Daily Scripture:
Matthew 5:3 “How blessed are the poor in spirit!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 “How blessed are those who mourn!
for they will be comforted.
5 “How blessed are the meek!
for they will inherit the Land![Matthew 5:5 Psalm 37:11]
6 “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness!
for they will be filled.
7 “How blessed are those who show mercy!
for they will be shown mercy.
8 “How blessed are the pure in heart!
for they will see God.
9 “How blessed are those who make peace!
for they will be called sons of God.
10 “How blessed are those who are persecuted
because they pursue righteousness!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 12 Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great — they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
13 “You are salt for the Land. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except being thrown out for people to trample on.
14 “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
If asked to give a commencement address, Jesus would likely offer words very like the Sermon on the Mount. Scholar William Barclay noted that the Greek verb translated “taught” in Matthew 5:2 meant “repeated and habitual action,” so the translation could accurately be, “This is what he used to teach them.”* If Jesus led off his speech to graduates this way, it would quickly be clear that his view of a worthwhile life differed from many common ideas. His approach, he added, could make his followers like salt and light in the world.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1, Chapters 1–10 (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 87.
** Barclay M. Newman and Philip C. Stine, A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988, p. 107.
** N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–15. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 37.
*** Quoted from text of speech at https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/06/text-of-j-k-rowling-speech/.
If asked to give a commencement address, Jesus would likely offer words very like the Sermon on the Mount. Scholar William Barclay noted that the Greek verb translated “taught” in Matthew 5:2 meant “repeated and habitual action,” so the translation could accurately be, “This is what he used to teach them.”* If Jesus led off his speech to graduates this way, it would quickly be clear that his view of a worthwhile life differed from many common ideas. His approach, he added, could make his followers like salt and light in the world.
- “Blessed (or ‘Happy’) translates a Greek word which is used quite frequently in the Septuagint as a translation of a Hebrew word meaning ‘Oh the happiness of’…. What [the usual English] translations do not indicate clearly is that the one doing the good is God.”** Scholar N. T. Wright said, “In our world, still, most people think wonderful news consists of success, wealth, long life, victory in battle. Jesus is offering wonderful news for the humble, the poor, the mourners, the peacemakers.”*** Which of Jesus’ statements ring most true to you? Do any of them lead you to think, “I wish that characterized my life”?
- J. K. Rowling said, “One of the many things I learned… was this, written by the Greek author Plutarch: What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”**** Jesus said the inward attitudes he praised would make his followers “the salt of the earth… the light of the world.” Rule-based morality too often brings gloom, criticism and fear. Have you known people whose warm-hearted goodness adds flavor and light to life? How can your loyalty to Christ make you “salt and light,” flavoring and brightening your life and that of others?
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1, Chapters 1–10 (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 87.
** Barclay M. Newman and Philip C. Stine, A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988, p. 107.
** N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–15. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 37.
*** Quoted from text of speech at https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/06/text-of-j-k-rowling-speech/.
Read today's Insight by Chris Abel
Chris Abel is the Pastor of Students and Young Adults at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-14)
I’ve been cooking at home a lot lately with the goal of trying to eat healthier. And every time, there’s that moment when I’m trying a dish and realize there’s not enough salt. The meal might look nice, but it’s got no zest. No punch to it. Have you ever put a potato in your mouth without salt? It’s like chewing playdough.
But every once in a while, I get a little too excited with my salt shaker and swing to the opposite side of the spectrum: Too much salt.
While Jesus didn’t express it in his parable, in my experience too much salt is sometimes worse than no salt at all.
And sometimes the same thing happens with religion—We pour on the salt to the point where we’re no longer edible.
A recent Barna study released this year showed that teenagers in Gen Z are at least twice as likely as American adults to identify as as atheist.
Twice as many of our students are turning away from religion and faith.
My theory? Too much salt.
No, I don’t mean too many acts of service and mission in the world. And I don’t mean too many fruits of the spirit pouring out of people’s lives. What I mean is that Christianity has become more radical in our country. Instead of worshipping the God who humbled himself, there are Christians around the world that are so self-righteous and judgmental that it’s becoming inedible to an entire generation.
Sometimes I put it this way: The more zealous you are about Jesus doesn’t mean you’re actually right about Jesus. For example:
Chris Abel is the Pastor of Students and Young Adults at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-14)
I’ve been cooking at home a lot lately with the goal of trying to eat healthier. And every time, there’s that moment when I’m trying a dish and realize there’s not enough salt. The meal might look nice, but it’s got no zest. No punch to it. Have you ever put a potato in your mouth without salt? It’s like chewing playdough.
But every once in a while, I get a little too excited with my salt shaker and swing to the opposite side of the spectrum: Too much salt.
While Jesus didn’t express it in his parable, in my experience too much salt is sometimes worse than no salt at all.
And sometimes the same thing happens with religion—We pour on the salt to the point where we’re no longer edible.
A recent Barna study released this year showed that teenagers in Gen Z are at least twice as likely as American adults to identify as as atheist.
Twice as many of our students are turning away from religion and faith.
My theory? Too much salt.
No, I don’t mean too many acts of service and mission in the world. And I don’t mean too many fruits of the spirit pouring out of people’s lives. What I mean is that Christianity has become more radical in our country. Instead of worshipping the God who humbled himself, there are Christians around the world that are so self-righteous and judgmental that it’s becoming inedible to an entire generation.
Sometimes I put it this way: The more zealous you are about Jesus doesn’t mean you’re actually right about Jesus. For example:
Listen. The more powerful or radical your beliefs, does not make them better and it certainly does not make them correct. And that includes biblical interpretations about the literalism of the Bible. Just because a person quotes a verse, doesn't mean they have the context, nuance, and insight to understand a culture from thousands of years ago written in another language.
True Christianity is not salting your dish until it’s inedible, nor is it believing in a fantasy Jesus. True Christianity is subtle, like a pinch of salt on a dinner plate. It’s humble, like a savior who was “led like a sheep to the slaughter.”
And you and I are the ones who can change that reputation. Zeal does not mean accuracy or truth. It’s simply means you can shake a salt shaker more than the person next to you. But seasoning takes sensitivity, precision, wisdom, and a willingness to taste the dish to see if it has benefitted from the salt.
So today, may you show the world (and our teenagers) a Christianity that is humble and adds a perfect amount of seasoning to the world.
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You might also like:
- Prayer Tip: What Would Jesus Say to Graduates?
- Jesus modeled lifelong concern for his mother
- Jesus’ allegiance to God went beyond family, if necessary
- Jesus related his love to a mother’s love
- Jesus reunited mothers and children
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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