Beatitudes of the Kingdom

Introduction:

Any great leader that begins a movement has a manifesto of change. A proclamation to the world that his or her followers take as life long marching orders. The sad reality is many of them were assassinated because of the radical change the proposed.

Last week we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. life and legacy of fighting racial injustice. He was 39 when he was killed. Jesus of Nazareth was no different. His message of love, acceptance, and salvation for everyone was a radical idea that the religious of the day just couldn’t get behind. And Jesus being the Son of God and King of the Jews was not something that Rome could support either. So, at 33 they crucified Him.

The injustice that Jesus was fighting was the discrimination of the gospel. A relationship with God was only for the rich and elite, but Jesus came to change all that.

When John the Baptist was thrown into prison he sent word to Jesus inquiring if he was indeed the Messiah they had been looking for or should they look for another. Jesus’ response reveals his heart.

Matthew 11:4–5 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

This message of love, acceptance, and salvation for all is the same message Jesus passed on to his disciples. As disciples of Christ we should adopt and live by this proclamation from our leader and King as well. Jesus made this proclamation early in his ministry setting the frame work for Kingdom living here on Earth.

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

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

The Sermon on the Mount serves as that proclamation of how we should live in the Kingdom of God today, and it begins with the Beatitudes.

The word “beatitudes” is not found in the scriptures. It is actually derived from the latin word “blessed” which is “beatus.” This word was not used to speak of living humans but reserved for heavenly beings or the dead. The best interpretation I could find that we would say today would be “Rest in peace.” “Blessed” in this passage would refer to a divine joy that would be everlasting in its nature and scope.

There are eight “Beatitudes” from Jesus that will shape the ministry and character of his disciples, as well as producing divine joy and inner happiness.

As we understand the meaning of each one I think we can put them all together into a working manifesto for each of our lives as we learn to live in His kingdom hear on earth.

The Inward beatitudes (4)

1. Humility vs. Haughty

Matthew 5:3 ESV

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

Poor in spirit is a humble soul.

Humility is the simple acknowledgement that you need God and others to be successful in your life. It is the understanding that you have not arrived.

Success in the Kingdom of God demands a humble spirit before God and others.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

This is illustrated in Isiah’s encounter with God in Isiah 6.

Isaiah 6:4–5 ESV

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

A haughty spirit is a prideful soul fit for destruction.

Proverbs 16:18–19 ESV

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

2. Heartbreak vs. Blind-Eye

Matthew 5:4 ESV

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

Mourning is seeing the world as God sees it.

When Isaiah caught a glimpse of God and his holiness he was able to see himself and others as God sees them.

Isaiah 6:5 ESV

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

One of the saddest verses for me in the bible is Genesis 6:6-7

Genesis 6:6–7 ESV

And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

James delivers this same understand of sin.

James 4:8–9 ESV

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.

Turning a blind eye to sin causes you to continue in it.

Revelation 3:17–18 ESV

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

3. Meekness vs. Reckless

Matthew 5:5 ESV

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

Meekness is power under control

Matthew 11:29 KJV 1900

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Meekness is the ability to speak the truth in love.

The opposite of meekness is reckless: power without restraint or control.

4. Righteousness vs. Sinfulness

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Jesus is our righteousness.

Like obtaining food for the belly we strive to be like our Savior.

James 4:8 ESV

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The righteousness of Jesus provokes us to righteousness.

The reason why many Christian are starving and powerless is because they lack the sustenance of Righteousness to satisfy their souls.

1 John 3:2–10 ESV

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Sinfulness is our nature.

“Until we are willing to kill the sin we will not be able to promote the Kingdom.”

The Outward Beatitudes (4)

1. Mercy vs. Judgement

Matthew 5:7 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

God’s character is merciful.

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"God’s character of mercy always opens the door for His grace.”

Our mercy reveals the grace of God.

2. Pure Heart vs. Ulterior Motives

Matthew 5:8 ESV

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

A pure heart functions in honest motives

Romans 14:16–19 ESV

So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

A deceitful heart always has ulterior motives.

James 3:13–16 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

3. Peacemakers vs. Agressors

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

A Peacemaker is an ambassador for the kingdom proclaiming the good news to everyone.

Ephesians 2:15–16 ESV

by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Aggressors sow discord among believers and non-believers causing people to turn from the gospel or be kept from it.

Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

4. Persecution for Righteousness vs. Persecuted for Sin

Matthew 5:10 ESV

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

Persecution is promised for wickedness and righteousness.

Persecution come to both the righteous and the wicked.

Better to be persecuted for making things better rather than worse.

1 Peter 2:19–22 ESV

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

If you don’t want to be persecuted don’t do anything. Just go with the flow.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

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

The Beatitudes Manifesto for my life:

As I see the world through the lens of God’s righteousness, I am humbled by my sin, and my spirit mourns as Isiah’s. “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Is 6:5, ESV). The Lord has granted me power through the Holy Spirit to overcome the sins of this world. Therefore, I am an ambassador and an example of God’s Kingdom.

I will be merciful to others in the same way God has been merciful to me, serving my fellow man through pure motives of sharing the good news of God’s love and redemption. I fully expect opposition and persecution from those who choose not to believe and am willing to give my life if necessary for the gospel message.