I had to teach a Sunday School lesson recently to the “Old Coggers Class” at my church and the subject was Jesus’ message to his disciples referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. That experience made me realize how the message found in Chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s account of this sermon applied to folks of that day as Jesus started His ministry. He was speaking to His 12 disciples and the crowd of people who came to hear His words as He taught.

What Jesus said then certainly applies to us today in modern times and it speaks clearly to all of us. The Beatitudes are included in Matthew 5: 1-12.

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes are all about Jesus. It must be understood. They aren’t a call to a rigid set of rules. It’s said that they aren’t a call to “law,” but to grace. That grace is freely available to all who are simply willing to seek first the kingdom of God. The Beatitudes are a reflection of Jesus or really a self-portrait of the Messiah. The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t tell us how to become a follower of Jesus, but rather describes the ideal characters of a disciple. Only Jesus fully achieved this high ideal which sets goals for every Christian to pursue. The sermon isn’t a prescription for salvation by “works,” but rather is a description of the possibilities that God’s grace opens to those who surrender completely to the rule of God. In substance, these are not set rules that must be met. Instead they are guidelines for a Christian to follow.

Jesus also taught his disciples and those in attendance on that day how to pray. It’s the prayer that most Christians put up more than any other.

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6: 9-13

As we approach Election Day in our nation, it would be good to reflect on those words of Jesus both in the Beatitudes and in the Lord’s Prayer. May God bless the United States of America and all of its people.

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