For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21

The kingdom was at hand. At least that was what Jesus was contending.

In the most famous sermon ever given, the words of Jesus don’t simply sit with the listeners on that mountainside but pierce through the divisions of time into our modern day context. We are continuing through these famous words, and it is clear that He doesn’t pull any punches. In fact, His words seem to get increasingly personal and practical. Topics of wealth, relationship, faith, wisdom and judgment don’t hang above the heads of the listeners, instead they likely caused an uncomfortable hush to wash across the audience. This was a call to His disciples, and to all who were listening: to live according to the future kingdom in the present world.