The Model of Kindness (Matt. 5:43-48)
Jesus clearly illustrates in the Sermon on the Mount the kindness and goodness of God. Read Matthew 5:43-48 and answer the following questions:
(1) To what high standard is Jesus calling us here?
(2) What reason does Jesus give for calling us to this standard?
(3) Notice Christ's use of the word perfect in verse 48. What is the meaning of perfect here, and how can the use of the word here help us understand what it means to be perfect like "our Father in heaven" is perfect?
God's gracious gifts are just that, gracious gifts. They are unearned and unmerited by all human beings, all of whom have willingly sinned against Him and either ignored or neglected Him. In this sense the greatest sinner is in the same boat as the holiest saint: Neither deserve the kindness and goodness that God gives to us all.
With these verses, Jesus is calling us to be "perfect," even as perfect as God. How so? By loving our enemies, by praying for those who mistreat us, by being kind to those who have not been kind to us. This is how Jesus defines being "perfect." Try to and imagine what our church would be like and what our homes would be like were we to die to self enough so that we actually could live this way! We would have a power and a witness against which the gates of hell could never prevail. What's the only thing stopping us? Nothing but our sinful, vengeful hearts, which, more often than not, cause us to act like "publicans."
What painful and deep changes must you make if you are going to follow Christ's words in these verses?
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