The Beatitudes
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
This week we are going to be studying through the Sermon on the Mount.
This sermon is important for us to study. It isn’t a presentation of the plan of salvation, and it is not intended for unsaved people.
This sermon was addressed to the disciples. The King summarizes the character and conduct expected of His subjects.
It is intended to be the constitution, or the system of laws and principles, which was to govern the King’s subjects during His reign.
While Christ was on the earth, this sermon had direct application to His disciples. Subsequently, now that our Lord is in heaven, it applies to anyone who crowns Him King of their hearts.
These Beatitudes are not separate, little statements intended to be hung on our walls or coffee mugs. They are rock solid truths for living.
These are like pears in a necklace they are strung together; each builds on the previous one.
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:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“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.
v 3) Blessed are the poor in spirit.
v 3) Blessed are the poor in spirit.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
What this verse doesn’t say is, “blessed are the poor.” This has nothing to do with our financial status, but with one’s choices.
What do you suppose it mean?
The poor in spirit are those who acknowledge their own helplessness and their need for God’s authority and rulership.
They also sense their spiritual need and find it supplied in the Lord.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to such men. Selfless living is the norm and self-exaltation is no longer.
v 4) Blessed are those who mourn.
v 4) Blessed are those who mourn.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
What is it to mourn or grieve?
Now this does not refer to mourning because of the hardships of life though, it is the sorrow which one experience because of fellowship with Jesus.
It is an active sharing of the world’s hurt and sin with Jesus. Therefore, in include, not only sorrow for one’s own sin, but also sorrow because of the world’s appalling condition, it’s rejection of the Savior, and the doom of those who refuse His mercy.
These mourners shall be comforted in the coming day when:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
For believers we do all our mourning in this life; for unbelievers, today’s grief is only a foretaste of eternal sorrow.
v 5) Blessed are the meek.
v 5) Blessed are the meek.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
What does it mean to be meek?
Power under control. implies acceptance of one’s lowly position for us.
But nature human beings are volatile, temperamental, and gruff.
A meek person is gentle and mild in his own cause, though he may be a lion in God’s cause and in defending others.
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.
The thing about this is that the meek do not now inherit the earth; rather they inherit abuse and dispossession.
But they will literally inherit the earth when Christ, the King, reigns for a thousand years in peace and prosperity.
v 6) blessed are those who are hunger and thirst for righteousness.
v 6) blessed are those who are hunger and thirst for righteousness.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
What is righteousness?
The people that make up the kingdom of God have a passion for righteousness.
They long to see honesty, integrity, and justice in society; they look for practical holiness in the church.
“A thirst no earthly stream can satisfy, a hunger that must feed on Christ or die.” - Gamaliel Bradford
These people will be abundantly satisfied in Christ’s coming kingdom: They shall be filled, for righteousness will reign and corruption will give way to the highest moral standards.
v 7) Blessed are the merciful.
v 7) Blessed are the merciful.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
What is mercy? and how do we display it?
To be merciful is to be actively compassionate. On one hand to withhold punishment for those who deserve it. But in a wider sense it means to help others in need who cannot help themselves.
How has God shown us mercy?
sparing us from judgement which our sins deserve and in demonstrating kindness to us though Jesus.
We are called to imitate God when we have compassion.
What does it mean that the merciful shall obtain mercy?
He isn’t talking about mercy of salvation which God gives to us. Because salvation isn’t contingent on whether or not we are being merciful.
It is talking about the daily mercy needed for living for Christ.
We will stand before Jesus one day and give account of what we say and did during our time on this earth, and will be given rewards accordingly. If a person hasn’t been merciful, that person will not receive mercy; that is, one’s rewards will decrease.
v 8) Blessed are the pure in heart.
v 8) Blessed are the pure in heart.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
A pure-hearted person is one whose motives are unmixed, whose thoughts are holy, whose conscience is clean.
“They shall see God” Fellowship in the Word and the Spirit. In eternity.
v 9) Blessed are the peacemakers.
v 9) Blessed are the peacemakers.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
He isn’t talking about people with a peaceful disposition or those who love peace. He is referring to those who actively intervene to make peace.
The natural approach is to watch strife from the sidelines. To pull out your phones and film.
The divine approach is to make positive action toward creating peace, even if it means taking abuse.
Called sons of God. This is not how they become sons of God- That is only through Jesus Christ.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
v 10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
v 10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is promised to those who suffer for doing what is right.
Their willing to stand up for what is right condemns the ungodly world and brings out its hostility.
Why do they hate righteousness?
The righteous life because it exposes their darkness.
v 11) Blessed are you when… revile, persecute, and utter evil.
v 11) Blessed are you when… revile, persecute, and utter evil.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
What is different about this verse and verse 10?
Suffering for righteousness, suffering for Christ’s sake. The Lord knew that His disciples would be treated poorly
History confirms that: From the outset the world has persecuted, jailed, and killed followers of jesus.
v 12) Rejoice and be glad!
v 12) Rejoice and be glad!
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
To suffer for Christ’s sake is a privilege that should cause Joy. A great reward awaits those who thus become companion of the prophets in tribulation. Those OT spokesmen for God stood true in spirit of persecution. All who imitate their loyal courage will share their present exhilaration and future exaltation .
The beatitude present a portrait of the ideal citizen in Christ’s kingdom. Notice the emphases on Righteousness verse 6 peace verse 9 and joy verse 12.
Paul probably had this passage in mind when he wrote:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.