Much of what Jesus taught echoed and built on the Hebrew Scriptures with which his audience had some familiarity and some knew very well. He often used that as a starting place to probe to something much deeper than the popular understandings of the time, which I suspect would be true for us as well if we paid attention and really let his words work their way into us.
Most important is how he used Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 to sum up not only the Law but his teaching and, of course, God's expectation to love God and love our neighbors (even those who consider us their enemies). Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:27.
As I came to Psalm 37 in my prayers this morning I was reminded of what I already knew, the the beatitude, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) comes from Psalm 37 and extends "the land" to "the earth" as well as adding richness to what Jesus may have had in mind for the "meek."
v. 11 "The meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity."
v. 22 "Those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land."
v. 29 "The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever."
v. 34 "Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land."
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