Sermon Tone Analysis

If we were to write a list of what really matters

- of what constitutes being - existing, and what defines being blessed in 2022 right here in North America, I would venture to say it would look quite a bit different from the list we just read in Matthew 5. I’m sure a quick look at popular self-help books & podcasts oriented toward how to succeed in the twenty-first century would fill in much of this list for us.

Most of these lists would revolve around the idea of financial success - defined as affluence, or around individual accolades and awards that we can receive.

What do we really value in our world.?

While no 2 lists would look exactly the same, our lists of beatitudes would probably look quite a bit different than this list given by Jesus.

It might look something like this: “Blessed are those who work hard so they can play later.

“ Or, “Blessed are those who prioritize themselves and their safety over that of their neighbors.”

Or maybe even something like, “Blessed are the ones who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.”

You could probably think of many more present day “beatitudes” that our culture embraces.

You might think, well, we live in a completely different kind of world than the one in which Jesus spoke these words, but the culture targeted by Matthew 5 wasn’t all that different.

They too struggled with wealth inequality.

They too, struggled with the idea of worshiping a powerful empire and there was a desire for selfishness and security at the expense of others— which is precisely why these words in Matthew 5 were and are so unsettling and subversive.

Jesus was rejecting the culture that believed these things, and he was turning culture upside down.

If the beatitudes teach us anything, it is that the ways of the world are not to be the ways of the people of God.

Those who follow after Jesus—are supposed to have completely different attitudes and look at the world in completely different ways.

Instead of seeking to get ahead, we are to be meek and humble.

Instead of violence, we are to make peace.

That is really a struggle in the situation our world is in today.

I don’t have all the answers for how we are to move forward when a madman is wreaking violence and desperation on innocent people.

I know that I pray for the people of Ukraine, for their leaders and for the leaders of the world to make wise decisions about the war.

But I do know that what is blessed by God is defined in a very different way than the way we define it in the world.

The Sermon on the Mount, which begins with the verses we read earlier is one that still unsettles us because our world is not so different than the one in which these words were spoken.

So in this season of Lent, we once again take time to allow ourselves to be unsettled by these words, that we might be transformed to look more like Christ.

1. Blessed Are . . .

a.

When we think of blessing, we often think of material prosperity.

The Greek word makarios that is interpreted as “blessed” here often meant a form of prosperity, which is in line with what we think of today when we hear the word “blessed” or “blessing.”

i.

A quick search of the hashtag #blessed on any social media platform will net results of what we think of as blessing in our culture.

You will find things like prosperity, avoidance of injury in horrible accidents, health blessings, family members - especially grandchildren!

b.

However, Jesus is interpreting “blessed” in a new way in the Beatitudes.

i. Makarios can be interpreted as either “blessed” or “happy.”

Some translations of Scripture interpret makarios as “happy,” as a way of denoting that this passage isn’t talking about material wealth and prosperity.

The idea of happy might feel odd at first but is helpful in understanding what Matthew is trying to say here.

ii.

Those listening to Jesus would be shocked to hear “blessed” followed by “the poor in spirit.”

They would expect to hear Jesus talk favorably about the powerful.

Instead, they are witness to a reinterpretation by Jesus of the word “blessed”—as a description of those who embody meekness and humility.

2. The Qualities of the Blessed

a.

This list of those who are blessed doesn’t fit the normal description of people we would consider blessed.

If we were to make a list of those who are blessed in our society, what might the list include?

i. Blessed are those who have a high-paying job or a job that they enjoy.

ii.

Blessed are those who have a lot of social media followers.

iii.

Blessed are those who have power and influence.

iv.

Blessed are those who have a loving family.

b.

Our list of those we believe to be blessed often lines up with what our culture views as blessing.

The list in Matthew, however, is completely different.

This list of those who are blessed is a stark contrast to the power-and wealth-hungry bravado of our world: poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness, and those who are insulted, persecuted, and lied about because of Jesus.

c.

It is not the wealthy who are blessed but those who are poor in spirit.

i.

There is an aspect of this phrase that is nothing about being financially poor.

Matthew says that those who are poor in Spirit are blessed, but in Luke’s telling of the beatitudes, he simply says blessed are you who are poor, implying that the blessing of the kingdom of God is for the materially poor as well (v.

20).

Matthew recognizes that there are multiple ways to be poor, and not all of them have to do with the size of your bank account.

ii.

It is also important to note that, just like our culture elevates and believes that the wealthy are blessed, so did the culture in Matthew’s day.

The language isn’t intended to be veiled but to reinterpret blessing for the people who are listening.

d.

It is not those who sit in comfort now who are blessed but those who are in mourning.

e.

It is not bravado and arrogance that are blessed but meekness.

f.

It is not power and violence that are blessed but mercy, a pursuit of righteousness, and peacemaking.

g.

It isn’t those who live a life in freedom who are blessed but those who are persecuted for living the life Christ has called them to live.

i.

This is where we often err.

We sometimes desire this blessing over the others.

We claim persecution when there are consequences for our actions, or we claim persecution in North America because we lose some of our power and influence.

This blessing is not to be isolated from the others.

Persecution has context here—those who are blessed are persecuted for the sake of righteousness (doing right and good things for the right reasons).

ii.

It is good to remember this blessing in context with the others because the other blessings help us to see what righteousness is.

1. Meekness, peacemaking, poor in spirit, a hunger and thirst for righteousness (the right things for the right reasons)

2. Being like Christ, in the ways Christ laid down his rights and became a servant, loving others well—these things that lead to persecution are blessed

3. What Those Who Are Blessed, Are Blessed With

a.

Not only are those who are blessed a contrast to culture, but the blessings themselves are a contrast.

The expectation would be that those who are blessed would be given material wealth, land, health, etc.

But that is not what they are blessed with.

i.

Those who are poor in spirit are blessed with the kingdom of heaven.

Already this is a departure.

It’s not the kingdoms of this world, the systems of power in place around them—but something completely different, bigger, and better.

ii.

Those who mourn are blessed with comfort.

iii.Those who are meek will inherit the earth—a contrast from whom we believe the earth belongs to, even in our time.

iv.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.

Those who are merciful will receive mercy.

Those who are pure in heart will see God.

Those who are peacemakers are called the children of God.

v.

Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness will be blessed with the kingdom of heaven.