The Beattitudes

INTRODUCTION:

We have been studying Advent. The birth of Jesus as God took on flesh for us. Now we are fast forwarding to Jesus ministry as we being studying the sermon on the mount.

Jesus began His ministry in about 26AD.

We know from scripture Jesus was baptized and began His journey on the Passover of that year, which would have been the 15th day of Nisan (24th of March), which was a Sunday.

Scholars estimate that the Sermon on the Mount took place sometime in early 28AD, approximately 1 ½ to 2 years after Jesus was baptized.

Most of Jesus’ ministry of 3 ½ years that is recorded in the scriptures, takes place in 29 – 30 AD.

The Sermon on the Mount is considered to be the standard that Jesus set forth for Christian living.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew A. The Heart of a Kingdom Citizen (5:1–12)

Matthew is setting the stage for the first of five significant sermons (or discourses) by Jesus in his account. Matthew’s purpose is to present Jesus as the long-awaited king. Because the coming kingdom is so central to the book, he inserts the Sermon on the Mount up front. This is the king’s manifesto—his statement of the kingdom’s moral principles. These are the guiding principles of the king’s teaching, truths that he repeated many times

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5)

Being a master Teacher, our Lord did not begin this important sermon with a negative criticism of the scribes and Pharisees. He began with a positive emphasis on righteous character and the blessings that it brings to the life of the believer. The Pharisees taught that righteousness was an external thing, a matter of obeying rules and regulations. Righteousness could be measured by praying, giving, fasting, etc. In the Beatitudes and the pictures of the believer, Jesus described Christian character that flowed from within.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew A. The Heart of a Kingdom Citizen (5:1–12)

It amounts to a description of the character of those who are in the kingdom, servants of the king. Jesus always starts with the heart. These verses are progressive, following logically one after another, and they form something of an outline for the sermon in Matthew 5–7. Verses 3–5 deal with the individual’s heart personally, as does Matthew 5:13–20. Verse 6 deals with our genuine relationship with the Lord, as does Matthew 6. And verses 7–12 deal with our relationships with others—how we may impact them, and how they might relate to us—as does Matthew 7.

Matthew 5:1-12

Verses 1 – 12 are generally referred to as the Beatitudes.

5:1 – Jesus was giving the ‘New Law’, which came with the ‘New Covenant’ in His blood.

This new law was laid out for man, by God in the form of Christ, just as the Old law had been given from a mountain by God to man (Moses).

We see in the scripture that Jesus sat down before He taught, because this was the custom of the time.

The word “disciples” used in verse 1 here is literally translated to “learners”.

Later in this passage we will read that the crowds expressed amazement at Jesus’ teaching, so the scriptures are more than likely referring to a broader scope of “learners” than just the Twelve Apostles.

Remember by this time there were many followers, called disciples, and it was from them that Jesus had chosen the twelve to be apostles.

Check Your Heart

Matthew 5:3–5 ESV

“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.

A. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Blessed- to receive from an outward circumstance.

in this case is to receive joy from the Holy Spirit, A well-being which comes to those who share salvation in the Kingdom of God.

Poor in Spirit

is a contrast to the spiritually proud and self-sufficient. When we are self-sufficient, we rely on ourselves instead of God.

The Kingdom of Heaven

It is not earned, but given to those who are humble and not prideful in their spirit. It is a gift. The Kingdom of Heaven becomes our Kingdom and Christ our King when we receive our Salvation.

B. Blessed are those who mourn, for the will be comforted

The blessing here is comfort in times of mourning.

Why do we mourn?

For the moral decay outside of the Kingdom of Heaven (and for our personal sin) which we do not realize until we are adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our hearts should be bothered by the depravity of the lost and the contamination of the saved.

C. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth

This term “meek” is taken from Psalm 37:11 –

Psalm 37:11 ESV

But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

When will those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven inherit the earth? During the thousand-year reign of Christ, where we will enjoy great peace!

Meek – is not referring to our attitude toward people as much as our disposition before God. To be humble…

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The NEW EARTH is our promised land of the New Covenant! Just as the Israelites had their promised land in the Old Testament.

Check Your Relationship with God

Matthew 5:6 ESV

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

A child of God should have a hunger for the things of God. We hunger and thirst for righteousness within ourselves.

Jesus told the Samaritan Woman, “drink of this water and your thirst will be quenched, you shall thirst no more!” This comes by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

We hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness in our lives, in our behavior, actions and words. This only comes by God’s Spirit.

BUT…to be filled, we must first be emptied. We must empty ourselves of our self-worth. Becoming an empty, humble vessel for God’s Holy Spirit to work in us, and through us.

For what do we crave?

righteousness-

Right standing before God

Righteous because of Chrst

His righteousness is given to us

We put on His righteousness like putting on clothes

It surrounds is and is what is on display

We are declared righteous by God

Right living with God

another aspect deals with holy living.

We are called, even commanded, to walk in righteousness.

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

May our prayer be that of the Psalmist in

Psalm 119:10 ESV

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

Check Your Relationships with Others

Matthew 5:7–12 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive 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 those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These verses focus our attention on how we interact with others.

A. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy

Mercy- not getting the punishment we deserve.

Our sins are forgiven, all punishment went to Christ.

We are challenged here to be merciful to others.

“Forgive our sins, as we forgive others sins…” Matthew 6:12

To obtain mercy from God, we must show mercy.

We should be swift to forgive others and show mercy.

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

The heart is the center of your being; it is your mind, will and emotions.

From the overflow of your heart, your mouth will speak. Matthew 12:34

Matthew 12:34 ESV

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

We receive a NEW NATURE when we become children of God.

Salvation and the Holy Spirit make us a NEW CREATION; a NEW CREATURE for the old has passed away!

The Holy Spirit renews our hearts.

We are judged by our hearts, for only God knows the heart and intent of man.

God gives us pure and noble motivations.

If our motivations are pure, if we have emptied ourselves and allowed God’s Holy Spirit to fill us, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He has given us a pure heart, and we shall see God!

Not just when we go to heaven…

We can see God manifest Himself in our lives today!

See the power of God working and answered prayers and all of the benefits, protection and promises of the Lord in our life! We shall see God.

See God as our walk demonstrates His love for others.

C. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God

Peacemakers – those who promote peace.

In our society, it isn’t hard to find trouble makers.

People look at and analyze every word and gesture.

Look at how the political parties act toward each other.

every word and gesture is ascribed with hidden meaning.

Supposedly they are signalling dark and secret groups to give hidden meanings.

Doesn’t that sound ridiculous!

That sure doesn’t sound like peacemakers.

In doing so they reflect the Character of God, which is what we, as the children of God, the Body of Christ are supposed to do here on earth as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

We are to show God’s character to the world. We represent the Kingdom and all of its glory!

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

D. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Persecuted? I thought everything was going to go my way when I got saved?

This verse Jesus gives says basically this – If you belong to the Kingdom of Heaven… (Saved Christians, here on earth right now), you WILL be persecuted because of the Character of God the Holy Spirit will display in your life (spiritual fruits), righteousness.

The scriptures do not promise a perfect care free life when we belong to the Lord, but that there will be trials and tribulation. But He promises never to leave us nor forsake us!!!

Jesus ends the Beatitudes with the following;

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The prophets were persecuted, the disciples were persecuted, the Apostles were persecuted, and we will face it.

John 15:18–19 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

So REJOICE and BE GLAD! For Christ has called you out of the World!

Not being happy that we suffer, but recognize the cause.

You no longer belong to the world and it shows!

You (those who have accepted Jesus) belong to Him, and He loves you as His own!

You are shining the light of His love and glory in the world.

Conclusion:

Jesus calls us to a check up.

Check Your Heart

Check Your Relationship with God

Check Your Relationship to Others