The Attributes God Blesses

I. Introduction

a.) Context of the Message (What has been going on?)

Jesus calls his disciples and begins to teach and heal…many are drawn to Him and begin to follow Him. Jesus calls his disciples, he begins to teach and to heal…many are drawn to Him. Seeing the crowds Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and begins to teach.

b.) Context of the Message (What has Christ been teaching?)

In the sermon on the mount Christ begins to expand on His earlier teaching.

- In Matthew 4:17 we see part of what Christ had been teaching. Just as John the Baptist had, Jesus was calling for repentance; because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repentance; a turning away from what they were thinking, following, doing. A turning towards something new.

- Jesus was calling people to follow Him; to follow Him in a way of life that was on a higher level than what they knew.

- Having confessed their sin, the disciples of Christ have begun to follow Him. They are looking to Him to guide them…to show them what it will look like to be a citizen of the coming kingdom. Jesus is about to reveal to them what it looks like to be a citizen in the kingdom of God

(Read the Passage) (Open in Prayer)

c.) How to respond to the Beatitudes

As we work through this list of attributes that God blesses what should we be asking ourselves and how should we respond.

- Reflect: Firstly, do I see this attribute or quality in my own life?

- Rejoice: Give thanks if you see these attributes in your life…it shows the power and work of God in your life…praise Him for these things!

- Cultivate: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who works in you.” (Philippians 2:12-13) The principle here is we have our own part to play in the work that God is doing. We need to cultivate these attributes or “marks of a Christian.”

II. Relating to God with Humility (v.3-6)

a.) Blessed are the poor in spirit

- It is natural to think we have it all together. We generally think highly of ourselves, which is why it is a mark that God is working in us when we begin to realise, we are not rich in spirituality; we are poor.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

(1Co 1:26-27)

b.) Blessed are those who mourn

- Why would those blessed by God mourn? Why is it a mark of a Christian to mourn? I would suggest it is because we begin to grasp our sin and the horror of it. The more we study scripture, the more we understand of its truth…the more it ought to cause us to mourn. As we read of God’s undying love, of His eternal faithfulness, and of our countless, short fallings, our spitting in His face, our disregard for His authority…our sin and its effects ought to bring us to tears…does it? Does you sin cause you to mourn…your weakness lead you to grief…or are we unmoved by our sin.

(Psalm 31:9-10) Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

(James 4:8-9) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

c.) Blessed are the meek (the humble)

- It is a mark of the Christian to be humble. To not think too highly of themselves, to not boast; even when strong (Christ’s example of humility in Philippians 2)

d.) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

- This really builds on the last three. God creates in us an understanding of our spiritual bankruptcy, He leads us to mourn over our sin, and to recognize that we have little cause for boasting or pride. Then he shows us righteousness; and grows in us a hunger and thirst for it that is at times beyond words.

III. A Christians Relationship with Others (v.7-11)

a.) Blessed are the merciful

- God blesses those who show mercy. Those who offer forgiveness and kindness when it is not deserved.

- Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

(1Pe 3:8-9)

b.) Blessed are the pure in heart

- This speaks of moral purity, of the absence of filth or evil. It also speaks of holiness; being set apart. It looks like having a singular aim and purpose. Set apart for God’s use; Obedient to God’s authority; Captive to God’s leading. A heart that is pure in it’s focus and devotion and yearning for the one who made it.

- (Psalm 24:1-4) The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

c.) Blessed are the peacemakers

- God blesses those who do not respond in aggression to others but seek to make peace. Sometimes peace is achieved by not demanding you are treated fairly…it often takes sacrifice, relinquishing what you think you deserve.

- (Romans 12:16-18) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

d.) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake

- The world rejects the idea of mercy; it calls purity and a single minded focus on God intolerance and closed-mindedness. The world rejects peace. If we follow Christ and God begins to build up these qualities in our lives the world will begin to reject us as well.

- (John 15:18-19) “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.

IV. Conclusion

- So why follow Christ? You may have noticed I didn’t cover parts of the verses…the blessings that will be enjoyed by those who are described in these verses.

- Reflect, Rejoice, Cultivate