“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 one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever 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 but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be great in the kingdom of heaven.” _ Matthew 5: 17-19
The Gospel today seems legalistic
And perhaps even unrealistic
And not to mince words, a mite simplistic.
But not when using the "back up" heuristic!
The verses before hold the key, indeed.
Blessed are:
- the poor in spirit,
- they that mourn,
- the meek,
- they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,
- the merciful,
- the pure in heart,
- the peacemakers,
- they which are persecuted for righteousness sake,
- ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say al manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
The Beatitudes, Matthew 5: 1-12