Matthew 5:1

Matthew 5:1 says, And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  Jesus went up on a mountain to get away from the multitudes.  I don't believe that this was because He wasn't concerned about them, but because they were coming to him for the wrong reasons.  If someone comes to Jesus today only for physical purposes, that person is coming for the wrong reason.  Jesus' disciples came to Him while He was on the mountain.  Verse two states, And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  While on the mountain with His disciples, Jesus began to teach them.  As followers of Christ, we need time alone with Him and even time with fellow believers for Him to teach us what we need to do in everyday life.  Verse three adds, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus said that those who are poor in spirit, who do not view themselves as too important, were the ones who would inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Verse four says, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Today, there are a lot of people who mourn, but if they have put their faith in Jesus they should be comforted by that faith.  Verse five declares, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  It seems to be harder to find a truly meek person, and the world often looks down on those who are, but Jesus said the meek would inherit the earth.  I don't believe that this means that the meek will somehow gain control of the earth, but that God will bless them with everything that they need in this world.  Verse six states, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  We, as Christians, should be the ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and if we do, Jesus promises us that we will be filled spiritually.  I don't believe that we should ever reach the point where we don't hunger and thirst after righteousness, and this can only be filled by Jesus Christ, the living bread and water.  Verse seven declares, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  As God's people today, we should be merciful to those around us, but I am not sure that I see a lot of that.  Christians are not to behave as the rest of the world does, but are to be merciful even to those that we may not agree with.  Verse eight says, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  Since our actions are determined by our heart, or thoughts, if we want to see God then we must be pure in heart.  This requires first accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord and then living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nine declares, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  We need more peacemakers in the world today, but it seems that we are too often ready to shoot to kill instead.  I don't believe that this is what Jesus expects from His followers.  Verse ten proclaims, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  I don't believe that anyone will ever be more unjustly persecuted for the sake of righteousness than Jesus was, but His was indeed the kingdom of heaven, and if we remain true to Him not matter what it will be ours also.  Verse eleven states, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Jesus didn't say if the people of the world did these things but when they did.  If we are not being persecuted and reviled as followers of Christ today, it may be that we are dong something wrong.  If we are living by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we are always going to be at war with the world.  Verse twelve declares, Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Jesus said that we were to rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted and reviled.  How do we react to being persecuted and reviled by the people of the world today because of our standing for God?