This section of Jesus's sermon has a lot of great one liners we like to repeat. Sometimes these get misappropriated and weaponized in ways that are dangerous. Before the sermon begins, Matthew says the followers of Jesus stepped out of the crowd and Jesus began to teach them. These are the people who answer the call to follow Jesus and the people to whom Jesus says, "hear these words and put them into practice." If we want to be wise, we need to concern ourselves with our own transformation first and foremost. How are you doing with your journey of discipleship? Are you a passive observer of Christianity or have you chosen to walk away from everything else to follow Jesus? The journey with Christ is one we walk together, encouraging one another along the way. The journey with Christ forms a community committed to transformation together. As one church secretary used to tell me years ago, "Check yourself, before you wreck yourself, Russell!"
