Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes

Intro

We are heading into the sermon on the mount. This is going to take up chapters 5, 6, and 7.

The sermon on the mount is going to be a teaching on how to live the Christian life.

We are going to want to pay close attention to what Jesus is going to say.

We are also going to want to be doers of His words and not just hearers.

1:1

Jesus sits down

Jesus is taking a teaching position.

In the culture of Jesus day Rabbis and teachers sat down, disciples and students stood up.

Jesus sitting down, He is taking a teaching position.

This is affirmed in verse 2 when it says He opened His mouth and taught them.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

Blessed - each of the beatitudes Jesus is going to start with blessed.

Blessed does not mean an emotional happiness. Its not a feeling.

Blessed are those means they have a good position, God will do for them, well off,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, they are blessed because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed is not an emotion, or a feeling. Blessed is because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

to be poor in spirit, it to know and have the need for God, His salvation and transforming work. It is our realization our full need for God.

What are some ways we fully need God?

For righteousness

Salvation

Mercy

Grace

A good example of being poor in spirit is Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee was righteous in his own eyes. He was not spiritually poor.

He had the heart and mindset that because of his actions he was righteous. Because of what he did.

The tax collector would not even look up to God realizing he was a sinner in need of God’s grace, mercy, and Salvation.

This first beatitude is important, because if we are not poor in spirit, if we do not see our need for God and His salvation and transforming work the others will not follow.

Blessed are those who mourn.

It is not specified why there is mourning.

There is mourning for things/ people we have lost.

John 11:33

2 Samuel 18:33

And there is mourning for sin. Having a deep sorrow of sin, and the sin of others.

Psalms 31:9-10

Romans 9:1-3

Jesus says those who mourn shall be comforted.

How does the Lord comfort our mourning?

There is the hope we have of God’s promise in Revelation 21:4-5.

So there is a comfort of what is to come in eternity.

We have the comfort of God’s protection and guidance Psalms 23:4.

There is a comfort in God’s protection and guidance.

Note: Comfort does not mean the mourning will stop. It does not mean the pain of life will go away.

This is comfort through the mourning.

John 14:8

John 16:33

2 Corinthians 12:9