Message On The Mount
Messiah sat down at Mount Olivet and began to teach all the people who had gathered to Him. As far as we know, this was His first opportunity after receiving the endorsement of John the Baptizer: whose message was singular: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
A lot has been said about Messiah’s message. It has been picked apart with every individual phrase scrutinized to infinitum. Yet, if we are to look at the whole message and distill it down to a single statement, what was Messiah saying?
The "beatitudes" (Matthew 5:3-10) is loved and memorized by a host of believers, yet, few consider the thrust of His message. The poor in Spirit (the humble), the mournful, the meek, the merciful, the pure-hearted, and the peacemakers are all considered "blessed" (well-favored with God or in good fortune). Some blessing! Built upon this description of the "blessed" is the promise that the world will "revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you…."
He goes on to describe the people of Israel in terms in which they are familiar. Israelites were known around the world as "the salt of the earth". Salt from Israel was known and valued all over the world for preserving and healing properties. Yet, the people responsible for mining the salt were not held in any esteem. It was slaves’ work: hard, hot and painful. In this manner the Jewish people had come to be known (salt miners). To be called "the salt of the earth" was not a glamorous title.
More gratifying was the idea of being the Light of the World. This was an idiomatic title that represented the Hanukkah Menorah: more specifically, the rededication of the people to live in obedience to the Word of God.
From there, He launches into a description of what it means to truly walk in obedience, as opposed to the hypocrisy and double-standards seen in the religious culture.
Then He moves on to something absolutely fascinating. He says, in reference to all of their hopes and needs, "trust God to provide for you."
These are not a collection of individual mini-sermonettes, packaged together for our convenience. These are not a bunch of random ideas. He is speaking to a single audience with a singular message for them.
"Stop whining! Walk in the empowerment you already have as the chosen people of God."
The people of Israel had been long awaiting their Messiah. They had struggled under the oppression of foreign rulers for generations. They had heard the stories of the prophets of old and the wonderful power they had in the fullness of God. They sighed wistfully and thought to themselves, "Wouldn’t it be nice…"
Are you feeling persecuted? Are you feeling down-trodden or discouraged? Messiah said, "Good!" Those are the feelings that you experience when you are headed in the right direction. Are people treating you poorly because of your stand as a living disciple of Messiah? The Christian Church doesn’t seem to know much about this. They have grown comfortable in their social dominance. But, put on a kippah and start calling our Messiah "Yeshua" and see what happens. You’ll find that you are hated by all nations for His name’s sake.
"You are the salt of the earth." You’re not hoping to be some day or wishing you maybe could be: you’re it! You are the saltiness of life and health that the world is looking for. Either your saltiness is strong or good-for-nothing, that’s your choice. Stop looking for someone else to validate your worth. Either be salty or lay down on the path so that people at least have something to walk on.
"You are the Light of the World." You’re not sitting in your pews waiting and hoping for the light to come on: you’re it. "Let your light so shine therefore before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven."
Messiah poses the question (paraphrased), "Are you going to follow God or are you going to play games?" If you are committed to live in obedience, honestly pursuing a right relationship with God, He has at your disposal every resource for every need you could possibly have. If you want to play games, you’re in good company. That’s just the way we live: religious, secular or otherwise.
Messiah’s call to His disciples that day echoes for us here in perfect timeliness: stop looking for light and waiting for salt. Determine today to be the salt and light that He has called us each to be. He’ll take care of the rest.
A lot has been said about Messiah’s message. It has been picked apart with every individual phrase scrutinized to infinitum. Yet, if we are to look at the whole message and distill it down to a single statement, what was Messiah saying?
The "beatitudes" (Matthew 5:3-10) is loved and memorized by a host of believers, yet, few consider the thrust of His message. The poor in Spirit (the humble), the mournful, the meek, the merciful, the pure-hearted, and the peacemakers are all considered "blessed" (well-favored with God or in good fortune). Some blessing! Built upon this description of the "blessed" is the promise that the world will "revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you…."
He goes on to describe the people of Israel in terms in which they are familiar. Israelites were known around the world as "the salt of the earth". Salt from Israel was known and valued all over the world for preserving and healing properties. Yet, the people responsible for mining the salt were not held in any esteem. It was slaves’ work: hard, hot and painful. In this manner the Jewish people had come to be known (salt miners). To be called "the salt of the earth" was not a glamorous title.
More gratifying was the idea of being the Light of the World. This was an idiomatic title that represented the Hanukkah Menorah: more specifically, the rededication of the people to live in obedience to the Word of God.
From there, He launches into a description of what it means to truly walk in obedience, as opposed to the hypocrisy and double-standards seen in the religious culture.
Then He moves on to something absolutely fascinating. He says, in reference to all of their hopes and needs, "trust God to provide for you."
These are not a collection of individual mini-sermonettes, packaged together for our convenience. These are not a bunch of random ideas. He is speaking to a single audience with a singular message for them.
"Stop whining! Walk in the empowerment you already have as the chosen people of God."
The people of Israel had been long awaiting their Messiah. They had struggled under the oppression of foreign rulers for generations. They had heard the stories of the prophets of old and the wonderful power they had in the fullness of God. They sighed wistfully and thought to themselves, "Wouldn’t it be nice…"
Are you feeling persecuted? Are you feeling down-trodden or discouraged? Messiah said, "Good!" Those are the feelings that you experience when you are headed in the right direction. Are people treating you poorly because of your stand as a living disciple of Messiah? The Christian Church doesn’t seem to know much about this. They have grown comfortable in their social dominance. But, put on a kippah and start calling our Messiah "Yeshua" and see what happens. You’ll find that you are hated by all nations for His name’s sake.
"You are the salt of the earth." You’re not hoping to be some day or wishing you maybe could be: you’re it! You are the saltiness of life and health that the world is looking for. Either your saltiness is strong or good-for-nothing, that’s your choice. Stop looking for someone else to validate your worth. Either be salty or lay down on the path so that people at least have something to walk on.
"You are the Light of the World." You’re not sitting in your pews waiting and hoping for the light to come on: you’re it. "Let your light so shine therefore before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven."
Messiah poses the question (paraphrased), "Are you going to follow God or are you going to play games?" If you are committed to live in obedience, honestly pursuing a right relationship with God, He has at your disposal every resource for every need you could possibly have. If you want to play games, you’re in good company. That’s just the way we live: religious, secular or otherwise.
Messiah’s call to His disciples that day echoes for us here in perfect timeliness: stop looking for light and waiting for salt. Determine today to be the salt and light that He has called us each to be. He’ll take care of the rest.