What would life be like if, at the end of chapter 4 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus had said "That's the end of today's healing service. There's no coffee, I'm afraid, because my disciples forgot it and the feeding of the 5000 isn't until chapter 14" and then skulked off to a quiet place to pray? The keen beans amongst you will have worked out that the answer I am going for is 'there would have been no Sermon on the Mount', but really, my question goes deeper and the answer deeper still. What would the implications for life be if Jesus had never preached that sermon?
My answer is: Just think how easy life would be! I would be able to get angry at whomever and not be guilty of murder (Mt 5:22); I could ignore Jesus' teaching and not be labelled as a foolish builder (7:26) and I certainly wouldn't have to aim for perfection (5:48). In fact, I could continue living life in the world's ideal rather than in this topsy-turvy, completely upside-down world of Jesus' kingdom where the first are last and the meek, merciful and poor receive the blessing. The only problem: Jesus did preach the Sermon on the Mount. And he meant it.
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