tament Commentary: Matthew 1 – 7 (Chicago: Moody, 1985), 131 – 233. For a popular treatment of the
Jesus Explains His Gospel
And so the faithful (believing) are also faithful (obedient). "Fidelity, constancy, firmness, confidence, reliance, trust, [and] belief" are all indivisibly wrapped up in the idea of believing. Righ teous living is an inevitable by-product of real faith (Rom. 10:10).
Of course, that is not to say that faith results in anything like sinless perfection. All true believers understand the plea of the demon-possessed boy's father, "I do believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Those who believe will desire to obey, however imperfectly they may follow through at times. So-called "faith" in God that does not produce this yearning to submit to His will is not faith at all. The state of mind that refuses obedience is pure and simple unbelief.
Faith as Jesus Presented It
The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3 – 12) reveal the character of true faith as well as any passage of Scripture I know.18 These traits — poverty of spirit, hunger and thirst for righ teous ness, purity of heart, and so on — are not just an unobtainable legal standard. These are characteristics common to all who believe. The first of the Beatitudes leaves no doubt about whom the Lord is speaking: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3, emphasis added). He is describing redeemed people, those who have believed, those who are part of the kingdom. Here is what their faith is like.
Its foundational characteristic is humility — a poverty of spirit, a brokenness that acknowledges spiritual bankruptcy. Genuine believers see themselves as sinners; they know they have nothing to offer God that will buy His favor. That is why they mourn (v. 4), with the sorrow that accompanies true repentance. It crushes the believer into meekness (v. 5). He hungers and thirsts for righ teous ness (v. 6). As the Lord satisfies that hunger, He makes the believing one merciful (v. 6), pure in heart (v. 7), and a peacemaker (v. 9). The believer is ultimately persecuted and reviled for righ teous ness' sake (v. 10).
That is Jesus' description of the genuine believer. Each of the characteristics He names — starting with humility and reaching fruition in obedience — is a consequence of true faith. And note that the obedience of faith is more than external; it issues from the heart. That is one reason their righ teous ness is greater than the righ teous ness of the scribes and Pharisees (v. 20). Jesus goes on to characterize true righ teous ness — the righ teous ness that is born of faith (cf. Rom. 10:6) — as obedience not just to the letter of the law, but to the spirit
18. For my complete commentary on the Beatitudes, see John MacArthur, Th e MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1 – 7 (Chicago: Moody, 1985), 131 – 233. For a popular treatment of the same passage, see John MacArthur, Kingdom Living Here and Now (Chicago: Moody, 1980).