The Beatitudes…Turning Expectations Right Side Up

Luke 6:20-26 (Matthew 5:3-12)

(READ MATTHEW 5:3-12)

My wife tells a story of when she was younger, during a trip to Florida, she was driving a friend to Ponte Vedra, FL from Tampa, FL. As the story goes, about two hours into the drive, she realized she was about 100 miles north of Miami, FL—-the total opposite direction of where she thought she was going. Ask her what she felt and I am sure, disappointment, disbelief, frustration, and a realization of “I can’t believe I went the wrong way.”

When thinking we are going the right way is met with the reality we are going the wrong way we must make a choice—do we turn around at go the right way or do we keep going the wrong way.

The Beatitudes operate in much the same way. When Jesus’ words of what it truly means to follow Him (true discipleship) intersect with our plans/ways/ideas of what following Him means, a choice must be made—do we turn around and go the right way—God’s Way, or do we keep going our own way?

So what does it actually mean to follow Christ? What does true discipleship look like? While discipleship revolves around Biblical obedience, it is not rooted there. The roof of true discipleship is does not rest on “doing,” following Christ has and always will be, centered and rooted in the heart.

Backdrop of the Beatitudes:

The Beatitudes are the opening of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” which encompasses Matthew 5 through Matthew 8:1. and are the descriptive picture of the true disciple of God

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ giving His disciples a “first glimpse,” of the new Kingdom He is ushering in—a kingdom that turns the O/T law inside out but also operates opposite of earthly kingdoms.

The Beatitudes contain no “action words;” in the original language they were written—Greek—the blessings laid out by Jesus are not “things to be done,” rather they represent a descriptive picture of a disciple’s heart.

Each of the blessings Jesus lays out in the Beatitudes speak of the (1) hope and (2) reward the believer can expect (a) now and (b) in eternity

The Beatitudes, as well as the Sermon on the Mount, were not given to the multitudes, they were given to His disciples. Why? Before the disciples could take one step as Christ’s ambassadors, they needed to know what it truly meant to follow Christ; something that went against every expectation and assumption of Jesus’ followers

Jesus’ message turned their world upside down— “like cold water on the people’s hot enthusiasm.”

Misunderstandings of what it means to follow Jesus are still present today. Just look at the myriad of false gospels, false doctrines, and compromises that exist in the world and sadly, many churches today. Bible truth states there one way to God—Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Bible also makes is clear, a specific heart is needed in order to be a true disciple.

May our prayer be this morning that our hearts will encouraged, convicted, and softened in order that we follow Christ as He intends:

(TWO THINGS AS WE GET STARTED)

“Blessed” (this is not how the world looks at blessing, b/c it refers to a position only Christ can give

Speaks of spiritual joy & satisfaction that is divinely given; it’s an “inner peace & joy,” that endures regardless of circumstances

“Kingdom of Heaven” Refers to the same thing as “Kingdom of God,”—eternal life and salvation and Is the Spiritual Kingdom that is at hand: it was present in Jesus’ day and today

Refers to God’s rule, reign, and authority in the lives of believers

Offered to the world and to men through and in the person of Jesus Christ

Must be received as a little child—with child like faith

Experienced only in being born again

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Is a spiritual, life-changing blessing

Romans 14:7 “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

Is the first thing to be sought after by believers

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

———

Note the specific blessings which coincide with the specific heart position:

The Heart…

I. (5:3) Which recognizes it’s spiritual bankruptcy..is rewarded with the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Heart of the Poor in Spirit:

(FIRST—What poor in spirit is not):

It is NOT a person must be poverty-stricken and financially poor; it has nothing to do with material poverty, but everything to do with spiritual poverty

It is NOT a person who has a spirit full of self; there is a world of difference b/t being poor in spirit and possessing a spirit of self

There is a difference of thinking we are righteous vs. acknowledging we need the righteousness of Christ

There is a difference b/t being self-righteous and being given the righteousness of Christ

Self-righteousness goes no further than self and “self” dies

The righteousness of Christ lives on forever

(SECOND—What poor in spirit does mean):

Acknowledging our utter helplessness and spiritual bankruptcy apart from Christ, that we are totally dependent on to meet our spiritual need

Acknowledging our utter lack in facing life and eternity apart from God, admitting that life and eternity ONLY come from a right relationship with God

Acknowledging our utter lack of superiority before all others and our spiritual deadness before God

It is to acknowledge we are no better, no richer, and no more superior than the next person (regardless of what we’ve achieved)

It is to acknowledge that our morality, our own sense of goodness, and our adherence to the law do not give us spiritual life, that it is ONLY through Christ that we have spiritual and eternal life.

It is to acknowledge that our attitudes must not be proud/haughty nor superior and overbearing

Has two (2) critical steps

(ONE) A person turns his/her primary attention away from the things of this world—knowing “things” and this “world” can NEVER make him rich

(TWO) A person turns his/her primary attention towards God and things of kingdom value

The Promise to the Poor in Spirit: The Kingdom of Heaven—Salvation/Redemption/Restoration

Note three wonderful promises in this blessing

Receive forgiveness of sin and God’s continued remembrance: God will never forget

Receive a fellowship with other believers

Receive the gift of life which is forever: eternal fellowship with God

II. (5:4) Which recognizes the need to mourn…is rewarded with comfort

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”

The Greek word for mourning is “penthountes;” is the strongest word possible for mourning and mean to posses a broken heart

It is likened to the deep mourning and wailing that occurs over the death of a loved one

It is a desperate—helpless sorrow: (1) sorrow for sin, (2) a broken heart over evil and suffering

it is also a brokenness of self which comes from seeing Christ on the cross and realizing that our sin put Him there

Who is the person that “mourns? The person

Who is desperately sorry for their sins and unworthiness before God

Who is deeply impacted by the predicament and terrible suffering sin has caused others

Who, themselves, have experienced personal tragedy or intense trauma

The Promise ….comfort of the Lord

Mourning must be what drives us to repentance and confession. Without awareness of sin and its depravity (what sin has done), a person stands to miss the grace and the comfort that comes through Jesus Christ

Mourning which drives a person to the grace found through the cross of Christ is what is known as, “godly sorrow”

Sin—the irresponsibility of distrusting/disobeying the Lord causes (1) regret and disappointment, (2) burdens a person with guilt and remorse, and (3) brings sorrow

Sorrow, by itself has no power of restoration/healing/forgiveness; what brings about restoration/healing/God’s forgiveness and remission of sins is repentance

Sorrow, therefore, must move past itself into repentance—if it fails to, there cannot be divine forgiveness and comfort

Repentance comes when we allow conviction to operate how it’s designed—to draw us to God or back to God

Under the weight of conviction a person is lead to repent—where a person changes their mind about our sinful living and turn to Jesus and live as the Bible teaches; and this change is never regretted

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Mourning then, ushers is the both positional peace (Rom 5:1) and progressive peace (Phil 4:6-7) and here there is comfort

Biblical Example of this:

(Luke 7:36-50)

The reality of sin had driven this woman to the end of herself—where for the first time in her life she possessed “godly sorrow,” mourning her sin (seen in her weeping)—and was met with the comfort of Christ’ compassion

The reality of Jesus’ compassion led this woman to genuine repentance (seen in her actions towards Christ) and faith that He could heal her broken heart, which He did

III. (5:5) Which is meek…is rewarded

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”

The Greek word for meek is (praeis) and means

To have a strong but tender/humble life

To possess a strong, yet teachable spirit

It is NOT being weak/bowing/or spineless—it is a person with all the emotion/ability to take and conquer—but has the discipline of self-control, b/c they are God-controlled

It is NOT having the pride of self-sufficiency or superiority—it is the person who knows they have a need and has no answer within themself

Who are the meek?

Those who are controlled—who’s mind and body are disciplined

Passions/desires/urges, as well as speech and behavior are held in checkin view of God’s Word

Those who are humble not prideful

Humble before God

Humble before others

The person who is gentle, not easily provoked—continually in control when dealing with people

The person who is forgiving not vengeful

What forgiveness is and who its for

The person who is a quiet person

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

The promise of “inheriting the earth”

(FIRST) Presently the meek person enjoys and experiences good:

They have “found themselves;” they are comfortable with themselves; they know who they are (in Christ) and are strong and confident in their liberty in Christ

They know where they are going (glory); they have nothing to prove ; they know their purpose/meaning/and significance in this life

They live in assurance of victory and triumph over whatever confronts them; they are Free from stress/tension/anxiety

They possess peaceful souls

(SECOND) Eternally the meek person has the promise of inheritance; an inheritance of eternal life as joint-heirs with Christ in the new heavens and new earth

IV. (5:6) Which Hungers and Thirsts for Righteousness…will be filled

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”

Biblical righteousness is both “being right,” and “doing right;” it is being “right” with God and living “right” with God

Righteousness is something we don’t possess on our own:

Note how Scripture reminds us:

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”

Psalm 14:1–3“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Note how hungering and thirsting for righteousness teach we don’t possess it ourselves

Neither good works, morality, following all the rules, or scales of comparisons grant us righteousness; b/c right standing before God requires perfection—perfect righteousness

Righteousness is explained in the word faith (believing God, His Word, and His promise—believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ)

God takes a person’s faith and counts our faith as righteous—man is not righteous, God counts/considers them righteous

Therefore righteousness is imputed (shown/given) to man

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Philippians 3:8–9 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”

What is it then to “hunger and thirst?”

The Greek teaches us “hungering and thirsting” is not for morsels and tidbits, it’s a “hungering and thirsting,” for ALL; it is to “hunger and thirst” for the whole thing—ALL of God’s righteousness

We hunger and thirst for ALL of God’s righteousness for life, and

We hunger and thirst for ALL of God’s righteousness in life (for living)

Note the stress that we must hunger and thirst for both:

How many people stress “being” righteous, but neglect doing righteousness, the danger here is

False security and loose living here

How many people stress “doing” righteousness, but neglect “being” righteous, the danger here is

Self-righteous and legalistic living

Judgmental and critical spirits

The promise of being “filled” means a believer is wonderfully filed with (1) abundant life and (2) eternal life

He is full of goodness, filled with all knowledge (Romans 15:14)

He is filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:19)

He is filled with Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)

He is filled with the fruits of righteousness (Phil 1:11)

He is filled with the knowledge of His (God’s) will (Col 1:9)

He is filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52)

V. (5.7) Which possesses mercy…will receive mercy

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

What it means to possess a merciful heart is to have a forgiving spirit and a compassionate heart;

The merciful has a tender heart towards others

The merciful is not judgmental/critical/condemning of others, b/c they recognize their own need of God’s mercy

The merciful have compassion towards others—seeing past the exterior of a person and minister to the heart of a person

The promise of being merciful..is we obtain God’s mercy

God did not and has not granted us “one-time” mercy. While mercy is best represented through the cross, the thread of God’s mercy can be traced from the garden to the future glory promised to believers

God’s mercy continually washes us clean of sin through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-24)

God’s mercy is everlasting (Psalm 100:5)

God’s mercy is rich (Eph 2:4)

VI.(5:8) Which seeks to be pure…will see God

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

The Greek meaning is,

To have a clean heart—to be unsoiled—unmixed—unpolluted

To be purged of sin—to be forgiven—to be holy

To have a single purpose—that of God’s glory

A person who desires to be “pure in heart?”

Diligently pursues living a clean life—living unspotted from the world (2 Peter 1:5)

Consistently washes their heart from wickedness, through repentance and confession (1 John 1:9)

Dedicates themselves to meditate and obey God’s Word (Psalm 1:2-3)

Keeps themself from being yoked to the world

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

Desires to pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:15-17)

To be “pure in heart” also recognizes:

We are never free (this side of glory) from the mixture of self—sinful nature dictates we can never act perfectly

The constant need for God to check themselves for impurities, asking God to search his/her heart and cleanse it of impurities (daily confessing and repentance)

The promise to the pure in heart, “shall see God”:

Presently, the pure in heart see God by faith (think on this!!!)

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

Eternally, the pure in heart shall see God face to face—they shall see God as He is

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

VII. (5:9) Is a peace-maker

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

There is a huge difference b/t being a peace-keeper and being a peace-keeper

(Peace-keeper): Moses gives us an example of what not to be:

Exodus 4:24–26 “And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.”

The heart of peacemaker seeks

To make peace with God

To make peace within others (seeking and leading other to make their peace with God

To make peace b/t others (helping to solve disputes and erase divisions/reconcile differences)

The peacemaker’s goal is always restoration

The promise to the peacemaker is adoption; (GRK— “to place as a son”)—Catch this connection

In Ancient Biblical times, family was based on a Roman law called “patria potestas,” or “the father’s power”

The law gave the father 100% authority over his children so long as the father lived—regardless of child’s adult age—the father held all the power over personal and property rights

Adoption was a serious matter in the Ancient Biblical world, b/c it was common practice to ensure a family would not become extinct by having no male children- ergo in adoption, 3 legal steps were taken:

The adopted son was adopted permanently; He could not be adopted one day and disinherited another day; he became a son of the father—forever (eternal security)

The adopted son immediately had all the rights of a legitimate son in the new family

The adopted son completely lost all rights in his old family; the adopted son was looked upon as a new person—so new in fact, old debts and obligations connected with his former family (life) were cancelled and abolished as if they never existed

Note then, the adoption the Bible says of the believer by God:

The believer’s adoption establishes a new relationship with God—permanently/forever (eternal security as a child of God)

The believer’s adoption establishes a new relationship with God as father—the believer has all the rights and privileges of a genuine son of God

The believer’s adoption establishes a new dynamic with God as father—moment by moment access into His very presence

The believer’s adoption establishes a very special relationship with other children of God—we are bound with others in an unparalleled spiritual union

The believer’s adoption makes him a new person—the believer has been taken out from under the debt and obligation of the world and sin

VIII. (5:10-12) Which endures persecution….inherits the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 5:10–12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

What kinds of persecution does Christ speak of in this passage?

Being reviled—verbally abused/insulted/scolded/mocked

Being persecuted—hurt/ostracized/attacked/tortured/martyred/and treated in hostile fashion

Having all manner of evil spoken against them—slandered, cursed, and lied about

Who is it that is persecuted?

The person who lives/speaks for righteousness and is reacted against

The person who lives/speaks for Christ and is reviled, persecuted, and spoken against

What do we need to know about persecution?

Persecution is promised

John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;”

Believers are persecuted b/c we strip away the world’s cloak of sin

Living for the righteousness of Christ—refusing to compromise with the world—being called out from the world to life different from the world—exposes the sins of people

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Believers are persecuted b/c the world does not know God, nor Christ

John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

John 16:3 “And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”

The promise to the persecuted

The Kingdom Heaven, now

They experience special honor (Acts 5:41 “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”)

They experience a special consolation (2 Corinthians 1:5 “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”)

They are given a very special closeness/a glow of God’s presence (1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”)

They become a greater witness for Christ (2 Corinthians 1:4–6 “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”

The Kingdom of Heaven, eternally

CLOSING/WORSHIP

(FIRST) Scripture makes it clear the narrow gate by which a person enters the kingdom of God

Matthew 7:13–14 ““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Scripture makes it clear that salvation is impossible through human effort and riches:

Matthew 19:24 “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.””

Scripture makes it clear—however—their is way and it is possible—with God and through Jesus Christ

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Scripture makes it clear—there is a specific heart God is looking for—a heart of “good soil”

Mark 4:20 “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.””

Jesus makes it clear from the very start of the Beatitudes about where this starts—Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(SECOND)

For those who are searching for hearts of peace & comfort—there is a promise that awaits you, that if you would recognize your spiritual bankruptcy and come to mourn/lament your sin, casting your sins and your life at the foot of the cross—-you will be met with the grace and comfort of the Lord, where your sins can be forgiven and you can be given new life

For those who have professed Christ—the heart of a true disciple lies within these 8 characteristics of the heart—-are there characteristics which need restoration/redemption? Are there areas of your heart where you’ve let some weeds in? May you (we) come and cast them at the foot of the cross—so we might follow Christ more sincerely, as true disciples

AMEN