A weary pilgrim, days on the road, stands on a Galilean hillside and looks with disappointment at a carpenter in a torn tunic surrounded by cripples and tax collectors, is this the king? His inner monologue carries us through the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), which call happy the very people who feel nothing of the sort. The sermon unfolds the constitution of God’s kingdom: a kingdom that does not wait for better circumstances but begins inside a person. Listen, and see whether these words really do call you blessed.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Jesus' listeners in Matthew 5:1-16 were waiting for a king who would bring order and free them from Rome. Why might His words about the poor, the mourning and the persecuted being blessed have surprised them?
- In the sermon, salt stands for flavor, preservation and fertility, while light and a city on a hill are things that cannot be hidden. What do these images say about the role of Jesus' followers in the world?
- The sermon suggests Jesus is not talking about life's circumstances but about a posture: humility, forgiveness and love for those who do not deserve it. How do you understand being blessed in the middle of a hard reality?
- The character in the sermon discovers that God's kingdom is first of all within, and when we change, the world around us changes too. In which areas of your life do you most need that kind of change?
- The preacher points out that hard situations become opportunities to show grace, love and peace to others. Which of your current difficulties could be such an opportunity for you?
- Who could you concretely show mercy to this week, or help to reconcile, so that your good deeds lead others to glorify the Father?
