THE BEATITUDES
(For the sake of Righteousness - September 11, 2022)
Series Big Idea: "People in God's Kingdom will be known by several characteristics"
Sermon Big Idea: "Disciples of Christ can expect opposition in this life but there is great reward in heaven"
Key Scripture (Matthew 5:1-12)
This will be my last sermon on a great passage of Scripture from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that we call The Beatitudes, which I want us to focus our attention on (Matthew 5:10-12). To help us understand the context of this passage, we need to be aware that chapter four discussed the arrest of John the Baptist. After John’s arrest, Jesus left Nazareth to go live in Capernaum so that the prophecy in the Book of (Isaiah 9:1-2) would be fulfilled that spoke of the coming Deliverer who would lead the nation into joy and prosperity once again.
Jesus traveled all over Galilee preaching and teaching the Good News of the Kingdom. His message: “Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Along the way, He asked four men to come and follow Him and they did (Simon Peter and Andrew/James and John – the sons of Zebedee). At the same time, He was also healing every disease and sickness of the people that He encountered. The news of these healings spread like wildfire and large crowds began to follow Him.
The first couple of verses in chapter five explains that when Jesus saw the enormity of the crowds that were following Him, He went up on a mountain and His disciples came to Him and he began to teach them beginning with these Beatitudes. We have discussed these over the past eight weeks or so. I want you to remember that these are not things that Christians must do, they are characteristics of who they are as disciples of Christ. But yes there are benefits connected to living this way.
(Matthew 5:1-12)
1 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying: 3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. 5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. 7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. 8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. 9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The things Jesus mentions in these verses are the polar opposite of the dreams of most people in the world today. To get ahead and be successful in life most people don’t think about being “poor in spirit”, “mourning”, and being “gentle.” They think about being self-confident, pleasure seekers, and being proud. But Jesus shatters that kind of thinking. He says that the values he presented in these verses are where humanity will find ultimate fulfillment.
It is not found in seeking after pleasure; It’s found by being willing to admit you're nothing without God and that you need Him. It's not found in satisfaction; It is found in hungering after the things of God. It's not found in popularity; it's found in being committed to the unpopular. It's not found in competitiveness; It is found in helping others find peace with God. But please be warned. There's a huge risk when you choose to follow Jesus and to live as He has explained in these verses. You will be labeled with many different names and with that labeling could come persecution.
Jesus left an example for us to follow when we are persecuted and opposed.
(1 Peter 2:23) when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.
The apostle Peter tells us in these same verses that as Christians we are called to endure the pain and suffering of living like Jesus. He had the power to destroy anyone at any time while He was on the earth, but He never threatened anyone. A threat is intended to lash back at someone because of feeling violated. Jesus doesn't threaten, he makes promises!
Conclusion:
I stated earlier that as we've been studying, we have seen benefits to living like Jesus. Jesus didn't say in these verses that we could be blessed but that we are blessed. My friends, when we approach living life like this daily, we will open ourselves up to follow or go in His direction. Of course, this means we will have afflictions in this life, but we are promised an unmatched future in eternity.
(2 Corinthians 4:17) For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
Have you been reconciled back to God by believing in the Son of God and accepting His forgiveness of sin? If so, does your life line up with what Jesus taught in these verses? As your pastor, I am praying that your life is a shining light for Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:18-21) Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
WORDsearch. Adult Questions for LESSONmaker. WORDsearch. Print.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.
Cole, Steven J. The Church. Dallas: Galaxie Software, 2017. Print. Steven J. Cole Commentary Series.
Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Print.
Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. Print.
Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon 1977: n. pag. Print.
Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Matthew. Ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013. Print. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2005. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.
Dockery, David S., ed. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998. Print.
Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003. Print.
Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003. Print.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Brown, Jeannine K. Matthew. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Weber, Stuart K. Matthew. Vol. 1. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.
Barnes, Albert. Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark. Ed. Robert Frew. London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885. Print.
Turner, David, and Darrell L. Bock. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005. Print.
France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985. Print. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.
Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999. Print.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Willmington, H. L. The Outline Bible. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999. Print.
Souter, Alexander. A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament 1917: n. pag. Print.
Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.
Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001. Print. The Tyndale Reference Library.
AFTER THE MESSAGE
After hearing today's message there may be a decision you have made and you want a pastor to connect with you. We want to make this easy for you. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and fill out the form and our pastor will contact you in the way you prefer.