The Be Attitudes Matthew 5:1-5

Intro:

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There is something great about having teenagers in the house

They are more independent

You tell them to take a shower as opposed to running a bath

They, for the most part, dress themselves

One area that is not so great is their attitudes

When they were young I couldn’t do anything wrong

They cheered when I got home

Now, I can’t do anything right and they won’t get off the couch to unlock the door when my hands are full

Attitude is important and it’s not by coincidence that Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with the Be Attitudes, or what our attitude should be as a Disciple

This morning we start the study of Jesus’ greatest sermon

It has been said if you took all the good advice for how to live ever uttered by any philosopher or psychiatrist or counselor, took out the foolishness and boiled it all down to the real essentials, you would be left with a poor imitation of this great message by Jesus.

Beatitudes means “The Blessings”

They can also be understood as giving the believer his “be - attitudes” - the attitudes he should “be.”

In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom.

Read Matthew 5:1-6

Transition:

The thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is internal and not external, spiritual and moral rather than physical and political.

His concern is for what men are, because what they are determines what they do

The Old Testament ends with the warning of a curse; the New Testament begins with the promise of blessing.

The Old Testament law demonstrates man’s need of salvation, and the New Testament message offers the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

There are 50 commands but it isn’t legalistic because it describes life in the Kingdom

Jesus doesn’t simply tell us what to do, He invites us to see the world as He does

The context shows that the sermon is primarily for disciples

A disciple should listen to this sermon and strive to obey him, not to get into the kingdom, but to live faithfully within it

Jesus hits on issues like pride, worry, reputation, wealth, loyalty, and trust

The Lord begins with the offer of blessedness

The beatitudes describe the character of a disciple and the rewards that God promise them

Teaching the Disciples vs. 1-2

These beatitudes are for disciples

Jesus beckons us to come live like him

When He sat down: This was the common posture for teaching in that culture.

It was customary for the teacher to sit and the hearers to stand.

If he spoke while standing or walking, what he said was considered to be informal and unofficial

But when he sat down, what he said was authoritative and official

His disciples came to Him: This again probably has in mind a group much larger than the Twelve

This is a message on discipleship

Jesus wanted his followers to know what was expected of a disciple and how they should live

The masses probably filled in behind the disciples and heard the Gospel, but Jesus’ emphasis here was to teach the disciples

One cannot behave like Christ until one becomes like Christ. Those who do not love the King cannot live like the King.

Trying to apply Jesus’ teachings without receiving Him as Lord and Savior is futile

Then He opened His mouth: This means that Jesus used his voice in a strong way to teach this crowd.

He spoke with energy, projecting His thoughts with earnestness.

And taught them, saying: What they heard was a message that has long been recognized as the sum of Jesus’ - or anyone’s - ethical teaching.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us how to live.

Establishing a Foundation vs. 3-5

The first three blessings build a foundation for our spiritual life

The first portion of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes, which means “The Blessings”

It can also be understood as giving the believer his “be – attitudes” – the attitudes he should “be.”

In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom.

It’s a name derived from Latin and referring to a state of happiness or bliss.

How could a message as demanding and impossible as the Sermon on the Mount be intended to make people happy?

God desires to save men from their tragic lostness, to give them power to obey His will, and to make them happy.

The fullest meaning of the term, therefore, had to do with an inward contentedness that is not affected by circumstances.

That is the kind of happiness God desires for His children, a state of joy and well-being that does not depend on physical, temporary circumstances

Philippians 4:11 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

vs. 3 Poor in Spirit

To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of oneself

It does not mean to be “poor spirited” and have no backbone at all!

“Poor in spirit” is the opposite of the world’s attitudes of self-praise

It is honesty with ourselves: we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God.

The world says, “Happy are the rich, the noble, the successful, the glamorous, the popular, the famous.”

This beatitude takes the opposite path to happiness

The Beatitudes seem paradoxical.

The conditions and their corresponding blessings do not seem to match

Here is the paradox:

Happy are the humble

Poverty and piety were often associated in Judaism;

the term poor could encompass either physical poverty (Lk 6:20), or the faithful dependence on God that it often produced

Matthew makes clear that Jesus is here talking about the condition of the spirit, not of the wallet

True spiritual concern for such people will express itself first of all in providing for their physical needs

But it will only truly work if the spiritual needs are ministered to

To be poor is spirit is to recognize one’s spiritual poverty apart from God.

It is to see oneself as one really is: lost, hopeless, helpless.

Apart from Jesus Christ every person is spiritually destitute, no matter what his education, wealth, social status, accomplishments, or religious knowledge.

The poor in spirit are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and their complete dependence on God.

They perceive that there are no saving resources in themselves and that they can only beg for mercy and grace.

They know they have no spiritual merit, and they know they can earn no spiritual reward.

Their pride is gone, their self-assurance is gone, and they stand empty-handed before God.

vs. 4 Comforted in Mourning

Mourning is usually associated with bereavement

When I am with someone who has lost a loved one I always quote this verse

It is healthy to mourn

Mourning has a couple of other meanings at this time

It could mean grief over the pain of the oppressed by the Romans or a sorrow over a persons sins

Three areas of mourning

death of a loved one

Being oppressed

Repentance over sins

Since Jesus is talking to his disciples the main area of focus is on our personal sin

There should be an attitude of mourning in us over how sinful we are

Listen to this beatitude in this context

Blessed are those who mourn over their sins for they will be comforted

Sounds paradoxical

The way to happiness is through sadness

We should feel sadness over our sins

We become happy by getting forgiveness

That happiness comes from the comfort of mourning our sins

“Comfort” was one of the blessings promised for the future time when God would restore his mourning people

We find happiness in the comfort that God forgives those who sin and ask for forgiveness

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you aren’t happy it may be that there is some unforgiven sin in your life

Now you can ask to be forgiven and you will be but the happiness may not be evident

That is because you want to have burden of your sin removed but you aren’t burdened over your sin

Do you ever feel broken over the sin in your life?

Do you ever mourn like the tax collector who beat his chest and described himself as a wretched sinner?

This is one of the characteristics of a happy Christian

They are saddened by the sin in their lives

You are not self flagellating, but there is a reality that you struggle and are in constant need of grace

vs. 5 Meek Inherit the Earth

Meekness is one of the most misunderstood character traits

The word meekness translates as gentle in the Greek and had the connotations of being mild or soft

As a human attitude it means being gentle of spirit, meek, submissive, quiet, tenderhearted.

These are some of the least valued character traits

The world wants you to be strong, bold, rebellious, loud

If you want true happiness you need to exhibit meekness

The essential difference between being poor in spirit and being meek, or gentle, may be that poverty in spirit focuses on our sinfulness, whereas meekness focuses on God’s holiness.

The basic attitude of humility underlies both virtues.

When we look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and unworthy we are;

when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how righteous and worthy He is.

We again can see logical sequence and progression in the Beatitudes.

Poverty of spirit (the first) is negative, and results in mourning (the second).

Meekness (the third) is positive, and results in seeking righteousness (the fourth).

Being poor in spirit causes us to turn away from ourselves in mourning, and meekness causes us to turn toward God in seeking His righteousness.

The blessings of the Beatitudes are for those who are realistic about their sinfulness, who are repentant of their sins, and who are responsive to God in His righteousness.

Those who are unblessed, unhappy, and shut out of the kingdom are the proud, the arrogant, the unrepentant—the self-sufficient and self-righteous who see in themselves no unworthiness and feel no need for God’s help and God’s righteousness

Isaiah 29:19 ESV

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

They shall inherit the earth

What does this phrase mean?

It simply means that God will not forget or forsake those who are meek

Meek people get pushed aside

Meek people get forgotten because they don’t make any noise

Jesus says that God will remember them on His day of judgment

They will not get the short end of the deal

Who Are You Going to Be? vs. 6-9

Now we start to build on the strong foundation

These ask the question, “Who are you going to be?”

vs. 6 Be Hungry

Jewish people understood that God would also satisfy his people’s needs in the future kingdom, as he had supplied for them in the exodus when he first redeemed them

Here is the paradox

Happy are the Hungry

This beatitude speaks of strong desire, of driving pursuit, of a passionate force inside the soul.

It has to do with ambition—ambition of the right sort—whose object is to honor, obey, and glorify God by partaking of His righteousness.

This holy ambition is in great contrast to the common ambitions of men to gratify their own lusts, accomplish their own goals, and satisfy their own egos

Jesus declares that the deepest desire of every person ought to be to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

That is the Spirit-prompted desire that will lead a person to salvation and keep him strong and faithful once he is in the kingdom.

It is also the only ambition that, when fulfilled, brings enduring happiness.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

vs. 7 Be Merciful

Here is the paradox

Happy are the Merciful

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

vs. 8 Be Holy

Here is the paradox

Happy are the Holy

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

vs. 9 Be a Peacemaker

Here is the paradox

Happy are the Peacemakers

James 3:18 ESV

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Happy are the Harassed vs. 10-12

Rejoice in rejection

Most Jewish people did not believe that prophets still existed in the Old Testament sense, so Jesus’ comparing his followers to the prophets indicated that they would have an extraordinary mission.

Here is the final paradox

Happy are the Harassed

1 Peter 4:14 ESV

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.