7: BLESSED! (Matthew 5:1-11)

Welcome

Starting Point

New Website

get New APP with Sermon Notes

and upcoming events

Wed Night Meal

Wed Night Events at 6:30

Next Sunday, Lord’s Supper at 10:30am

Alaska Lunch - donation - to help our Alaska Team

RALLY - Monday, Feb 13 at Noon

Giving

BRAG ON JESUS! & PRAY

GREET THOSE AROUND YOU (Worship Team to Stage)

‌

A pastor who was known for his lengthy sermons noticed a man get up and leave during the middle of his message. The man returned just before the conclusion of the service. Afterwards, the pastor asked the man where he had gone.

‘I went to get a haircut,’ the man replied.

‘Why didn’t you do that before the service?’ the pastor exclaimed.

‘Well,’ the man said, ‘because I didn’t need one THEN.’

Well, I hope to get you out of time, but you DO need to know that you are about to hear “The Greatest Sermon Ever.” And no, I’m NOT talking about MY SERMON.

We are going to begin to hear Jesus teach outside near the shores of Galilee, a teaching typically referred to as

The Sermon on the Mount.

And just in case you don’t know how significant this teaching is, let’s compare it to some phrases from a few of our past Presidents,

"Four score and seven years ago...

Ask not what your country can do for you...

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

But most people are unlikely to remember much more than those tweetable phrases.

But what about these phrases?

"You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world

Whoever strikes you on the right cheek...turn to them the other

Love your enemy and pray...for those who persecute you

Our Father who is in heaven, ...hallowed by your name

where your treasure is...there your heart is

Seek first the kingdom and all these things will be...added to you as well

Do not judge - first remove the log out of your own eye

Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find

Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock."

These and many others are packed into 3 chapters (Matt. 5-7) that are typically referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount”, and the speeches of our presidents pale in comparison to the words of Jesus that have rung through the ages, across cultures & continents.

Kent Hughes rightly says, “Like it or not, everyone in western civilization has been touched in some way by the Sermon on the Mount. No one can legitimately minimize its influence…No other section of Scripture makes us face ourselves like the Sermon on the Mount.”

Crowds loved to hear Jesus teach. He was different than others they had heard before. Just look at the response of the people who heard him.

Matthew 7:28–29 (NIV)

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Jesus was full of grace and truth. Jesus didn’t dilute the truth. He called people to turn from sin. But He also extended grace, offering forgiveness to anyone who would simply trust in Him.

Today we begin to explore these teachings of Jesus. Over the next few weeks we will be encouraged, confronted, corrected, & challenged by Jesus.

HOMEWORK: I encourage you to read the words of Jesus from Matt. 5-7 over and over again in your own quiet time.

Before we dive in, we need to be aware of a couple of things about the Greatest Sermon Ever.

First, some say this sermon so great, because it is so short. One could read these words and imagine them being spoken in 15-20 minutes, but it’s unlikely that this is ALL Jesus had to say. Remember when people came to hear Jesus teach and he needed to feed them because they had been hanging out with him for 3 days? (Matt.15:32)

So for those of you who say, Jesus preached the most powerful sermon ever in 20 minutes, why can’t you? I would say,

#1 - I’m not Jesus and...

#2 this is likely of summary of all that Jesus taught that day.

Second, this sermon is more than just HOW we should live; it’s about WHO we should live for and why He’s worthy of our lives.

With that said, let’s PRAY and get started.

Today we are going to hear from Jesus about what is means to be...

BLESSED - that’s a word that many Christians use, but what does it mean?

Blessed is more than being healthy or being wealthy.

Blessed is more than having friends and family who love you.

As, we are going to see today...

BLESSED is Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

Let’s catch the context where we left off last week.

Matthew 4:23 (NIV)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Matthew 4:24–25 (NIV)

News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him.

And now we pick up on today’s teaching

Matthew 5:1–2 (NIV)

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

As the norm for Jewish rabbis of His day, Jesus sat down to speak about the Scriptures (cf. Luke 4:20-21).

VIDEO: Here’s the traditional site called “The Mount of Beatitudes”.

IN today’s teaching we will consider 8 characteristics that Jesus expects from His followers.

Of those 8, the first 4 focus on our relationship with God; the next 4 focus on our relationship with people.

Here are the first 4 that focus on our relationship with God.

Matthew 5:3–6 (NIV)

He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

In our American culture we might expect to hear televangelists & celebrities say

“Blessed are....NOT THE POOR IN SPIRIT, but the SELF-CONFIDENT PROUD in Spirit. Believe in yourself - you have the authority - name it and claim it!

Blessed are, NOT THOSE WHO MOURN, but those who LAUGH.

Blessed are, NOT THE MEEK, but the PRESTIGIOUS.

Blessed are, NOT THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, but those who hunger and thirst for RICHES.

Yet Jesus says it is the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek & those seeking righteousness who are blessed.

How are these people blessed? BLESSED in this case obviously doesn’t refer to immediate health, wealth, & happiness, but those who have received God’s favor. In other words, being BLESSED isn’t about how you feel, but about how God feels about you!

Like many of you going through sickness, Tonya & our family weren’t happy ABOUT the circumstance of cancer. We wept hot tears and asked the question of WHY, but through it all we KNEW that we were BLESSED. Despite the difficulties, we knew we had the favor of God. Because... Blessed, according to Jesus is….

Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

Blessed folks KNOW that they have the favor of God because they are RIGHT with God, not because of their good works, but because they recognize and respond to God’s grace extended to them.

Let’s dig into the first 4 characteristics expected for those who follow Jesus.

Matthew 5:3–4 (NIV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Regardless of your bank account, the poor in spirit are those who recognize they are spiritually bankrupt before God.

The PROUD in spirit come looking to make a deal.

Those who are POOR in spirit approach God in humility, pounding on the door, begging Him to let them in. And the good news is…He will! Theirs is the kingdom of heaven! They are in the family!

In the same way, blessed are those who mourn, they mourn over sin & they mourn during tough times, yet they find their comfort in God himself.

Followers of Jesus experience the current comfort of God’s Presence and God’s people, yet there is a future when they will be comforted by God Himself!

I am reminded of the story Jesus tells to show the difference between the POOR in spirit and the PRIDEFUL in spirit.

Luke 18:10 (NIV)

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

A Pharisee was a keeper of God’s law, who taught and showed others how to keep God’s law. Most people in Jesus’ day thought the pharisees were the examples to follow.

The tax collector, on the other hand, was someone a good Jew avoided. Tax collectors were professional thieves who cheated their own people and pocketed the proceeds.

If you were to ask any Jew of that day which prayer God would hear, it would have been unanimous - the Pharisee. Here’s his prayer...

Luke 18:11-12 (NLT)

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’

Do you hear what he’s saying? He’s PROUD in spirit.

[sarcastically] What a servant of God he has been. Compared to others, he’s a walking saint!

Other Jews were have thought the same thing!

I’ve told ya’ll the story of my Dad, before marriage, trying to get my mom’s attention via a note he wrote. She had broken things off with him and was seeing another man. In the letter he communicated how much he thought of her, BUT…he threw in a twist.

Here’s a snippet, “Harriette, never have I been with anyone as refreshing, as real, as genuine as you. Our likes & dislikes are the same. We both believe in God and His will. Our morals are the same. We both enjoy music & sports. Both of us are out-ward going.”

And then came the twist...

“Both of us think a lot of you.” (evidently my Mom forgave him for that - based on the 53 years of marriage later)

“Both of us think a lot of you.” That’s what any Jew could have written to this Pharisee. We think a lot of you…and YOU think a lot you!

Luke 18:13 (NLT)

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

No chance. This guy had been so wicked - a thief and who knows what else…and the Pharisee already made his case for why God deserves him.

But then Jesus finishes the story.

Luke 18:14 (NLT)

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

THAT’S what Jesus meant when He said...

Matthew 5:3–4 (NIV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

To the poor in spirit & those who mourn, Jesus gives these encouraging words, “the kingdom of heaven belongs to them” and “ they will be comforted.”

Are YOU poor in spirit humbly asking & trusting God for forgiveness? Are you leaning on God’s grace and not your own good works? Is so, you’re a part of the kingdom of heaven! You’re Blessed!

Or, have you been through a moment of mourning, and although the situation hasn’t changed, you sense the Presence of God…comfort in the midst of hurt. Now just imagine the ultimate day when God himself will embrace those who mourn! You’re Blessed!

Because...

BLESSED is Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

Jesus continues

Matthew 5:5–6 (NIV)

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the meek. Meek does not mean weak. Meekness has been defined as: strength under control. JESUS is the greatest example of meekness that I know of.

In our community I think of Steve McHargue & Clyde Alexander - 2 gentle giants. They COULD pummel anyone in this room, but they rather hug your neck. They are MEEK, but don’t confuse that with being WEAK.

The meek are those who are humble before God & also choose to be humble before man.

Is your life marked by HUMILITY or PRIDE?

The meek look forward to the day that they inherit the earth. They might not own much land or have much authority on this side of eternity, but they are the sons and daughters who will inherit what our Heavenly Father promises, which includes ownership and access to the re-created earth! You’re blessed!

And blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. What vivid imagery! Wanting to be RIGHT with God so badly it’s like longing for the basic needs of life - food & water! When a person is really hungry; when a person is really thirsty, nothing else matters! It is the ONE FOCUS of their attention.

Running to the Water

I remember longing for water as a 10 year old at football practice. I was determined to get there first - water is cold then. I ran as fast I as could a suddenly was looking at the sky and the tip of my shoes. I hit the monkey bars at full speed. Thankful for my helmet! I so longed for that water! Oh to LONG for righteousness like that! This is a righteousness we CAN’T find in ourselves.

We know where that righteousness comes from, the One who makes us righteous. One of the Psalmists writes it this way.

Psalm 42:1–2 (NIV)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

When’s that last time you woke up and thought, “I look forward to meeting with the Lord in prayer, opening the Scripture, being with His people to talk about and sing about His goodness.”?

Does that look like how you approach to your relationship with God? Poor in Spirit, Mourning, Meek, Hungering & Thirsting for righteousness? If so, then you are...

BLESSED is Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

The next 4 characteristics focus on our relationship with people when we have a right relationship with God. Again, these characteristics are all true of Jesus.

Matthew 5:7–8 (NIV)

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The merciful person remembers his/her own sin, how God showed them mercy, and extends that same mercy to others. That mercy is seen in compassion, forgiveness, and kindness.

Question: If your life were to end today, would you be considered someone who having been shown much mercy from God, extended mercy to others - even when they didn’t deserve it?

The pure in heart are only that way for 2 reasons:

First, God gives purity. No one is pure before God on our own. All have sinned against him (Rom 3:23), but…God forgives us of sin when we repent.

Second, that person lives purity. We actually begin livin’ forgiven, doing what’s right instead of doing what’s wrong. Jesus & his audience would have likely recalled Psalm 24 which asks and answers a most important question:

Psalm 24:3–5 (NIV)

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

Matthew 5:7–8 (NIV)

...Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The ultimate payoff? The pure in heart will see God!!!

The merciful and pure in heart are...

BLESSED is Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

Jesus has expressed the characteristics expected of His followers - those who are BLESSED - the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart...

And then he adds 2 more characteristics. Here’s the first one.

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Jesus, the ultimate peacemaker, the One who brings His enemies back to God, is speaking these words.

And those who follow the example of Jesus will be called children [literally sons] of God. These people are part of God’s family! BLESSED!

None of Jesus’ audience that day knew the depth nor degree to which Jesus has come to be a peacemaker, but Paul later writes these words.

Colossians 1:19–20 (NET 2nd ed.)

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Jesus expects His followers to FOLLOW His example, to be peacemakers who want to be at PEACE with God and with people.

Further, they want other people to be at peace with God, and they will take the message of the cross to share how OTHERS can have peace with God.

Those who follow the example of Jesus will be called children [literally sons] of God.

Many will listen to this GOOD NEWS of God’s demonstration of love that offers them PEACE with Him.

Sadly, many will NOT listen, and will even make war against those who bring the message of peace. So Jesus prepares His disciples for this when He says...

Matthew 5:10–11 (NIV)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Following Jesus is not easy. If we do it well, it doesn’t guarantee us that everyone will like us. In fact, while we can expect to see some lives radically transformed forever, we can also expect to be persecuted, not for something we have done wrong, but for righteousness, because you follow Jesus.

If you are being ‘persecuted’ for being a loud mean jerk who shows no patience, offers no mercy, and barks orders at others, then please…DON’T BLAME YOUR JERKINESS ON JESUS!!!!

However, when persecutions, insults, and false accusations come your way because you are following Jesus and encouraging others to do the same, then you are BLESSED!

If you’re a young Christian, you might wonder WHY others would treat Christians so poorly. Here’s why:

Living in purity is a slap in the face to those who say they can’t help themselves. Right living convicts those who are living wrong.

Others lie, cheat, and slander to get to the top, but we refuse to sacrifice our integrity on the altar of convenience.

Others use dirty language & dirty jokes, but we use clean language - refusing to laugh & enter into the same evil cesspool.

Others get drunk & high, while we choose to be sober and clear-minded.

Others call killing children in the womb “women’s rights”. We defend the lives of the unborn and call it what it is - murder, while offering the forgiveness of Jesus to those who have participated in this evil act.

We live in sexual purity and continue to proclaim that there are only 2 genders, and that marriage is between one man and one woman, and we are quickly labeled as bigots, homophobes, transphobes, and people on the “wrong side of history”.

We patiently & graciously call our sinful culture to turn from sin and respond to God’s grace demonstrated by Jesus going to the cross…and we are often labeled as “Bible-thumpers” and “haters”.

Persecution is nothing new for followers of the One True God. Jesus reminded that ancient audience…and us that even in the middle of persecution, we should...

Matthew 5:12 (NIV)

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

They persecuted the prophets before you in same way.

Jeremiah was thrown waist deep into a well full of mud.

Isaiah was sawn in half.

Stephen would have his head bashed in with stones.

Yet in the middle of the mayhem, we should rejoice and be glad…not because everyone is responding to the gospel, but because there is a reward in heaven awaiting us!

We’re...

BLESSED: Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

The Scripture also declares a future day is coming when the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, & the peacemakers who are persecuted for their righteousness and faith in Jesus, will fully know what it means that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Let’s conclude with a picture of what that’s going to look like as Jesus, the same Jesus sharing this sermon on the Mount, gives one of His apostles a vision many years later. Here’s what John sees.

Revelation 21:1–2 (NIV)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Oh what THAT day will be like! We hug our loved ones who believed in Jesus and crossed over to the other side of eternity before us. The Johnson’s baby shampoo slogan will finally be true - No more tears! No more sickness. No more death. No more burials. No more sin!

And bigger than all that…we SEE our KING face to face! The Presence of God the Father, Son, & Spirit permeates our whole world! Oh what a day that will be…and the day after that…and the day after that!!!!!

Until then, followers of Jesus need to pause and be reminded. We are...

BLESSED: We are those who are those who are…Livin’ Forgiven & Looking Forward to Forever

Are you BLESSED? Would you like to talk more about what it means to truly follow Jesus? Please contact us.

We want to help you -

STAFF

DEACONS/WIVES or another brother/sister

--------------

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What are some ways people typically try to find happiness or fulfillment in life? How does this teaching from Jesus change our perspective on lasting fulfillment?

The BIG TRUTH from this passage defines what BLESSED means, according to Jesus. Read back through Matthew 5:1-12 and make sure to compare and contrast our society’s admirable virtues versus these kingdom virtues.

Which of these promises means the most to you today? Why?

How do these characteristics (e.g. meek, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers) point us back to the character of Jesus?

What is the most common type of persecution that you face? Read Romans 12:14. If Christians are to be peacemakers (Mt 5:9), then how should we respond to being insulted, slandered, or worse? Why is that so difficult?

How might God use our righteous response to persecution in the future? Remember, Paul - while persecuting Christians - once watched and approved of Stephen (a Christian) being killed for following Jesus. How do you think that memory impacted Paul after He surrendered to Jesus?

We all have times that we need an attitude adjustment. Which of these 8 virtues do YOU need to focus on to better follow Jesus?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.