Matthew 5:3-12 | "For Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"

I. Reading of Scripture

Matthew 5:3–12 ESV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This is God’s Word, Amen.

Pray

II. Introduction

Sometime around the year 1873, Fanny Crosby wrote these words to a well known hymn:

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine Oh what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation purchase of God Born of His Spirit washed in His blood

This is my story this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long

It is a hymn that anticipates what is to come, some day in the future, but one that also celebrates what is now — a foretaste of glory, an assurance of salvation in Jesus, my Savior.

The words of the third verse of that hymn encompass so well the theme of today’s teaching of Jesus from on high.

Here is what Fanny Crosby wrote:

Perfect submission all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest Watching and waiting looking above Filled with His goodness lost in His love

Fanny Crosby summarizes in these words what Jesus teaches about the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven is for all who enjoy perfect submission to Heaven’s king! Who submit themselves to His rule and righteous reign!

Who find happiness, and blessing not from without, but IN the Savior, from within.

Who watch and wait looking above, for His promised return, for His coming kingdom.

But also for those who the kingdom belongs to now! Who are filled with His goodness and lost in His love.

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

A. Introduction to Theme

And here is the first word Jesus spoke in his teaching.

“Blessed” (v.3)

Blessed!

First words matter. First words and last words are remembered the most.

The first word Jesus spoke in his teaching about the kingdom is not a pronouncement of condemnation.

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The first word Jesus spoke in his teaching about the kingdom is not a statement of command.

Jesus is not giving another set of commandments. This is not a list of “do’s” and “dont’s,” because the kingdom of heaven is not based on works or merit.

There is nothing that we can do to earn a place in God’s kingdom.

These are not conditional statements, incentives, quid pro quo — this for that.

For if God were to give sinners what we rightly deserve, it would be the opposite of happiness and blessing. Instead we would receive (and justly so!) anguish, cursing, judgment and eternal hell.

But instead of condemnation, or unattainable commands, in his mercy,

The first word Jesus spoke is not a command. It is an adjective.

“Blessed.”

It is not a command for what ought to be. It is an adjective describing what already is, for a person in a particular state or circumstance in life.

In this way,

The first word of Jesus is not a pronouncement of condemnation, it is not a statement of command, but it is instead, an assurance of contentment.

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, if you are with the Savior, rest assured — you are blessed.

This is a promise. A present reality. It is a gift of grace.

Church, How are you doing today?

Are you just making it?

Would you say that you are “good” or “fine”?

Are you having a bad day?

Or are you “blessed”?

I want you to hear from Jesus, that in Him you are in reality, “blessed” — and blessed in every sense of that word.

You are happy, you are favored, in whatever circumstances you are in.

You don’t need to get out of your circumstances to find happiness or blessing. You can stay right where you are, in them, and be happy and blessed, because Jesus is right where you are. The kingdom is near.

And your blessing is not found in outside circumstances — your blessing, your happiness, is the presence of Heaven’s King — Jesus!

Nine times — Jesus repeats this word “Blessed” as the first word.

So that in whatever situation we are, we may be content (Phil 4:11).

III. Exposition

Jesus begins his teaching with these words:

A. Blessed are the poor in spirit (5:3)

Matthew 5:3 ESV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The “poor in spirit” are “blessed.”

This pertains to the spiritual nature.

What does it mean to be “poor” in spirit?

To be poor means to be lacking.

Someone who is poor is dependent upon others for whatever is needed, because they do not have the sufficient means of supplying what is needed on their own. They are poor!

To be “poor in spirit” means that the spirit is poor. The spirit is dependent, not having the sufficient means of supplying what is needed on its own.

"Poor in spirit” is “perfect submission.” Humility. A total dependence upon Jesus, the King, to supply whatever we need from his limitless resources in the Kingdom.

Someone took me out to lunch and reminded me of this many months ago —

If we have faith in God, we don’t need to worry or be anxious about anything else, because what need is there that God is not able to supply, and to supply abundantly?

Lord, how will our church grow? How will we pass on the faith to the next generation? How will we survive financially in the future? How will we reach the lost for Jesus?

And one answer is sure — we will not do any of these things. God will do all of these things!

And God will use us, and work through us, if we by faith will humble ourselves before Him and submit to His will and His ways, and pray to Him, and be dependent upon Him and the power of His Holy Spirit, as a people who are poor in spirit.

Matthew 5:3 ESV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Notice the text does not say “theirs will be the kingdom” — future, but “theirs IS the kingdom” — present.

The future is brought into the present for the poor in spirit, so they are happy and blessed in whatever circumstances they are in materially.

This poorness has nothing to do with earthly riches. A rich person will be very unhappy in life if they are not poor in spirit before God.

Whether we are rich or poor doesn’t matter. Our circumstances do not matter.

What matters is that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are poor in spirit, and those who are poor in spirit are blessed.

“Theirs is the kingdom” — this means that the kingdom is a gift. The kingdom is something that is given. And being a gift from God it is a gift of grace that cannot be earned.

Some people suggest that these teachings of Jesus are commands. That we are to give everything away and be poor. That we are to cover ourselves with sackcloth and ashes and mourn. That we are to be meek.

But after this first teaching, it abundantly clear that we can do none of these things if we are in fact poor in spirit - because we have nothing to offer God on our own.

All of the kingdom of heaven belongs to us by God’s grace! Not what we earn or deserve. But by grace!

This first teaching sets the tone of the rest — they all flow from those who in the spirit are poor — dependent upon God for all things.

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Matthew 5:3 ESV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus continues:

B. Blessed are those who mourn (5:4)

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Those who “mourn” are “blessed.”

Jesus’ original hearers on the mountain would be familiar with the words of Isaiah who prophesied about the coming Savior who said:

Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

God is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor 1:3).

The Holy Spirit is our “Comforter” (Jn 14:26).

But lest we think that we can go and become mourners, we first must ask the question:

Who mourns over the right things?

How do you know what to mourn over?

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Those who mourn with “godly grief” are blessed. Those who mourn over unrighteousness are blessed.

Yes — God will wipe away every tear (Rev 21:4). Yes — God will weep with us and comfort us in loss.

But those who mourn for the things God mourns for, are those who are blessed in the kingdom of heaven.

Those who mourn over sin, and ungodliness, and unrighteousness are moved to repentance.

And through repentance, turning from sin and self to God through Jesus, we are prepared for the kingdom of heaven.

We have comfort now in hope of what will come in fullness at the coming of the King.

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

C. Blessed are the meek (5:5)

Matthew 5:5 ESV

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

The meek are blessed.

A person who is meek may be an important person. They may be a powerful person. They may be a wealthy person! But they are not impressed by themselves (BDAG).

I heard someone define meekness this way: “Meekness is strength under control.”

An animal has strength and power to pull a cart, but that strength and power is humbled and controlled by a yoke.

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:29–30 ESV

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

An animal does not put a yoke on itself. You cannot make yourself meek!

Meekness is a result of learning from Jesus and taking his yoke upon you.

An anonymous Church Father said this:

“The meek are those who are more content to endure an offense than to commit one” (Anonymous)

Jesus is our example of meekness. Jesus is Divinity taking on humanity. Jesus is the sinless who became sin.

The One who at one word could have had legions of angels immediately sent to him to keep him from the fate of the cross (Mt 26:53) --- but Jesus stayed the course…and stayed on the cross…becoming the offense, bearing the wrath of God for sin — content in the will of God, so that we might enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:5 ESV

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Land — the earth — was inherited, or taken by force. By power. By war.

But the way of the kingdom says that things are acquired a different way — not through demonstrations strength, but through meekness. A strength under control — God’s control.

D. Conduct (5:6-9)

Jesus continues:

Matthew 5:6–9 ESV

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Again, these are not commands. These are not things you do in order to be blessed. These are descriptions of those who are blessed as evidenced by what they do.

We cannot see that a person is righteous, unless their conduct shows that.

We cannot see that a person is merciful, unless they show mercy.

We cannot see that a person has a pure heart, or that they are a peace-maker, unless their conduct reveals these things.

So it is that conduct flows out of character.

If we are such godly people, we will represent God in our conduct.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (5:6).

Those who desire not what is easy or what is comfortable, but what is right. Righteousness.

Not what we think is righteous, but “true righteousness” (Wiersbe) — God’s righteousness.

They are blessed because they will be satisfied. As we do what is right in God’s eyes, regardless of the cost, we know we are under the rule of God’s righteous reign.

And we will be satisfied, because in the coming fullness of the kingdom there will be no unrighteousness or injustice there!

Those who are merciful will receive mercy. Why? Because God shows us mercy — if He didn’t, we would not enter into His kingdom.

When we show mercy, it is demonstrating that we have been shown mercy.

Jesus will teach:

Matthew 7:12 ESV

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Those whose hearts are pure are blessed.

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We cannot make our heart pure — this is something only God can do.

Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.

And with pure hearts, our faith will become sight. We will see God.

“Unless your heart is pure, you will not be permitted to see what cannot be seen unless the heart be pure. Nothing can satisfy one who would not be satisfied with God” (Augustine).”

Peacemakers are blessed. Not those who cause divisions, or stoke the fires of divisions to keep them blazing. But those who make peace are sons of God.

Of Jesus it is said:

Colossians 1:19–20 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

As these actions manifest themselves in our lives, it is evidence that we have been made new. We are reflecting toward others what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

And this is most seen when we are persecuted on account of Jesus.

E. (5:10-12)

Matthew 5:10 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This verse brackets Jesus’ teaching by repeating once again “For Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

We will not be harassed, or oppressed, or persecuted in God’s kingdom for doing what is right.

But we will experience persecution in the hear and now. And Jesus graciously proclaims not for the future, but in the present, that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are blessed. Theirs IS the kingdom of heaven.

And Jesus reiterates this theme in conclusion by drawing us back to Himself:

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus would not have said this if following Him would be easy and free of persecution.

I think many of us can handle being reviled (or insulted), and harassed to a degree — but one of the most challenging and difficult things to endure is when others “utter all kinds of evil against us falsely.”

When others lie and do not tell the truth about us.

And Jesus says — they will lie about you, on account of me.

But rejoice. Be glad! For your reward is great in heaven.

IV. Conclusion

A. Gospel Proclamation

We cannot rejoice or be glad — we are not happy or blessed — apart from Jesus.

None of Jesus’ teachings are possible without Him.

Sin robs us of true happiness and blessing. And in sin, we try to find happiness by changing our circumstances.

But the Gospel Proclamation of Matthew 5:3-12 is not that Jesus came to change our circumstances, but that Jesus assures contentment in Him, no matter our circumstances!

If you are not content as you are, you will not be content in what will be.

If you are not happy and blessed on earth with Jesus — you will not be happy and blessed in heaven with Him!

In many ways, the kingdom of Heaven when it comes in fullness will be unlike anything we have experienced.

But in many ways, the kingdom of heaven when it comes in fullness will be like everything we have experienced, in Jesus!

The kingdom of heaven has boundaries.

It is a place — but the boundaries contain those who live in perfect submission to the King, and his will and authority.

And because Jesus was raised from the dead, having atoned for our sin by his death, Jesus rules in our hearts (Col 1:15).

And by the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of heaven belongs to us. And we live the new life, as kingdom people now, in watching and waiting for what will be.

But we won’t be surprised by what will be. For Jesus has already taught us and manifested the kingdom in our lives.

B. Exhortation

Whatever circumstances you are in with Jesus, it is enough.

In Jesus, we can live as the Apostle Paul lived — who said:

Philippians 4:11 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

This is what it means, to be blessed in Jesus.