In the Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard …” is a phrase to introduce the oral tradition or the way that Pharisee interpret the law.
My sharing: The beatitudes (vv. 3-12) describe the characteristics of a kingdom citizen. As a Christian, I know I’ll enter the kingdom one day but I don’t show those characteristics. I seldom feel that I am poor in spirit or I am mourning. My problem is I don’t take God’s standard (vv. 18-20) or sin (vv. 23-26, 29-30) seriously. As a result, I am no different from my environment (vv. 46). It is like salt loses its saltiness. The solution is not trying to fulfill God’s standard by ourselves like the Pharisee (v.20) but to go back to Jesus who is the only one who can fulfill them (v. 17). When we go back to Jesus as those who mourn, we will be comforted.
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