THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - The Sermon On The Mount

Reflections on THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Section II – The Sermon On The Mount

Chapter 6, The Beatitudes - Of the “Extraordinariness” of the Christian Life – Matt. 5:1-12 (NLT)

“5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them.

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,     for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.⁴ God blesses those who mourn,    for they will be comforted.⁵ God blesses those who are humble,    for they will inherit the whole earth.⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,     for they will be satisfied.⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,    for they will be shown mercy.⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,    for they will see God.⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,    for they will be called the children of God.¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

I had not noticed before that Jesus took the 12 aside to teach them (vss. 1-2). The crowds were probably there for him, looking for some miracle, free food or to catch him in a trap. Regardless, he's laying out to the 12 their future lives as called disciples, how they are to view themselves amidst opposition along with understanding God’s definition of blessed.They, and by extension we, are called to not be like the world but to recognize the world as what we are to be removed from, to be different, changed from our human sin nature before following Christ. In obeying his call, they see in the multitude what they have been called from. Remember, the crowds included the poor, wealthy, fishermen, shepherds, traders, tax collectors, Pharisees, Sadducees, Roman soldiers (?) and a smattering of Jews and Gentiles from all around the Roman Empire. The disciples are shown, in the makeup of these crowds, what and who they were prior to being called. This previous life is to be completely abandoned.

From this perspective Jesus gives them a new understanding of what it means to be blessed (Matt. 5:3-12). It is completely opposite of what the world identifies as blessings. There is no hint of earthly prosperity here. Perhaps the most difficult aspect is in verse 11, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” No rational person desires this kind of treatment.

Speaking in the presence of the crowd he calls them, the crowd, to be witnesses to the change in the lives of the twelve, to their new identity. It will become the identity for anyone else who will leave all the world offers behind and obeys the call of Christ. He will fully demonstrate this degree of commitment when he is arrested, mocked, brutally abused and crucified, and all his closest friends abandon him. “With each beatitude the gulf is widened between the disciples and the people [world], their call to come forth from the people becomes increasingly manifest.”*

So, where’s the blessing in all that you ask? Is there no reward in this life? Read carefully. First, we receive God’s comforting Spirit dwelling in us, anchoring our personal relationship with our Savior. This we share with the community of believers who have accepted his call to follow him. Christ also promises an eternity without sin, pain, suffering, only a glorious eternity in heaven.

Rather than rewriting Bonhoeffer’s dissection of the beatitudes I urge you to read Matthew 1:1-12 with the above stated approach. The calling is to follow Christ, glorify God, enjoy his presence forever and share this option of a lasting purpose filled life to all we meet.

Grace and peace to you who willingly abandon all this world has to offer in obedience to Jesus’ call to take up your cross and follow him.

*Bonhoeffer, chapter 6, pg. 121