The Beatitudes| Sermon on the mount

The Beatitudes| Sermon on the mount

Matt 5:3-12

Introduction:

Jesus has just called his disciples and is beginning his ministry. Jesus is teaching how we as believers and members of the kingdom of heaven are to live. Through out the book of Matthew, Jesus uses parables and other examples to teach us how to live. Each verse starts with the phrase “Blessed are” and then gives a specific definition of who is “Blessed”. And then ends with what the “Blessing” is.

The Breakdown:

Each verse has 2 parts.

The “ATTITUDE” - The way you should live.

The “BLESSING” - The blessing for having this attitude.

Verse 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Attitude - the poor in spirit.

The “poor in spirit” is not about wealth or anything material. Its about being desperate

The word poor (pto-khos) means beggar.

We are to live with the attitude that we are totally dependent on God.

We must understand that our condition as sinful people can only be rectified by the love, grace and mercy of God thru the power of Jesus’s resurrection.

Blessing - possession of the “Kingdom of Heaven”

Jesus made the declaration, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”

The Jews understood the term “Kingdom of God” from the preaching of John the Baptist.

The Kingdom of God is the where we find ourselves when we live with the attitude of dependency on God and understand our need to be restored back to Him through Jesus.

Verse 4: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Attitude - mourning.

Mourning (pen-theh´-o) - to grieve.

The Jewish people had every reason to mourn due the oppression they were under. Jesus uses this to show how we need to mourn for the state of our lives not our situations and circumstances.

We have offended God and that is the attitude we should mourn from.

Mourn for the church, other believers, the worlds lost condition.

Blessing - comfort.

We may suffer now, but its not in vain.

Comfort will come when your attitude of mourning is correct.

Comfort (par-ak-al-eh´-o) to call near, i.e. invite

Have the attitude of mourning and God draws you close to Him.

Verse 5: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Attitude - meek/humble

Being meek means that you think of other more than you think of yourself, not thinking less of yourself.

God requires our humility. He has from the beginning. Lev 23:26-29

Blessing - will inherit the earth.

Psa 37:1-11

Don’t think that the rich and powerful that will rule for too much longer. The earth is your inheritance, but only after you have an attitude of humility.

Verse 6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Attitude - a desire for righteousness.

This verse uses the word (dik-ah-yos-oo´-nay) root(dik´-ah-yos)- innocent.

Your attitude should be a desire to be innocent in the sight of God. You should be longing for a pure connection with God.

Blessing - to be filled with righteousness.

Understand that righteous can only come from God.

You can only be righteous when God makes you righteous.

You cant work for it, it is a gift.

Verse 7: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Attitude - merciful

Compassion for others is what God requires.

It is sorrow at the suffering of a fellow-creature, rational or irrational; and, along with that sorrow, an earnest desire, if possible, to relieve it.1

1 Exell, J. S. (1952). The Biblical Illustrator: Matthew (p. 53). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

(PS 40:11) God doesn't withhold His compassion from us.

The more mercy and compassion you show others the more you resemble God.

Blessing - mercy is the reward of mercy.

Verse 8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Attitude - Purity of heart.

Pure or clean was a word that the Jewish people would have understood.

Your heart must be clean. A clean heart will cause you to do right in every situation.

Its out of a clean heart that true righteousness is seen by others. (Matt 23:25-28)

Blessing - you will see God.

This isn't a metaphor.

When the final day of this time comes, your blessing will be to see God in all his glory.

ONLY those with pure hearts will see God in His Glory.Sin is not welcome there.

Verse 9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Attitude - peaceful.

To be a peacemaker is being one who longs for reconciliation.

From the fall of Adam God has being reconciling His creation back to Him

Our job is to assist, to be a peace maker.

Blessing - to be called a son of God

Only the sons/and daughters of God will brought back to Him when this life is over.

Verse 10:Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Blessing - possession of the “Kingdom of Heaven”

Conclusion:

Matthew 5:11–12 (CSB)

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.