Matthew 4:23-25
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people….25 And great crowds followed him
Matthew 5:1-2
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying
The Sermon on the Mount is a call to be different from the crowd.
The Beatitudes describe 8 qualities and blessings that are to characterize all of Jesus’ followers.
The word ‘blessed’ is the Greek word, makarios—means “happy” or “blessed”.
• The world’s definition of happiness is subjective—based on our happenings.
• Jesus’ definition of happiness is objective—based on God’s approval of us and our satisfaction in Him.
This new platform for Jesus’ followers is much different than the world’s platform:
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The world values being rich and capable
Jesus calls us to be spiritually bankrupt and completely dependent.
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15)
When you feel completely capable, you’re not fully dependent.
“The way to rise in the Kingdom is to sink in ourselves” - Charles Spurgeon
2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Are you grieved over sin?
“My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.” (Psalm 119:136)
Does your sin cause you to be grieved?
You have kept count of my wanderings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8)
Jesus’ greatest comfort comes in the form of forgiveness.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, (Isaiah 61:1)
3. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Meekness is not weakness, but power under control.
Meek described the bit that was put in a horse’s mouth.
Are you willing to hand the reigns of your life over to Jesus?
4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.”
The appetite you feed, will be the one that grows!
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:9)
5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)
Forgiven People Forgive People
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:1,4-5)
6. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully. (Psalm 24:3-4)
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
(Romans 12:18)
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:20)
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
If you are friends with Jesus, you’ll be enemies of this world.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5:41)
“Suffering is the badge of true discipleship.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
These 8 blessings are not the result of merit, but a gift of grace.