The Bible: The Power of Rebirth

The Beatitudes

Reflection on the Gospel of the Monday In The Thirty-First Week In Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:1-12a (All Saints Day)

The Jews followed the  Ten Commandments rigorously and all the laws that were derived based on the Commandments.  As time passed, the total laws that the Jews had to follow were 613 in all, the don’ts were 365 and do’s were 248 and if they did not adhere to any rule, the poor Jews were punished by the leaders of the synagogue.  They put more stress on the fear of God than the LOVE of God.  

As Jesus’ popularity increased, in today’s term we would have said gone viral after witnessing his works and miracles, Jesus uses this opportunity on seeing a huge crowd, to teach them the way one needs to live their life, rather than follow laws created by men.  Matthew stresses on the Mount as in the scriptures all encounters with God were on the mount, for example Abraham, Moses. Moses also gave the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. Here Matthew is suggesting Jesus the New Moses – the prophet promised by Moses.  Here Matthew summaries Jesus’ teachings  being given from a mount, and we can find them in three chapters, i.e. 5 to 7.   In contrast to the 10 Commandments given to Moses, Jesus gives the Beatitudes, highlighting a positive way of living, listing the values in life which will lead to spiritual prosperity and salvation.  Jesus aims to teach them to change their heart inwardly, so as to attain the qualities of life with promises of awards in the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law but fulfil it.

If we read  and understand the beatitudes, we find that Jesus  has laid down the beatitudes so beautifully that the first beatitude leads to the second and second to the third and so on.

Just to give a gist, one has to be poor in spirit, not in riches, to be able to mourn for others and for the situation, this would lead a person to be meek.

So let us once again go through the beatitudes and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and help us grow in the way Jesus wants us to.

Search
Archive
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
     12
3456789
10111213141516
24252627282930
31      
     12
       
      1
2345678
30      
   1234
262728    
       
  12345
2728     
       
    123
45678910
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
3031     
    123
       
 123456
28      
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
Suggested Posts
Categories
Daily Reflection
(946)
Programmes
(1)
Features
(1)
Reviews
(1)
Entertainment Reviews
(21)
Ask Salvation Bible Cell
(1)
Tags
© 2023 SalvationBibleCell.com