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The Norms of the Kingdom
The Beatitudes
First, some observations...
the word “beatitude” is a rough transliteration of the Latin beatus, meaning blessed
B
What About Suffering?
Although some modern translations prefer “happy” to “blessed,” it is a poor exchange.
Those who are blessed will generally be profoundly happy; but blessedness cannot be reduced to happiness.
Since this is God’s universe there can be no higher “blessing” than to be approved by God.
We must ask ourselves whose blessing we diligently seek.
If God’s blessing means more to us than the approval of loved ones no matter how cherished, or of friends no matter how influential, then the beatitudes will speak to us very personally and deeply.
Another observation is that the blessings promised grow naturally (rather, supernaturally) out of the nature of the character trait described
I.e.
hungering/thirsty after righteousness = filled with righteousness; merciful = shown mercy
What About Suffering?
Not arbitrary… You literally reap what you sow.
Finally, we need to notice that two of the beatitudes promise the same reward.
The first beatitude reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3).
The last one says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:10).
To begin and end with the same expression is a stylistic device called an “inclusio.”
This means that everything bracketed between the two can really be included under the one theme, in this case, the kingdom of heaven.
That is why I have called the beatitudes, collectively, “The Norms of the Kingdom.”
First: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3).
we need to notice that two of the beatitudes promise the same reward.
The first beatitude reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3).
The last one says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:10).
To begin and end with the same expression is a stylistic device called an “inclusio.”
This means that everything bracketed between the two can really be included under the one theme, in this case, the kingdom of heaven.
That is why I have called the beatitudes, collectively, “The Norms of the Kingdom.”
What is poverty of spirit?
It is not being poor financially
It is not being poor spiritually-speaking
Blessed are the carnal and willfully sinful?
No.
The wages of sin is death
Hebrew words for “poor” can also mean “lowly,” or “humble”
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Hebrew words for “poor” can also mean “lowly,” or “humble”
Poverty of spirit is YOU realizing your own spiritual bankruptcy.
It is as simple as a silent, conscious agreement of unworth before God.
As such, it is the deepest form of repentance.
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
It is not a confession that your are worthless, insignificant, or personally without value, for such would be untrue;
Poverty of spirit cannot be artificially induced by self-hatred.
This is also a form of pride (the other side of the ditch) because it makes everything all about you.
it is, rather, a confession that you are sinful and rebellious and utterly without moral virtues adequate to be one with God.
Simply, you humbly realize that you fall short of God’s standard.
At the very beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, we learn that we do not have the spiritual resources to put any of the Sermon’s precepts into practice.
We cannot fulfill God’s standards ourselves.
We must come to him and acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy, emptying ourselves of our self-righteousness, moral self-esteem, and personal vainglory.
Emptied of these things we are ready for him to fill us.
Much of the rest of the Sermon on the Mount is designed to remove these self-delusions from us, and foster within us a genuine poverty of spirit.
The genuineness and depth of this repentance is a prime requirement for entering into life.
Second: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (5:4).
This verse follows naturally from the first one we just saw.
Mournfulness can be understood as the emotional counterpart to poverty of spirit.
Once you realize and admit your spiritual bankruptcy, what natural emotion would follow?
Mourning.
This mourning is your personal grief over your personal sin.
This is the mourning experienced by a man who begins to recognize the filthiness of his sin, the more he is exposed to the purity of God.
But he will be comforted!
There is no comfort or joy that can compare with what God gives to those who mourn.
Third: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (5:5).
Meekness has been called weakness – this is NOT true.
Rather, meekness is strength/power under control
Moses was meek.
Jesus was meek.
Nobody would call these men weak men.
Jesus was not weak, but he was meek
How does meekness differ from poverty of spirit?
In this way, I think: Poverty of spirit has to do with a person’s assessment of himself, especially with respect to God, while meekness has more to do with his relationship with God and with men.
the first is a personal, inward thing
This is relational, toward others
Meekness is a controlled desire to see the other’s interests advance ahead of one’s own.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The man who is truly meek is the one who is amazed that God and man can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.…
Meekness has been called weakness – this is NOT true.
Rather, meekness is strength/power under control
Moses was meek.
Jesus was meek.
Nobody would call these men weak men.
Moses – Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.
Jesus – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The meek inherit the earth!
So deferring to and preferring the needs others above your own?
This is so counter-cultural.
In our culture, little sharks get eaten by bigger sharks.
Ever seen Shark Tank?
Only the ruthless go-getters advance, right?
Not in God’s kingdom.
Fourth: “Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (5:6)
The pursuit of righteousness is not popular even among professing Christians.
Many today are prepared to seek other things: spiritual maturity, real happiness, the Spirit’s power, effective witnessing skills.
Other people chase from preacher to preacher and conference to conference seeking some vague “blessing” from on high.
They hunger for some sort of spiritual experience.
But how many hunger and thirst for righteousness?
What is this righteousness which we should pursue?
“righteousness” here (and also in verses 10 and 20) means a pattern of life in conformity to God’s will.
The person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, then, hungers and thirsts for conformity to God’s will.
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