The Law is something we are quite familiar with in our country. Since 1789 Congress has enacted over 30,000 statutes. When those statutes go to the Administrative Regulators, the laws increase exponentially. Our legal code is housed in over 200 volumes containing an estimated 100-300 million words. There are over 1 million individual legal restrictions which use terms like “shall” or “must”. And we as good citizens obey the law.

The Jewish People Jesus addressed in His Sermon on the Mount were familiar with the legal creep of Administrative Regulators. They started with 613 laws in the Torah and by the time Jesus started preaching, those laws had expanded into code that became known as the Midrash. Through later refinement (200 AD and after) further developments, refinements, and expansions in the Mishna, Gemara, and the Talmud produced dozens of volumes of Jewish laws containing millions of words and legal instructions too numerous to comprehend.

It is in the middle of expansion process that Jesus does a little expanding of the Law on His own. After all, He wrote it in the first place, so He has every right to say what it means. This he does in the 2nd half of Matthew 5. He sets up his discourse by assuring the people that His intention is not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He then warns them about mishandling the Law. Finally, He informs them that those people trying to tell them what the Law means, the scribes and Pharisees, are not the people to look to for guidance because following their ways just won’t cut it. Only by trusting in Jesus through faith can we receive the righteousness which is imputed to us by Him. His righteousness is sufficient. His righteousness is the final word on the subject.

The Law is something we are quite familiar with in our country. Since 1789 Congress has enacted over 30,000 statutes. When those statutes go to the Administrative Regulators, the laws increase exponentially. Our legal code is housed in over 200 volumes containing an estimated 100-300 million words. There are over 1 million individual legal restrictions which use terms like “shall” or “must”. And we as good citizens obey the law.

The Jewish People Jesus addressed in His Sermon on the Mount were familiar with the legal creep of Administrative Regulators. They started with 613 laws in the Torah and by the time Jesus started preaching, those laws had expanded into code that became known as the Midrash. Through later refinement (200 AD and after) further developments, refinements, and expansions in the Mishna, Gemara, and the Talmud produced dozens of volumes of Jewish laws containing millions of words and legal instructions too numerous to comprehend.

It is in the middle of expansion process that Jesus does a little expanding of the Law on His own. After all, He wrote it in the first place, so He has every right to say what it means. This he does in the 2nd half of Matthew 5. He sets up his discourse by assuring the people that His intention is not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He then warns them about mishandling the Law. Finally, He informs them that those people trying to tell them what the Law means, the scribes and Pharisees, are not the people to look to for guidance because following their ways just won’t cut it. Only by trusting in Jesus through faith can we receive the righteousness which is imputed to us by Him. His righteousness is sufficient. His righteousness is the final word on the subject.

You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

In 1st Century Galilee, salt was used commonly as a preservative, a healing and cleansing agent, and as a seasoning. However, its spiritual and ceremonial use gives us the depth of meaning found in this simple mineral. Sacrifices were brought to the altar with salt – even the grain offerings. In passages such as Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 God’s unchanging, everlasting, permanent covenant was referred to as the “covenant of salt.” In ancient Middle Eastern cultures a covenant was sealed (ratified) with various means of sharing salt (i.e.- a meal or simple exchange) with the salt representing permanence, incorruptibility, and shared fellowship. As believers we are the “salt of the earth” and, hence, we are physical agents of healing, cleansing, purification, preservation of God’s goodness, seasoning – bringing out and highlighting the glorious flavors of God’s creation, and of reminding the world of God’s “chesed” – His Everlasting Love!

The prime focus of the Romans was glory. The prime focus of the Greeks was knowledge. The prime focus of the Jews was light. The world began with God saying, “let there be light” and light has been the central theme all along. A burning bush, a pillar of fire, and numerous descriptions of the LORD and His Word being light. (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-20; Micah 7:8) Jesus refers to Himself as the Light of the world and there is no doubt that He is “the light that shines in the darkness” as seen in Isaiah 9:2. Paul summarizes the superiority of Jesus as the Light in 2 Corinthians 4:6: For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

And now that Light lives within us and consequently, as believers, we are bearers of the Light, torch bearers in the darkness, lighthouses of hope in the storms of life, glowing examples of what God can do and how God can love, and reminders to the world of God’s Everlasting Light, the Light of the World!

We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world because God, through the blood of Jesus, has made us so.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 6, 2026. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons, which covers Chapters 5-7 in the Book of Matthew, is Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/kingdom-power-matthew-5-7-digital-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

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Podcast – Agape Life From the Back Porch

You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

In 1st Century Galilee, salt was used commonly as a preservative, a healing and cleansing agent, and as a seasoning. However, its spiritual and ceremonial use gives us the depth of meaning found in this simple mineral. Sacrifices were brought to the altar with salt – even the grain offerings. In passages such as Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 God’s unchanging, everlasting, permanent covenant was referred to as the “covenant of salt.” In ancient Middle Eastern cultures a covenant was sealed (ratified) with various means of sharing salt (i.e.- a meal or simple exchange) with the salt representing permanence, incorruptibility, and shared fellowship. As believers we are the “salt of the earth” and, hence, we are physical agents of healing, cleansing, purification, preservation of God’s goodness, seasoning – bringing out and highlighting the glorious flavors of God’s creation, and of reminding the world of God’s “chesed” – His Everlasting Love!

The prime focus of the Romans was glory. The prime focus of the Greeks was knowledge. The prime focus of the Jews was light. The world began with God saying, “let there be light” and light has been the central theme all along. A burning bush, a pillar of fire, and numerous descriptions of the LORD and His Word being light. (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-20; Micah 7:8) Jesus refers to Himself as the Light of the world and there is no doubt that He is “the light that shines in the darkness” as seen in Isaiah 9:2. Paul summarizes the superiority of Jesus as the Light in 2 Corinthians 4:6: For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

And now that Light lives within us and consequently, as believers, we are bearers of the Light, torch bearers in the darkness, lighthouses of hope in the storms of life, glowing examples of what God can do and how God can love, and reminders to the world of God’s Everlasting Light, the Light of the World!

We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world because God, through the blood of Jesus, has made us so.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 6, 2026. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons, which covers Chapters 5-7 in the Book of Matthew, is Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/kingdom-power-matthew-5-7-digital-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Podcast – Agape Life From the Back Porch

As we read the headlines today we invariably find references to protests involving the nation of Israel. The fact is that the Jewish people have been a target for protests and persecution since they were established as a people in the book of Genesis. When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount he was addressing an audience primarily made up of Jews. Unsurprisingly, they were facing persecution even as he spoke.

The Jews were persecuted by the occupying Roman government. Rome demanded exorbitant taxes and seized land and property, at times forcing people into slavery. They desecrated the Jewish holy sites like the Temple and the city of Jerusalem itself. Pilate was known for ambushing and killing a “great number” of Jewish people on the Temple grounds who were protesting Pilate’s use of Temple funds to build an aqueduct.

The Jews also faced ostracization from non-Jews because of their strange religious practices like Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions, and circumcision. They were different from the other people from other lands and, hence, the target of ridicule and derision.

So when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,” he was preaching to the choir. They knew persecution; and the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven being theirs was sweet music to their ears. It wasn’t retribution for the persecution that Jesus was preaching, but eternal joy and blessedness that would far surpass all of the persecution any of them would encounter on earth. Their reward was to be in Heaven.

The Apostles lived out this “persecution to heavenly reward” attitude. We see them being beaten for their faith and they rejoiced. We see them facing hardships from hard people and they pressed on to the high calling of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, in following the instruction of our Lord and the example of the Apostles, how should we react when we are attacked for all the right reasons?

1. Rejoice – You have been successful in irritating Satan. Your reward awaits you in heaven.

2. Reflect – You’re not alone – prophets before, Jesus here on earth, martyrs today. You were promised trouble.

3. Pray – Make sure you’re in alignment with God.

4. Preach – Boldly go and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. Boldly go and minister in the name of Christ. Boldly do the things Satan hates including laughing at his lame attempts to dislodge you from your faith in Jesus.

Excerpt from “When You Are Attacked for All the Right Reasons“ – a Bible Study Session from the series Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount, the video of which can be seen in full at https://youtu.be/ZfLvY2l7w9E

As we read the headlines today we invariably find references to protests involving the nation of Israel. The fact is that the Jewish people have been a target for protests and persecution since they were established as a people in the book of Genesis. When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount he was addressing an audience primarily made up of Jews. Unsurprisingly, they were facing persecution even as he spoke.

The Jews were persecuted by the occupying Roman government. Rome demanded exorbitant taxes and seized land and property, at times forcing people into slavery. They desecrated the Jewish holy sites like the Temple and the city of Jerusalem itself. Pilate was known for ambushing and killing a “great number” of Jewish people on the Temple grounds who were protesting Pilate’s use of Temple funds to build an aqueduct.

The Jews also faced ostracization from non-Jews because of their strange religious practices like Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions, and circumcision. They were different from the other people from other lands and, hence, the target of ridicule and derision.

So when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,” he was preaching to the choir. They knew persecution; and the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven being theirs was sweet music to their ears. It wasn’t retribution for the persecution that Jesus was preaching, but eternal joy and blessedness that would far surpass all of the persecution any of them would encounter on earth. Their reward was to be in Heaven.

The Apostles lived out this “persecution to heavenly reward” attitude. We see them being beaten for their faith and they rejoiced. We see them facing hardships from hard people and they pressed on to the high calling of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, in following the instruction of our Lord and the example of the Apostles, how should we react when we are attacked for all the right reasons?

1. Rejoice – You have been successful in irritating Satan. Your reward awaits you in heaven.

2. Reflect – You’re not alone – prophets before, Jesus here on earth, martyrs today. You were promised trouble.

3. Pray – Make sure you’re in alignment with God.

4. Preach – Boldly go and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. Boldly go and minister in the name of Christ. Boldly do the things Satan hates including laughing at his lame attempts to dislodge you from your faith in Jesus.

Excerpt from “When You Are Attacked for All the Right Reasons“ – a Bible Study Session from the series Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount, the video of which can be seen in full at https://youtu.be/ZfLvY2l7w9E

The Pure in Heart Peacemakers

Many theologians down through the centuries – Augustine, Thomas of Aquinas, John Wesley, and Pam Young, just to name a few – have seen the Beatitudes as a progression of faith and a process of sanctification in which you begin with a poverty in spirit before you mourn and you mourn before you develop meekness. Meekness leads to a longing for God’s justice to prevail which leads to a response of God’s mercy for those who face God’s justice. This growth process must be observed when you find yourself in the role of peacemaker, because unless you are pure in heart, your peacemaking efforts will fall flat.

Purity of heart seems like a lofty goal, but it is actually an unattainable goal from the human perspective. Those who are pure in heart are those whose inmost being is focused on one thing and only one thing – God Himself – and that focus is not the result of human effort, but rather the Holy Spirit working within the Christian to purge the impurities and remove the things that keep us from pure devotion to Christ. The beatitude doesn’t say, “Blessed are they who have purified their hearts.” It says “Blessed are the pure in heart” – a condition that comes from the sanctification of Holy Spirit.

As our hearts are cleansed, then and only then can our hearts know true peace. The Hebrew word for peace is “Shalom” and it means so much more than just peace. It means properly joined together, whole, complete and, for the Christian, true peace is being properly joined together with Christ, whole in Him, complete as He intended us to be from the beginning. The singleness of focus for the heart that is pure is the same singularity in the peace that passes all understanding. It’s the peace of Christ.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the presence of God. If you want to be a peacemaker you must allow the Spirit to purify your heart and then you must bring Daddy to the table with you, because He alone is true peace.

The Final Word is this: Let the Spirit lead you as you are told in Galatians 5:16-25. Your heart will be pure (clean, clear, singularly focused) and you will truly know God and see Him work in your world. Furthermore, your heart will be at peace (whole, complete, bonded together with Jesus) and then you will be able to introduce into any situation the peace that passes all understanding.

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Peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the presence of God.