Each day I will be posting from the daily Bible Reading plan we will be doing at West Side. On weekdays we will be going through the New Testament. On the weekends we will read passages from the Old Testament books of Psalms and Proverbs. We invite you to join along.
Matthew 5 is a long passage to do a short little devotion on. However, as I read through it one theme rose from the red letters. Jesus is taking everything to the next level. In everything he discussed; murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, reactions to evil, love for enemies, he took them to the next level. The Law of Moses deals with actions, but Jesus’ words deal with the heart. Jesus’ words deal with motives behind the forbidden actions…looking at a women lustfully, swearing of oaths, and harboring of anger against your brother.
Jesus says, “that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus said that because he was God. He was the only person sitting there on that mount who was pure, who was 100% righteous. That is also why he could take these things to the next level.
And don't you know, that because of Christ, we too are 100% righteous. Because we are 100% righteous we too can enter the kingdom of heaven. Isn't that the best blessing one could ever hope for?
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