Blessing in Weakness
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 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.
The Sermon on the Mount is the Kings Decree
The Sermon on the Mount is the Kings Decree
In Matthew Jesus is the messianic king who fulfills the expectations of the OT
The book begins with a prophetic emphasis
1:22, 2:15, 2:17, 2:23, 3:15, 4:14
Ends with a proclamation of his absolute authority
Mt 28:18-20
The sermon on the mount expands on Jesus’ kingdom gospel
Matthew 4:17 “17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.””
The amazing thing about the sermon on the mount is his authority (7:29)
As we await the fulfillment of the kingdom, we live according to this kingdom ethic.
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The ethic of the king is a goal we strive for though we cannot attain it
No one checks all these boxes
As a legal code it awaits fulfillment in the eternal kingdom when its code can be enforced
The Heart of the Sermon on the Mount is Grace
The Heart of the Sermon on the Mount is Grace
The sermon on the mount is an intensification of the Law
The grace of God echoes through the sermon
Jesus fulfills the law (5:17)
Our Father provides our daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance (6:5-14)
God provides us a safe place to invest the riches that matter (6:15-24)
God providentially provides for us (6:25-34)
Our Father answers our requests and generously gives us what we need (7:7-12)
The sermon on the mount should drive us to despair at the impossibility of a truly righteous life, then drive us to Christ who is our righteousness, and then back to righteousness as we follow him in God-pleasing, faith-driven obedience.
Transition to Beatitudes
Transition to Beatitudes
The first and most famous section is frequently referred to as the beatitudes.
Beatitude transliterates the latin word we would translate “blessed”
The beatitudes do not present a transaction between God and man where we do good things and he gives us good things in exchange. The beatitudes call us to radical, counter-intuitive obedience today based on our confidence in our king to be faithful to deliver on his promises tomorrow.
The beatitudes are not a naive promise that all things will turn out the way we want them today, they are kingdom focused. They look forward.
Future tense
MAIN IDEA: The coming reign of Christ enables counter-cultural faithfulness.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Defined
Defined
Not financial poverty
Recognition that I spiritually have nothing to offer
The world says you are valuable, but in the Kingdom Jesus is valuable.
Connected
Connected
The kingdom of heaven is accessed through faith in the king not the quality of the subjects
There are immense riches provided in a kingdom paved with gold, but we wait.
17 “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. 19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, 20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Applied
Applied
As a subject of the king I must look to him for my significance
When I feel I’m not good enough, I need to remember that my weakness i commended not condemned
As a subject of the king I ought to be humble
When I am strong, it is Christ who gets the glory
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Defined
Defined
We mourn because there is much to mourn about
Sin
Suffering
Connected
Connected
In the kingdom our sorrow will be wiped away.
Applied
Applied
The Christian life is not ignorant of difficulty
We don’t need to put on a front
We don’t need to pretend our suffering is not painful
The Christian life recognizes and accepts sorrow, but endures with hope.
Not a prosperity gospel.
Even our church services should be characterized not just by celebration but also by mourning.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Defined
Defined
Meekness is gentleness
A weak person cannot be gentle
Connected
Connected
Someone who is reserved in their use of power is not one we expect to rule, but it is exactly the person who will one day inherit the earth
Applied
Applied
Jesus is our example of meekness
Meekness should be present in all areas of our lives
Family
Church
Politics
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Defined
Defined
Hunger is needing and longing for something
Righteousness: God pleasing character
Connected
Connected
The poor in spirit is never going to be satisfied with their righteousness so they hunger.
Though we will not satisfy the hunger for righteousness before our king reigns we are nonetheless motivated by it until he comes
Applied
Applied
Does righteousness motivate you?
Conclusion
Conclusion
The coming reign of Christ enables counter-cultural faithfulness.