The Upward Path

Traffic last week. I was cut off by a car who was obviously in a hurry and too impatient. I watched him then cut off another person in the right lane as he thought that lane was now moving faster. I continued to watch him and paced myself to see whether I would arrive at my exit ahead or behind him.

Perhaps that’s a strange example here, but we may do that all the time without really knowing it. Is there someone in your life who you secretly compete with? Do you like to see some people fail?

“Tall poppy effect”.

Kingdom people treat others differently.

Matthew 5:3–12 NIV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The first four beatitudes reveal our relationship with God.

we are poor in spirit, we mourn, we are meek.

Now we move into our relationship with others.

How we treat others is an honest indicator of how we see God’s treatment of us.

Big Idea: Kingdom people act towards others the way God acts toward us.

in this way we are able to gauge the authenticity of our faith and the health of our spiritual lives.

1. Blessed are the merciful.

they will receive mercy

Mercy is compassion in action.

Mercy is seen in the parable of the good Samaritan. It was not the “righteous” religious leaders who showed mercy. It was the one who had compassion on the man who was beaten and robbed.

meciful people have been shown mercy.

There is a direct tie between how God treats us and how we treat others. If we do not show mercy to the weak, the displaced, the underachiever, the poor, the lost - it is an indication that we do not understand or may have ever truly received the mercy of God.

2. Blessed are the pure in heart.

they will see God

Have you seen those videos of color-blind people who have been given color corrective glasses so that they are able to see in true colors? That is an image of the joy of seeing God through the lens of purity of heart.

Purity has to do with an internal characteristic.

Psalm 24:3–4 NIV

3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

psa 24:

Jesus called the Pharisees “white washed tombs”. That is, they were clean on the outside, but full of death on the insides.

purity of thought, purity of devotion, purity of motives.

Heart = mind, emotions, will.

Is this humanly possible? No. But the grace and mercy of God breaks into our desperate condition and rescues us.

They will see God.

Impurities stand in the way of really seeing clearly.

To really see God, seek a pure heart.

be honest with God about your spiritual condition

acknowledge that only God can purify your heart

fill yourself with God’s Word

look forward with hope to your eternity.

1 John 3:2–3 NIV

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

1 John 3:2–3 NIV

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

3. Blessed are the peacemakers.

they will be called children of God

Those who have peace with God extend peace to others.

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, it is the extending of God’s grace and covenant relationship with others.

wholeness, well-being

makers suggests an active peace. It is a vibrant word, full of energy.

Peace-Takers

There are peace - takers. They rob people of peace. they are violent, vindictive, and merciless.

Peace-Fakers

there are peace - fakers. They avoid all conflict and hope that it goes away on its own. They absorb wrongs and don’t fight back. But they never forget, never forgive. The poison of revenge is always on their heart.

It comes out in a myriad of ways.

It doesn’t usually come out through our hands where we actively do things to harm others. It most often comes out through our mouths.

how are you? Fine.

niceness but not genuine friendship

gossip

Peace-Makers

honest about the true status of peace

willing to risk pain in pursuit of peace

Anatomy of a Peace-Maker

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hate, may I bring love;

Where offense, may I bring pardon;

May I bring union in place of discord.

Conclusion: Blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness

theirs in the kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:11–12 NIV

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The path is not easy. But it is rewarding.

the path of mercy is not easy. We must give up revenge and take on compassion in action.

the path of purity is not easy. We must give up our flesh and seek the heart of God.

the path of peace is not easy. We must give up peace-taking and peace-taking and risk much in order to extend the grace and well-being to others who have harmed us.

The kingdom life is not easy - but great is your reward in heaven.

There is another kingdom and there lays your reward.

Preaching the Word: Sermon on the Mount—The Message of the Kingdom What a Peacemaker is

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hate, may I bring love;

Where offense, may I bring pardon;

May I bring union in place of discord.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hate, may I bring love;

Where offense, may I bring pardon;

May I bring union in place of discord.

(St. Francis of Assissi)