Holy Textures

Mark 1:4-11

We might understand the baptism of Jesus as a selfless aligning / embodying of self with the desires of God. Rather than a functional baptism - that is, being baptized so that some function could happen - the forgiveness of sins - this is a revelatory baptism - that is, enacting, confirming and making visibly real what is already the case: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

Year B
Baptism of the Lord
Epiphany 1
January 8, 2012
Sunday Between January 7 and January 13 Inclusive

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Mark 1:4-11, The Message   or   Mark 1:4-11, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "A River Flows Through Us."

This text begins our Epiphany, Year B, readings. For the next several weeks, we will read through Chapter 1, verse by verse (with one exception next week).

The Gospel according to Mark is fast paced, and action oriented. It is the shortest of the Gospels, and believed to be the first written. Both Matthew and Luke include - sometimes word for word - most of Mark. But whereas Luke was written to present Jesus to a non-Jewish gentile; and Matthew was written for Jewish new converts or those considering becoming followers of Jesus, Mark reads like an early family history - the writing down of already familiar and often spoken stories that are told at family gatherings: "Remember when ... and then ...and then ..."

For some reason or other, the lectionary leaves out verses 1-3 and 12-13, but I recommend including them.

For one thing, Verse 1 tells us what Mark's "message" is (using this in the contemporary political communication meaning of: What's our 3 second, memorable, sound bite: "Yes we can.")

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Note that Mark says this is the "beginning." Is he simply meaning, "this is the opening sentence of my book?" Or is he is implying, "This is the beginning of an as-yet-unfinished proclamation of good news?" His writing certainly does not finish with "This is the end of the good news."

Bruce Malina - and other scholars - helpfully point out that the underlying Greek word for "good news" was commonly used for a royal proclamation of "good news" such as a victory in war; the marriage of the emperor; the birth of an heir; etc. That the followers of Jesus used this word for their story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is a political act of daring. Daring to provide an alternative to the Roman Empire as an authority and source of "Good News."

Malina also point out that the title, "Son of God." was not uniquely used only for Jesus. Notably, the Roman Emperor was called, "Son of God." And occasionally, the phrase is used in Scriptures to refer to folks who are manifesting qualities of God in their behaviour or being.

Indeed, "son of" is probably better understood as meaning, "having the qualities of," and certainly NOT as "genetic descendant of." And so, similarly, "son of man" means having the qualities of a human; and so, "sons of thunder," (see Mark 3:17) means "loud, boisterous, energetic."

Nonetheless, naming Jesus as "Christ" (the Anointed, the Messiah), and Son of God sets out two bold claims that the rest of the story is going to have to justify.

Throughout Mark the only references to Jesus as Son of God come only from the spirit world (i.e. the voices from heaven at his baptism and at the transfiguration (Mark 9); or from evil spirits that Jesus is casting out.) Except, finally, at the conclusion of Mark, a complete outsider to the story and one who participated in executing Jesus, a Roman centurion soldier who was at the cross when Jesus dies - that person is the first to say of Jesus, "Surely this man was the Son of God." (NIV)

All four Gospels make a connection between Jesus and John the Baptist, and many scholars wonder if Jesus might have been a disciple of John's. In any case, Jesus is clearly not simply one of the crowd who have come to hear John. And his baptism would not have been entered into from their context.

And so, we might understand the baptism of Jesus as a selfless aligning/embodying of self with the desires of God. Rather than a "functional" baptism - that is, being baptized so that some function could happen - the forgiveness of sins - this is a "revelatory" baptism - that is, enacting, confirming and making visibly real what is already the case: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

And just in case anyone thinks this story is going to be a piece of cake: beautiful doves, lovely voices from heaven, etc., the next thing that happens is 40 days of hardship and testing. And this is just the beginning of the good news.

David Ewart
www.holytextures.com

Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, see link below, pages 145-148.

* Link to Amazon.com Bibliography for Bruce Malina, et. al., Social Science Commentary on ... The Synoptic Gospels; The Gospel of John; The Book of Acts; The Letters of Paul; The Book of Revelation; and others.

Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)

   ¹ The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

   ² As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
         "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
            who will prepare your way;
        ³ the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 
           'Prepare the way of the Lord,
            make his paths straight,'"
⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

   ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

   ¹² And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Mark 1:4-11 (The Message)

   ¹ The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, ² following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

         Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you;
         He'll make the road smooth for you. 
      ³ Thunder in the desert!
         Prepare for God's arrival!
         Make the road smooth and straight!

   ⁴ John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. ⁵ People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. ⁶ John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

   ⁷ As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. ⁸ I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out."

   ⁹ At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. ¹¹ Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

   ¹² At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. ¹³ For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials.
Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required.
Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

Matthew 7:21-29

It is not enough for us to hear these words of Jesus; to study them; to be inspired by them; to have hopes / aspirations / dreams based on them. We must ACT on them; practice them; live them in our everyday lives.

Year A
Ephiphany 9
March 6, 2011
Sunday Between March 4 (or March 3 in a Leap Year) and March 7 Inclusive,
if not observed as Transfiguration Sunday.
OR
Pentecost **
Not Used in 2011
Sunday Between May 29 and June 4 Inclusive, if after Trinity Sunday.
Proper 4, Ordinary Time 9

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 7:21-29, The Message   or   Matthew 7:21-29, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 7:21-29

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "By Word And Action."

Matthew 7:21-29 concludes the Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

Verses 21-23, continue the teaching against false prophets that began in Matthew 7:12-20.

But here Jesus ups the ante. For the usual warnings about false appearances (crying "Lord, Lord") and false promises ("prophesying in your name") and judging by the results ("casting out demons in your name") are subjected to what is truly at the heart of Jesus message:

doing the will of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:24-34

Having our intentions aligned with God's desires plus trusting God frees us from being anxious / worried / fearful about what will happen next; allows us to let go of expectations.

Year A
Ephiphany 8
February 27, 2011 
Sunday Between February 25 and March 3 (or March 2 in a Leap Year) Inclusive,
if not the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
OR
Pentecost **
Not Used in 2011
Sunday Between May 24 and May 28 Inclusive, if after Trinity Sunday.
Proper 3, Ordinary Time 8

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 6:24-34, The Message   or   Matthew 6:24-34, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here, Matthew 6:24-34, for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "Worry?"

Depending on how early or late Easter occurs, this lesson will either appear before Lent begins, or after Easter ends, or more often - not at all! It is too bad that it is often not read because it contains a great teaching from Jesus for his followers in any time or place.

Matthew 17:1-9

I wonder how much in our heart of hearts, we are still cheering for Jesus as the triumphant Victor, and still longing for a Messiah, when God has already given us all that God has to give: the Beloved?

Year A
Transfiguration Sunday
March 6, 2011
Last Sunday of the Season of Epiphany
The Sunday Before Ash Wednesday
May be as early as February 1 or as late as March 7 Inclusive

and

Year A
Lent 2, Alternative Reading
March 20, 2011

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 17:1-9, The Message   or   Matthew 17:1-9, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "Mountain Top Experiences."

This passage requires reading the First Testament passages about the prophet Elijah, 2 Kings 2:1-12, and Moses' encounters with God on Mt. Sinai, Exodus 24:12-18 and 34:29-30. 

Verse 1. "Six days later" means 6 days after first telling his disciples (in the preceding verses at the end of Chapter 16) that he must go to Jerusalem and be crucified. Eugene Peterson in his Bible translation, The Message, makes an interesting connection between the last verse of that passage in Chapter 16 and the first verse of this one which begins Chapter 17:

Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.
Matthew 16:28, NRSV

Six days later, three of them saw that glory.
Matthew 17:1, The Message 

Jesus selects Peter, James, and John to accompany him. He leads them up a high mountain. Although unnamed and unstated, a "high mountain" is a "thin place," a place that is close to the spiritual realm, a place for sacred encounters.

As I am fond of saying, when reading the Bible do NOT get distracted by the special effects. Do not try to explain them - or explain them away. Do not diminish the reality of what happened / what the disciples experienced by saying, "Oh well, that was then, and now we have modern science and don't believe in such things." We have modern science and yet here we are in church still talking about God - a reality that classic modern science totally rejects.

Like special effects in movies, the special effects in the Bible testify to a simple truth:

There is more to be known about what is really real than the eye can see.

If you don't believe that try telling someone you love what is lovely about them by only telling them what your eyes can see.

Matthew 6:24-34

Having our intentions aligned with God's desires plus trusting God frees us from being anxious / worried / fearful about what will happen next; allows us to let go of expectations.

Year A
Ephiphany 8
February 27, 2011 
Sunday Between February 25 and March 3 (or March 2 in a Leap Year) Inclusive,
if not the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
OR
Pentecost 2
Not Used in 2011
Sunday Between May 24 and May 28 Inclusive, if after Trinity Sunday.
Proper 3, Ordinary Time 8

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 6:24-34, The Message   or   Matthew 6:24-34, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 6:24-34

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "Worry?."

Matthew 6:24-34 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV)

What is the crucial difference between the one who is wise and the one who is foolish?

It has nothing to do with what we usually associate with wisdom: knowledge, many years of experience, perspective, intelligence, insight, etc.

Nor does it have to do with HEARING what Jesus has said. Both cases begin - "Everyone who hears these words of mine ..."

The difference between being either wise or foolish is in ACTING or NOT acting.

Matthew 5:38-48

Matthew 5:38-41 has a tragic history of poor translations and even worse interpretations. This passage is NOT recommending becoming a doormat; nor does it tolerate domestic violence. The translation, 'Do not resist an evildoer' fails to convey the full meaning of the underlying Greek. It would be better translated as, 'Do not violently resist an evildoer.' Thus the teaching is primarily about non-violence. It is not about acquiescing to evil. Jesus then goes on to offer three quick examples of how to non-violently resist an evildoer.

Year A
Epiphany 7
February 20, 2011
Sunday Between February 18 and February 24 Inclusive

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 5:38-48, The Message   or   Matthew 5:38-48, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 5:38-48

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "."

Matthew 5:38-48 is part of Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV)

What is the crucial difference between the one who is wise and the one who is foolish?

It has nothing to do with what we usually associate with wisdom: knowledge, many years of experience, perspective, intelligence, insight, etc.

Matthew 5:21-37

Why not take Jesus at his word? Take your offering home this week, and carry it to remind you to take safe, practical steps toward reconciliation and peace wherever there is brokenness in your life.

Year A
Epiphany 6
February 13, 2011
Sunday Between February 11 and February 17 Inclusive

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 5:21-37, The Message   or   Matthew 5:21-37, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "."

Matthew 5:21-37 is part of Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV)

What is the crucial difference between the one who is wise and the one who is foolish?

Matthew 7:21-29

It is not enough for us to hear these words of Jesus; to study them; to be inspired by them; to have hopes / aspirations / dreams based on them. We must ACT on them; practice them; live them in our everyday lives.

Year A
Ephiphany 9
March 6, 2011
Sunday Between March 4 (or March 3 in a Leap Year) and March 7 Inclusive,
if not observed as Transfiguration Sunday.
OR
Pentecost **
Not Used in 2011
Sunday Between May 29 and June 4 Inclusive, if after Trinity Sunday.
Proper 4, Ordinary Time 9

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 7:21-29, The Message   or   Matthew 7:21-29, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 7:21-29

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "By Word And Action."

Matthew 7:21-29 concludes the Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

Verses 21-23, continue the teaching against false prophets that began in Matthew 7:12-20.

But here Jesus ups the ante. For the usual warnings about false appearances (crying "Lord, Lord") and false promises ("prophesying in your name") and judging by the results ("casting out demons in your name") are subjected to what is truly at the heart of Jesus message:

doing the will of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-20

Don't think that my teachings replace or reduce the law and the prophets. And don't think you can skip the details. Details count. But something more than the details is also needed. You must align your whole self with what God desires - that is what those in Heaven are like.

Year A
Epiphany 5
February 6, 2011
Sunday Between February 4 and February 10 Inclusive

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 5:13-20, The Message   or   Matthew 5:13-20, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 5:13-20

Sermon by the Rev. Debra Bowman, "Just Right -- Not!."

Matthew 5:13-20 is part of Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV)

What is the crucial difference between the one who is wise and the one who is foolish?

It has nothing to do with what we usually associate with wisdom: knowledge, many years of experience, perspective, intelligence, insight, etc.

Nor does it have to do with HEARING what Jesus has said. Both cases begin - "Everyone who hears these words of mine ..."

The difference between being either wise or foolish is in ACTING or NOT acting.

It is not enough for us to hear these words of Jesus; to study them; to be inspired by them; to have hopes / aspirations / dreams based on them. We must ACT on them; practice them; live them in our everyday lives.

So whatever passage we read from the Sermon on the Mount, we must hear it with one question in mind:

What must I DO to make this the bedrock of how I live?

The first thing to notice about this passage is the directness of the language. Like the previous passage, Matthew 5:1-12, The Beatitudes, Jesus is speaking very directly to the people who are right there in front of him - YOU, you right here; you ARE, you are right now - you are now, already, with no extra qualifications or conditions to be met:

You are salt; you are light for the world.

Now stop and remember just who it is that Jesus is talking to. The movers and shakers? The people with power, money, education, good looks? No, no, no, and no.

Jesus is talking to the lowest and the least and telling them that THEY are the salt and light for the transformation of the world to reflect God's desires for the world.

I wonder what the world would be like if the people with power, money, education, and good looks also would hear these as words addressed to them?

Matthew 5:13. You are the salt of the earth.

Bruce Malina (See footnote below.) provides this helpful background:

The "earth" is an outdoor earthen oven (see also Job 28:5 and Psalm 12:6) found near the home. ... The earthen oven used dung as fuel. The dung heap was salted, and salt plates were used as a catalyst to make the dung burn. Salt loses its saltiness when the exhausted plates no longer serve to facilitate burning.

Thus a good interpretation of this verse might be:

You are the catalyst to get things cooking ...

Matthew 5:14-16. Again, Malina comments:

It is (a peasant's) one-room house that is envisioned in the parable here, since all who enter can see the light stand. The normal way to put out and oil lamp was to put it under a bushel basket so as not to fill the house with smoke and fumes before retiring.

Thus a good interpretation of these verses might be:

Set an example. Not to get fame and glory for yourself, but so that others will see God's goodness.

Matthew 5:17-20. "For truly I tell you" means "By my word of honour" - and Jesus can be trusted to be a man of honour, can't he?

When will heaven and earth pass away? Never, according to Ecclesiastes 1:4. And so neither will the law nor the teachings of the prophets.

Thus a good interpretation of these verses might be:

Don't think that my teachings replace or reduce the law and the prophets. And don't think you can skip the details. Details count. But something more than the details is also needed. You must align your whole self with what God desires - that is what those in Heaven are like.

Having blessed us Jesus now tells who we are and what comes from being blessed:
      Okay. Get ready for what is to come.
      Here's what's at stake, and here's what is required of you.
      You are blessed, now go and be a blessing.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com

Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, see link below, pages 41-42.

* Link to Amazon.com Bibliography for Bruce Malina, et. al., Social Science Commentary on ... The Synoptic Gospels; The Gospel of John; The Book of Acts; The Letters of Paul; The Book of Revelation; and others.

Matthew 5:13-20 (NRSV)

   ¹³ "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

   ¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

   ¹⁷ "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Matthew 5:13-20 (The Message)

   ¹³ "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

   ¹⁴ "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. ¹⁵ If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. ¹⁶ Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

   ¹⁷ "Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. ¹⁸ God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.

   ¹⁹ "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. ²⁰ Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Return to top of post.

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials.
Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required.
Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

Matthew 5:1-12

The poor, the hungry, and the sorrowing will never confuse these things as being their salvation. And THAT is the blessing. They KNOW their need of God.

Year A
Epiphany 4
January 30, 2011
Sunday Between January 28 and February 3 Inclusive

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 5:1-12, The Message   or   Matthew 5:1-12, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "."

Matthew 5:1-12 is the opening of Sermon on the Mount. See my post, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7, for an short overview of these chapters.

The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV)

What is the crucial difference between the one who is wise and the one who is foolish?

It has nothing to do with what we usually associate with wisdom: knowledge, many years of experience, perspective, intelligence, insight, etc.

Nor does it have to do with HEARING what Jesus has said. Both cases begin - "Everyone who hears these words of mine ..."

The difference between being either wise or foolish is in ACTING or NOT acting.

It is not enough for us to hear these words of Jesus; to study them; to be inspired by them; to have hopes / aspirations / dreams based on them. We must ACT on them; practice them; live them in our everyday lives.

So whatever passage we read from the Sermon on the Mount, we must hear it with one question in mind:

What must I DO to make this the bedrock of how I live?

This passage is often referred to as "The Beatitudes," based on the original Latin word for "Blessed."

To begin, Malina (see footnote below) suggests that the Greek word translated as "blessed" or "happy" would be better as "honourable." 

Whatever the translation, Jesus completely reverses who society regards as blessed.

Who are the blessed / honourable? The poor. The sorrowing. The humble. The hungry. The merciful. The pure. The peacemakers. The hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed.

This is a tough list for those of us who are rich, or full, or laughing, or spoken well of. Aren't these good things to have and to aspire to?