Blessed are the Merciful (2)
Notes
Transcript
Review:
“Blessed” -almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Blessed” -almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Kingdom of Heaven” - The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition
“Kingdom of Heaven” - The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition
“Inclusio” - A literary device that emphasizes that all information is to be taken from the same source material, the same context. In this instance the Kingdom of heaven.
“Inclusio” - A literary device that emphasizes that all information is to be taken from the same source material, the same context. In this instance the Kingdom of heaven.
Text:
When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Connection:
Connection:
The poor in spirit recognize their need, they mourn over their broken-sinful condition. This produces within them humility. This humility recognizes ones own depravity and produces a hunger for Christ’s righteousness that can only be satiated by being forgiven and washed clean in the blood of Christ. This understanding of the forgiveness one has recieved will result in the focus of today’s text.
The poor in spirit recognize their need, they mourn over their broken-sinful condition. This produces within them humility. This humility recognizes ones own depravity and produces a hunger for Christ’s righteousness that can only be satiated by being forgiven and washed clean in the blood of Christ. This understanding of the forgiveness one has recieved will result in the focus of today’s text.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
An Obvious Question: In order to receive mercy from God, does God first require mercy from us?
An Obvious Question: In order to receive mercy from God, does God first require mercy from us?
I. What Does it mean to be Merciful?
I. What Does it mean to be Merciful?
To be merciful literally means to be filled with Mercy. In other words, the merciful are those who do not just show mercy, but have a disposition toward it.
a. This disposition is not a natural posture. It’s not that some are born with mercy and others are not. Rather it is a result of being shown mercy and allowing that to change the receiver.
II. What is Mercy’s source?
II. What is Mercy’s source?
III. Why