Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:1-9

The Beatitudes – The Blessed – The Be Attitudes – Well Off – Blissful – Fortunate – Joyful.  Assault on Pharisaic Legalism.  Opposite of the Pursuit of Happiness.  Pursuit of Blessing does not equal ease. 

WHAT DO WE THINK OF WHEN WE THINK OF BLESSING?  WELL OFF?  BLISSFUL?

“It closes off every possible avenue of human merit and leaves sinners dependant on nothing but divine grace for salvation.”

Poor in Spirit:

Opposite of self-sufficiency…no spiritual assets…does that sound blessed?  It should.  Are we aware of our lacking spirit apart from God, or do we think we are generally decent, and God is frosting on the cake?  How do we live…with which truth?

Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven:

We only gain the kingdom when we recognize our own spiritual poverty.  Are we willing to see our own depravity in order to receive heaven in its place?

Those who Mourn:

A godly sorrow over sin. Only a deep and true understanding of sin and how God views it will ever cause true repentance from sin.  We need to learn to hate it as God does in order to have the mind of Christ.  God does not condemn us because we sin.  He has provided a way.  What is our relationship with our sin?  Have we learned to excuse it?  Ignore it?  Feel guilty about it?  Dwell on it?  Hate ourselves because of it?

They shall be Comforted:

Knowledge we will be forgiven and salvation is ours.  The only comfort when we understand the depth of our sin is that God has provided a way.  Jesus’ work on the cross covers a multitude of sin.  It is finished.  We are not called to live in perpetual guilt over sin.  We are called to accept forgiveness and allow the healing power of Christ infuse a joy in forgiveness that propels us to live differently.  Do we feel the comfort of the Lord when we consider our sin?  Or do we live in perpetual guilt, shame, or denial?

The Meek:

Meek is not Weak.  It is the highest level of self-control.  This whole list of Blessed-s is progression.  We first need to learn we are lacking, then mourn our deficiency, which should then empower us to act with meekness for the one who provided a promise and way to claim that promise.  Who do you know (bible story or real) that is meek?  How would you describe their life, interactions, and demeanor?  Moses (Numbers 12:3), Jesus (Matthew 11:29).

They Shall Inherit the Earth:

Psalm 37:11  “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”  What does this mean?

Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness:

The emptying of the above allows for the filling of righteousness.  You can’t be filled with it if you are already filled with pride and self-sufficiency.  We need to seek righteousness like we would the very thing that sustains life.  It is not just an ideal, but something we need and should be empty and ready to receive if we have a right view of ourselves.  If we were to consider the things we strive hard for, would righteousness be on the list?  Do we have the capacity to be filled, or are we already full of ourselves?

They shall be Filled:

Being filled with righteousness is like being filled with Christ himself.  This is not a self-righteousness.  The kind the world abhors.  This is an ability to know our place, live in thankful acceptance of the saving power of God, and then allowing Him to fill and use us as he sees fit.  This is a wonderfully terrifying reality.  Are we open and willing to be used by the Lord in whatever way He sees fit?

The Merciful:

The more righteous a person is, the more merciful he will be toward others.  The converse is also true.  The more sinful a person is, the more critical and judgmental he will be toward others.  Which are we?  What does that say about sin in our lives?  Are we ready to go to the beginning of this list and make some changes?

They Shall Obtain Mercy:

God’s mercy is something we all need.  Without it, what would befall us?  Knowing mercy should cause us to extend it.  Extending mercy softens us to receive it from God when we need it.  We should be a merciful people.

Pure in Heart:

The difference here is between a clean heart (forgiven), and a pure heart (undistracted).  Purity is something that is difficult in a society bent toward impurity.  How can we be a separate and distinct people in the midst of this society?  What should it look like?  What does it mean abstaining from?

They Shall See God:

There will be a cost to purity that may seem like you are giving something up. If we truly commit to the first part of this scripture, we would only desire the things that are pure.  But if our heartbeat is to see God, are we willing to be pure before him?

The Peacemakers:

We will begin to show attributes like God the father himself once we have reached this point in the progression of the Sermon on the Mount.  Not only will we be peacemakers, but we will be a people able to usher the unknowing to the person of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Called Sons of God:

Our son-ship will begin here on earth.  We begin to receive the blessings of familial ties once we accept our true place under Jesus.