Sermon on the Mount The Beatitudes and the

Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes and the Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12

Sermon on the Mount Galilean Ministry – Summary of Activity Matthew 4: 23 -25 ØSecond Year of Ministry (Luke 6: 1) ØTeaching in the Synagogues ØPreaching the Gospel of the Kingdom ØHealing All Kinds of Sickness ØGreat Multitudes/Fame Spread ØGalilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, beyond the Jordan

Sermon on the Mount Decapolis Galilee Beyond Jordan Judea Jerusalem

Sermon on the Mount Galilean Ministry – Summary of Activity Matthew 4: 23 -25 ØSecond Year of Ministry (Luke 6: 1) ØTeaching in the Synagogues ØPreaching the Gospel of the Kingdom ØHealing All Kinds of Sickness ØGreat Multitudes/Fame Spread ØGalilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, beyond the Jordan ØTaught Repentance (Matt 4: 17) Radical change

The Sermon on the Mount Core Values of the Kingdom Ø The “constitution of God’s Kingdom” Ø Reflects the central theme of the Bible that God wanted for Himself a people. (I Peter 2: 9 -10)

The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5 -7 The character of kingdom citizens their relation to the world - 5: 1 -16. and The high standard of righteousness in the kingdom - 5: 17 -48. True piety: inner devotion - 6: 1 -18 and separation from the world - 6: 19 -34. Proper judgments that flow from faith - 7: 1 -29 (Two choices 24 -29)

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock …

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine AND DOES NOT DO THEM, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand …

The Sermon on the Mount "It seems certain that no other speech ever delivered has so influenced man as has this sermon on the mount. Its contents, so superior to any production of man, proved the Deity of its author. Its teaching is out of harmony with any school of religion or philosophy of that day; hence, their brightest lights could not have produced it. Its teaching is distinct, revolutionary, challenging every school of religious thought of the times, both Jewish and heathen. It is not a product of the times, but of Deity. " (R. L. Whiteside, Bible Studies, Vol. 4, p. 117).

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 Ø“Beatitudes” - from the Latin beatus, § “blessed, ” or to “make happy” Ø"Blessed" – from the Greek makarios § to be fully satisfied § In classical Greek this word described those who possessed consummate bliss.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 Ø The English word happiness contains the root hap which means chance. Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy. " (William Barclay, The Gospel Of Matthew, p. 89). Ø Makarios differs from “happy” because happy describes a person who has good luck, a blessed person is one whom God makes fully satisfied, not because of favorable circumstances, but because He indwells the believer through Christ. ” (Word Study - Zodhiates)

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 ØWilliam Barclay writes: “. . . that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life. ”

The Beatitudes Matthew 5: 2 -10 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 Ø All Christians are meant to manifest all of these characteristics. They are not proverbs to be applied individually, they are a composite. They are a seamless garment. Ø These qualities are chosen qualities

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) ØGreek word for “poor” (Ptochos) means one who has nothing and is completely empty, abject poverty

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) What it is not… ØThe Pharisee in Lk. 18: 10 -12 ØThe scribes in Lk 20: 46; Mk 2: 16 -17 ØThe Laodicean church in Rev. 3: 17 ØEconomically poor ØWeak or cowardly (Cowardly spies “We are not able to go up against the people” Num. 13: 31) ØFalse humility ØSelf - reliant, confident, centered, or sufficient. ØBoast in their birth, family, nationality, education, physical looks, race, wealth, or their culture. Phil 3: 4 -8

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) What it is … Ø Isa. 66: 2 “ but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word” Ø Isa. 57: 15 "For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly (poor, humble) of spirit”

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) What it is … ØIsaiah 6: 3 -5 ØLuke 5: 8 ØLuke 18: 13 -14 ØLuke 15: 21

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) What it is … ØD. Martyn Lloyd-Jones defined poor in spirit as “a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. ” He further described it as “this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God. ”

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 How to increase this quality of being “poor in spirit” Ø By looking at God, His Son and His word. Ø See ourselves as God sees us. Have a realistic view of ourselves. Ø Contemplate standing before Him. We come empty, hopeless, naked and vile (Eph. 2: 12; Rev 3: 17) Ø Pray Ø Consistently and actively attend Bible classes and worship services

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3) ØThis is the first, because it is the key to all the beatitudes that follow. ØThere is no entry into the Kingdom of heaven apart from it. ØThere is no one in the Kingdom of heaven who is not poor in spirit ØIt is the fundamental characteristic of the Christian and of the citizen of the Kingdom of heaven and all the other characteristics are in a sense the result of this one.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) “Mourn” – (Gr. Pentheo) is the strongest word for mourning in all of the Greek New Testament. Sometimes translated as wailing.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) What it is not…. ØFinancial loss ØSickness or death of loved ones ØLoneliness or rejection ØNot like King Ahab who wept because Naboth would not sell to him his family heritage. (cf. 1 Kings 21: 4) ØNot like Judas who wept after selling his Lord for 30 pieces of silver (cf. Matt. 27: 3 -5)

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) What it is…. ØLuke 7: 36 -38 ØRomans 7: 23 -24 ØPsalm 51

Psalm 51 Ø 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Ø 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight Ø 9 Hide Your face from my sins Ø 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) What it is…. ØLuke 7: 36 -38 ØRomans 7: 23 -24 ØPsalm 51 Ø 2 Corinthians 7: 9 -10

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) 2 Corinthians 7: 9 -10 “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. ” (Judas - Matt. 27: 3 -5 vs Peter - Luke 22: 60)

Psalm 51 Ø 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Ø 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. Ø 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Ø 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Ø 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Ø 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Ø 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Ø 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) In what way will the mournful of Matthew 5: 4 be comforted? Ø Isaiah 61: 1 -3 ØWho fulfilled the prophecy? Lk 4: 14 -21 ØII Cor. 1: 5: For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ØRom 7: 24 -25: Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5: 1 -12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) Psalm 51 ØPurification § Joy § Strength § Purpose

Psalm 51 Ø 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Ø 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Ø 14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Ø 15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.