The Better Attitudes

Pericopes and Attitudes

Pericopes

Some passages of scripture are either so important or so popular that they have their own name, usually you’ll find them in the pericopes.

The Proto Evangelium

The Abrahamic Covenant

The Burning Bush Passage (Lk.20:37)

The Magnificat

The Sermon on the Mount

The Golden Rule

The Lord’s Prayer

The Beattitudes

Pericopes are helpful but not inspired. I’m not sure about the Beattitudes…I don’t know what a beattitude is. Maybe it’s an attitude of being.

Attitudes

The name I like better is the Better Attitudes. In my opinion, that is clearer. But better is comparative, so it begs the question, “better than what?” To which I would reply “better than our normal attitude.”

Some Context, 5:1-2

Matthew 5:1–2 NKJV

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Setting

This section is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew provides a brief but instructive description of the setting.

All of the Better Attitudes were given to Jesus’ disciples and promise blessing to them

All of the Better Attitudes have an immediate application for Jesus’ followers

Most of the Better Attitudes have a futuristic component that is really a delayed gratification

Some of the Better Attitudes have an immediate application for anyone and everyone, though they are less promissory for those who are cashing them in now.

Blessed

9 times in this short passage the word blessed appears.

The underlying word means large or lengthy. To be blessed is to be made large or made longer. It implies an enlarged and/or lengthened life that is thus seen to be happy.

Some Better Attitudes

Poor in spirit, 3

Matthew 5:3 NKJV

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

Not poor, despite what some academics claim, there in nobility in poverty. Poor in spirit is the attitude of dependence regardless of circumstance. If we are not fully self-reliant, we can see our need of a Savior who will cause us the inherit the kingdom.

People who know they need other people will find greater resources than they would have alone.

Mourn, 4

Matthew 5:4 NKJV

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

As much as we don’t like whatever may cause mourning, we do like being comforted. You will not have the latter without the former. This works for everyone.

Meekness, 5

Matthew 5:5 NKJV

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

The word meek gets a bad rap. We see the word meek but we often read the word weak.

Meekness is strength under control. That is a truly potent combination!

Hunger, 6

Matthew 5:6 NKJV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

How many times have you heard a sports commentator describe an athlete as hungry? Hunger drives us and motivates to pursue and satisfy our hunger.

For Jesus’ followers the thing we should hunger for is righteousness. If we do and if that motivates us, we will attain a degree of righteousness.

Mercy, 7

Matthew 5:7 NKJV

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

This seems obvious in a “religious” text. But mercy was not a desirable quality in the Roman world. Romans were obsessed with honor and glory…won through victory. This made them highly competitive and essentially warmongers. Roman culture had spread through the empire.

The reality is we all need mercy and the path to getting it is the path of giving it.

Purity, 8

Matthew 5:8 NKJV

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

The filth of our world and our own imaginations and desires obscures God. It is only by eliminating that clutter that we can see Him.

Peacemakers, 9

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Not through force but through influence

Trust, 10 and 11-12

Matthew 5:10 NKJV

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

Matthew 5:11–12 NKJV

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Persecution (hostility and being driven away) is no joke and it is not something any of us wants. But it is something many of us will get to varying degrees. We need to trust God with the outcome.

revile = reproach, to be spoken ill of

persecute = to be driven away, the idea being driven out of acceptable society

Those who are persecuted for Jesus will enjoy the kingdom with Him. They will receive great reward in the next life and enjoy great company in this life.

Conclusion

These attitudes are different than most people would espouse. But Jesus is not most people. He was different and He was about to explain just how different His followers were to be. These better attitudes set the bar high and they are just the introduction to what Jesus expects of His follower.