The Blessed Life

Text: Matthew 5:1–12

Series: The Sermon on the Mount

"Heavenly Father, we come before You today, eager to hear Your voice through Your Word. Open our hearts and minds as we study the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. May we be transformed by the truth of the Beatitudes and learn what it means to live a truly blessed life in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Introduction to the Series: The Sermon on the Mount

Today we will being a new series called The Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is Jesus’ longest recorded sermon, outlining the ethics and lifestyle of His Kingdom.

Overview of the Series:

It is a call to righteousness that goes beyond outward behavior and addresses the heart.

Over the next few weeks, we will walk through Jesus’ words and learn what it means to be a disciple in God’s Kingdom.

Jesus begins with a list of blessings that describe the character of those in His Kingdom. So I have entitled this message “The Blessed Life” these list of blessings are often called the Beatitudes.

Context of Matthew 5:1–12 (The Beatitudes):

The word Beatitude comes from the Latin word beatus, which means blessed, happy, or fortunate. It is used to describe the opening statements of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1–12, where He pronounces blessings on those who embody the values of God's Kingdom.

Why Use the Word "Beatitude"?

It Emphasizes True Blessing – The Beatitudes describe the kind of people God calls blessed, which is very different from the world’s idea of happiness.

It Highlights a Kingdom Lifestyle – These are not just individual blessings, but characteristics of those who belong to God’s Kingdom.

It Shows God’s Favor – Being blessed in this sense does not mean material wealth or ease, but a deep, spiritual joy found in a relationship with God.

The Beatitudes are not just promises of future rewards; they describe the present reality of those who follow Jesus. They show how true happiness is found not in power, success, or comfort, but in humility, righteousness, mercy, and faithfulness to God—even in suffering.

These blessings challenge worldly definitions of happiness and success.

Instead of power, wealth, or status, true blessedness comes from a heart aligned with God.

Matthew 5:1–2 NKJV

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Imagine a crowd gathered on a hillside, the Sea of Galilee shimmering below. The people are weary—oppressed by Rome, burdened by the legalism of the Pharisees, longing for hope. They have heard of Jesus, the carpenter-turned-preacher, the miracle worker, the one who speaks with authority. And now, they follow Him up the mountainside, expecting to hear words of revolution, power, and deliverance.

But instead, Jesus speaks of an upside-down kingdom. He declares that the truly blessed are not the rich, the powerful, or the self-sufficient—but the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek. His words are radical, countercultural, and life-changing.

Now the first words out of the Lord’s mouth is the word “Blessed” The Greek word for "blessed" is makarios, meaning deep, spiritual joy—not based on circumstances but on God's favor.

The world defines blessing as wealth, comfort, and success. Jesus redefines it as a heart fully dependent on God.

Illustration:

Think of a child clinging to their father’s hand. That child is secure, protected, provided for—not because they are strong, but because they trust their father. That is what it means to be truly blessed in the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3–6 NKJV

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

1. The Inner Condition of a Kingdom Citizen

Each Beatitude describes a characteristic of someone who belongs to God’s Kingdom.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be poor in spirit is to recognize our need for God.

The world values self-sufficiency, but Jesus says true blessing comes when we humbly depend on Him.

Biblical Illustration:

In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts of his righteousness, but the tax collector beats his chest, saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). Jesus says the humble man is the one justified before God.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

This is not just mourning over life's difficulties, but mourning over sin.

When we grieve our sin, we receive God's forgiveness and comfort.

Illustration:

Imagine a young man estranged from his father due to bad choices. When he finally realizes his mistakes and weeps in repentance, his father embraces him. That is the picture of God’s comfort when we turn to Him.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control.

It is having the power to retaliate but choosing humility instead.

Historical Illustration: Think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He led a movement not with violence, but with meekness, showing the power of non-retaliation. He changed the course of history by embodying Christ-like humility.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

The world hungers for wealth and success; we are called to hunger for holiness.

When our greatest longing is to be right with God, we experience deep satisfaction.

Personal Illustration: Have you ever been truly hungry? Not just craving a snack, but starving? That’s how we should crave righteousness—desperately, wholeheartedly.

2. The Outward Expression of a Kingdom Citizen

(v. 7–9: How Kingdom Citizens Relate to Others)

Matthew 5:7–9 NKJV

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 sons of God.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

Mercy is compassion in action.

If we have received God's mercy, we should extend it to others.

Biblical Illustration: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) didn’t just feel sorry for the wounded man—he acted with mercy. That’s the kind of heart God blesses.

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

Purity is not just about actions, but about the heart’s motives.

A pure heart seeks God above all else.

Illustration: A dirty window blocks the light from shining through. In the same way, sin clouds our vision of God. Purity allows us to see Him clearly.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

A peacemaker does not avoid conflict but actively works to bring reconciliation.

Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, reconciling us to God.

Personal Illustration: Have you ever been in a family conflict where someone stepped in to restore peace? That person was acting as a true peacemaker.

3. The Cost of Kingdom Living

(v. 10–12: Persecution for Righteousness' Sake)

Matthew 5:10–12 NKJV

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.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Living for Christ will bring opposition, but we are blessed when we stand firm.

Historical Illustration:

Bonhoeffer wrote, 'When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.' This was not merely about physical death; it spoke to the willingness to surrender one's life for the truth. As he stood against a regime that sought to eradicate faith and morality, he offered his life as a living testimony to God's unwavering love. His martyrdom is a reminder of the cost of discipleship—the very legacy we inherit today, calling us to stand firm in our faith against any evil we encounter.

"Blessed are you when others revile you... for great is your reward in heaven."

The prophets were persecuted, Jesus was persecuted—why should we expect an easy road?

Suffering for Christ brings eternal reward.

Biblical Illustration: In Acts 5, the apostles were beaten for preaching Jesus, yet they rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41).

So, What is the Key Takeaways

The Beatitudes describe not different groups of people but a unified picture of a true disciple.

True blessing is not about material wealth or comfort but about a heart aligned with God’s will.

Living out the Beatitudes makes us stand out in the world, often leading to opposition but also great reward.

Closing Application

Which Beatitude challenges you the most?

If you are facing opposition for your faith, take heart—Jesus says you are blessed.

Closing Prayer

"Lord, we thank You for the words of Jesus that challenge and transform us. Help us to live as true disciples, embracing the character of Your Kingdom. Strengthen us to live out these Beatitudes in a world that often opposes them. May we seek Your blessing, not as the world defines it, but as You have promised. In Jesus' name, Amen."