Happy & Humble

Introduction

Hey, good morning.

I am so excited to be back with you this morning. If we haven’t met, my name is Joe Smysor and from 2011 to 2018 I was the Pastor of Students here at Cornerstone. I am so thankful for those years on staff here, though it’s crazy to me that I’ve almost been gone for more years than I was actually here. It’s crazy how fast time moves. I’m joined today by my wife Gala and our children, Samuel and Natalie. Samuel is in fourth grade this year and Natalie is in third grade.

This morning, we’ll be spending most of our time together going through Matthew 5:1-12. The Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, and more specifically humility and how we’re to live as Christians.

The Sermon on the Mount is the first of the five sections of teaching in Matthew’s Gospel and is really a statement of life within God’s kingdom. I had a professor who would often compare it to the Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament. Each November in the United Kingdom, when the new session of Parliament officially begins, the monarch reads a speech outlining the policies which his or her government will pursue over the coming year. Similar to the state of the union. Amid great pomp and ceremony, with many theatrical touches, the Queen’s Speech is a statement of intent, declaring a program of government.

There is no pomp or ceremony in the Sermon on the Mount. But there are echoes of the Old Testament; we are meant, perhaps, to see Jesus as the new Moses, outlining the rule of God in the lives of members of his new community. This is the formal inauguration of his kingdom; here the King sets out his plan, the programme by which his kingdom is identified and his rule administered.

So what do we have in the Sermon on the Mount?

This morning, in the Beatitudes, we’re going see Jesus lay out what is expected from us, his disciples and what it looks like to be a member of the Kingdom of God.

The Great Commission tells us to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19), but what does being a disciple entail? The Sermon on the Mount—Jesus’ first major teaching in Matthew’s Gospel—tells us what it means to be Jesus’ disciple and a member of the kingdom of God. Sitting on the mountainside, Jesus speaks about selflessness, humility and what it means to seek God’s righteousness—what we know as the Beatitudes (5:3–12). His disciples should serve as His witnesses to the world and point others toward God (5:13–16). Their standard of righteousness goes beyond what was set forth in the law (5:17–48). Today, we’ll discuss Matthew 5:1-12 and what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Turning on the news, surfing the internet, or just going out of our front door it’s easy to see that our culture and most of the world around us doesn’t know or honor God. We see it in a culture that honors not purity or integrity but selfishness. We see it on the news on a worldwide scale too with wars and violence. Why are there wars in the world? Why is there this constant international tension? What is the matter with the world? Why war and all the unhappiness and turmoil and discord amongst men? According to the Beatitudes, we’ll see there is only one answer to these questions-sin. Nothing else; just sin. And, all too often, we see this sin around us in our selfishness, in our greed, in our pride and our efforts to build a platform for ourselves. The world and it’s passions are different than ours. As Christians, we’re called to have different passions, different uses for our money, different ways we spend our time, different attitudes. We’re to be different, but all too often we look simply like PG version of the rest of the word.

Omar Bradley, who was a general in the Second World War and the First Joint Chiefs of Staff once said, “We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants, in a world that has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We have solved the mystery of the atom and forgotten the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about dying than we know about living.”

This morning, church, we’re going to explore how Christ is calling us to live.

If you have your bibles, would you turn with me to Matthew 5:1-12?

Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1–12 CSB

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Opening Prayer

Father,

Thank you for Cornerstone Church and for the blessing it is that we get to gather today, in this building, as a church, to study your word. Father, help us to put aside any distraction or disapointment that we may facing and help us to focus on you, your word, and your will for our lives. Speak to us. Show us what you’d have us change to better follow you. Fill us with your spirit.

In your name we pray.

Amen.

What are the Beatitudes?

As we look at the Beatitudes this morning, perhaps the most pressing question for us to answer is...

What are the Beatitudes?

In Matthew 5, Jesus begins his most famous sermon with a list of characteristics, commonly known as the Beatitudes, that offer us a glimpse at what it looks like to live “the blessed life.” But they’re not exactly what we might expect.

The Beatitudes are a set of teachings delivered by Jesus Christ during his Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. These teachings outline a series of attitudes and qualities that are considered blessed or spiritually virtuous in the eyes of God. They emphasize humility, compassion, and righteousness as essential virtues for individuals seeking a meaningful and righteous life. The Beatitudes provide a moral and ethical framework for Christian believers, encouraging them to live a life characterized by love, mercy, and peacemaking.

The Beatitudes have the same structure. Blessed is the one who _________. It’s actually the same structure that we see in Psalm 1, though it’s rendered a little different there.

Psalm 1:1 “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!”

So, another way of looking at these statements is, “How happy is the one who...”

The first theme we find is a description of the character of those who belong to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Before we come to hear his standards, we stand before this portrait of his subjects. This passage, in which Jesus describes his followers as ‘Blessed’, is known as the ‘Beatitudes’ (from the Latin word for blessing).

It is important to note that the Sermon on the Mount is descriptive before it is prescriptive. It describes what the Christian is before talking of what the Christian should do. For Jesus, obedience grows out of blessedness; the statement of our condition precedes the demands of our discipleship. All the imperatives of the gospel arise out of its indicatives.

In each of these benedictions there is a description of character followed by an explanation of what makes such people ‘blessed’. God’s people are ‘poor in spirit’ (v. 3), meaning that they acknowledge their spiritual bankruptcy and their need of the grace of the kingdom. They are in a world of sorrow, in which they ‘mourn’ (v. 4). They are ‘meek’ (v. 5), not boastful or arrogant. They ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness’ (v. 6), meaning that they long both to be and to do what is right and just. They are ‘merciful’ (v. 7), living in response to the mercy of God shown to them. They are ‘pure in heart’ (v. 8), living under the light of gospel forgiveness and gospel holiness. They are ‘peacemakers’ (v. 9), lovers of peace and makers of peace. And they are persecuted for the sake of what is right (vv. 10–11), reviled for the truth, just as the prophets were.

To list these characteristics is to be aware of two things: first, that the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a kingdom of the heart. Yes, it is a real kingdom, and Jesus is a real king. But the life of the kingdom is principally a spiritual life, a matter of the heart; and it has to be a matter of the heart before it can become anything else.

Second, life in the kingdom can be hard. Jesus does not call his people to follow him with the promise of unbounded wealth or perfect health. He does promise blessings, but sometimes they will be experienced in the pain of rejection and loss.

However, to be ‘blessed’ means to relate to God in a particular way. Some modern translations substitute the word ‘happy’ for the word ‘blessed’ and make the whole thing into a feeling. But Jesus is not talking about our feelings in this passage. As John Stott says, ‘Happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective judgement about these people.’ This is what God says about them. It is to those who have nothing in themselves that God gives the kingdom of heaven, the comfort of heaven, the earth as their inheritance, the satisfaction of his provision, the mercy and vision of God, the right to be called his sons and the greatest of all rewards: a place in his kingdom.

This is the very opposite of a worldly outlook. Jesus is promising the greatest of all blessings to those who are part of his kingdom. These are blessings both for the present and for the future. And they are blessings of usefulness, for those whose lives are portrayed here are the salt of the earth (v. 13) and the light of the world (v. 14). They are in a position of influence and good in which they are able to stem the tide of corruption and darkness that engulfs a fallen world.

What aren’t the Beatitudes?

Similarly, it might be helpful for us to consider what Beatitudes are not to help us understand what they actually are.

The Beatitudes are not:

A code of ethics or morals

To be regarded as law (like the 10 Commandments)

These are not 8 new rules or Commandments to follow.

Not a recipe or formula for success

That is, it’s not a simple X+Y=Z, or Be humble 37 times and be a peacemaker 20 times and now I’ve earned my salvation. They do not promise immediate happiness or a life free from suffering. Instead, they offer spiritual blessings and guidance for living a life that aligns with God's will.

We know it doesn’t work that way. I can’t earn my salvation. It is only through faith alone in Christ alone.

Rather, The Beatitudes give us an illustration of what Christ-followers are supposed to be. They call for a radical transformation of one's character and priorities, promoting a deeper connection with God and a commitment to living a life of faith and righteousness. In light of the Gospel, in light of Christ’s death on the cross, in light of the hope he has given me I cannot continue living like the world does.

How do we apply them today?

So, how do we apply them today? Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Humanly speaking, it is possible to understand the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. But Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience - not interpreting or applying it, but doing and obeying it. That is the only way to hear his words. He does not mean for us to discuss it as an ideal. He really means for us to get on with it.”

Be Broken

The first point on your outline this morning is that we are called to be broken. The phrase "poor in spirit" in the Bible is reminiscent of the "poor/meek" mentioned in the Psalms. These individuals, though experiencing material poverty, are primarily seen as God's faithful people who depend humbly on His protection in the face of oppression from the wealthy and ungodly. This concept of being "poor in spirit" can also be found in other biblical passages like Isaiah 66:2. It signifies a positive spiritual orientation and does not refer to a weak character but rather one's relationship with God. Those who are "poor in spirit" gladly accept God's rule and, therefore, enjoy the benefits of His kingdom. This idea sets the stage for the blessings promised in subsequent verses and is part of the "good news of the kingdom" mentioned in the text.

We see the ultimate example of this in Mark 12:41-44

Mark 12:41–44 CSB

Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”

We cannot trust in or rely in our own strength, cleverness, background, parents, family, school, denomination, money, or power. Church, our strength and our boast is in Christ alone. We must must be poor in spirit. Our pride must be broken.

Be Humble

Let’s turn our attention again to verse 5. This verse is where we’re going to be spend most of our time this morning. The second point on your outline this morning is that the Beatitudes call us to BE HUMBLE.

Let’s look again at Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.”

Blessed are the humble...

I’m reading from the CSB translation this morning but your translation might use a different word.

What word does your Bible translation use in verse 5?

I know the ESV, NIV, and KJV will use the word, “Meek” here. Does anyone have anything other than “humble” or “meek?”

Good, let’s unpack this a little more.

Who is the most humble person you know?

Why?

What is humility?

HUMILITY DEFINED:

As I prepared for this morning I came across a couple of definitions that I think can help us understand what it means to be humble or to be meek.

The personal quality of being free from arrogance and pride and having an accurate estimate of one’s worth.

A.R. Bernard: “Humility is not weakness, but strength under control”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a 20th century British pastor, describes humility this way, ““If we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God and that He came into this world and went to the cross of Calvary and died for our sins and rose again in order to justify us and to give us life anew and prepare us for heaven-if you really believe that, there is only one inevitable deduction, namely that He is entitled to the whole of our lives, without any limit whatsoever... When a man truly sees himself, he knows nobody can say anything about him that is too bad.”

To better understand humility and what we’re called to, all we have to do is look at the scriptures.

Good Samaritan

Humility as he gave up his time, his comfort, and his money to help take care of someone different than himself.

John the Baptist

Humility as he submits to Christ and baptizes him

Humility as he stays committed to Christ despite persecution

Humility in his words, John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.””

The perfect example of humility, and really the perfect example of all of the traits that we’ll see in the Beatitudes, is Jesus Christ.

We see this as he was willing to leave Heaven to come to earth

We see this in his washing of the disciples feet.

And, we see this in his death on the cross.

My friend Andy Miller always reminds me that there really is no better way to learn humility and to learn how selfish we really are than being a parent. As a parent, we constantly give up our comfort, our money, our time, all of us for the good of our children. The same’s true with our walk with Christ. We have to be willing to count all things as rubbish outside of knowing, following, and loving Christ.

Though, being around kids reminds me of one more passage that talks about humility.

If you spend any amount of time around kids its easy to see their selfishness and their willingness to look out for their own interests. As an aside here, I’d argue that we’re every bit as selfish as our kids, we’re just better at hiding it.

Anyways. If you go on a road trip with a couple of kids you’ll inevitably hear the words, “I call this seat.” Or, “I call picking the first song.” Or, I call picking the restaurant. Or, I call fill in the blank.

Jesus speaks to this in Luke 14:7-11.

Luke 14:7–11 CSB

He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Christian, to grow in your faith, to impact the world around you, to be the Christ-follow Jesus is calling you to be, you must be humble, you must be willing to give up everything to follow Christ.

Luke 14:26-27 tell us: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

Be Peaceful

Our third point on your outline is that through Beatitudes we see our calling to BE PEACEFUL.

Jesus' focus in this beatitude is not on those who are merely peaceful but on those who actively work to create peace, known as peacemakers. Peace is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments, and passages from various books highlight the significance of making peace. Some of these references even carry messianic implications, as seen in the title "Prince of Peace" given to the Promised Son in Isaiah 9:6. Isaiah 52:7 connects peace, salvation, and God's reign, further emphasizing its messianic interpretation during Jesus' time.

Jesus doesn't limit the concept of peacemaking to a single type, and neither do his followers. In the light of the gospel, Jesus himself is the ultimate peacemaker, bridging the gap between God and humanity and among people themselves. Peacemaking includes spreading the gospel message and actively seeking reconciliation in various contexts. Instead of embracing division, bitterness, or a "divide and conquer" mentality, disciples of Jesus are eager to promote peace whenever possible. It's important to note that peacemaking isn't synonymous with appeasement; it aligns with God's sacrificial peacemaking, as seen in passages like Ephesians 2:15–17 and Colossians 1:20.

Those who engage in this peacemaking work are recognized as God's children. In the Old Testament, Israel is referred to as "sons," and now, this designation belongs to the heirs of the kingdom. These individuals, characterized by their meekness, poverty in spirit, love for righteousness, and mercy, are uniquely equipped for peacemaking, reflecting the character of their heavenly Father.

Be Happy - CLOSING

The final point on your outline this morning is to Be happy.

The call to rejoice in the face of persecution, as found in 1 Peter 4:13 (reiterated in 1 Peter 1:6), may initially seem paradoxical, especially when expressed in the enthusiastic terms used by Matthew. However, as with the beatitude addressing those who mourn, the blessing does not lie in the suffering itself but in the promised outcome. In verses 3-10 of the Beatitudes, people are pronounced happy "because" they are the recipients of promised blessings, and here, once again, there is a "because." The concept of a reward to compensate for the challenges faced by the disciples becomes explicit. Matthew does not shy away, unlike many contemporary Christians, from acknowledging the "reward" awaiting those who remain faithful to their calling. This notion is repeated throughout his Gospel and Jesus' teachings, emphasizing heavenly recompense. However, it's crucial to understand that God's "reward" is more generous and profound than a mere transaction. The disciples' joy stems from recognizing that the promised good far surpasses the hardships they may endure now. While the specific nature of the "great reward" is not detailed here, except that it is "in heaven," it likely refers not so much to a physical location but to a profound relationship with God. This aligns with Matthew's use of "kingdom of heaven" in place of "kingdom of God," emphasizing the eschatological orientation of the Beatitudes.

Closing

In closing, Church, as we reflect on humility today, let us heed the wisdom of J.C. Ryle's words: "Let us watch against pride in every shape - pride of intellect, pride of wealth, pride of our own goodness. Nothing is so likely to keep a person out of heaven, and prevent them from seeing Christ, as pride. So long as we think we are something we shall never be saved. Let us pray for and cultivate humility; let us seek to know ourselves correctly, and to find out our place in the sight of a holy God."

Indeed, pride in all its forms can be a formidable obstacle on our journey toward heaven, preventing us from truly encountering Christ. As long as we elevate ourselves, thinking we are something, we risk missing the grace and salvation offered to us. Instead, let us fervently pray for and nurture the virtue of humility in our hearts. May we earnestly seek to understand ourselves in the light of God's holiness, recognizing our rightful place in His sight. In this pursuit of humility, we draw closer to God and His transforming love, positioning ourselves to experience the boundless grace and eternal fellowship found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gary, Anna, thank you for the chance to preach today and to visit Cornerstone. My wife and I love you and this church more than we can properly express so thank you.

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank you again for this church and for the blessing it is to be able to gather in your house to read your word. As we go back to the world this week, help us to be broken and totally dependent on you, your word, and your provision.

Help us to be humble. May we put you first in our lives and may we put others second. May we be known by our mercy, our love, and our peace. All of which ultimately come from you. Give us strength to withstand any trial, any persecution, holding fast to Jesus Christ.

It’s in your name I pray.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,  and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.