Matthew 4:23 to 5:5 "The Blessed Ones Part 1"

Marc Transparenti
Calvary Chapel Lake City
Matthew • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago • Presented 4 years ago • 46:32
Matthew 4:23–5:5
The Beatitudes
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The Sermon on the Mount: Beatitudes
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﻿Good Morning CCLC! Turn in your Bibles to Matthew Chapter 5. 

Last time we observed Jesus left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, fulfilling Isa 9:1-2 speaking about the great light that would come to the people in darkness. Jesus also called His first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John... all were fishermen, whom Jesus would make 'fishers of men." And, all of these men counted the cost and decided following Jesus was supreme in their lives. 

As we enter into Matthew 5, we are now coming into Jesus' 2nd Year of ministry. The first year of ministry is known as the 'Year of Preparation' and was a relatively quite year. The second year of ministry is known as the 'Year of Popularity' as crowds gather and come to Jesus. The third, and final, year of ministry is known as the 'Year of Opposition" which will begin roughly in Matt 14 (The feeding of the 5000). 

Today, and for the next several weeks we will begin Jesus' first Major Discourse...known as The Sermon on the Mount...it's the greatest Sermon from the Greatest Man who ever lived. And, given that Jesus is the King and the Messiah, you could rightly entitle this sermon, "The Message of the King." 

We will pick up in Matt 4:23 to appreciate the narrative and who is present at this Sermon. We will also cover an introduction or overview to the Sermon on the Mount and discuss down to Matt 5:5 looking at the first 3 Beatitudes/or Blessings in the King's Message. Appropriately so, the theme of today's message is "The Blessed Ones." 

Let's Pray!

Matt 4:23 "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 

Verse 23-25 are summary description of Jesus' ministry, and give us a picture of all Jesus had been doing in His early Galilean ministry leading up to the Sermon on the Mount. 
Jesus "went about all Galilee..." 
This is the beginning of what is called Jesus' 'Galilean Ministry.' Jesus would travel and minister to the many towns and cities in the region of the Galilee, which is most of the land west of the Sea of Galilee.
A custom of that time was for a Synagogue to welcome a visiting Rabbi, especially a distinguished one, to come and teach. 
A synagogue was and is a Jewish House of worship. It's where the Jews gathered on Sabbath (Saturday) for prayer, worship, and teaching. Much as we gather in a church. The Jews also had a Temple, and don't get a Synagogue and the Temple confused. There were many synagogues in Israel and many other countries...today there are synagogues all around the world, but... 
There was only one Temple (where sacrifices to the Lord were made, and where the Ark of the Covenant resides). And, today, the Jews do not have a Temple, and they really long for one... 
The last temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and there will be a future Temple during the Tribulation time. There is presently an organization called 'The Temple Institute' in Jerusalem that has already made most of the Temple instruments, so they can quickly erect the Temple. The most difficult items are the Red Hefer and, of course, the Ark of the Covenant which was lost in OT times. I encourage you to visit their website in light of eschatology www.templeinstitute.org
Well, back to Matthew...
Notice the description of Jesus' ministry in verse 23: "...teaching in their synagogues..." (He taught); "...preaching the gospel of the kingdom..." (He preached); "...and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people..." (He healed)
Throughout Jesus' ministry we will see Him teaching, preaching, and healing. 
Notice the order (there is an importance and priority in the order)...He taught, He preached, He healed. 
Jesus was a Rabbi (by definition a teacher)...an instructor in the word, in life, and in ministry. 
Teaching: Gk didaskō- meaning to teach, to instruct. 
And, Jesus was a Master teacher. Here are some ways:
He taught through example...He modeled to perfect life- living sinless, loving in abundance, demonstrating grace and mercy, being angry or grieved when those emotions should be expressed, and so much more.
Jesus had a perfect handle on scripture:
He understood the subject matter, context, and intent of scripture...and He taught with authority.
He knew His audience, and knew precisely what to speak and how to speak.
He knew when to speak in parables to cause them to search for more and for the story to make a lasting impression.
He would ask questions to cause His audience to analyze situations, which would provoke them to ask more questions. 
He knew when to use His surroundings for clear and concrete illustrations. 
I could preach a whole sermon on how Jesus was a Master Teacher, but you get the idea. 
Also notice, Jesus taught in the Synagogues...Jesus came initially with the priority of bringing the message of salvation to the Jews, and then this message would go to the Gentiles. 
In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave the vision to His disciples (or students) that they would take the gospel message from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth.
He taught His disciples to become teachers, and to replicate...He commanded them to "Go...and make disciples of all the nations..."
And, they did...the students become teachers...and the salvation message has been going throughout the world even unto today. 
Jesus was a teacher, and He was also a preacher. 
There is a time for teaching, and there is a time for preaching.
Preach: Gk kay-roos´-so kērussō- meaning to herald, to proclaim. 
And, specifically His message was 'the Gospel of the kingdom."
This is the 1st mention of the word Gospel in the Bible.
Gospel means "good news" or a "good message." We derive our word evangelize from the Greek words for Gospel, which carries the idea of a messenger "announcing good news." 
I've heard it said 'Teaching is for believers to grow in Christ, preaching for unbelievers to receive salvation, and healing is for all.' ...which is a good generalization.
Barclay, "Preaching is the uncompromising proclamation of certainties; teaching is the explanation of the meaning and significance of them." 
In Mark's version of the Great Commission, in Mk 16:15 Jesus is recorded saying "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." 
'Preach the gospel' is a command, it's an imperative. 
So, while it is critical for us to 'make disciples,' it is equally important for us to 'preach the gospel.' 
And, Jesus was a healer. 
Healing- Gk. ther-ap-yoo´-o thĕrapĕuō. Where we get our English word therapy from. The word can mean either to serve (as in an Attendant serving), or to heal (as in relieving a disease). 
Many times in Jesus' ministry, you will see a pattern that he comes on the scene, He has compassion on the sickest person (whatever their ailment), then He heals them... Followed by a teaching. It's almost as if the healing is not just an act of mercy, but also an ice breaker or attention grabber for all to listen to His teaching. 
The healing also serves to authenticate His authority as the Great teacher and Messiah. 
As I was preparing all of this, I had an insight about the nature of man in connection to how Jesus taught, preached, and healed. 
Man is a Trichotomy comprised of Body, Soul, and Spirit. In Jesus' ministry, it seems that He ministered to the whole man...He wanted to connect with every part of man.
His teaching spoke to the soul (the intellect, the emotions, conscience and will).
His preaching moved the spirit (that immaterial element of humanity that allows us to have an intimate relationship or to "connect" with God).
His healing touched body (the physical frame, and the only part of mankind that is not eternal). 
For us, we are to emulate Jesus' ministry. Sometimes churches get lopsided...too heavy on teaching (you see this with Baptists, and this will be our challenge too), too heavy on preaching (and you see this in some churches where they have exciting messages, but lack in explanation or depth like a lot of the seeker sensitive churches) or too heavy on healing (which some of the more charismatic, Full Gospel, Word of Faith, or pentecostal churches focus upon).
I think it's beautiful that we all have our strengths, but I honestly want to be balanced and exercise all the ways Jesus demonstrated ministry. I meet a lot of Pastors, and I ask questions to get various perspectives, and to grow personally because I want to minister to people as Jesus did. He was extremely effective because His approach was wholistic- teaching, preaching, and healing...touching mankind's soul, spirit, and body. 
As a result of Jesus' ministry Matt 4:24-25 states, "Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan."
People from all over the various regions (this would be comparable to people from many different counties and states came to Jesus).
People with all kinds of physical illnesses, and demonic torments came to Jesus. 
Great multitudes of people- multitudes means a crowd specifically of the common people. Thousands of people were coming to see Jesus, and notice verse 24 states, "He healed them."
What a scene, one after another, Jesus healing all kinds of infirmities. 
And, no doubt Jesus did all of this with a heart of compassion. He loved these people.
In Matthew 14, when Jesus fed the 5000...another great multitude...15-20k people when we count men, women and children... 
Matt 14:14 tells us "...when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick."
In the parallel account, Mark 6:34 states, "And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things."
As we enter into the Sermon on the Mount, His heart is filled with compassion for the multitudes and for His audience- the Disciples. 

continue to Chap 5, verses 1-2

Matt 5:1-2 "And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:..."

Before we jump into this Sermon, I want to take a moment to talk about this Sermon in general...
The Teacher of the Sermon is Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7) is a huge section of Jesus' words. Except for the opening verses at the beginning of chapter 5, and the closing verses at the end of 7, ALL the words are in Red.
Notice Jesus sits for this teaching, which was a custom of Rabbis of the time. They sat to teach and stood to preach. We have our Pastor/Teachers stand all the time, and the listeners sit all the time. 
The style of the sermon is teaching. Jesus was not preaching to His disciples, He was teaching them. Observe, in verse 2 He 'taught them', and at the end of the sermon again it is mentioned that Jesus taught them. 
And, the response of Jesus' teaching...Matt 7:28-29 states "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
The people were astonished or amazed, and rightly so, they just witnessed the greatest teaching in history. 
The setting of this magnificent sermon is not really a mountain, but moreso a hill. There is a hill near Capernaum, where presently the Catholic Church- the 'Church of the Beatitudes' sits. This church was built in the 1937, and it is octagonal shaped. 8 sides to represent the 8 Beatitudes. 
And, while we cannot say for certain that this is the exact location of this sermon, it's a probable location. 
The audience of the sermon are the disciples...as we observe in these opening verses...Jesus "sees the multitudes" and 'teaches'...the disciples. 
We cannot be certain if this is just a handful of disciples, or several hundred, but we do know that He is teaching disciples...
Jesus has his eyes on the multitudes while He teaches His students...His disciples. 
I like to think that His eyes of compassion for the multitudes were as much a part of His teaching to the disciples as were the words of this teaching. 
There is a possibility this Sermon stretched over some time...D.A. Carson in Expositors "...suggests that his teaching covered several days, not just an hour or two..." because at the beginning of the sermon we see only His disciples present, but at the end of the sermon Matt 7:28 the "people" from the multitudes joined to listen. 
And, while the general public joined to listen, the Sermon remained addressed to His disciples, which is an important point because... 
The subject of the sermon is not a a teaching for unbelievers on how to obtain salvation and a list of rules for kingdom living. This is a message addressed to the disciples on their Christian character. It's a teaching on spiritual attributes, all of which we should desire, and all of which the Holy Spirit is molding us into becoming. 
This sermon has a unifying theme of the "kingdom of heaven" ...this phrase appears 6x throughout the sermon, in key places, emphasizing entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and character traits of kingdom citizens. 
One scholar noted, "The sermon did not give a "Constitution" for the kingdom nor did it present the way of salvation. The sermon showed how a person who is in right relationship with God should conduct his life."
The beginning 12 verses of this sermon are famously entitled The Beatitudes. 
The word Beatitude is from the Latin term beati meaning "blessed" or "happy." As we see each Beatitude begins "Blessed are the..." 
Or as some render "Oh how happy..." which seems contradictory when you read things like "Happy are those who mourn..." 
The Beatitudes become confusing when you apply 'happy' as we do in our modern vernacular (I'll explain this further in a moment), but also when you apply the first aspect, such as mourning to natural circumstances versus spiritual experiences (and, I'll explain this more as we go through the Beatitudes). 
Happy is a proper definition of Blessed, but falls short of the deeper meaning of Blessed in the Beatitudes. 
'Happy' is a late 14c. word meaning "lucky, favored by fortune, being in advantageous circumstances..." but this does not capture truly what the Beatitudes is expressing because by that definition happiness is based on the external...based on life circumstances. But, happiness in the Beatitudes is a deep internal joy despite life circumstances...such as persecution in the 8th Beatitude. 
The Scholar Barclay stated "Makarios [Gk. for 'Happy'] describes that joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life." 
It's a joy that surpasses circumstance. It's the joy of the Lord, where one is happy no matter what life deals. This is a supernatural happiness...true blessedness.
There are 8 Beatitudes presented (though some will argue 7, 9 or 10), but I will present 8 Beatitudes, as verses 10 & 11 both speak about persecution, therefore are one Beatitude.
One scholar noted, "Those who experience the first aspect of a beatitude (poor, mourn, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and persecuted) will also experience the second aspect of the beatitude (kingdom of heaven, comfort, inherit the earth, filled, mercy, see God, called sons of God, inherit the kingdom of heaven). The blessed have a share in salvation and have entered the kingdom of God, experiencing a foretaste of heaven."
The Beatitudes presents believers with how, by God's Spirit, we are to BE. 
This is not a works based teaching. As we go through the beatitudes, I'll come back to this point, but just keep in mind these are the BE-atitudes, not the DO-atitudes. 
This is not an emphasis on what we 'do' as believers, but on how we are to 'be'...an emphasis on our Christian character. 
Scholar David Guzik "All of these character traits are marks and goals of all Christians. If you meet someone who claims to be a Christian but displays and desires none of these traits, you may rightly wonder about their salvation, because they do not have the character of kingdom citizens. But if they claim to have mastered these attributes, you may question their honesty."
Lastly, as we go through these Beatitudes, there is a progression. From the first to the last they build upon one another. 
Just as in Salvation there is a progression...in the past you were justified, presently you are being sanctified, and in the future you will be glorified. 
And, in these Beatitudes we will see some of these salvation themes.

Well, let's begin this magnificent sermon...verse 3...

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Being 'poor in spirit' is the starting point for all who will enter the kingdom of heaven. 
The 'poor is spirit' is a reflection of the person who confesses their spiritual poverty, their unworthiness before God, and their dependence on Him. 
This verse is not promoting material poverty and condemning material wealth.
The verse states "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." not "Blessed are the poor..."
Poverty of spirit has nothing to do with our material wealth, and everything to do with spiritual bankruptcy.
Spirit in this verse is the spirit of man, not the Holy Spirit.
Poverty of spirit is a reflection on the spiritual condition of mankind. 
You may think of the Doctrine of Total Depravity when you think of the Poor in Spirit. 
As a result of the fall of man, sin has penetrated man... who's "heart is deceitful and desperately wicked," who's "righteous acts are like filthy rags." Scripture declares There is "none who does good, no not one." 
A. W. Tozer, as he reflected on humanity and the Beatitudes, stated..."A fairly accurate description of the human race might be furnished...by taking the Beatitudes, turning them wrong side out, and saying, 'Here is your human race.' "
The person who recognizes their spiritual condition...who comes to the end of themselves, humbles themselves, and cries out to God, "I am a sinner in need of a Savior" ...this person is described as "Blessed...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 
The doctrine of Justification is in light here.
Justification is being declared righteous before God. 
Justification is 'Just as if' your sin never occurred because you have faith in Jesus Christ and by His sacrificial blood on the cross (His substitution)...He bore the penalty for sin, and thus you are saved.
Rom 5:1 declares "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." 
The poor in spirit are justified (declared righteous)...they are right with God...thus theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
They now have peace with God...a true blessing...something to be truly joyful for! 
This is the beginning of all of our faith journeys.
If you are hurting and feeling the weight of the world...you feel empty, and you want more...you are feeling led to humble yourself and cry out to God, then do so. 
Do it now, or see me at the end and I will pray with you.
Rom 10:9 states "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
When you do that, you become that blessed person who is 'poor in spirit' and you will inherit the kingdom of heaven. 
One final observation on this verse and the Beatitudes as a whole, notice that in verse 3 and in verse 10, the reward or blessing is the inheritance of "the kingdom of heaven." 
On this, D.A. Carson notes, "The reward in the last beatitude is the same as in the first; the literary structure, an "inclusio" or envelope, establishes that everything included within it concerns the kingdom."
So, since "kingdom of heaven" appear as bookends...in the 1st and 8th Beatitude, everything in between has to do with this topic...the kingdom of heaven. 
The blessings are kingdom blessings.
The beatitudes are kingdom norms. 
Those receiving the blessings are kingdom subjects. 
Everything in the beatitudes concerns Jesus' kingdom and the character traits of the saved believers in His kingdom. 

continue to verse 4...

 Matt 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."

As we continue in the progression of the Beatitudes, the godly response to recognizing poverty of spirit is to mourn.
Mourn means to lament or to bewail esp. for persons. 
The scholar Barclay stated "The Greek word for to mourn, used here, is the strongest word for mourning in the Greek language. It is the word which is used for mourning for the dead, for the passionate lament for one who was loved." 
This is a mourning in recognition not just over personal sinful conditions, but also mourning the condition of the world: it's rejection of Jesus, and the judgement they will face.
When Jesus began His ministry He preached "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 
The poor in spirit repent...they turn from sin and from unbelief...and turn to the Lord. They do a 180, an 'about face.' 
2 Cor 7:10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation..."
Now that they have turned to God, they confess or agree with God (hŏmŏlŏgĕō) and mourn over their condition and the condition of the world.
We can observe this godly sorrow, this godly mourning in scripture: 
Ps 119:136 "Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law."
Ezk 9:4 "...the Lord said..."Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."
Those who mourn are Blessed...For they shall be comforted...
Paul identified with this when he exclaimed "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Rom 7:24-25 Paul was comforted.
Lange states, "This comfort necessarily implies the forgiveness of sins; it also includes the promise that their godly sorrow shall, in every respect, be removed by the kingdom of heaven, which is promised to the poor in spirit." 
Before we proceed to the third Beatitude, I want to note that these first two beatitudes allude to Isaiah 61:1-3...which is both messianic and eschatological. 
In Jesus' 1st Coming, Jesus read Isa 61:1-2a in the synagogue in Nazareth before they drove Him out. 
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,...
Jesus stopped here and closed the scroll, and told them "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." as this much of Isa 61 spoke of what Jesus would accomplish in the ministry of His 1st Advent.
He came to the poor in spirit (the 1st Beatitude) opening the Kingdom of Heaven to those who, in faith, believed in Him.
Isa 61: 2b-3 continues and looks forward to Jesus' 2nd coming...
Isa 61: 2b-3 "And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
Presently, today, we experience Comfort only in part, as we experience God's forgiveness; we are comforted by His Holy Spirit (who is called the Comforter); and comforted by His grace, mercies, and promises, BUT we will fully experience Comfort when it is consummated in that yet future time where "...God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; their shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying." Rev 21:4
The poor in spirit who mourn will be comforted directly by the King. 

continue to verse 5

Matt 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."

Jesus now introduces the Blessed Meek. Meekness by definition in this context is gentleness.
Meekness is not weakness, but strength under control.
Jesus is a perfect example of meekness/ gentleness... 
Jesus said in Matt 11: 28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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."
Jesus displayed meekness in The Triumphal Entry...
He did not come on the white horse of the conquering King in His first coming. He came "Lowly and riding on a donkey..."
Jesus also displayed meekness during His passion and crucifixion. Specifically, if you recall the scene where Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the High Priest's servant, at the Garden of Gethsemane...
Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" Matt 26:52-54 
Jesus could have ended the trial at anytime, but did not exercise His strength and power, for it was not the right time and place. He was submitted to '...drink the cup which His Father had given Him.'
Jesus display His strength under control by allowing Himself to be tortured and killed on the cross, so that you and I could be reconciled with God. Jesus was not weak...He was incredibly strong. His was gentle with His creation who killed Him, because He had the power to speak a word or call down some 30-60 thousand+ Angels who could have wiped out all of mankind. He did not do this. He was meek, gentle, and displayed strength under control. 
For the believer, meekness is the humble recognition of our spiritual condition- we were spiritually bankrupt, and saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. And, now that we are saved, this meekness should extend itself to our attitude of others. 
When we see unbelievers acting like fools, or satisfying the lusts of the flesh, we should mourn for them because we used to be them. 
We should love them, because God loves them and sent His son to die for them. 
Meekness requires that we not be harsh, vengeful, spiteful, or attacking, but that we extend mercy as we will see in the 5th Beatitude. 
Often times we will sit in regret, we will feel conviction when we fall into acting out in the flesh...when we are aggressive or harsh towards others, when perhaps we should have been meek and patient.
The problem with acting out in the flesh is that it diminishes our witness to others. Our ability to speak spiritual truths into the lives of others is silenced when we compromise our character. 
The meek are blessed "For they shall inherit the earth."
This is an allusion to...
Ps 37: 9-11 "For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
So, the poor in spirit (believers) who mourn over personal sin and the state of the world, and exercise meekness (gentleness) towards others...these people shall inherit the earth. 
When exactly does this happen? 
Ultimately, this looks forward to a yet future time...the Millennial Reign of Christ...
Matt 19:28 "Jesus said. [addressing His disciples]..."Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 
Rev 20:4 speaks about the Millennium and states, "4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw [a second group of people] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
And after Jesus' 1000 year reign on earth, the meek will further inherit the earth as seen in Rev 21 as they enter the new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem...which we know as Eternity. 

Worship team come. 

So, here we have begun The Sermon of the King...the greatest sermon from the greatest man who ever lived- the God-man, Jesus Christ. 

Today, we observed Jesus demonstrated for us that we should be ministering to people through teaching, preaching and healing to touch the whole man- Soul, Spirit, and Body. We should be balance in our ministry approach.

And, as we got into the first 3 Beatitudes, we see Jesus painting a picture for us of what His kingdom looks like, and the character traits of His kingdom citizens. Today we saw...
* the poor in spirit...because of their spiritual condition who...
* mourn over sin and the state of the world and are...
* meek...gentle, especially with other people...for as we received grace from God, we should extend grace to others...

These kingdom citizens, these Blessed Ones...as a result are promised they will...
* inherit the kingdom of heaven...
* they shall be comforted...
* and they shall inherit the earth...

Because of all this, Oh how happy are we, Oh how blessed are we, our joy is beyond this world and the circumstances we face! We have much to be thankful for...we are blessed! Amen?

Next week we will continue in verse 6, we will finish the Beatitudes, and may go even further. 

I challenge you to read ahead. Read all of Chapters 5-7 of Matthew to get the full picture of The Sermon on the Mount...it should only take about 20 min. 

Let's Pray! 
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