Blessed Saints

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Trouble in the Text: What is the Good News that brings happiness?

Matthew 3 started with an invitation to true holiness and happiness

Here Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down—where there was room for them all.

His disciples—not only his twelve disciples, but all who desired to learn of him.
Taught them—To bless men, to make men happy, was the great business for which our Lord came into the world.

Blessed is- Happy is

Knowing that happiness is our common aim, and that an innate instinct continually urges us to the pursuit of it, he in the kindest manner applies to that instinct, and directs it to its proper object. Aug.

All men desire, yet few attain, happiness, because they seek it where it is not to be found.

We are often unhappy because of our present circumstances.
What we think about them, if they serve to overwhelm us, and whether they fit in with our expectations. Unrealistic expectations can easily make us ambivalent about the goodness in life itself.
Grace in the Text: Jesus reveals how to be truly happy.
Notes:

Jesus lays aside his supreme authority as our legislator, that he may the better act as our friend and Savior. Aug.

The Poor in Spirit- They who are truly convinced of sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature, having a of their sinfulness, guiltiness, helplessness.

Humility.
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven—The present inward kingdom: righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; Also the eternal kingdom, if you endure to the end.

Those that mourn—Either for their own sins, or for others’ sins, and are steadily and habitually serious.

They will be comforted—More solidly and deeply even in this world, and eternally.

Happy are the meek—Those that hold all their passions and affections in check, who are not ruled by them.

If you be meek, you will have control over your passions; if ungentle, thou wilt be possessed by it. Not resisting God. Aug.
They will inherit the earth—having everything necessary for life and godliness; a portion here now, and in fullness in eternity.
You truly possess the earth, when you remain close to Him who made heaven and earth. Aug.

Those that hunger and thirst after righteousness—After holiness. God does satisfy this hunger and thirst, now and eternally. [otherwise, the command to be holy would be cruel]

Let our inner man then hunger and thirst, for it hath its own proper meat and drink. “I am the Bread which came down from heaven.” Here is the bread of the hungry; long also for the drink of the thirsty; the drink of life of Jesus Christ.

The merciful—those who love all men as themselves; compassionate

They will obtain mercy.—Whatever mercy we desire from God, we should show to our brethren.
Deal with others, that God may deal the same with you.
You will be judged in the same way that you have judged, the same with mercy.
While we empty ourselves to others mercifully, so God fills us up by his grace.

The pure in heart—The sanctified: those who love God with all their hearts.

This is the purpose of all our love; we are perfected by this pure heart of love.
Whatever we now do, whatever do well, whatever we strive for, or whatever we want, or blamelessly desire, when we come see of God, we no longer need them.
We wish to see God, we seek, we kindle with desire to see Him. Aug.
If your heart is not pure, it will be in torment by the holy presence of God.
They will see God—In all things here, and after in glory.
We see God with the eyes of our heart. Through the good or evil within that filters/colors our sight.
Now, the eyes of our heart are enlightened by faith; in glory, they will be enlightened by sight.
We see God in the love that is shared with us now in life by God and others, through eternity.
If you keep clean for the Creator His own temple, your heart; if you want Him to come and make a dwelling of your heart, “Think of the Lord with a good heart, and in simplicity of heart seek for Him.”
Hear His word quickly and learn to long for God; learn to make ready/cleanse the eyes of your heart that you may see God.

The peace-makers—out of love to God and man do all possible good to all men. Peace in the Scripture sense implies all blessings temporal and eternal.

They will be called the children of God—Will be acknowledged such by God and man.

But Jesus also says

Happy are those who are insulted, persecuted, lied about, or accused of evil for righteousness’ sake - because they have, or follow after, the righteousness; doing what is required of the Lord.

He that is truly a righteous man, he that mourns, and he that is pure in heart; all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution. Their example serves to reprove the hearts of all humanity. It makes them reflect on their actions and attitudes that God judges to be evil.

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven; naturally because of their attitudes and behavior.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.
Grace in the World: God lays out how to attain happiness.
Notes:

God does not leave us without knowing how to be truly happy in our present circumstances.

God revealed to us how to happy.

Will you reveal the love of God that purifies hearts?

Either we will take his word as truth, in the Sprit of Truth with which it is made real in us, or we will reject the word of God, because we cannot accept this grace of God that makes us pure in heart by humbling ourselves before him.
When we do come to accept the word of truth, we become blessed (truly happy, joyful) saints who can’t help but have mercy on others by telling them of His abundant love.
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