How does Psalm 125:4 connect with Jesus' teachings on righteousness in Matthew 5? Setting the Stage • Psalm 125:4: “Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.” • Matthew 5 gathers Jesus’ earliest public teaching—His Sermon on the Mount—laying out the character of kingdom citizens, especially their righteousness before God. Psalm 125:4—A Snapshot of Covenant Expectation • The psalmist trusts that God actively “does good” to people who are already described as “good” and “upright in heart.” • “Good” (ṭôb) and “upright” (yāšār) assume an internal alignment with God’s standards, not mere external performance. • The prayer is confident: God’s goodness and the believer’s righteousness belong together; one invites the other. Jesus’ Teaching on Righteousness in Matthew 5 • Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Hunger implies a deep awareness that righteousness comes from outside ourselves and must be supplied by God. • Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Purity of heart mirrors the “upright in heart” of Psalm 125:4. • Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – God’s “doing good” includes vindicating the righteous when they suffer. • Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – The good deeds expected in Psalm 125:4 become a visible testimony under the New Covenant. • Matthew 5:20 & 5:48: righteousness must “exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees” and be “perfect,” pushing beyond external obedience to internal integrity. Key Connections • Same target: interior righteousness. Both passages insist on heart-level alignment with God. • Same result: God acts favorably toward the upright—Psalm 125:4 anticipates it; Matthew 5 promises it (“they will be filled,” “they will see God,” “theirs is the kingdom”). • Same contrast: righteous vs. wicked. Psalm 125:5 warns of “those who turn aside to crooked ways”; Jesus contrasts true righteousness with hypocritical religion (Matthew 5:20, 6:1-18). • Same fulfillment pattern: Psalm 125 looks forward to covenant blessing; Jesus reveals Himself as the One who fills, satisfies, vindicates, and perfects that longing (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:20). Practical Takeaways for Today’s Disciple • Cultivate an ongoing “hunger and thirst” for the righteousness God alone supplies (Philippians 3:9). • Guard the heart, not just outward behavior; uprightness begins within (Proverbs 4:23). • Expect God’s goodness—often experienced as sustaining grace amid opposition (1 Peter 3:14). • Radiate visible “good deeds” so that God’s goodness toward you becomes goodness through you (Ephesians 2:10). |
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