Matthew 5
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REMARKABLE INSIGHTS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT FROM THE GREEK LANGUAGE by Dr.Stanley Vasu
Matthew 5:1-5:9
REMARKABLE INSIGHTS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT FROM THE GREEK LANGUAGE
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THE BEATITUDES
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
INTRODUCTION
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The GREEK word for BLESSED is Makarios which means blessed , to be fully satisfied . In the New testament it indicates the state of the beleiver in Christ. He is indwelt by God because of Christ and as a result is fully satisfied. In the biblical sense , a blessed person is one whom God makes fully satisfied , not because of favourable circumstances , but because He indwells the beleiver through Christ . Makarios is the one who is in the world yet independent of the world: his satisfaction comes from God and not from favourable cirumstances.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The GREEK word for POOR is Ptochos which means poor and helpless ; one who in his abjectness needs lifting . One who has fallen from a better estate.His state is worse than the poor who can earn his bread by daily labour and who has the barest necessities. Ptochos is one who has nothing at all .
The GREEK word for SPIRIT is Pneuma which means the element in man by which he perceives , reflects , feels and desires.
The GREEK word for KINGDOM is Basileia which means King , Royal dominion .
Therefore when we realise our utter helplessness to have the right perception , right thoughts , right feelings and right desires in our own strength , we will become totally dependent on God and then God will rule over our lives and as a result we will experience total satisfaction and fulfillment in our lives . This is the blessing that Jesus wants us to experience.
2. Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
The GREEK word for MOURN is Pentheo which means mourning , to mourn , grieve , upon the death of a friend .
Isaiah 66:13
" As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
II Corinthians 1:3-4
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
Therefore when we lose someone whom we really love , we have a promise that the Lord Himself would comfort us and then we would be in a position to comfort others with the same comfort that we have received from God.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The GREEK word for MEEK is Praus which means meek and the GREEK word for MEEKNESS is Prautes which means meekness , expressed not in a man’s outward behaviour nor in his relations to his fellowman or his mere natural disposition , but expressed rather as an inwrought grace of the soul , first and chiefly directed toward God . That attitude of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist. It is the middle course in being angry , standing between two extremes, getting angry without reason and not getting angry at all . Therefore it is getting angry at the right time , in the right measure and for the right reason. It is a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness not in weakness but power . It is a virtue born in strength of character.
Therefore when we allow God to work in a hearts , we would develop a divine meekness which would enable us to accept the will of God in our lives cheerfully without resistance or murmuring. And we would also control our anger so that we get angry only at the right time , for the right reason and to the right extent. And we would also be gentle towards others , because of our great inner strength which helps us to endure many things without reacting violently.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The GREEK word for RIGHTEOUSNESS is Diakaiosune : It is the fulfillment of God’s claims .Righteousness is the state commanded by God and standing the test of His Judgement . It is conformity to all that He commands or appoints. Since God Himself is the standard of the beleiver , the righteousness of God means the righteousness which belongs to God or a God-like righteousness. The righteousness of God is the right which God has upon man. In order for man to recognise and fully submit to the right of God upon his life, he must receive God who offers Himself or His righteousness to man as a gift . Man in his natural , fallen , condition tends rather to accept his own set of standards , creating his own righteousness. Such behaviour , however , is not really righteousness and does not satisfy God . God’s righteousness is imputed and imparted as a gift to man but cannot be earned. It results in God’s act of justification of man by his faith through Christ. Man only needs to accept the claims of God upon his life and repent of his sin , receiving Christ as his saviour by faith, thus becoming a child of God. The result is the realization of God’s claims upon him by the miraculous regenerating action of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore we can receive God’s righteousness when we repent of our sins and receive God’s forgiveness and His Justification . The Lord gives us His robe of righteousness and we can rest assured that it would satisfy every requirement of God.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
The GREEK word for MERCIFUL is Eleemon which means Compassionate, benevolently merciful, involving thought and action .It gives expression to the love which is inherent in an individual and which finds its emphasis in the expression and power of that love , not merely being inspired by a need . It is not merely those who express acts of mercifulness, but who have this attribute as a result of the indwelling of God within them , being blessed because of Christ.
Matthew 6:1-4
"Be careful not to do your ’acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
I Corinthians 13:3
" If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Therefore when we have a genuine love and compassion in our hearts , we will express it towards those who need mercy and as a result we will experience mercy in our lives whenever we need it.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The GREEK word for PURE is Katharos which means in a spiritual sense, clean or pure , from the pollution or guilt of sin. Something that has been cleansed by shaking to and fro as in a seive or winnowing . It describes the purity contemplated under the aspect of that which is free from soil or stain.
The GREEK word for HEART is Kardia which comprises heart , thoughts , reasonings , understanding , will , judgement , designs, affections , love , hatred, fear ,joy , sorrow , anger , mind , intention , conscience.
Psalm 139:23-24
" Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Therefore when every area of our heart such as our thoughts , motives , decisions , plans , desires , conscience etc have been purified and all impurities and stains have been removed , we are in a position to receive a deep revelation of God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
The GREEK word for PEACE MAKERS is Eirenopolos which means the one who makes peace in others having first received the peace of God in his own heart , not simply one who makes peace between two parties .
The GREEK word for SONS is Hulos which primarily signifies the relation of offspring to parent and not simply the birth. It refers to those who show maturity acting as sons. It is used of Jesus as a manifestation of His relationship with the Father or the expression of His character.
Romans 5:1
" Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ "
John 14:27
" Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14: 8-9
"Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’? "
Therefore when we have peace with God and are in a right relationship with Him, we are in a position to help others receive that divine peace , then we would called the sons of God , the sons who are in close relationship with the Father and who have become like the Father in their character and nature . Thus all those who see us , can see the nature of the Father reflected in our lives.
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