Continuing with our study of the sermon on the mount, this week we'll read Matthew chapter 6, verses 1-13, and then take an in-depth look at the Lord's Prayer..."Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
In verse 1, Jesus warns against doing alms before men, in order to be seen of them. This would include performing any type of religious or charitable act. As we are told in James 1:27..."Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." We, as Christians, are commanded to perform these types of charitable acts, whether it be the giving of our money, or our time, or both. However, we must ensure that our motives are pure. Hypocrisy was very often pointed out and harshly criticized by Jesus, verse 1 as well as verse 5 of our reading being but two of numerous examples. Jesus strongly chastised those who acted in hypocritical ways. In the original Greek text, the word "hupokritees", the precursor for the English word "hypocrites", was used frequently by Jesus, and it is defined as "one who plays a part, or one who either pretends to be something that he is not, or one who hides who he really is." Though we all, from time to time, are guilty of hypocrisy to varying degrees, may we never allow it to define who we are, and may we always recognize its subtleties and repent of it when we realize that we have fallen into its snare. So deadly are its effects, in fact, that Jesus warns that those whose motives are impure in their prayers or alms, those who seek not for the good of others, but for their own personal glory, have forfeited their reward. The bottom line, then, is that God knows our hearts, He sees in secret, and He rewards openly. Let us therefore pray for purity in all our ways, that all things would be done with "clean hands, and a pure heart." These thoughts are wrapped up in a beautifully reassuring way in verse 8 as Jesus tells us simply..."For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." It is a humbling thing indeed to consider the fact that God knows us on such a personal level, that He feels our needs, and responds, that the Creator of the Universe is connected with each one of us in such an intimate way...we should never feel alone, because we never are.
We come now to the beautiful prayer which Jesus taught his disciples, the often quoted "Lord's Prayer." Let us first of all state that this is not a prayer which is meant to be memorized in order to be recited word for word. It should not be repeated verbatim as a matter of habit, since Jesus spoke against vain repetitions in prayer in verse 7 of our reading. Much more pleasing to God is a personal prayer that is heartfelt and honest, and prayed in the name of Jesus, as He is our mediator, our advocate before the Father. Rather, this inspirational prayer is more of a form, or an outline, which we are at liberty to pattern our own prayers after. For the purposes of analysis, we'll break the prayer down into its three distinct parts, the first of which is the preface, or address, followed by the petitions, or the body of the prayer, and then, the conclusion, sometimes referred to as the doxology.
The preface of the Lord's Prayer is simply..."Our Father, which art in heaven,"...When we pray, we are to pray only to God, not to angels, or to saints, and we are to address God as our Father. We have been made joint heirs with Christ, therefore we have the spirit of adoption, and we are to come boldly before the throne of grace, and with solemn reverence speak directly to God, as our Father.
The petitions, or body, of the Lord's Prayer are seven in number, the first three being related to God and to His honor, while the last four are related to our own personal, earthly concerns. We are told later on in the sermon on the mount to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you", and the Lord's Prayer follows this pattern, in that the glory and honor of God is first and foremost proclaimed, and then our own individual concerns are addressed. "Hallowed be thy name."...All glory inherently belongs to God, as He is Creator and Sustainer of all, and we must magnify His name in word, in deed, and in all that we do. "Thy kingdom come."...It should be our earnest desire to see the kingdom of God enlarged, to see the gospel spread, to see the lost saved, and the world changed for the better because of the influence of God's love. "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."... In order to see God's kingdom spread and its influence changing minds, hearts, and lives, we must first be willing to defer to what God wants for us. Our will, our wants, and our desires must be brought into subjection to God's will for our life. Only then can we be part of the solution, in compliance with God's will, and part of His plan, rather than a hindrance or a stumbling block to others. "Give us this day our daily bread."...God knows that we have need of physical sustenance, and He will provide it. Those who seek to stay in His will need never worry where their next meal will come from. David wrote so eloquently in Psalm 37:25..."I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." However, Jesus was speaking of more than just our physical needs. As he said in Matthew 4:4..."Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." So we see that it is not simply physical sustenance that Jesus spoke of, but spiritual nourishment, as well. We need to spend time in God's word daily, as it serves to keep us grounded, to purify our hearts and minds, and strengthen our connection to Him, to make us into what He would have us to be. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." We must be of a forgiving spirit toward others, as we can never, on our own, hope to repay the debt of sin that we ourselves owe. Let us always remember that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, thereby showing us the true manifestation of a forgiving spirit, and one that we should seek to emulate and exemplify in our daily lives."And lead us not into temptation,"...We should petition God that, in His great mercy, He would remove from our path any snares that the devil has set for us, that He would chain up the roaring lion that seeks whom he may devour. "But deliver us from evil."...Let us also pray that God would deliver us not only from the evil of this present world, but that He would deliver us from ourselves, as well. We, as flesh and blood, are weak, and subject to lust, greed, jealousy, hatred, and so many other things that would separate us from God. We must pray for purity of our hearts and minds, and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that we would be led in the paths of righteousness.
The conclusion, or doxology, of the Lord's Prayer is a beautiful proclamation of thanksgiving and praise. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." It is an acknowledgement of the all encompassing glory that is due to God, and the fact that His glory is to be proclaimed forevermore. To ascribe eternal glory to God should be our desired destiny, to forever praise Him with the saints and angels in heaven, not because He needs our praises, but because He deserves them. His love warrants endless praises, and to this, we proclaim a resounding, "Amen."
We'll continue our examination of the sermon on the mount, as we take a look at Matthew 5:13-48, the conclusion of the fifth chapter of Matthew, where Jesus details the distinct differences between those who would seek after righteousness and those who only seek their own satisfaction. Beginning at 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. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 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. 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. 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: 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. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 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. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 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. 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. It hath been said, 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. 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: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; 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. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
In verse 13, Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. Salt has been used as a seasoning, a preservative, and as a purifying agent for thousands of years, and each of these characteristics apply to us as Christians, as well. We are seasoned by our life experiences, and preserved by the gospel, which contains the truth that has the power to preserve the soul, and to purify it from the evil influences which would seek to destroy it. In fact, the preservation and purification of this present world is entirely dependent upon our spreading of the gospel. But, if the salt loses its savour, its power to season, preserve, and purify, what is it good for? It is no longer useful, and is good for nothing. In fact, Jesus tells us that it is to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot. A sad state, to be sure, and not one that we would seek for ourselves. So, how do we stay salty? We cannot allow the state of the world around us to pollute our minds, nor can we allow ourselves to be caught in the current, watered down, and swept away with the rest of society. We are a chosen people, and, as Jesus tells us in verse 14, we are the light of the world, a city set on a hill which cannot be hid. Jesus tells us in John 8:12..."I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." So, we, as followers of Jesus, are the light of the world, as He is the light of the world, because we are His hands, His feet, and His voice. As we are told in 1 John 4:17..."as he is, so are we in this world." Such an awesome responsibility we have to show ourselves as His ambassadors, and to lead others to Him. Verse 16 is an oft quoted and beautiful summary of the Christian life..."Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Simply put, this is the answer to the age old questions, "What is the meaning of life?", and "Why am I here?" Our goal in this life, and our purpose for being here, is to be a reflection of the light of Jesus, that others may see it, and bring glory to God. No more, no less. Jesus goes on to explain in verses 17 and 18 that the law must be fulfilled, that the prophecies must come to pass, and that He has not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Jesus tells us in verses 21-26 that we are not to be angry without cause, because our anger will lead to resentment, and separation from God will be the end result. Verses 27-32 are a stern warning against the dangers of lust, and the lengths to which we should be willing to go in order to avoid its corrupting influence. Jesus tells us that even to look with lust is considered to be adultery, and that great care should be taken to avoid this offense. Of course, Jesus doesn't expect us to literally pluck out our eyes, or cut off our hands, but we are to consider ourselves to be dead to sin, and this would include doing anything within our power to stave off lustful desires. In verses 33-37, Jesus warns against the act of swearing by heaven, or by earth, or even by our own head, because we have no power to make one hair white or black. We cannot swear by these things, because we did not create them, they are not within our power, and we have no right to claim them as our own. We are to be a simple people, and, as such, we should have no reason to swear by anything, only to speak simply, to live honestly, and to keep ourselves unspotted from this world, and, as we are told in Romans 12:1...to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." In verses 38-48, Jesus instructs us in the way that we are to handle conflict. Rather than the law of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" that the children of Israel were subject to, Jesus tells us that we are not to seek vengeance, retaliation, or retribution for the wrongs that people do unto us. This does not mean, as some have asserted, that we are not to defend ourselves or our families, should we come under attack. Jesus is telling us here that we are not to render evil for evil, not to seek revenge, or to bear a grudge. We are not to be so enamored with material possessions that we fail to put people first. We should try to see people from an empathetic viewpoint, knowing that we are all subject to the same failings, that none of us are immune to the damaging effects and corruption of sin. Jesus expects each of us to do our best to operate from this mindset, to love people if, for no other reason, than that they are God's creation. If God saw fit to make this person, then He has love for them, and so should I. God is no respector of persons, as we are told in verse 45, He makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and the rain to fall on the just as well as on the unjust. If we only treat those who love us with respect, we are no different than anyone else, and we are called to be different. We should strive to treat all people the same way, no matter their status in life. Only in this way can we have sincere and heartfelt empathy for other people. Jesus concludes these thoughts with an inspirational, if not rather intimidating, commandment..."Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." It is our solemn duty, as followers of Jesus, to do all within our power to keep ourselves and our own desires out of the way, in order to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us unimpeded. We should constantly strive for this perfection that only Jesus can provide. However, at the same time, we must understand that is a perpetual perfecting, an ongoing cleansing and regeneration, a continual restoration, that the precious blood of Jesus provides for us. Only through His blood are we made righteous in the eyes of God.
Over the next few weeks, I'd like for us to take an in-depth look at the greatest sermon that has ever been preached, delivered by the most inherently qualified preacher who has ever lived. The sermon on the mount is the longest discourse of Jesus recorded in scripture, spanning 3 full chapters of the book of Matthew, and contains many beautiful precepts and precious promises, and countless pearls of wisdom. It is just as relevant today as it was when it was first preached, and it is an invaluable insight into the mind and heart of Jesus.
First, a little background, and what led up to the sermon on the mount. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, after which the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, and God the Father expressed His love, as He said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus was then immediately led of the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan for forty days and nights. Following this trial, He heard that John had been imprisoned, and He departed Galilee, and began preaching the Kingdom of God. It was then that He first met Peter and Andrew, James, and John, and as they followed Him, He continued to preach, and to heal the sick and possessed, the lame and the blind. Great multitudes began to follow Him, as His fame spread throughout the lands of Syria, Jerusalem, and Judaea. It was at this point that He delivered the sermon on the mount, and we'll begin this week by looking at Matthew 5:1-12..."And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Verse 1 tells us that Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain. We are not told specifically what mountain it was, which in itself tells us something. We are to preach and to teach everywhere, not just in churches, or in temples, or in specially revered places. This beautiful exposition of the law was given on a mountain, just as the original law had been given on a mountain. The contrast, however, is that when the law was given, the Lord came down upon the mountain, whereas now the Lord went up into the mountain: then, He spoke in thunder and lightning, and the people were ordered to keep their distance for fear of death, and now, He speaks in a still small voice, and invites the people to come near. The new covenant ushers in beautiful changes, and intimacy with the Lord which was never before possible. Although this new covenant would not take effect until the Lord's death, the people who heard this sermon preached were blessed with a priceless glimpse of His glory and power.
Verse 2 simply says that He opened His mouth, and taught the people. Jesus taught much by saying nothing at all, that is, He taught the people by the exemplary life that He lived, and by the way that He treated others. Isaiah 53:7 tells us, concerning Jesus..."He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not his mouth." Jesus remained silent in times of His own affliction and oppression, but here, He opened His mouth, and taught the people. Jesus opens not his mouth in His own defense, but He opens His mouth in order to bring the truth to the multitude.
The sermon begins with blessings upon various groups of people who had previously been oppressed or afflicted, those who are humbly seeking after righteousness, and those who seek peace with man and with God. Jesus commences the sermon with blessings, for He came into this world in order to bless us. He purchased our blessings, as well as our salvation, with His own precious blood.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What does it mean to be poor in spirit? We must be content to be emptied of self, and emptied of worldly wealth, as well, if God sees fit, in order to be filled with Jesus, as He tells us in Matthew 16:24..."If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Those who are willing to let go of their lusts and desires, and their need for self satisfaction, and recognize the intrinsic value of closeness and intimacy with God above all else are blessed, and can look forward to a home in heaven.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." This is not necessarily referring to those who have lost loved ones, although they can certainly find comfort and solace in the arms of Jesus. The mourning referred to here is a state of sorrow over sin, an attitude of repentance, and a longing for the perfecting that only Jesus can provide. The lament of our corruptible nature, and of our separation from God because of it, is necessary for us to remain in a state of humility. Jesus here pronounces blessings upon all those that seek His comfort in their lowly state, who, with a repentant heart, long for His cleansing and restoration.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Unfortunately, in society today, meekness, along with humility, is equated with weakness. But, in a great paradox, meekness is, in fact, strength. It sometimes takes a lot of strength to hold one's tongue, to not seek retribution or revenge against those who have done wrong to us or to those that we love. Those who quietly submit themselves to God, and are of a gentle nature and character, are blessed. To be like Christ is to be meek and gentle, because He was meek and gentle. Though it was within His power to avenge Himself, He chose not to. Jesus said to Peter, as he was betrayed and taken away, in Matthew 26:53..."Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" The self control that Jesus showed during His betrayal, and later His crucifixion, is something that we should all aspire to, and make every attempt to reflect in our own character.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." The zeal for righteousness is here equated to a hunger, or a thirsting, an almost palpable longing for holiness. When we loathe the state of our natural minds, and the sin that so easily besets us, and when our primary focus becomes the attainment of the righteousness that Jesus died to supply us with, He will provide, and we will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." To have compassion, and to share in the afflictions of others, brings blessings of mercy. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:2..."Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." We are to operate from a mindset of mercy, which is contradictory to that which comes naturally. To find empathy and compassion for others sometimes proves to be a very difficult thing for us to do, but we will be blessed because of it. The acknowledgement of our own weakness, of our own inherently sinful nature, will help us to feel empathy for others, and find mercy for them, which will, in turn, bring blessings of mercy upon us.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." To maintain a pure heart in a wicked world is an exceedingly difficult task. It must involve living from the inside out, that is, not allowing the cares of this world and the desires and lusts of it, to pollute our hearts. We must defer our thoughts and actions to those of Jesus, and allow His Spirit to live and work through us. We must recognize that there are always going to be two voices competing for our attention, and pray for clarity and calm in our minds, that God would help us to hear His voice, and that we would be led by His Spirit. Paul explains this in Romans 7:19-21..."For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." Again, we see the need for recognition of our inherently sinful nature. Not that we should succumb to it, but that we simply understand and accept our weakness, and the fact that, apart from Jesus, we are without hope. He is our strength, He is our righteousness, He is our Redeemer, and our Salvation.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Only those who are at peace with themselves can be at peace with others, and only those at peace with God can be at peace with themselves. Therefore, it follows, that in order for us to have any semblance of peace in our lives, we must first come to a place of peace with God. We must settle our sin debt, or rather, allow Jesus to settle it for us, in accepting His precious blood sacrifice, and giving our hearts to Him. We are told in Proverbs 16:7..."When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Peace with God should be always be our first priority, and then peace with men will follow.
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and shall persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Persecution for righteousness' sake is persecution for Christ's sake, on behalf of Jesus, and this affliction will certainly be rewarded. When evil is spoken falsely against us, rather than to take offense, and to take action in order to defend ourselves, we should let God fight the battle on our behalf. In Exodus 14:14 we are told..."The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.", and in Deuteronomy 3:22..."Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you." All those who have suffered or will suffer persecution, or, at its worst, martyrdom, for the sake of righteousness, will certainly be recompensed abundantly. The joys of heaven will, by all means, transcend any sufferings which we may be asked to endure in order to procure it. To defend righteousness and to uphold truth is to defend Christ and His teachings, and no greater honor could be bestowed upon us than to say that we, in our lifetime, carried our cross, and upheld the cause of Christ.
This week, we'll wrap up our series on "learning the hard way" with a look at the apostle Peter, and some of the hard lessons that he had to learn while following Jesus. Peter was chastised and corrected on several occasions, and by examining these rebukes and what Peter learned from them, we can learn a lot about ourselves, and the frailties that we all face.
First of all, let's take a look at the background of Peter. We are told that he was not an educated man, just a simple fisherman. In fact, Peter may have been illiterate, as is eluded to in Acts 4:13..."Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Peter may have been uneducated, but when he meets Jesus, we are told that he follows him without hesitation. In Matthew 4:18-20, we read..."And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." So, although Peter may not have had the education of Luke, who was a doctor, or Paul, the Jewish scholar, we see that he had good intuition, and that he recognized the fact that the opportunity to follow Jesus was more important than his livelihood. This is a lesson many of us still need to learn.
The first instance of correction that Peter would face comes as Jesus is walking on the water in the midst of a storm, and Peter, along with the rest of the disciples, are afraid. Jesus tells them in Matthew 14:27..."Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Peter then boldly answers, "Lord, if it be thou, bid be come unto thee on the water."
Jesus invites Peter to come to him on the water, and Peter climbs down out of the boat, and begins to walk on the water to Jesus. However, the winds picked up and became boisterous, and Peter was afraid. He began to sink, and cried out, "Lord, save me." Immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
We see that Peter has great boldness, as he summons the courage to climb down out of the boat, and walk on the water to Jesus. But, as the wind howls, fear grips him, and, taking his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink. This is a powerful lesson in itself. As long as we keep our focus on Jesus, we can weather any storm, but when we shift our focus to ourself or to our surroundings, we begin to sink just as Peter did. Thankfully, like Peter, we can cry out, "Lord, save me", and we can know that Jesus will reach down to pick us up.
The next instance of chastisement that Peter faces is perhaps the most stinging and brutal rebuke of all. We read in Matthew 16: 13-24..."When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Peter's devotion to Jesus is apparent, and he is blessed because of it. Peter's great confession is the foundation of the church, and Jesus rewards Peter by recognizing his faith, giving him the keys to the kingdom. But Peter's devotion to Jesus has another side, as well, and we see a selfish aspect of Peter's personality when he asserts that the things which must befall Jesus should not come to pass. Peter is a passionate man, but he is also impulsive, and, like most of us, he seems to be unable to get himself and his emotions out of the way. Of course, we recognize that Peter is speaking out of love for Jesus, but his inability to see the bigger picture brings a strong consequence. Jesus rebukes Peter very harshly. In fact, Peter is likened to Satan because of his selfishness. This may seem to be very harsh, but Jesus is driving home the point that prophecy must be fulfilled, that the things which are to come have been planned out from the beginning, and that Peter cannot allow his personal feelings to interfere. Peter had to learn to deny himself, and this is something that we all must learn.
The last example that we'll look at in the life of Peter comes as Jesus is about to betrayed and crucified. We read in Matthew 26:31-35..."Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." We see Peter's pride getting the better of him, as he defiantly refuses to accept the fact that he would ever deny Jesus. However, as Jesus is betrayed and taken away, all of the disciples flee. Peter follows behind at a safe distance to see what would happen to Jesus, and a woman recognizes him as being one of the disciples, and Peter denies it. Another woman sees him, and points him out as a disciple, to which Peter swears with an oath that he does not know Jesus. Soon after, a group of people corner Peter, and accuse him of being a disciple of Jesus, and Peter begins to curse and swear, denying that he knows Jesus. As the cock crows, Peter remembers the words of Jesus, and he begins to weep bitterly. Many people have empathy towards Peter up until this point. They feel that this is where Peter "crosses the line", and that these instances of denial are simply unforgivable. We must remember, however, that Peter was in fear for his life at this point. None of us can say definitively how we would have reacted to this situation. Although Peter's denial was a terrible sin, we know that he was forgiven. Jesus comes to the disciples after his resurrection, and at the sea of Tiberias, He asks Peter, Lovest thou me more than these?, and Peter says "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus then tells Peter, "Feed my lambs." He then asks Peter the second time, "Lovest thou me?" When Peter answers him the same way, Jesus tells him to "Feed my sheep." He then again the third time asks Peter "Lovest thou me?", and we are told that Peter was grieved because Jesus had asked him again and again whether or not he loves Him. For each of Peter's three instances of denial, Jesus wants to hear Peter confessing his love, and He wants Peter to feed his sheep, to go on to preach the gospel. And Peter does go on to preach, and to author three striking epistles by inspiration of the Holy Spirit which contain some of the most profound scripture written by any of the apostles. We read Peter's stirring description of Jesus in 1 Peter 2:21-25..."For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
The lessons that Peter learned are lessons that we all must learn, and the frailties that Peter had are the same weaknesses that beset us all. We can all learn a lot from Peter's boldness, and from his blind devotion to Jesus. We can also learn a lot from his mistakes. It is easy for us to identify with Peter, as he represents the best and worst in each of us, and we can all see a little of ourselves in him. Peter was changed for the better by his interaction with Jesus, as we all are. 1 Peter 5:6-11 is a fitting summary of the lessons that Peter learned, and how he applied them in his life..."Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
