Sermon on the Mount -01- Upside Down World

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

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

Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Intro.:

The Sermon on the Mount - ch’s 5-7 of Matt. There is a striking comparison to the giving of the Law of Moses:

Christ preached this sermon, which was an exposition of the law, upon a mountain, because upon a mountain the law was given; and this was also a solemn promulgation of the Christian law. But observe the difference: when the law was given, the Lord came down upon the mountain; now the Lord went up: then, he spoke in thunder and lightning; now, in a still small voice: then the people were ordered to keep their distance; now they are invited to draw near: a blessed change! If God’s grace and goodness are (as they certainly are) his glory, then the glory of the gospel is the glory that excels, for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, 2 Co. 3:7; Heb. 12:18, etc. It was foretold of Zebulun and Issachar, two of the tribes of Galilee (Deut. 33:19), that they shall call the people to the mountain; to this mountain we are called, to learn to offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Now was this the mountain of the Lord, where he taught us his ways, Isa. 2:2, 3; Mic. 4:1, 2. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary.)

I.   Looking Up when I’m Down

     A.  Blessing for the spiritually Needy

           1.  “Poor in Spirit” is a phrase used only here in the Bible.

           2.  Probably means “Spiritually Needy”

           3.  We don’t think our spiritual neediness is an asset. Jesus says it is! He says spiritual neediness is the stuff the Kingdom of Heaven is made out of!

     B.  Encouragement for those Grieving

           1.  At first glance, grieving seems out of place. Yet those who grieve often are reeling spiritually as well as emotionally.

           2.  Also, only those who love can grieve. In fact it is a cost of loving - a cost which, for some, is too high.

                 a.  We mourn or grieve for all those things we hold dear that are killed or die from lack of proper care.

                 b.  Not only at the loss of friends and family, but also values, justice, peace.

                 c.  And we grieve for the way we ourselves kill what we hold dear by off-handed remarks that cut too deep, but self-inflicted sins, by our acts of spiritual neglect.

           3.  Blessed or “happy” are those who grieve seems self-contradictory.

                 a.  We tend to think that running away from pain is the only way to be happy - but that never works.

                 b.  It is God who will wipe away the tears and give us the comfort we need.

           4.  Those who grieve have this promise: God will comfort them!

     C.  A promise for the Humble

           1.  Humble doesn’t get you much in day-to-day life — at least in terms of what most folks seem to be after (Nice guys finish last)

           2.  Meekness/humility means recognizing our lack of self-sufficiency.

                 a.  We hate that! We think dependence is always bad and independence is always good.

                 b.  But we also know it’s too true. We know we can’t make it alone and are tired of trying.

           3.  God will give the world to the truly humble.

II.  Hungry while I’m Giving

     A.  An Appetite for what’s right

           1.  When your out of the country, you can develop a real appetite for tater-tot casserole!

           2.  When you’ve tasted the goodness of God and the love in the fellowship of God’s people, it’s hard to like the local cuisine!

           3.  Too often we settle for less than God’s gourmet life of right living and fill up on the toxic recipes of the morally decomposed.

                 a.  We somehow think we can satisfy our hunger this way, but we can’t.

                 b.  Our hunger is for righteousness.

           4.  God promises a banquet, a spiritual pot-luck, for all the hungry.

     B.  Giving Forgiveness Compassion

           1.  The merciful, are those who, like God, give compassion generously, and with no strings. (They don’t say “After all I’ve done for you, you can’t even...”)

           2.  Even toward those who are merciless toward us.

           3.  Sometimes mercy/compassion requires tough love — to break a cycle of irresponsible behavior, e.g.

           4.  God promises mercy for all those who give mercy.

     C.  Single-Hearted devotion

           1.  “Pure in heart” doesn’t mean first of all mean unpolluted, but single-hearted.

           2.  If we’re single-hearted the polluting business will take care of itself!

           3.  Ask any Mom, things get dirty by simple contact with dirt. And the dirt doesn’t get cleaner by contact with clean stuff.

                 a.  With Jesus, this isn’t so. Jesus touch purifies - the lepers, and us. The pure in heart are those who have been touched by the purifying fingers of Jesus.

           4.  Those who have been so touched, and respond in single-hearted devotion have this promise — they shall meet the One who touched them face to face.

III. Bringing peace while I’m Suffering

     A.  Agitating for Peace

           1.  Peace-making is not a passive activity!

                 a.  Often it means stepping into harms way — physically or emotionally

           2.  The kingdom of heaven moves forward through the power of love, not strength of power.

                 a.  The peacemakers are those who have taken up the ministry of reconciliation.

                 b.  And those who preach the gospel of reconciliation with their mouths and their lives.

           3.  Those who convert swords into plowshares, show that they are “chips-off-the-old-block” i.e. they do what their Father does. They will be called his children.

     B.  Taking our Lumps

           1.  Standing up for what’s right can make you a target.

           2.  Not compromising our integrity has its cost.

                 a.  Some sacrifice integrity as a short-cut to happiness.

                 b.  It doesn’t produce any long-term gains (but sometimes gives short-term ones).

           3.  Sometimes standing up for what’s right gets us in trouble - but God, like what God promises the poor in spirit, God will give his kingdom for authentic followers.

     C.  In Good company

           1.  When things are tough, remember, this is what normally happens the spiritually strongest!

                 a.  There is blessing and reward in taking-it-on-the-chin for God’s cause.

           2.  When our authentic commitment to God results in hardship, remember, this happens to the best of us!

                 a.  But don’t worry, there will be great rewards for those who remain true to themselves, and true to God under pressure.

                 b.  The rewards are in heaven — which means we may not see any of it on this side of glory.

           3.  God promises the riches of heaven to those who suffer for His name.

The Bottom Line:

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