We often misunderstand Jesus’ teaching. Let’s take what is called the Beatitudes, for example. No, they’re not just a series of wise sayings, that look good on coffee mugs. They’re the most challenging teachings that one could possibly imagine.
Like a sample? Well, let’s begin with His very first statement: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Are we poor in spirit? No, we’re not. And since we’re not, the kingdom of heaven is not ours. What’s the answer? We must ask the Lord to make us poor, to understand how tragically, desperately powerless and destitute we are without Him. Otherwise, we just think we’re pretty cool, cruisin’ with Jesus. However, if we will find the humility to ask for this realization of how spiritually impoverished we are, we will begin to understand what it means to…reign.
Let’s try another one, His very next statement. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” What is Jesus talking about here? We’re blessed when we mourn over a loss, like the death of someone we love? No. That’s worldly sorrow, and it’s natural and understandable. However, Jesus is talking about spiritual things, and this is sorrow over our spiritual condition, which He brought up in His first statement. Are we sorrowful over our destitute spiritual condition? No. Therefore, we don’t experience the comfort that God brings.
At the end of this teaching, which continues in the book of Matthew through the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters, He says that if we do the things He has just taught, we’ll be like people who have built their houses upon a rock. We evangelicals read that and say, “I’m a Christian. My house in built on the Rock, Jesus. I’m good.” No. We must do what He has just said in order to have that unshakeable house. We don’t. Our house will be shaken. And many will fall.