Healing Hearts

Read Matthew 5: 1-12

Context: Jesus is just beginning his ministry. He has recently returned from the desert, he's called his disciples, and he has begun to preach and heal people in public.

Text:
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is the first time Matthew shares Jesus' teachings with us. It is obvious that Jesus had a power, a charisma, that was intriguing to people because he was already being followed by large crowds wherever he went. He's healed people who had diseases, severe pain, were possessed by demons, seizures, and the paralyzed. Most likely these crowds were full of people who needed healing and the friends who were there to support them.

Now, all of a sudden he stops healing their bodies and starts to heal their hearts. I imagine the people in the crowd were very poor, both in finances and in spirit. They mourned for the lives they had before their illnesses. Others presumed their suffering was the result of sin, so they struggled to be extra righteous so the priests wouldn't condemn them. While it seems like Jesus was talking about things that may seem confusing and out of context, his tone and his truth touched the hearts of those who really listened. They received healing they didn't even know they needed. For the first time the downtrodden were given a promise of a great reward in Heaven, and they were blessed.

I imagine their joy was amazing to see.