, then, and forgiving people will always be letting our light shine.  Battling lust, saving sexual intimacy for our marriage partner, and marrying someone of the opposite gender is also letting our light shine.  People may not like it.  You may even be hated for it.  But doing it is fulfilling righteousness and, when you don't waver, you let your light shine.

This chapter, however, is dedicated to discussing things that look good on the surface but can easily become sin.  These are examples of ways we can do what is right, but with the wrong intention.  In other words, Jesus tells us to let others see our righteousness not show off our righteousness.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)

Notice that each of these sections begin with "so when you."  Jesus isn't saying it is wrong to give to the needy.  In fact, he assumes you do.  Giving to the needy is good.  Other teachings in other places reaffirm this over and over.  People don't need to know how much you give.  In fact, they don't need to know that you give at all.  Your right hand doesn't even need to know that your left hand is giving.  Go ahead and give.  But give in secret.  That contains the real reward.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:5-15)

It's not bad to pray.  In fact, Jesus expects you to pray.  Just don't show off when you pray.  Prayer in public is fine.  Praying in public to show off your spirituality misses the point.  Prayer is about talking with God.  It's about getting on the same page with God.  It's about aligning yourself to God, not the other way around.

The model prayer, which we often call "The Lord's Prayer," wasn't meant to be memorized and repeated until we lose all its meaning.  It was meant to show us God's prayer priorities.  Prayer should remind us that God is God - no one else.  It should readjust our priorities to match those of God.  Prayer shouldn't be about getting God to do our will.  It should be about understanding and following His.  Prayer should strengthen our faith in and trust of God.  It should drive us to match the character of God asking Him to make us Holy as He is Holy.  Prayer should drive us to repentance of our sin, forgiveness of others' sin, and reconciliation with everyone involved.  Prayer is good.  It's not a show.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 NIV)

Fasting is good, too.  But it's not a show either.  Fasting is about focusing more of yourself on God and His will.  It's not about showing others how spiritual you are by skipping meals or whatever else you give up.  The meal you skip should be spent in prayer, aligning your will with God's.  When you do this, fasting has its own rewards.  When you show off, fasting does nothing worthwhile.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

You see, walking together with God in this life can be beautiful.  Adam and Eve experienced it.  Walking with God in this life can be rewarding.  Jesus experienced that as well.  All in all, though, walking together with God here is only preparation for there.  So, we shouldn't hold on to the things here too tightly.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:22-34 NIV)

It all starts with our eyes: what we look at.  When we look back at something and then look at it again, it begins to draw us in.  We are attracted.  Eventually we want what we see and are even willing to work for it.  It becomes our desire, our passion, and, finally, our obsession.  It begins to control us, our decisions, the way we spend our time.  Suddenly we need more money to get it, have it, and keep it.  It controls our life.  It becomes our lord.

When we focus our eyes on Jesus, though, the pattern remains the same.  The outcome, however, is completely different.  Our home becomes heaven.  Our furnishings cannot be purchased with money.  Suddenly God's priorities start becoming our priorities.  We work more and more for Him.  Walking with Him becomes our desire, our passion, and even our obsession.  Our lives are filled with faith, hope, and love.  Joy and peace begin to fill our minds and our hearts.  Jesus becomes our Lord.

How about you?  Are you hungry for God?  Is your faith something you do to show off to others or is it something you do to draw near to God?  Who is your Lord?

The "New" Reality (Matthew 5:1-48)

We spent seven weeks showing God's plan to save us by sending a Savior/Messiah.  When He sent this Savior/Messiah, God wanted us to be able to pick him out of a crowd.  So, He gave us clues.  These clues were prophecies.  Those prophecies pointed us to Jesus.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. (Matthew 5:1 NIV)

Last week, we started to look at the ministry of Jesus - kicking it off with his baptism.  As we looked at these beginning ministry moments - baptism, temptation, and teaching - we reminded ourselves that true followers of Jesus would begin to follow in his steps.  We too can be baptized, overcome temptation, and teach others to follow him.  Now, the journey becomes much more challenging.

People will say that they do not accept Jesus because he was just a man like anyone else.  They will compare him with Muhammad or Buddha, but that's not their real problem with him.  Problems with Jesus today, just like 2000 years ago, usually begin with his teachings.

He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:2-9 NIV)

At first, we might enjoy his teachings.  We like it when he calls out to the weary and heavy laden saying, "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)  We know there is a cost associated with following Jesus, but we especially like it when he says, "My yoke is easy.  My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).  Who doesn't smile when he says, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"(Matthew 19:14 NIV).  What we don't like, though, are the teachings that start to challenge us to live what we consider a more difficult life.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:10-16 NIV)

Following Jesus, though, will have its challenges.  There will be difficulties.  In fact, life will have challenges and difficulties whether we follow Jesus or not.  We're not really saying that we want life without challenges or difficulties.  We're saying we don't want to change things to match his teachings.  His teachings against what we believe or the way we already live.  We don't want to follow him because we don't want to change these things.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20 NIV)

We especially don't want to believe that these things will somehow keep us out of heaven.  So, we deflect and change our theology to match our lives.  "I don't believe there is a real heaven or hell," we might say.  What we're really saying is, "I hope there's not a heaven or hell, cause I'm not changing the way I live."

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:21-26 NIV)

We find solace in saying, "I'm not a murder."  We may even fight for the right for the ten commandments to be on the courthouse lawns and in our public schools.  The problem, though, is that during those fights we might find ourselves getting quite angry at our opposition.  This is only a problem if you are a follower of Jesus.  According to Jesus, anger puts us in danger of the fires of hell.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:27-37 NIV)

We might say that our problem is with the Bible.  "It's just written by a bunch of messed-up people who were trying to control other people."  What we're really doing, though is deflecting from the teaching that day.  We don't want people to know we're on our third marriage, living together with someone who is not our spouse, or enjoying sexual intimacy with someone of the same gender.  These teachings can only be "old fashioned" and "out of date" if they are made up by men and not inspired by God.

Maybe we find ourselves justified in looking down on others who sin like that.  Our marriages have lasted.  We've only been married one time and we've done the hard work to keep it that way.  We're following all the teachings of the law about sexuality and marriage.  The we listen to Jesus and we have to admit the times we've struggled with lust - whether it was longing for a sexual encounter or just the intimacy of a warm embrace from someone who "really cares."  Lust is lust.  Suddenly, following Jesus becomes less appealing.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42 NIV)

"I'm always fair with people.  I treat them with respect and I never charge them unreasonable rates."  This is all well and good until a homeless man walks into your restaurant asking for food to eat.  Its really a problem when his unkempt and smelly presence seems to bother your paying customers.

"I follow fair business practices.  I don't break the laws."  This helps you sleep at night when you follow the rules of the competitive marketplace and stomp out your competition.  It helps you sleep until you face the person you just put out of work...and you think about the teachings of Jesus.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)

"I'm not perfect.  I'll never be perfect."  We find comfort in those statements, but they don't match up with the teachings of Jesus.  God offers solutions to our lack of perfection.  Jesus pays the penalty for them.  The Holy Spirit helps us not repeat them.  His Word is the same one Jesus quoted in battling the devil.  His Wisdom and Power are the same as those Jesus relied upon to win against temptation.  Jesus doesn't teach us to just try our best.  He commands us to be perfect.  As a follower, what will we do?

How about you?  Or, do you just dismiss His teachings, the Bible, and your faith?  Do you change His teachings to match your lifestyle or do you change your life to match His teachings?  Are you a follower of Jesus?