INTRODUCTION TO THE BEATITUDES

A. SCRIPTURE:

Matthew 5:1–3 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

B. PRAYER:

C. WELCOME

01. Greetings

In person and online

We are king’s church lowercase K

02. Icebreaker

Joke about it about May 4th Star Wars reference. Christianize it.

“May the Fourth be with you—just don’t get your theology from Yoda.” 😄

Maybe in a yoda voice

Continuation in our Royal Gospel series.

D. MESSAGE

01. INTRODUCTION TO THE BEATITUDES

I. Overview: Series Recap

We are back in our Royal Gospel series. Remember the whole purpose of Matthew’s writing, presenting Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the true Son of David and Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1), who fulfills all the promises of the Old Testament. He is the royal King who inaugurates the kingdom of heaven, not just for Israel but for all nations (cf. Matt. 28:18–20).

Last time we were in Matthew, Eric Lucas taught on Jesus' early ministry in Matthew 4:23—his teaching, preaching, and healing. He emphasizes Christ’s authority, the eternal nature of the kingdom of heaven, and the call to true discipleship.

II. Overview: Passage Context

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

The Sermon on the Mount: A Counter-Cultural Message

We’re stepping into one of the most well-known sections of Jesus’ ministry—His most famous sermon. We call it The Sermon on the Mount. And you know a sermon is good when it’s still talked about over 2,000 years later. Even non-Christians, if asked to quote Jesus, often paraphrase something from this very message—sometimes incorrectly, sure, but the influence is undeniable.

When Jesus opens His mouth here, He doesn’t affirm the crowd’s expectations or the culture’s assumptions. He doesn’t preach what people want to hear. Instead, He announces something radically upside-down—a kingdom that flips the world’s values on their head.

In Matthew 4, Jesus announced the kingdom—now, in chapter 5, He explains what life looks like under His rule. These aren’t entrance requirements; they’re heart reflections of those already under the reign of the King.

As John Stott once said, the Sermon on the Mount is “the Christian counter-culture”

It’s probably the most quoted and misquoted

The Central Theme: The Kingdom of God

Matthew 4:23 (ESV)

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…”

The Sermon on the Mount flows directly from this kingdom proclamation. Jesus is unveiling the ethics, values, and norms of life under His rule. This is His kingdom constitution—His inaugural address to those who will live under His lordship. It’s no wonder the religious were stunned. It didn’t sound like anything they’d heard before.

The Beatitudes: The Preamble to the Sermon

This is where the Beatitudes come in. They’re not just a poetic intro. They’re the foundation. The preamble. Think of the Sermon on the Mount like a tree:

The Sermon on the Mount is like a tree:

The root is the gospel of the kingdom—God’s saving initiative in Christ, calling people into His reign by grace. The Beatitudes are the trunk—anchoring the identity of Jesus’ people. The branches are the teachings that follow, and the fruit is a life shaped by His kingdom values.

What the Sermon on the Mount Is Not

Let’s be clear: This is not a checklist of rules to earn salvation.

Back at our first church location, two guys showed up asking, "Do you teach the Sermon on the Mount?" —as if it were some hidden message. But they misunderstood its purpose.

This isn’t Law 2.0. Jesus isn’t Moses handing out rules on Sinai. He’s unveiling the reality of the new covenant.

This sermon shows what kind of people we become after we enter the kingdom by grace through faith.

So let’s say it plainly:

The Beatitudes don’t tell us what to do to get in—they describe who we are because we belong to Him.

Let’s jump into our portion of scripture

02. EXPOSITION

Objective: Going to look at three aspects of this verse. Blessed, poor in Spirit, theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

II. The Paradox of Divine Favor (v. 3a)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”

BLESSED IS WHAT?

Matthew 5:3 ESV

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

Let’s talk about this word: “Blessed.” The Greek word here is makarios—go ahead, say it with me: ma-KAR-ee-os. (If you can’t roll your R’s, don’t worry. You’ll still make it into the kingdom.) 😄

This word is sometimes translated as “happy” or “fortunate,” and in certain contexts—like 1 Corinthians 7:40—that’s appropriate. But in the Beatitudes, Jesus means something deeper. He’s not describing a temporary emotion or a lucky situation. He’s making a divine declaration about someone’s standing before God.

Why? Because happiness in our modern usage is tied to circumstances. You got the job? You’re happy. You lost the job? Not so much.

For example—my wife is happiest on the beach or hiking through a forest. But if you drop her in Midtown traffic at 5 p.m.—suddenly she’s not so “blessed.”

But makarios isn’t describing how someone feels—it’s describing what God declares about them.

As John Stott puts it, “Happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective judgment about these people.”

"He’s not saying, ‘You should feel happy.’ He’s announcing a kingdom reality: ‘You are in a position of favor before God.’"

The OT Backdrop of Makarios

The word makarios reaches back into the Greek Old Testament (LXX), where it translates the Hebrew word ’ashrê—a word used to describe those who are approved and favored by God.

Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked…”

Psalm 32:1 – “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven…”

Psalm 34:8 – “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in the Lord…”

So when Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He’s not talking about feelings. He’s making a divine pronouncement: These people are in a state of divine approval—recognized by God, welcomed into His kingdom, and declared favored in His sight.it conveys a a present favor with future fulfillment—it’s the joy of being accepted by God now, with the fullness of that joy still to come in the kingdom. It’s a joy rooted in God not our circumstances. So when Jesus says “blessed,” He means: you are especially favored by God—even when the world or your emotions tell you otherwise.

No word returns voice from the mouth of God.

Application & Irony

So no—this isn’t, “Happy are those who mourn.” That doesn’t even make sense.

This is divine irony: you are blessed even in sorrow… because you belong to the King.

No one’s saying you should be that guy who, in the middle of a trial, starts blasting Pharrell and singing: 🎶 “Because I’m happy! Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof!” 🎶 And you’re thinking, “I’m not happy. My rent is past due. My anxiety is through the roof. I’m not clapping.”

Here’s the truth: joy transcends feelings. You may not feel favored by God. But feelings don’t define favor—God’s Word does. Your emotions don’t dictate your theology. Your circumstances don’t interpret Scripture. Your theology should shape how you see your circumstances.

So when your emotions aren’t lining up, you remind yourself of His Word. Amen?

He’s calling you to a deeper joy—one that outlives the pain, outlasts the storm, and rests in His favor.

II. Who Is Blessed? (Matthew 5:3)

We’ve talked about what “blessed” means—God’s declaration of favor, not a fleeting feeling. But now we ask: who is blessed?

Jesus begins with a surprising statement:

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

This first Beatitude isn’t just one virtue among many—it’s the foundation. Miss this, and we’ll misread the entire Sermon on the Mount. It’s not a ladder of spiritual success. It starts low, with empty hands and humble hearts.

“Poor in Spirit” ≠ Material Poverty

Some say, “But Luke just says, ‘Blessed are the poor’—did Matthew soften the message?” Not at all.

Matthew and Luke are seeing the same diamond from two angles. The Greek word ptōchos means one who is utterly dependent—like a beggar. In physically sense but also in a spiritual sense. And in the Old Testament, ptōchos often describes those who, though lowly or afflicted, cry out to God in trust. It's not just about income—it’s about dependence on God

Psalm 40:17 ESV

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

David identifies himself as “poor,” though he was king—this poverty is spiritual humility and need before God.

As John Stott puts it:

“To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy before God.”

Jesus isn’t saying you’re blessed because you’re broke. He’s saying you’re blessed because you know you need Him. That’s not a status—it’s a posture.

🪞 Jerome said it well:

“Blessedness is humility, not poverty.”

It’s About Posture, Not Possessions

This is exactly why Jesus rebukes the wealthy church in Revelation 3. They said, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” But He said, “You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” They had possessions—but no posture of dependence. They were full of themselves and had no room for God.

Peter Kreeft says it beautifully:

“If we come to God with empty hands, he will fill them. If we come with full hands, he finds no place to put himself.”

Pride vs. Humility

Luke 18 The Parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee is the perfect example of humble of heart and proud of heart.

Remember the story about the two men at kings I mention at the beginning who looking at the sermon on the mount like legally binding, couldn’t see that they missed the first part of the beatitude, Poor in Spirit.

Even Aristotle said the soul’s goodness is self-sufficient. The gospel flips that.

Pride says: “I got this.” Humility says: “God’s got this.” Pride says: “I’m strong.” Humility says: “I need grace.” Pride says: “I have what it takes.” Humility says: “Only in Christ do I have what I need.”

As Spurgeon put it:

“The way to rise in the kingdom is to sink in ourselves.”

So Who Is Blessed?

Those empty enough to be filled. Those humble enough to receive the King. Those who know they bring nothing—so they inherit everything.

Transition/Recap thus far:

Blessed (favored by God - the one who has joy irrespective of their circumstance), poor in spirit (the humble, the one in constant dependence on God), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

III. The Promise of Present Possession (v. 3b): “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

Matthew 5:3 ESV

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

III. The Promise of Present Possession (v. 3b): “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

"For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus doesn’t say will be. He says is. Right now.

This is present-tense. Kingdom living begins now.

You are already a citizen of heaven (Col. 1:13).

You already have the Spirit as a guarantee (Eph. 1:14).

You already walk in resurrection life.

Imagine this: You’re promised $500 million in ten years—and you’re given $100,000 today as proof. You’d live differently, wouldn’t you? That’s a fraction of what we’ve been given in Christ. The Spirit is our guarantee. Eternity is our inheritance. And the presence of God is not just future—it’s the gift we carry now.

D.A. Carson: This present-tense blessing forms an "inclusio" that frames all the Beatitudes. It starts and ends with "theirs is the kingdom."

Stott: "The Beatitudes have both present and future fulfillment. We enjoy the firstfruits now; the full harvest is yet to come."

Christian: you have so much more. The Spirit is your down payment. Eternity is your inheritance. The kingdom is not just someday. It’s Sunday.

The kingdom is not just someday. It’s Sunday.

IV. Application: How Do We Walk Poor in Spirit?

Recognize your need daily: Begin each morning in dependence, not self-sufficiency.

Guard against pride: Full hands leave no room for grace.

Walk in humility with others: Your posture toward people reflects your posture toward God.

Pray honestly: “Search me, O God. Show me my hidden pride.”

Live with gratitude: Not entitlement, but awe.

Submit your will: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

You are favored—not because of what you have, but because you know you need Him.

> MINISTRY MOMENTS:

Are you having trouble believing that you are blessed by God?

PRAYER

The chorus tag majesty your grace Has found me just as i am empty handed but alive in your hand

the posture the poor in spirit

Let’s sing that part again

To encourage believers that they are favored by God, and that by His Spirit, they're called to walk in a way contrary to the ways of the world, and that we are called to humility, dependence upon God.

CLOSING

PRAYER