There is method to Matthew's madness in telling the story of Jesus!
In Matthew 3 we read about the baptism of Jesus. Through his baptism Jesus is identified as the one who will be the Savior of the world.
In Matthew 4 Jesus is tempted by Satan to abandon his call and sell out to dependence on his own power and privilege. "Denied!" Jesus 1, Satan 0. Jesus also begins calling disciples in chapter 4, preparing his team if you will.
In chapter 5 Jesus calls his newly minted disciples together and starts teaching them. Matthew pictures Jesus as a teacher, the rabbi of all rabbis if you will. Jesus, the new Moses on the mountain, bringing down God's truth.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... Blessed are those who mourn ... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ..." To whom is Jesus speaking? What does it mean to be poor in spirit or to hunger and thirst for righteousness? Are we "them"?
Let's talk.
Pr. Dave Brauer-Rieke