The Standards of Christ’s Kingdom!
The Sermon on the Mount Series • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction – The once mighty Napoleon is reported to have made this statement: “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but on what foundation did we rest the creatures of our genius? Upon force. But Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour, millions of persons would die for Him.
“I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth to become food for the worms. Such is the fate of him who has been called the ‘great Napoleon.’ What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, adored and is still existing over the whole earth.”[1]
Set the scene…
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them,
And what He taught, was earth shattering!
He was unequivocally claiming to be Messiah, King of the Kingdom for which every Jew had longed for centuries!
Here was the King, on a Galilean hillside near Capernaum, teaching His disciples what His Kingdom is like and as subjects of the Kingdom what they were to be like!
Of course there were others present who were not yet part of His Kingdom, but this address was specifically for His disciples. And I believe specifically for those of us here today that claim allegiance to the King of kings!
In Jesus clearly lays out what it takes to be part of His Kingdom. I call it…
The Standards of Christ’s Kingdom - There are eight STANDARDS in these verses that I would like to draw your attention to this morning…
Please remember, if you name Jesus as your King, each of these MUST be true of you or you have NO part in His Kingdom! In His own words, Jesus said, “You are either for me or against me.”
1. The King’s Subject must be DESTITUTE (5:3)
Not DESTITUTE in the financial sense. Although the Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Luke do use the term poor only. Here Jesus is clear about the poverty He means…
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Before we discuss this I would like you to notice the term “Blessed” which means “happy, fortunate, and blissful.” However, we must understand this term with the undertone that I believe Jesus intended as He spoke to the faithful.
“Blessed” - “The divinely-bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful” (John MacArthur)
Here is how I would define “Blessed” - A deep, abiding joy based not on one’s circumstance but on the God of the circumstances.
So, for each Beatitude a blessing is PROMISED for a STANDARD lived.
And the STANDARD here is the Subject/Disciple must be DESTITUTE -“the poor in spirit”.
This is not feeling sorry for one’s self…
Arthur Pink - What is poverty of spirit? It is the opposite of that haughty, self-assertive, and self-sufficient disposition that the world so much admires and praises. It is the very reverse of that independent and defiant attitude that refuses to bow to God, that determines to brave things out, and that says with Pharaoh, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” (). To be poor in spirit is to realize that I have nothing, am nothing, and can do nothing, and have need of all things. Poverty of spirit is evident in a person when he is brought into the dust before God to acknowledge his utter helplessness. It is the first experiential evidence of a Divine work of grace within the soul, and corresponds to the initial awakening of the prodigal in the far country when he “began to be in want” ().[2]
Do you see what “Poor in Spirit” is? It is, in part that time when you come to grips that you are spiritually bankrupt! You have nothing to offer! You are dead in your sin and destined to spend eternity in Hell. It is when you feel the holy hand of God pressing upon you.
But it isn’t simply that one point in time. For the disciple, the subject of Christ’s Kingdom, it is a continual reminder that if it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy, I would be lost, lost, lost! How dare I ever be arrogant! Ever! What do I have to offer the King? Nothing, so I MUST be poor in Spirit!
(ESV)
2 All these things my hand has made,
2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
Are you poor in Spirit? Then the Kingdom of God is yours NOW, present tense! Starting in your heart and culminating with Christ’s literal, future rule on this earth!
2. The King’s Subject must be BROKEN (5:4)
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
The fact is we are all broken and in desperate need of repair. Some of us simply refuse to see it! However, when we come to terms with our sin it breaks our hearts…
- For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
You see, the weight of our sin should break us and cause us to lament our very life. We should be like Isaiah when confronted with the holiness of God
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
We should be disgusted by our sin, not revel in it!
Repulsed by our transgressions, not enthralled with them!
We should sound like Paul when it comes to our sin!
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
By the way, Paul was a seasoned Christian when he penned those words…
And like Paul, we must continue to MOURN over our sin!
The unbelief that creeps into our hearts over time!
The barrenness we allow to overtake our soul
Our lack of communication with our God who has done everything possible to communicate with us!
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it! Prone to leave the God I love!
You see – What Jesus is saying here is simply this…His Subjects must live a life of continual repentance. You must keep your sin-list with God short and NEVER, NEVER grow accustom to and comfortable with sin! Your sin or the sin around us!
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
The promise Jesus gives is clear…comfort…sometimes in the short term, but guaranteed for the long term!
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Are you BROKEN by your sin? Let Christ comfort you!
3. The King’s Subject must be COMPLIANT (5:5)
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Meekness is not weakness
John MacArthur - Meekness is the opposite of being out of control. It is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit (cf. ).
Another word for meek is gentle.
It is that quality of spirit that is found in one who has been schooled to mildness by discipline and suffering and brought into sweet resignation to the will of God. When in exercise, it is that grace in the believer that causes him to bear patiently insults and injuries, that makes him ready to be instructed and admonished by the least eminent of saints, that leads him to esteem others more highly than himself (), and that teaches him to ascribe all that is good in himself to the sovereign grace of God. (AW Pink)
It is the picture of a strapping, muscle bound man who holds a tiny, helpless infant in his arms. He has the power to crush and destroy, but instead he gently cradles the babe with great care. That is meekness!
And that is what the Subject of Christ’s Kingdom is, meek, under control.
My words have the power to hurt or heal…
My actions have the ability to injure or encourage…
If you are truly “Poor in Spirit”
If you are genuinely “mournful over your sin”
You will be meek and you will inherit the earth.
Leon Morris said it this way, “In the end it is the meek (the content, those who put others first), not the self-assertive, who will have a place in God’s Kingdom.
The King’s Subject must be COMPLIANT
4. The King’s Subject must be NEEDY (5:6)
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
We live in a needy culture…
I need a new house, I need a new car, I need this, I need that!
As a Subject of the kingdom, there is something I need, I need to be filled with righteousness! I need to hunger and thirst for it.
How does this Hunger and thirst become satisfied?
In Salvation, Christ imputes/assigns His righteousness to me…
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
(ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,
(ESV)
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
(ESV)
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
(ESV)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
And therein lies the problem for the unbeliever, they have no righteousness of their own…and in desperate need of Christ’s
And therein lies the problem for the unbeliever, they have no righteousness of their own…and in desperate need of Christ’s.
(ESV)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Prior to salvation we are desperately needy! But our need doesn’t end there!
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
In Sanctification, the Holy Spirit conforms me to the image of Christ.
(ESV)
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We yearn to be more like him! We long to know Him and the power of His resurrection. Just like our physical hunger and thirst are perpetual in this life, so our desire for His righteousness continue to gnaw at our spiritual appetites
(ESV)
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
When we do, then will we be eternally satisfied!
5. The King’s Subject must be MERCIFUL (5:7)
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Do you love mercy? Mercy is withholding of punishment that you deserve.
Mercy is love for those in misery and a forgiving spirit toward the sinner. It embraces both the kindly feeling and the kindly act. (William Hendricksen)
So, do you love mercy?
The Subject of Christ’s Kingdom has an intimate understanding of mercy. They get it! Their account with God was so great there was no way they could pay the enormous debt owed! All they could do, all I could do was fall down before Him and hope for Mercy! And He gave it RICHLY! Liberally!
How then could a disciple of Christ withhold mercy from another? They shouldn’t, they can’t! It is forbidden by God. In fact it is a barometer of whether you are a believer or not.
15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(ESV) 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Look back at verse 7 - Inherent in the promise Jesus makes is continued mercy for those who give it out.
The King’s Subject must be MERCIFUL
6. The King’s Subject must be UNTAINTED (5:8)
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
How is that possible when the Scriptures are clear that there are “none righteous, no not one”? How could Jesus say “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Is this not a conundrum? Is this not a paradox? No, not at all, for all things are possible with God.
He gives His Subjects a spiritual heart transplant!
(ESV) 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
He cleanses His Disciples and gives us the propensity for purity!
(ESV) 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
You can be pure! You can say no to sin! You can be whole!
What is purity? It is freedom from defilement and divided affections; it is sincerity, genuineness, and singleness of heart. As a quality of Christian character, we would define it as godly simplicity. It is the opposite of subtlety and duplicity. Genuine Christianity lays aside not only malice, but guile and hypocrisy also. It is not enough to be pure in words and in outward deportment. Purity of desires, motives, and intents is what should (and does in the main) characterize the child of God. Here, then, is a most important test for every professing Christian to apply to himself. Are my affections set upon things above? Are my motives pure? Why do I assemble with the Lord’s people? Is it to be seen of men, or is it to meet with the Lord and to enjoy sweet communion with Him and His people? (AW Pink)
Think about this, when I am pure of heart I can see God! Yes dimly as with veiled face, but I can see Him in His Word!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
But one day we will see! Clearly! Face to face!
When I in righteousness at last
Thy glorious face shall see,
When all the weary night is past
And I awake with thee,
To view the glories that abide,
Then, then shall I be satisfied.
(F. F. Bullard, based on )[3]
7. The King’s Subject must be a RECONCILER (5:9)
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
If anyone should understand the plight of the unbeliever, it should be a Disciple of Christ.
(ESV)
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
(ESV)
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
(ESV)
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
(ESV)
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
(ESV)
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We are no more like God than when we help people make peace with God…in fact Jesus refers to Peacemakers as Sons of God!
8. The King’s Subject will be PERSECUTED (5:10–12)
Persecution of believers has been a long standing tradition!
Cain slew Abel…
Joseph was persecuted by his brethren, and down in Egypt he was cast into prison for righteousness’ sake…
Moses was reviled again and again…
Samuel was rejected ()…
Elijah was despised () and persecuted ()…
Micaiah was hated ()...
Isaiah reportedly sawn in two…
Jeremiah abused…
Nehemiah was oppressed and defamed (). Jesus Himself, the faithful Witness of God, was put to death by the people to whom He ministered…
Stephen was stoned…
Peter and John cast into prison…
James beheaded…
The Apostle Paul’s Christian life and ministry was one long series of bitter and relentless persecutions.[4]
Modern day persecution!
(ESV)
19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
But look what our King says…
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Three kinds of Persecution…
· Reviling – verbal abuse
· Persecution – to pursue, to harass, trouble, or molest (e.g. Saul of Tarsus)
· Slander/Defamation of Character
Our response? Vs. 12 - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The imperative that is added to “rejoice” has been well rendered by A.V.: “be exceeding glad”; Phillips: “be tremendously glad”; and Williams, “keep on … leaping for ecstasy.”
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
- “rejoicing greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory”
Why?
· Christ Suffered, we should count it joy to suffer for Him…
· Great company -
· Great Reward –
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Conclusion – What His Subjects are called to be – Don’t miss this in verses 13-16
· To function as the salt of the earth (5:13)
· To function as the light of the world (5:14–16): Their light and good deeds shine for all.
I would submit to you that if you are living out the standard set in verses 3-12, you can’t help but be Salt and Light!
Talk about a counter cultural way of life! Jesus’ Kingdom is upside down!
· Poor in Spirit – Self esteem
· Mourn about sin – Celebrate sin!
· Meekness / Gentleness – Must be number one!
· Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness – Who needs righteousness?
· Full of Mercy – Prosecute everyone! (except me)
· Pure of heart – Revel in impurity!
· Peacemaker – Demand my way
· Persecuted – Comfortable
If we simply make it our goal to live out the standards of Christ’s Kingdom, what would Grand Haven look like in five years?
During World War II, the Dutch royal family fled to Canada and lived in the capitol, Ottawa. There, Princess Juliana, who would later become Queen, gave birth to Princess Margaret.
But Dutch royalty had to be born on Dutch soil, and so through an act of Parliament, the Canadian government declared the hospital room was on Dutch soil so it could be said the princess was born on Dutch territory.
We are all citizens of the kingdom of Heaven. Among our duties is the obligation to bring a bit of that kingdom to this world.
[1] Herschel H. Hobbs, My Favorite Illustrations (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1990). 113.
[2] Arthur Walkington Pink, The Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer (Bellingham, WA.: Logos Research System, Inc., 2005). 16.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001). 278.
[4] Arthur Walkington Pink, The Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer (Bellingham, WA.: Logos Research System, Inc., 2005). 58.
Connection Group / Reflection Questions
What stands out to you from this passage or the sermon?
Review each of the “Standards of the Kingdom” and identify which one is most surprising to you. Which one is the most challenging?
If we are in Christ, why do we even need to worry about His “standards”?
Jesus is our King and we are His subjects. How does this thought change the way we live our lives?