your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you- matthew 6:4
. almost all of us live two lives: what people see outside and what is really going on inside. in school we learn what outward signs of attention will please the teacher. at a job we learn to put up a "good front" whenever the boss happens to stroll by. as if donning masks, we style our hair, choose clothes, and use body language to impress those around us. over time, we learn to excel at hiding problems.
chapters 5-7 in matthew announce that the time has come for us to change not just the outside, but the inside. in Jesus' day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outwardly behavior. they wore gaunt and hungry looks during a brief fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching, and went so far as to wear bible verses strapped to their foreheads and left arms.
in His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus blasts the hypocrisy behind such seemingly harmless practices. God is not fooled by appearances. we cannot fake behavior to impress Him. He knows that inside the best of us lurk dark thoughts of hatred, jealousy, pride and lust- internal problems only He can deal with. Jesus goes on to present a truly radical way of life, free of pretense.
the way of life described is more radical than anything before or since. Jesus' words turn many normal assumptions upside down. with statements like, "blessed are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...the peacemakers...those who are persecuted," Jesus attacks those who strive to build a good image by appearing powerful, successful and assertive.
perhaps the most radical of all, the sermon on the mounts introduces the possibility of living solely for God and not for appearances. at last we can bring our inner and outer together.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
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