With Jesus on the Mountain: Persistent Prayer to a Generous Father (Matthew 7:7-12)

The Sermon of the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, is Jesus' first public sermon and longest recorded in the gospels. Jesus' main focuses in these chapters is what we belong to (the Kingdom), who we belong to (the Father), and how we interact with both (love and obedience). It is the constitution of the "upside-down Kingdom". Here, losing is winning, suffering is joy, and enemies are loved. When people persecute us they get blessed. When there is division and strife, we stand as peacemakers. When we are struck with insults, we refuse to retaliate but instead manifest a crucified lamb. It is a kingdom where our time is not devoted to how much money we can make but how obedient we can be to the Father. It is where the meek inherit the earth not the strong and the politically savvy. In this kingdom, we give, pray and fast in secret and there is no need for anxiety concerning tomorrow. This is the only way of life for the Church and what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.