On Earth As It Is In Heaven

In 2006, tragedy hit an Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when a gunman killed five girls and injured five more before taking his life. Yet what followed stunned the world: the Amish forgave the shooter, visited his family, attended his funeral, and even embraced his children. One grieving father said, “We must not think evil of this man.” This radical grace doesn’t fit the world’s logic—but it makes perfect sense in the Kingdom Jesus described. His Sermon on the Mount offers a way of life that flips the values of the world upside down and reveals God’s heart. TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN Jesus’ teachings weren’t just comforting—they were revolutionary. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is filled with powerful statements: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12) “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24) “Take the plank out of your own eye…” (Matthew 7:5) “Turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) “Love your enemies…” (Matthew 5:44) “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off…” (Matthew 5:30) At the center is the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven… your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10). WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Jesus, shaped by the Hebrew Scriptures, knew humanity was created to reflect God’s rule (Genesis 1:26–28) but chose rebellion (Genesis 11:1–9). God called Israel to live by His wisdom (Exodus 19:3–6; Deuteronomy 4:6–8), but by Jesus’ time, His Kingdom felt far away. Under Roman rule, Israel suffered. Pharisees emphasized law. Sadducees pushed peace with Rome. Zealots wanted to fight. Others withdrew. But the everyday people—farmers, widows, laborers—were weary and hopeless. JESUS ANNOUNCES: THE KINGDOM IS HERE To them, Jesus brought healing and hope. He said: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Then He declared: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Jesus wasn’t calling the powerful to rise—but inviting the humble to look up. The Kingdom starts with the broken, the weary, the overlooked. AN INVITATION TO TRANSFORMATION Over the next nine weeks, we’ll explore this upside-down Kingdom: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12): blessings that redefine true success Teachings on anger, lust, retaliation: calling us to deeper righteousness Warnings about hypocrisy, worry, and judging others Jesus’ final words: “Whoever hears these words… and puts them into practice is like a wise man…” (Matthew 7:24) Jesus doesn’t just want to inform us—He wants to transform us. FIVE WAYS TO GROW THROUGH THIS SERIES Read Matthew 5–7 weekly Let the words soak in. Try different Bible translations. Memorize a verse each week Start with the Beatitudes. Reflect Write what challenges or encourages you. Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily (Matthew 6:9–13) Make it a declaration. Live it in community Join a group or a friend to walk through this together. CLOSING The way of Jesus often feels upside down. But it’s the true path to life. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33) Let’s not just hear His words—let’s build our lives on them.