Matthew 5:1-6 Beatitudes Part 1

Matthew 5:1-6

The Beatitudes Part 1

This is the greatest sermon Jesus ever preached. It includes the Lord's prayer, the beatitudes, and the golden rule. Jesus delivered this sermon on a mountain near Capernaum. Tradition ascribes the site to an extinct volcano named Karne Hittim. Jesus sat while delivering the Sermon on the Mount. Sitting signified authority, so rabbi's often sat while teaching. Today pastors stand and the people sit, but in Jesus day, Pastors sat and the people stood up. The Sermon on the Mount covers all of chapters 5, 6, & 7 of Matthew, and itdescribes the quality of life of a citizen of the kingdom of God. I divided the Sermon up into 5 sections, but it may take 6 to 8 Months of studies to actually get through the whole Sermon. 

1. Beatitudes, Salt & Light------------------------ Matthew 5:3-16

Each Beatitude carries with it a strong promise of ultimate good for those who develop the blessed life.

2. Laws-------------------------------- Matthew 5:17-48

3. The Lord’s Prayer------------- Matthew 6:1-18

4. Money----------------------------- Matthew 6:19-34

5. Warnings------------------------- Matthew 7:1-29

The word “Beatitude” comes from a Latin word meaning “happy” or “blessed.” Some Scholars list 7-10, but I agree with those who find only 8 with verses 10-12 being the same one. The word “Happy is” or “Blessed” is used both in the New and Old Testaments, but this passage alone is known as the Beatitudes.

1. In fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 3:3 Christ corrects the way-word teachings of the priests

1. When the LORD handed the law to Moses, 

1. He came down upon the mountain, 

2. Now He goes up the mountain to clarify that law

2. When the Lord spoke to Moses

1. He did so with thunder and lightning 

2. Now He speaks in a still small voice

3. The LORD told Moses

1. Keep the people away from the mountain lest they die

2. Now the Lord tells them to draw near and receive life 

2. The Sermon on the Mount is the “Constitution of Christianity”

1. It tells us what to expect as a citizen of Christ's Church

1. It tells us what God expects from us

2. It tells is what we may expect from Him

3. Beatitudes means “Happy”, or “Blessed”

1. They are meant to comfort suffering believers.

2. These words are expressions used in both the Old Testament and the New Testaments

1. Old Testament 54 times (x = times)

1. “Blessed is” --- used 25 times

2. “Blessed are” --- used 16 times

3. “Happy is” --- used 8 times

4. “Happy are” --- used 5 times 

5. Psalms (24x), Proverbs (7x), 1 Samuel (5x), Other OT books (21x)

2. New testament 58 times

1. “Blessed is” --- used 21 times

2. “Blessed are” --- used 28 times

3. “Happy is” --- used 9 times

4. Revelations (6x), Romans (3x), John’s Gospel (3x), Matthew (15x), Luke (19x)

5. “Beatitudes” were used so often in NT, the word was invented to describe the concept

4. Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Psalm 51:17)

1. The call to be poor in spirit is placed first for a reason, because it puts the following commands into perspective. They cannot be fulfilled by one’s own strength, but only by a beggar’s reliance on God’s power.

2. They are not self-assertive, self-reliant, self-confident, or self-sufficient

3. They do not boast in their God given characteristics like birth, family, nationality, education, physical looks, wealth, culture, or race

4. In their hearts they are truly repentant and deserve no more then the least like the prodigal son. They are conscious of their sin, knowing in their hearts they are unworthy the tax collector. 

5. They realize all their righteousness is, but filthy rags before a holy God. (Isaiah 64:6)

5. ”For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

1. Inheriting the “Kingdom of Heaven”, note the present tense of the verb, is theirs. They inherit the now and in the future

2. This form of expression goes back to the wisdom literature of the OT, particularly the Psalms

3. Throughout the Scriptures, those martyred have been promised a place for eternity with God

4. A promise of a threefold blessing

1. Present ( Mark 10:29-30)

2. Millennial (Revelation 20:4) 

3. Eternal (James 1:12)

5. We should love those who curse us and mistreat usThey make us to be millionaires in the Lord... on earth

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.

Proverbs 25:21-22

6. Matt 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Psalm 32:3-7

The biblical concept of mourning is recognizing a need and then presenting that need to the God of all comfort. The ancient Greek grammar indicates an intense degree of mourning. Jesus does not speak of casual sorrow for the consequences of our sin, but a deep grief before God over our fallen state. The word “mourn” in the Greek is the most intensive kind of mourning. It is the same word used when Jacob thought that his son Joseph was dead. (Genesis 37:34-35)

1. A reliance upon the Lord when going through difficult circumstances

2. David cried all night because he was so sorry for his sin against God

3. Many examples of heartfelt mourning in the Scriptures

4. Those who mourn over their sin and their sinful condition are promised comfort. God allows this grief into our lives as a path, not as a destination. Godly mourning leads to God’s forgiveness and joy.

Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy. 

He who continually goes forth weeping, 

Bearing seed for sowing, Shall 

doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

Bringing his sheaves with him

Psalms 126:5-6

5. When one admits sin and repents the Lord says, “I don’t condemn you. Go your way and sin no more.” Like the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. (John 8:10-11)

7. Matt 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is from the Greek word “praos”, which basically means mild or soft. The term was used to describe soothing medicine or a soft breeze. It was used to describe animals whose naturally wild spirit had been broken by a trainer so they could do useful work

1. Meekness is power under God’s control with courage from God

2. A broken horse as apposed to a wild one, the strength is still their but now it’s under control

3. Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries

4. A refusal to seek revenge when wronged

5. Turning the other cheek

6. The meek does not exhibit

1. Meanness, malice or fits of sudden anger or hold long-harbored desires for vengeance.

2. It does not however mean one lacks conviction by showing cowardice or emotional flabbiness, it is not mere human niceness.

3. Examples of Meekness

1. Abraham lays aside his rights for the sake of family harmony and witness (Genesis 13:5-9)

2. Joseph in meekness understood it was God’s place to judge and his to forgive. Genesis 45

3. David would not touch Saul out of respect for his office as king. 1 Sam. 24:10

4. It does not however mean you surrender your right and allow injustice to run rampant. There must always be retribution for crimes against humanity

1. Abraham goes to war to rescue his nephew lot from 4 invading kings. (Genesis 14:14-16)

5. Meekness is necessary to witness effectively. (1 Peter 3:15)

6. Inheriting the earth in the sense that the meek are satisfied people. They have learned that happiness doesn’t lie in their possessions, but in a relationship with God. (Philippians 4:11)

7. In the coming Kingdom when Jesus reigns, the meek will reign with Him.

8. Those who humbly and meekly bend themselves down before God and man, shall "inherit the land" and posses their inheritance in peace.

8. Matt 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” 

1. An strong desire for anything is often represented in the Scriptures by hunger and thirst, 

1. A hunger for the blessings of pardon and peace because of

1. Their deep sense of sin

2. Their empty feeling of haplessness from realizing ones inability to escape sin on their own

3. The disconnectedness they feel from God, the one true addiction we are given

2. They thirst for the Living water Christ offers (John 4:14) (John 7:37) (Isaiah 55:1-2)

1. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to hunger and thirst after Christ

1. Christ hungers for our souls and thirsts for our salvation, so we must hunger and thirst after him

2. He is the Life of our souls

3. The true Bread that came down from heaven (John 6:35)

3. The primary purpose of the Church isn’t to take care of symptoms such as starvation and crime, but to bring the Gospel to men so that they will be brought into a position of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

4. We will be filled with the Spirit of God and then our food will be to do Gods will (John 4:31-34)

I seldom emphasize food nor clothing in my ministry. While it is true that these are essentials for a physical existence, they are not as essential as the Word. The primary purpose of the Church isn’t to take care of the symptoms of a fallen World, such as starvation and crime, but rather to bring the Gospel to men and women so that they will be brought into a position of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

A strong desire for anything is often represented in the Scriptures by hunger and thirst for the blessings of a pardon and peace because of our sin. Those who are lost, thirst for the Living water Jesus Christ offers (John 4:14) (John 7:37) (Isaiah 55:1-2) To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to hunger and thirst after Christ. It is a fact that Jesus Christ hungers for our souls and thirsts for our salvation, so we must hunger and thirst after him. He is the Life of our souls, and the true Bread that came down from heaven (John 6:35)

“””Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.””””