Matthew is, according to some scholars, broken into five distinct sections, in addition to an introduction and a conclusion. Each of the five major sections has an historical narrative and a discourse by Jesus.

The first narrative section ends at the end of chapter 4. The discourse starts with chapter 5 and runs through chapter 7. It is a section of the Bible that is known as “The Sermon on the Mount.”

I’ve noticed that I have been spending a lot of time on the verses right before that discourse.

On one hand, the kind of close analysis we have been doing is fine. It is interesting to think about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. On the other hand, if I’m honest, I need to acknowledge that moving ahead is scary. There is a lot of teaching in the next three chapters. There is a lot of teaching about the next three chapters. Many people have spent much time thinking about, explaining, exploring these words of Jesus, this summary of what following looks like.

And I am, I think, a little afraid to move ahead. What if I am challenged? What if I discover that I’m not living up to what Jesus is saying? What if, rather that his words being really complex, they are really simple? What if, as a result, I have little excuse for the choices I make, for the avoidance I live with?

I think that the challenge for all followers of Jesus, for all disciples, is that we have to make regular decisions to take the next step, fully aware that we may find it challenging or convicting but fully convinced that to do otherwise is to part ways with the relationship our souls crave.

I’ll be back on Monday with Matthew five. Pray with me for courage.