Verses 1-3 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Greek word translated as “blessed” in the following verses is “makarios” and it means to be happy.
The multitudes that followed Jesus often numbered in the thousands. So how did they hear what He was saying? It must have been a supernatural miracle. Without the conveniences of modern day speaker systems, people just a few feet back from Jesus should have had difficulty hearing His words. There have been modern day instances of Gospel preachers addressing a crowd in the open without benefit of voice enhancing devices and the crowd was able to hear the message given. God gets His Word out and He does not need technology to assist Him.
To be poor in spirit gives the picture of a person who is lowly, perhaps helpless and powerless, lacking wealth, influence, position, or honor and who is therefore more able to accept the teachings of Christ. They most likely are not in possession of intellectual teachings that can cloud their thinking from the simplicity of the Gospel and of the teaching of Heaven and eternal life with the LORD. Anyone who has attempted to share the Gospel with others will usually admit that the more educated and sophisticated a person is, the harder it is to reach them for Christ Jesus.
Verse 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Jesus says those people who lament or mourn are happy because they will be comforted or receive consolation, encouragement and strength. Mourning usually occurs when there is a loss like the death of a loved one or the loss of a valued possession. Mourning can occur when a person with a tender heart sees the evil and hurt that goes on in the world. A person can mourn for any number of different reasons such as not winning the lottery or not getting a job promotion, but the mourning Jesus is referring to is that of a sincere person who is emotionally hurting and wishing they could do something to change or correct the situation for the good. When they give their sadness, loss, or disappointment to Jesus, they are promised to be comforted.
Verse 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The Greek word translated as “meek’ is “praus” and it means a mildness of disposition or a gentleness of spirit. The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon states, “In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice.”
Application: For the believer who is meek, there is the faith that God will control every situation because He is good and His intentions towards the believer is only for good. The meek person is not centered on self, but on God. Therefore, God will give the earth and all that is involved with living on the earth to His people and they will have peace.
Verse 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Happy is the person who seeks after the things in life that are good, virtuous, pure and right. According to this verse, those who seek such things will find them. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Verse 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
When God shows mercy to His people, He does not give them the punishment that they deserve. The Scripture says that the wages or payment for sin is death. Through the sacrifice of Jesus and His shed blood, the sinner does not receive a death sentence when repentant of the sin. Therefore, each believer needs to show mercy to those who transgress against them. By being merciful, God in turn will be merciful.
Verse 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
To have a pure heart means to be free from sin, guilt and corrupting desire. It means to be innocent and blameless before God. Only by being in a state free from sin can a person reach Heaven and be in the presence of God when they die.
Application: The problem is that, “… all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. To fix the problem, Jesus came to Earth and became the payment for all sins through His death and shed blood on the cross. The true believer is covered spiritually by that blood and seen as having a pure heart. Yes, the true believer sins at times or makes mistakes, but the true believer is made aware of the sin by the Holy Ghost/Spirit dwelling inside so that repentance and forgiveness can ocurr.
Verse 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Peacemakers love peace and want peace and work to create peace. Children usually imitate or emulate their parents, whether for good or for bad. So believers or children of God should be emulating their Father which is in Heaven for good and be peacemakers. God’s character is one of peacemaking. Just reading the Old Testament history of the nation Israel demonstrates God’s restraint in judging and punishing the nation when it was wicked and not walking in His laws and statutes and thereby wanting there to be peace among the people and peace with the people. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Application: In John 16:33 Jesus states, ” These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.” The definition of “peace” includes freedom from disturbance, quiet, tranquility, mental calm, and serenity. The believer that is truly walking in the Spirit of Jesus has peace. Nothing can upset or unhinge that believer. People walking in the world system do not have that peace. Be grateful for the peace of God and be willing to share the Gospel with the unsaved so that they can experience the same peace gifted by the LORD.
Verse 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Greek word translated as “persecuted” is “dioko” which comes from the verb “dio” which means to flee. To put to flight, drive away, pursue in hostility, to harass, trouble molest or mistreat are the connotations of this word. So a person is to be happy if being persecuted for doing right. The verse does not say that persecution for sin or doing wrong will give the kingdom of heaven to anyone.
Application: John 5:16 and 15:20 states, “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.” “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” Jesus had healed a crippled man so that he could walk, and the religious Jews condemned His actions as it was done on the sabbath and their traditions were more important to them than the well being of a person and they were jealous. Jesus was doing good. The Jews persecuted Him for doing good. You, the believer, will be criticized and mistreated for doing good. You will be treated by the unrighteous people of the world just as Jesus was treated. But this persecution for being the servant of and for emulating Jesus comes with a reward: the kingdom of Heaven and eternity with the LORD.
Verses 11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
There is a slight difference between the pronouncement of blessing in verses 11-12 and the pronouncement of blessing in verse 10. In verse 10 the believer is doing good because his conscience tells him to do good or to be righteous. An example of a righteous act would be to return the neighbor’s dog when it escaped its enclosure or to help a traveler find a location when they are lost. Unbelievers can and do righteous deeds every day, but they do not know the LORD so the kingdom of Heaven is not theirs. In verses 11-12 the persecution for righteousness is because the persecutors know the believer is a follower of Christ and standing on the principles of the Bible. A true believer cannot compromise with the world system which is of the Devil. Religious persecution is usually not for what the believer does, but for what the believer refuses to do.
Verse 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
So in summary of the verses above, the person who is lowly and humble, who mourns the wickedness in the world, who is gentle and peace loving, who seeks out the virtuous things in life, who is merciful to all, who trusts God fully and has a pure heart, and who therefore does not get surprised at any persecution because of righteousness’ sake or because of their relationship with Jesus, that person is a happy person who has inherited the kingdom of God both here in the realm of time and space and in the spiritual realm of eternity. Just as salt brings out the flavor of foods and can act as a preservative to prevent decay of foods, people with the above qualities bring a flavor that provides good things in this sinful world and they prevent the decay of sin from spoiling that with which they are involved.
Application: Salt in days gone by was a very expensive and valuable commodity. Salt was needed for health, to flavor foods, and to preserve foods. Among the treasures of the British royals, large gold salt containers are displayed along with the Crown jewels in the Tower of London as the need and limited availability of salt made it a product for the rich and famous and as coveted as jewels. The believer is metaphorically compare to salt. By sharing his/her faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, the believer can save a soul from the corruption of sin, death and Hell and can help the person live a life that is full of peace and joy through the presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. But a believer can become as useless as the salt that loses its flavor or taste. Salt that had deteriorated was often spread out on the roads. It melted snow and it helped add surface to the roads, and it was easily disposed of in this manner. The salt would be stepped on by all those walking on the roads. It no longer had value. Don’t become useless, tasteless salt. Keep your walk with the LORD vibrant and flavorful. You are a valuable and expensive person as Jesus died so that you could be free of condemnation and the death penalty.
Verses 14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When little, this writer used to have a vacation with parents that liked to drive to the vacation destination at night to avoid traffic. Going through large expanses of open range or farmland, even a small town could be seen miles before it was reached because of the street lights and storefront lights that were left on all night. Believers are to be easily seen in the darkness of this devil infested world. A believer that does not stand out is not letting the light of Jesus shine. Jesus should be apparent in how the believer dresses, acts, talks and conducts his/her affairs. There should be enough difference that unbelievers notice. The believer is to be like Jesus, and He was distinct and different from all the people that followed Him. He was and is light, His words being truth and knowledge to guide people through this world into eternity.
Verses 17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Why did Jesus say people thought He was going to destroy the law or the prophets? This writer believes that the religious and political Jewish leadership had interpreted the Scripture in such a way as to ignore the prophecies regarding the suffering Messiah and to just focus on the prophecies that they interpreted to promise a complete restoration of the nation Israel under the leadership of a triumphant Messiah on Earth. They were looking for an earthly king and an earthly kingdom that would come and establish new laws and make the words of the prophets null and void. They wanted to have the nation Israel restored to power so that it could be the head of a one world government. Remember that the history of the Jewish people included experience with one world governments starting with Egypt and ending with Rome. They were slaves in Egypt, captives in Assyria and Babylon, subject to the Medo/Persians and Greeks, and second class citizens in Rome. They wanted to be in power and to rule the people of the world. They still do.
The word translated as “jot” is “iota” and it means the smallest Hebrew letter, the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The word translated as “tittle” is “keraia” and it refers to the little lines that are used with Hebrew letters to differentiate them from one another. The meaning of the sentence is metaphor in that Jesus was saying that not even the smallest part of the law shall pass away or perish. As long as there are the heavens and the Earth, the law and the prophets will remain.
Jesus stated that He was come to Earth to fulfil the law and the prophets. He did. The law set up a standard of righteousness that no man could attain due to having a sin nature and therefore sinning. Jesus was without sin. No laws of God were broken. The prophets told of Jesus and His ministry including His death and resurrection. Jesus fulfilled prophecy.
Jesus told the people that the righteousness of their leaders who they more than likely respected and looked up to, either because they had been taught to do so or because they were afraid of the power of the scribes and Pharisees, was not adequate to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. The people would have to change their thinking and their behavior through the teachings of Jesus and become truly righteous if they wanted to enter into the kingdom of God. These words of Jesus did not endear Him to the political and religious leaders. He was becoming a threat to their authority and position and so the conspiracy and plots to kill Him began.
Verses 21-24 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
From verse 21 to the end of the chapter Jesus is teaching from Old Testament commandments but adding to them to make them even more relevant and broader in meaning. The first is from Exodus 20:13 which states, “Thou shalt not kill.” Notice that Jesus says, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time . . .” Jesus is saying that in former times (old time) this is what was said. The people knew the commandments not because they read them, but because they were told of them by the priests and scribes. They heard what they were told. The people did not have access to the scrolls kept in the Temple and most people were illiterate. So Jesus prefaced His teaching with what had been taught in the past and then shared what was new about these commandments in the present.
Application: Today it is not unusual to find believers and members of churches that only hear the Word from others. These people rely on pastors and religious teachers and televangelists to tell them what the Bible says and means. Unlike the people of Jesus’ day, today’s lazy church participants have no excuse. They have access to the “scrolls” or the Scripture and most people know how to read. There should not be a reliance upon another person to tell them what the Bible says and what it means. This allows for heresy and false teachings to infiltrate the Church. Each believer is responsible to use the tools that the LORD has provided in this church age to search out the Scripture and see what it says and what it does not say. Only if a person is familiar with the real thing can that person spot the false. Be responsible. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1
Most people do not kill other people, and so most people feel they can keep at least one of the ten commandments throughout their lifetime. But Jesus, who is God, says that being angry with someone without a cause is similar to killing and will bring judgement from the LORD. At the time Jesus was speaking these words, the term, Raca, was a term of reproach in Jewish culture, and using it against someone could land the user in front of a judge. Perhaps it was somewhat like slandering a person in today’s culture. But Jesus went farther and warned against calling someone a fool. This could send the user of this word to Hell. Why?
Words can kill a person in a different way. No physical harm is rendered, but emotional and psychological harm can be done to a person by words, by the power of the tongue. Wounds received from someone in the form of verbal criticism or abuse are difficult to forget, to forgive and to recover from. James said, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26 A true believer will exercise control over that which he/she speaks so that no offense is made or hurt caused to the listener. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:5-6
Righteous anger is allowed in the Church. This is anger over sin and the damage it causes. Anger directed against a person for no reason offends God. He sacrificed His all for sinful man, so the least a forgiven person can do is refrain from sinning by holding negative feelings against a person for no reason.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalms 14:1 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 To call a believer a fool would be saying that they do not believe in God. Anyone who is looking for God or who knows God cannot be a fool.
Verses 25-26 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
The verses above do not specify who the guilty party is in the conflict. The Greek word translated as “adversary” is “antidikos” and it means opponent, an opponent in a suit of law, or an enemy. Judging by the use of this word in the verses above, it seems to indicated that the adversary is someone associated with a law suit. It appears that Jesus is saying that when there is a conflict that may lead to a court hearing, avoid the court process by agreeing with the person and settling the conflict out of court. Why? Because the court case could go against either party, and if the innocent party is deemed guilty by the judge, the innocent party could go to prison and not be released from prison until all the debt is paid. So perhaps it is more wise to pay the price and avoid the possibility of prison time.
Application: It is a hard thing to accept blame and to endure a loss of some kind in order to be at peace with other people. It is not fair. No one said the Christian life was easy. Think about what damage could be done to the Gospel and to the name of Jesus if a believer who is known to be a believer is dragged through a court hearing for all to see. Also remember, Jesus had adversaries and He endured a crooked court hearing and received a wrongful sentence of guilty and paid the ultimate price with His life in order to be at peace with the very people He created that hated Him and wanted to see Him destroyed. He never defended Himself, but submitted to the system. It wasn’t fair. Believers are to be like Jesus. The word Christian means to be Christ-like. Think about it.
Verses 27-30 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
God ordained sex and reserved it for marriage between an adult man and an adult woman. Sex was not to be engaged in outside of a marriage, with partners other than a spouse, with individuals of the same sex, with relatives, with children, or with animals. In today’s culture of “anything goes,” people growing up in the last century are often confused as to what is normal and acceptable sexual behavior as far as God is concerned. So from the mouth of Jesus Himself, let’s be clear as to what is sin and what is not. A man glancing at a woman but not imagining a relationship with her is not sinning. A man looking at a woman he is not married to in a mentally lustful manner is an adulterer. The problem is in the heart. God knows each person’s heart and whether it is pure or evil. Jesus thought that this topic was serious enough to recommend that if a person could not refrain from sexual lust, they should pluck out their eyes with which they were lusting because looking leads to mental imaginations or fantasies that lead to actions that lead to sinful acts that lead to possible disease, and that ultimately leads to separation from the LORD and spiritual death. And if a man could not keep his hands off a woman that he was not married to, it was recommended that he get rid of his hand. Jesus was saying that it was better to harm that part of the body that was used in sexual sin than to spend eternity in Hell. This writer does not believe the words above were said in jest or in a sarcastic manner. What do you think?
Verses 31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Notice that it is the man who issued the divorce upon his wife. This writer has not found any Scripture in which a woman divorces her husband. Jesus states that the only acceptable reason for separation and divorce from a man’s wife is “the cause of fornication.” The Greek word translated as “fornication” is “porneia” from which the word pornography comes. It means adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, or bestiality. In other words, any sexual act entered into outside of the marriage is fornication. When a man divorces his wife for any other reason, such as a mid life crisis or an office worker that he is drawn to, he not only commits adultery, but he causes his wife to commit adultery also. In Bible days, women usually relied upon the men in their lives for food, shelter, and clothing. There were not a lot of options for women to earn a living on their own, so it is reasonable to assume that a divorced woman would enter into another relationship or marriage if only to have a place to live and food provided for her.
Application: Jesus’ words do not change over time. What was commanded by Him in the first century AD is commanded by Him now. Just because women today can work for a living and support themselves does not mean a man and a woman can destroy their marriage for reasons other than fornication or sexual sin. Destroying the marriage because of reasons other than fornication such as financial stress or communication difficulties or affairs relating to children produced as a result of the marriage is seen by God as sin. So it would be very wise for any believer who is considering marriage to a person of the opposite sex to receive counseling prior to the marriage and to enter into a time of serious prayer before actually committing to another human being for life. Think about it.
Verses 33-37 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
The Greek word translated as “forswear” is “epiorkeo” and it means to swear falsely. So according to Mosaic law, swearing falsely or lying was forbidden. But Jesus goes farther and states that no one should swear at all, ever. Notice that Jesus claims the Earth as His as well as the Heavens. Think about how mankind has abused the soil and plant life of the Earth which is God’s footstool with poisons and haphazard mining and logging practices, with the damming up of rivers that were to flow freely and provide habitat for fish, birds and other critters, with the covering of the soil with asphalt and cement, and with the interference of natural weather patterns with geoengineering experiments including chemical trails. Think about how mankind has abused the animals that Jesus created with cruel farming techniques all to increase yield at a cheaper cost. Think about the audacity of mankind attempting to enter the Heavens under the guise of space exploration, of the exploding of bombs in the air during endless military exploits, of the spreading of toxic chemicals in the air with aerial crop dusting, with the launching of millions of satellites that move about in the Heaven for the purpose of communication and for spying, and so forth. Do you, the reader, think God is pleased with all that mankind has done?
The city of Jerusalem mentioned here is not that ancient city located in the nation of Israel today. Jesus is the great King and He never ruled in that earthly city and He never will. He is referring to the Heavenly Jerusalem that exists in Heaven. Hebrews 12:22 states, “But ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.” Revelation 21:2 states, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Verse 10 of that chapter states, “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.“
Application: Keep it simple. Jesus says an answer of “yes” or “no” should suffice at all times. This writer knows of an older gentleman that has since passed away but who lived his life by the Word of God without compromise. This gentleman was required to give testimony in a court of law. When he was asked if he would “swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you god,”he said he would not. He explained that God strictly forbade him to swear to anything but that he would answer all questions truthfully with a yes or a no answer. He was cited for contempt of court. He refused to compromise and eventually the swearing in part was dropped and he was able to give testimony his and God’s way. Think about the witness this man had in that court room to all present.
Verses 38-42 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
All of these commandments by Jesus seem contrary to human nature and human common sense. In the past, justice was required and often could be given out by the victim or the victim’s relatives. So if, let’s say, an individual attacked a person and knocked out that person’s tooth in a fight, the injured person could seek judgement and have the perpetrators tooth knocked out in revenge for the injury. If someone was caught stealing, the injured person could take the property of the thief in return. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is saying to not seek revenge on those that harm the believer but to show mercy and forgive. Why? Because when people are treated contrary to human nature and reasoning, they notice and want to know why they are being treated so graciously. That provides a means for sharing about the love of Christ with the unbeliever. A soul may be saved from Hell.
Application: Some believers take the commandments of Jesus out of context and make them extreme. In the above verses, Jesus is not talking about turning your cheek to someone that is trying to kill you, nor is he telling you to not defend yourself in court from someone trying to illegally take your property. The above commandments are guidelines and do not include sacrificing your life in order to be obedient. Being slapped across the face will not cause anything but temporary embarrassment and a stinging sensation. Escalating the situation by striking back may lead to serious injury. It is to be avoided and the person is to be forgiven. Avoiding situations that lead to a court legal process is always wise. If a believer loses property or money to someone, it may not be fair, but staying out of courts that are usually rigged anyway is always wise. Being a peacemaker is what Jesus is getting at in these verses. He can and will restore that which was lost by avoiding a frivolous law suit. And if someone is being unreasonable, live with it. Show the love of Jesus and see what happens in the person’s life. And never fail to give of resources given to you by the LORD. There will be a blessing when sharing finances with others without charging interest or expecting to be repaid.
Verses 43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5)
This whole chapter is about being righteous and treating others the way Jesus would treat them. It is summed up in these verses above. Love everyone, even those that do not like you. Do good to those that try to hurt you. Pray for everyone even if it seems they do not deserve the time and effort. Why? Because God is no respecter of persons and He loves everyone and has equal treatment of everyone while here on this Earth. The difference will be at judgement time when sentences are handed out by God depending on a person’s performance while here on Earth. And don’t forget to not just fellowship with those who like you and agree with you. That is easy. It is harder to befriend and interact with people who don’t particularly like you and who do not agree with you. The believer, although commanded to assemble together with other believers, is to seek out people that need to see the love of Christ and who need to hear about the Gospel. That is how the LORD’s kingdom is built, one soul at a time. And strive to be perfect. Is that possible? If it wasn’t, Jesus would not command it to be so. Think about what it means to be perfect and how to succeed at being perfect.