From the Mouth of the Master- Part 2- Matthew 5:6-9

Instruction

Tonight we will continue our study on the “Sermon on the Mount” as Jesus continue to instruct His disciples.

Again I remind you of our desire to make disciples, through Connection, Growth, and Engagement and of the importance of our own development in discipleship if we intend to disciple others.

Tonight we will continue our look into the Beatitudes as Jesus continues to describe the character of those who are “blessed.”

In this next section Jesus speaks of several positive character attributes which should mark the life of the disciple of Christ.

Blessed are they which do...

Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness (Vs. 6)

This description is again contrary to the spirit of the age which is to press the limits of our liberty in Christ and to presume upon the grace of God and continue in sin.

Jude 4 KJV 1900

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is here teaching his disciples that just as the hunger for food and thirst for water, so also should the long for righteousness.

Our physical life is dependent upon these basic human appetites and to the same extent is our spiritual life dependent upon this appetite for righteousness.

Instead of following the majority and what is wrong with _____________. Maybe we should ask the more important question what is right with_______________.

We shall not find spiritual fulfilment until we long to be right with God and we stop asking what we can get by with and begin asking what will help me to maintain a right relationship with God.

We have been called to live unto righteousness

1 Peter 2:21–24 KJV 1900

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We do so by yielding to God’s influence and not longer yielding to sin.

Romans 6:18–22 KJV 1900

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

There is coming a day in the future when our appetite for righteousness shall finally and ultimately be satisfied as sin is remove and we dwell eternally in a place of holiness and righteousness.

Blessed are the...

Merciful (Vs. 7)

The disciple of Christ must be compassionate and merciful toward others. Our natural tendency is to judge others harshly while failing to judge ourselves.

The disciple of Christ will exhibit the opposite tendency to judge himself harshly while showing mercy and exercising compassion towards others.

We must fully recognize our own desperate need for someone to show mercy towards us and this should provoke us to show mercy towards others.

If we desire mercy and compassion from others, we must show mercy and compassion towards others. This is true also of God, for we shall receive at His hands what we exhibit towards others.

Jesus vividly illustrates this principle in Matthew 18:21-35- master who forgave debt.

Blessed are the...

Pure in Heart (Vs. 8)

Psalm 24:3–4 KJV 1900

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully.

Here we find the qualification for entrance into the presence of God. This is pictured in the priestly system of the Old Testament as those who entered the temple were required to first cleanse themselves.

If we desire to gain entry into His presence we must have our hearts purified from sin and wicked imaginations. We cannot think that we shall enjoy His presence while we harbor sin in our hearts.

This is true in the ultimate sense as well for unless we have been given a pure heart we shall not have the opportunity to “see God” when this life is over.

We must not think that we shall experience God’s presence or power while our hearts are filled with the filth and corruption of this world. We must daily purify.

James 4:8 KJV 1900

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

If we are unwilling to “come clean” before God then we dare not approach Him at all.

Blessed are the...

Peacemakers (Vs. 9)

The disciple of Christ is not interested in stirring up strife and contention or initiating conflict, rather he desires to bring peace.

Romans 12:17–19 KJV 1900

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Instead of being the one who causes conflict and stirs up strife, the disciple of Christ will do his best to end conflict and to cause contention and strife to cease.

Illustration: so many in our world are intent on stoking the conflicts that arise in our society or their own personal gain. The disciple of Christ will instead seek to bring peace and to reconcile those who are at odds.

This is especially true in the context of the body of Christ. The disciple is far too consumed with reaching souls and training disciples to attack fellow believers and to stir up strife and contention with other Christians.

We can take a stand for what is right and not initiate conflict or contention. We do not have to fight those who do not agree with us!

It is this attitude which would cause others to recognize us as children of God. Just as the early believers were called Christians because of their desire to patter their lives after Jesus Christ, so also shall we be called children of God because of our desire for peace and reconciliation.

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Just as we have been reconciled to God in Jesus Christ through whom we have peace with God, so also should we strive to bring peace and reconciliation between men and men and between God and men. In doing so we provide the evidence that we are children of God.

Conclusion

These “Beatitudes” provide a perfect standard by which we may judge our development as a disciple of Christ.

May we take the time to examine our lives and our character in light of these words “From the Mouth of the Master.”

As we do say may we be willing to correct that which is lacking and to implement that which is missing from our lives as we continue to allow God to shape and to mold us into disciples who can make a sizable impact upon this world by the power of God which works in us.