“Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

Whoever changes what God has said is in trouble.  Do note however, that the hope is that even ‘they’ will be called the least.  Better to be the least in heaven than the greatest in hell.  But then, it is better to be neither.  So stop dancing around and begin to practice all of the Ten Commandments.  Do not do this to get saved, but toward becoming like Christ.  Keep them, model them, and teach them to others.

Lord, there are those who use the Ten Commandments like a club.  Then there are those who say that You saved us, so what we do does not matter.  But You have made it clear that while we are not saved by the law, You have not done away with the law.  Help me to live in the way You would have me live.  Guide me by Your goodness to learn to know and love all of Your commandments.

Lord Jesus, by Your stripes I am healed.  You have made me a disciple and, through my baptism, called for me to learn how to obey all that You command.  Lead me now and always in the goodness and mercy You give to those who are Yours so that I never willingly nor intentionally violate Your law.  Let me live in Your law with the liberty You have given me knowing that my salvation has been made complete by You.  Amen.

 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!” (Matthew 5:17-18)

People are always looking for something new.  Actually, they are playing the same game invented in Genesis chapter three where temptation to sin was introduced to man.  I may say, “Lord, give me a reason to ignore the law,” but Jesus did not come to contradict what He commanded to Moses.  He does tell us that in the giving of the law, this was not the final revelation.  He and He alone has fulfilled the law, and He has done it for us all.

We begin with the Ten Commandments.  They have not gone away.  Yes, we are forgiven by grace, but that does not mean that this is an excuse to sin.  Only Jesus was able to perfectly fulfill the law, but we are to put on Christ to become like Him.  Therefore, living in (practicing the law) to become like Christ is what we need to do.  We are saved by Jesus to become like Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has come to shine Your light in us.  You have given us all that we need so that we can move away from the sinful old Adam and into the new life which You give us by Your Holy Spirit.  Lead me this day, O Lord, so that I may humbly walk in the light of Your word You have poured into me.  Guide me always to live out what is good, right and salutary, fulfilling Your purpose in my life.  Amen.

“Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Our Lord is making clear how this works.  You are not an exception.  We are all to do good works the Lord has prepared for us to walk in.  We are all to work at being like Christ.  Those works are to be evident.  Not boasted about, but evident.  You see, the focus of what you do should be done in such a way that when people thankfully look at you for what you have done, they look to the source of what is good in you, for the glory belongs to God.

It is said that if there is any goodness in me, do not give me any credit, but give it to the Holy Spirit who is in me.  What the Lord does and what I do is so mixed up in me, that I’ll make it simple and give all the credit to the Lord.  Too much?  I say that it is not enough.  What can I give the Lord that was not His first?  Instead, live in such a way that you seek to have the focus of attention be on the One who saved you.

Why do some say that our purpose is to glorify You?  Here it is.  Yet, I find that the real purpose here is to let You be glorified through me.  This way, the verb goes from me and is owned by You.  Lord, You must be the author of good deeds in my life.  I cannot do as I should, but You can, through me.  Be my grace and mercy.  Be my help and stay.  Be my guide and leading light.  Be the Savior that shines in and through me always, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15).

Take care here.  When Jesus says that you are the light, he is also talking about a lamp on a lampstand.  You are the lamp, He is the lampstand on which you rest, and the light of Christ is thereby enabled to shine in and through you.  Yet, Christ says it is also your light.  You are to reflect the light of Christ to others so that they may see the light of Christ shining in the darkness.  What a good metaphor.  Think in terms of ancient lamps and not bright modern lights.

Lord, You know who I am and what You have given me.  You know that I need to reflect Your light in me as I am, being who I am, as You are making me to be.  Guide me, Lord, so that in You I may truly reflect Your light for others.  Keep me humble so that I do not get in the way.  According to Your goodness and mercy, grant the catalyst of grace You have given me so that Your light may brightly shine through all I say and do.

Come, Holy Spirit, and kindle in me the flame of the light of Christ so that I may shine today for those around me to see.  Lead me as I need to be led.  Lift me onto the lampstand of Christ, shining as You would have me shine.  Guide me now and always so that I may humbly walk with Your guidance, not losing my saltiness, nor shading Your light in me in such a way that it does not show.  Amen.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people” (Matthew 5:13).

The unique Greek word here, “tasteless,” is better understood as “useless.”  How?  When salt no longer does what it is supposed to it becomes useless.  Salt was used as a catalyst to evenly burn dung (Israel did not have ready sources of burnable wood.)  Over time and with much heat, the salt is no longer useful as a catalyst.  You are, by grace, a catalyst for Christ, but if you let the scorch of sin burn you intentionally, you will become worthless.

Lord, are You calling me to walk with You and seek to not sin?  Yes, it would seem so.  How can I live into becoming like You if I also sin away like the world does?  Even many pagans would not do that.  But the wicked one tempts those who have heard the Gospel away from You.  The world tells us that what we do does not matter.  But even tempted and tried, we can see that the Holy Spirit must be at the center of our being, always leading the way.

Lord Jesus, You never gave us complex things that we had to figure out.  You spoke in terms that are easily understood but not always easy to do.  We moderns cannot relate to having to worry about burning over fire to cook food.  But help me get the message that You want me to be a catalyst in this world, reflecting Your light so that others may know that You are in me.  Let me be of use to You today.  Amen.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

Do not try to avoid what will happen.  Prepare yourself with the shield of faith.  When something bad happens, the scoffers will ask, “Where is your God?”  The Lord has said that he is with you always.  He has told you that you would suffer for your faith as He suffered for you.  The scoffers are a part of the wickedness in this world.  Do not rejoice over the evil but rejoice that the Lord has called you into His salvation and counted you worthy to suffer for His name’s sake.

Lord, You have told me to take up my cross and follow You.  Help me to do this.  The world would have me fall away from You and just live for this world.  I am pressed all day long from many quarters by the false messages of this world.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I may learn the way of eternity.  When I encounter persecution, teach me how to rejoice in it and be glad.  Guide me always in Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, You have told me this ahead of time.  I know that this will happen.  The scoffers may rail against me, try to beguile me and even take my life.  So what?  I know that the wages of sin is death.  That is what it means to save my hide for a few years, but You offer me eternity.  Guide me in the way I need to live today so that I may walk in it no matter what comes. Lead me to walk steadfastly with You now, always, and into eternity.  Amen.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

Christianity has always been under hostility.  True faith is often hammered.  Whether it is the pretentious who want you to practice as they do, having no grace or mercy, or the ones who outright hate God, there is a constant battle in this world.  Fight the good fight.  The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and it belongs to those who walk with Jesus here, now, and forever.  Walk knowing that you are in God’s kingdom.

Lord, there is the kingdom of this world and Your kingdom which is forever.  I live in both.  Help me to learn how to navigate so that I do not err on the side of the earth, nor become so focused upon my faith for the sake of heaven that I am useless here.  You have freed me from those things which bind me to the mortality of this earth, but also, I need to grow in Your likeness to prepare for heaven.

Dear Jesus, You have set these things in motion, and concern for this world often overwhelms me.  Lead me. Lord. in the way of faith so that I may be guarded by Your goodness as I navigate my way (with Your help) in this world.  Aid me to know that in You I have eternal hope and a future.  You have called me, and in You I have the precious promise of salvation.  I will encounter adversity and even persecution for my faith.  Help me to stand firm and remain faithful to You.  Amen.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

For those who follow the way of the world, there is hatred.  Those who follow the way of the Lord learn how to love.  The only way to love is to learn how to make peace with those who hate.  Sometimes it may not happen, but you are to live trying for peace.  The peacemakers are living in a way that they do not encourage or foster the constant warfare of this age.  This differentiation is what Christ has accomplished for us from the cross.

Lord, this is a part of the cross I must bear.  I must first tolerate and then learn how to love those who hate me.  When they hate me, they are hating You.  Teach me how to make peace with my enemies.  Teach me how to love as You love.  Teach me so that I may become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be blessed in all I do.

Lord Jesus, in Your ministry, You were always truthful, but You never hated.  You love those whom You have created, even those who will eternally be separated from You.  Lead me in the way of love, Lord, so that I may learn to act as You acted with those around You.  Guide me today to do those things which make for peace in this world of hostility.  Help me always to stay on the narrow way of salvation.  Amen.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

There are those in whom there is no guile.  I confess that I am unable to understand how one can be without guile, but wouldn’t it be wonderful and lovely.  They are blessed, for they know that all that Lord has planned is true and live in simple faith knowing that it shall come to pass according to the Lord’s will.  The pure in heart, those without guile or deception, are blessed, for they know the Lord God as the One who is truly the center of all things.

Once again Lord, this is not a matter of my striving to gain something, but the shedding of all the illusions of this age which make me think I have power over anything.  Lead me according to Your goodness to come to the place where guile, a lack of mercy, and the desire for recompense for wrongs are removed from me.  Lead me in Your goodness to see others as precious in Your sight.

My Lord and Savior, You know those places in my heart where I am blind and cannot see.  Cleanse me through repentance and forgiveness to come to the place where I live a life that desires goodness for all others.  Help me to know that in You there is hope.  Through the eyes of faith and with a pure heart, let me see You today working in me so that the Father’s will is done.  Amen.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Give to others even when they do not deserve what you give.  Do not seek retribution but seek to live under the natural law of reciprocity.  The merciful do not live with an eye-for-eye or tooth-for tooth mentality, as others may do, but they seek the good of all those who are around them.  Give unto others what you desire for yourself and learn how to love as the Lord loves.  Give mercy and you will receive mercy from our good and gracious Savior.

Lord, this is not some kind of economic bargain, but simply what it looks like, to live into the life You give by grace.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may learn how to be merciful to others recognizing that, like me, they too need all the help they can get to move away from the life of the old Adam and into the new life which You offer by grace.  You have come to lead me into this new life.

Thank Youm Lord Jesus, for the hope You give.  You know how much mercy I need.  You know the places where I have gone astray and where I have needed You to rescue me.  Amidst all of the struggles in my life, living in this world, guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to learn how to be kind and merciful to all whom I meet.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy always.  Amen.