Behold the King: Blessed are His Followers
Notes
Transcript
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Sermon of the Mount is the first of five sections of teachings found in Matthew and is a statement of life within God’s kingdom.
We will exposit each of these sections one sermon at a time.
Jesus is giving a description of what it looks like to be a subject of His Father’s kingdom. He does this before going into the standards of the Kingdom.
Characteristics of the Blessed
Characteristics of the Blessed
Blessed here is characterized by happiness and being highly favored (as by divine grace).
The Jewish culture would often associate God’s blessing with wealth and fortune. We get the term “well off” from this mentality.
“The child of God is most fortunate. Not because they have money or are poor, but because they know the God of eternity and is confident in His unbelievable riches.”
“poor in spirit”
“they that mourn”
“the meek”
“they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness”
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
God is far more interested in your heart for Him than your ability to follow standards of man.
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Overcoming Challenges By Remembering the Rewards
Overcoming Challenges By Remembering the Rewards
Misunderstanding the concept of happiness and being blessed can lead to fake unfulfilled actions.
Jesus is relating an objective judgment for those who have their priorities dictated by the reality declared to us through divine revelation.
“Ye are the salt of the earth” “Ye are the light of world”
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Naturally Influencing By Living for the King
Naturally Influencing By Living for the King
After you respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and by faith trust in Jesus alone for your redemption. God repurposes your life to reflect His glory to others.
God has lit you up and placed you strategically on a hill to shine. This light has a purpose, to glorify Him in this world and to point others to the redeemer.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
But the path of the just is as the shining light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.