The Gospel of Matthew describes in detail the story of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The 9 Beatitudes and 24 lessons recited in the sermon are the link between the Old Testament law of Moses and New Testament teachings of Jesus; and lays out how man can achieve righteousness which is the quality of living in accordance with God’s law, a state of excellence and moral perfection.
If only there weren’t so many stringent rules! It seems an almost impossible task to achieve a righteous state.
But, the Bible is full of humans who rely on God’s forgiveness for their transgressions of his commandments. These failed humans are the among the holiest men and women in the Bible and we are taught to emulate and learn from them.
I believe that what God lays out in the Bible would be, in a perfect world, a road map to righteousness. But God also makes clear through the Bible stories, that the world is not perfect. We are told in Matthew “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”; actions and words are taught to be used on our life’s journey and the hungering and thirsting are part of the journey.
God points the way through his commandments and stories, and humans must continually strive towards the final state of excellence. We strive, by our prayers and actions, for a moral and holy state.
Through that striving man can find peace in God. And that peace is God’s biggest gift to us.
