The Sermon on the Mount - 2023 BE: The Kingdom of Heaven

Text

Matthew 5:1–12 NRSV

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Message

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts a. Their Rights (5:1–12)

Chapters 5, 6, and 7 comprise what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. Its keynote is true righteousness (5:20). It has sometimes been referred to as the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts a. Their Rights (5:1–12)

Some have dismissed the Sermon on the Mount as a hopeless ideal. Others have sought to relegate it to a future Millennium. But it really is the Christian’s “working philosophy of life,” as Jones rightly points out.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts a. Their Rights (5:1–12)

What Jesus meant was the poor in spirit; that is, those who are conscious of their spiritual need. Jesus had been brought up among the humble poor of Israel, who devoutly desired the kingdom of God (cf. Luke 2:25).

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts a. Their Rights (5:1–12)

Meek does not mean weak or timid, but humble and trustful. It means accepting God’s will rather than asserting one’s rights.

The Annotated Bible, Volume 6: Matthew to The Acts 5. The Proclamation of the King Concerning His Kingdom (Chapter 5)

The beatitudes give the character of the heirs who enter the Kingdom. They do not speak of what a person should be, or strive to be, but what they are. Only the Grace of God can produce such a character. The blessings are in possession of those, who have believed on the Son of God. And the Lord Jesus manifested all these characteristics in His humiliation.

The Beatitudes aren’t true for general life but only for those entrenched in the Kingdom of God. They amount to what is the fulness of the grace of God, and it is the first one that tells us that.

Matthew 5:3 NRSV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

—> What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”?

—> The emphasis isn’t on the lack of but on what you are doing with that reality.

—> Being poor in spirit means you aren’t satisfied with the condition of your spirit but realize that their is more. Those that are constantly searching for a deeper, richer connection with God are the ones experiencing the Kingdom of God.

—> This understanding provides for the basis of the remainder of the beatitudes.

—> The statements Jesus makes don’t make sense outside of an understanding of full surrender to God. These aren’t statements that are appealing to people outside of the faith.

—> mourning

—> meekness

—> hungering and thirsting for righteousness

—>