Matthew Blog 2

What purpose does Matthew serve today for the Church as a whole and Christians individually? I think that if you were to ask Christians that today they would probably direct you to Chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount. They may even narrow their answer to only include the Beatitudes. While they would be right I feel that they would be missing a second part of the larger picture.
Jesus came to Earth to bring glory to the Father and to become the sacrifice for the sins of all who accept Him as their lamb. He taught everyone how to be a disciple from the inside out. Not only should we not murder, but we also should not think angry thoughts against other people. Not only should we not commit adultery, but we also should not lust after another human ever. Jesus told us that we are blessed when we are persecuted, when we are poor in spirit, when we are meek, when we mourn, when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we are merciful, when we are peacemakers, and when we are pure in heart.
Sometimes I feel that the action of the Sermon on the Mount is lost to readers today. I speak only with the understanding of what the American Church is and what other Churches around the world are. We here in America are not nearly as persecuted as Christians are in other parts of the world. We claim that we would take a bullet for Christ. After all He said that those who lose their life for the sake of Christ will gain their life (Matthew 10:39).
Years ago a phrase was spoken throughout the country that Christians loved to ask. “What would Jesus do?” Well, according to Matthew, Jesus forgave all who came to Him with a repentant heart. Jesus healed all who believed. Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus touched a dead girl and a leper. Jesus lived the Sermon on the Mount greater than most of us even try.
I feel ashamed when I try to measure up to even one aspect of Jesus’ life here. How many times in Matthew does it say something like “and Jesus had compassion on them…” even though He was constantly surrounded by people. He found time to get away from everyone so that He could be with God alone. His patience was abnormally high (or is ours abnormally low?). Can any of us honestly say that we always help another person out when we can? I go to Fatboys, a homeless ministry offered through Colorado Christian University. Part of me feels like I have helped out afterwards. A single meal is helpful, but a single meal is just a single meal. The main feeling I have when I see a person who is curled up in the rain is pain. Crowds of people just ignore them. I have been that person ignoring them before. So what would Jesus do there? I have a feeling that He would sit beside the person and listen. In the act of listening Jesus would show the gospel. You know that phrase, “There is something different about you. What is it?” Jesus would have been asked that a lot. How many times have you been asked that? For me, never.
Sure, I act differently. I go to church and I pray. I do not get drunk and I do not seek intimate romantic relationships. I do not use vulgar words in daily speech. I try to be honest even when it is tough. However, I cannot help but wonder, what do I do?
What can the Church learn from Matthew? What can I learn from Matthew? The answer is a lot. We can learn how to put God first. We can learn how to pray. We can learn how to live the Sermon on the Mount. We can learn what the Great Commission really means.