The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is conducting an exhaustive study of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7. These are the Leader's notes to the study. The notes include the full text of the important scriptures of the study. Join us here and study along with us. The Sermon on the Mount is the Manifesto of the Kingdom of Heaven. Session 2 we discuss what is known as The Beatitudes, or supreme blessings for the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Beatitude - supreme blessedness.
Blessedness should not be seen as a reward for
religious accomplishments, but as an act of God's grace in believers' lives.
Rather than congratulating them on spiritual or moral achievements, the
beatitude underscores the fact that sinners stand within a forgiving
relationship made possible by Christ's atonement.
The beatitudes are descriptive of all Christians
and do not single out separate groups as distinct from each other. Thus the
blessings are applicable to all. The "poor in spirit" are also
"those who mourn" ( Matt 5:4 ) or "hunger and thirst for
righteousness" ( 5:6 ). Each beatitude looks at the Christian life from a
different perspective.
Matthew 5:3-12 CEV God blesses those people
who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! God blesses those people who grieve. They
will find comfort! God blesses those
people who are humble. The earth will belong to them! God blesses those people who want to obey
him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want! God blesses those people who are merciful.
They will be treated with mercy! God
blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him! God blesses those people who make peace. They
will be called his children! God
blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the
kingdom of heaven. God will bless you
when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you
because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven.
People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.
"Blessed" in the Greek means
"Oh, how happy!" True happiness is a byproduct of a right
relationship with God and cannot be discovered by direct pursuit.
According to
Matthew, these beatitudes are nine in number and seven in character, for the
last two, which concern persecution, do not relate to traits of character, but
to certain beatitudes not recorded in Matthew. Most of the beatitudes are
paradoxical, being the very reverse of the world's view, but Christians who
have put them to the test have learned to realize their unquestionable truth.
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit
Matthew 5:3 NKJV “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
One of the most
misinterpreted terms in the bible is the term “poor”, or Ptōchos in Greek. This
implies “the destitute”, “like beggar”, “dependent on a provider”. It does not
imply material poverty or a poor-spirited attitude being willing to acknowledge
needs and receive help. It Implies our realization of spiritual destitution
without God and constant dependence on God in all walks of life.
The poor in spirit
are those who feel a deep sense of spiritual destitution and comprehend their
nothingness before God.
"Poor in spirit"
indicates a willingness to surrender to the authority and control of God, so
that He might govern our lives. We will not be making demands, because we're
unworthy and undeserving
Genesis 32:10 (BBE)10 I am less than nothing in comparison with all
your mercies and your faith to me your servant; for with only my stick in my
hand I went across Jordan, and now I have become two armies.
Poverty
of spirit is a consciousness of our own sinfulness and spiritual poverty
Isaiah 6:5 (BBE)5 Then I said, The curse is on me, and my fate
is destruction; for I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of
unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.
Psalm 8:3-4 (BBE)3 When I see your
heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have put
in their places;4 What is man, that you keep him in mind? the
son of man, that you take him into account?
The kingdom of
heaven is theirs, because they seek it, and therefore find and abide in
it.
The “poor in
spirit” are totally surrendered to God and have dedicated their lives (through
profession or ministry) to the extension of His kingdom. They not only are
respected citizens of the Kingdom of God but possess it. It is already theirs.
In
the New Testament the "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of
heaven" are used interchangeably. The "kingdom of God" refers to
God's sovereign rule over the whole universe. of which the "kingdom of
heaven" is a part. There are two aspects to the kingdom of heaven.
(1) Present-The kingdom of
heaven has come to those who have submitted themselves to Jesus to be governed
by Him
(2) Future-The King will come to reign over the earth; the
Kingdom of heaven will then be on earth
Matthew 6:10 (BBE)10 Let your kingdom come. Let your pleasure be
done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Revelation 11:15 (BBE)15 And at the sounding
of the seventh angel there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he will
have rule for ever and ever.
Is our passion and
pursuit after enriching God’s Kingdom? Can we truly empty ourselves, surrender
in God’s hands our joys, desires, and invest into enjoying a life full of God’s
presence and spirit? Do we enjoy deep soul happiness?
Blessed Are Those That Mourn
Matthew 5:4 NKJV Blessed are
those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Sorrow and tears
are everyone’s companion at some time or the other. The spiritual term for
mourn, Pantheō, meaning “to lament”,
does not imply material loss, rejection or loss of a dear one. It implies
lament over one’s own sinfulness. It is that “godly sorrow” which “produces
repentance leading to salvation”
The blessing is not
upon all that mourn but upon those who mourn in reference to sin.
II Corinthians 7:10 NKJV For
godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but
the sorrow of the world produces death.
Comfort and
strength in sorrow brings repentance to resist sin, and stand against sin.
Salvation from the penalty of sin is a one time event, but we are constantly
striving for salvation from the presence of sin.
They shall be
comforted by the discovery of God's pardon. So in the sense of this
beatitude the blessing covers all those
who understand and mourn the effects and
consequences of sin and seek the deliverance which is in Christ. Joy springs from such sorrow so naturally
that it is likened to harvest gathered from the seed. But sorrows, even apart from a sense of sin,
often prove blessings to us by drawing us near unto God.]
Psalms 126:6 NKJV He who
continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with
him.
The benefits of “mourning” are many. The obvious one already stated is repentance and a sincere battle against repetition of grievous sins over which we mourn. The side benefits of that is that we view others more empathetically, judge less and love more. The personal benefit is that other sorrows do not grip us or devastate us but go into the back burner. As a result we do not get prone to depression or deep grief as the main point of grief, our own sin is not only dealt with but bathed in heavenly comfort.
Spiritual mourning, therefore actually alleviates earthly sorrows and ushers in God’s comfort. It strengthens a spirit of humility as we acknowledge our strong in capabilities and dependence on the Heavenly Father. It ensures a strong sense of empathy and identity with fellow humans as we partner with God to fulfil our mission, in spite of our weaknesses. Spiritual mourning, paves way for a joy that is higher and fuller and for a radiance that shines brighter. Dr. Henry Brandt has said “Other people don’t create your spirit, they only reveal it”. Nothing can touch our soul unless we allow it. It is divinely protected.
The benefits of “mourning” are many. The obvious one already stated is repentance and a sincere battle against repetition of grievous sins over which we mourn. The side benefits of that is that we view others more empathetically, judge less and love more. The personal benefit is that other sorrows do not grip us or devastate us but go into the back burner. As a result we do not get prone to depression or deep grief as the main point of grief, our own sin is not only dealt with but bathed in heavenly comfort.
Spiritual mourning, therefore actually alleviates earthly sorrows and ushers in God’s comfort. It strengthens a spirit of humility as we acknowledge our strong in capabilities and dependence on the Heavenly Father. It ensures a strong sense of empathy and identity with fellow humans as we partner with God to fulfil our mission, in spite of our weaknesses. Spiritual mourning, paves way for a joy that is higher and fuller and for a radiance that shines brighter. Dr. Henry Brandt has said “Other people don’t create your spirit, they only reveal it”. Nothing can touch our soul unless we allow it. It is divinely protected.
What disturbs us
the most? Our temporary circumstances or the things that grieve God. Have we
tasted the deep joy that results from “mourning”?
Blessed Are The Meek
Matthew 5:5 NKJV Blessed are the
meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Is meekness
weakness? On the contrary it demonstrates supreme strength. The Greek word for
meekness, Praeis, does not imply weakness, compromise, or even practiced
self-control. It implies strength under control with higher objectives.
It is a quality
that God highly values and that can only be acquired by one who has a strong
relationship with Him.
The best example, obviously is “Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Phil.2:5,6).
The best example, obviously is “Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Phil.2:5,6).
He knew that the father had put all things
under His power
Hebrews 2:8 NKJV You have put
all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection
under him, He left nothing that is not
put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Yet he washed His
disciples’ feet and told them to do the same thing.
John 13:12-17 NKJV So when He
had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,
“Do you know what I have done to you?
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you
should do as I have done to you. Most
assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he
who is sent greater than he who sent him.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Moses, who wielded great power complemented it with such humility and was known as most humble in the world
Moses, who wielded great power complemented it with such humility and was known as most humble in the world
Numbers 12:1-3 NKJV Then Miriam
and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had
married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the Lord
indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the
Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than
all men who were on the face of the earth.)
When every iota of
pride has been surrendered in God’s hands, and we humbly set out to accomplish
what He has for us in an attitude of total surrender, that is meekness. It
takes years of walking with God to achieve true meekness. It means
acknowledging our weaknesses and replacing them with His strength.
The acid test of meekness is demonstrated under duress. When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.
The acid test of meekness is demonstrated under duress. When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.
I Peter 2:22-24 NKJV “Who
committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled,
did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed
Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own
body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—
by whose stripes you were healed.
A meek person has
low ego and high trust and those who trust will be trusted in turn to “inherit
the earth”
Psalms 37:9-11 NKJV For
evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord , They shall inherit
the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully
for his place, But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the
abundance of peace.
Do we know God deep
enough to demonstrate meekness? Are we peaceful in every situation and humble
amidst all people? Is our greatest strength radiating from Christ within and
the faith that our souls are secured and always moving from strength to
strength?
[His hearers were full of hopes that, as
Messiah, he would glut their martial spirit, and lead them to world-wide
conquest. But the earth was not to be subjugated to him by force. Those who
were meek and forbearing should receive what the arrogant and selfish grasp
after and can not get. "Man the animal has hitherto possessed the globe.
Man the struggle is going on. But in every cycle more and more does the world
feel the superior authority of truth, purity, justice, kindness, love, and
faith. They shall yet possess the earth" (Beecher). The meek shall inherit
it in two ways: 1. They shall enjoy it more fully while in it. 2. They shall
finally, as part of the triumphant church, possess and enjoy it. Doubtless
there is also here a reference to complete possession to be fulfilled in the
new earth-- Daniel 7:27 ; Revelation 3:21 ; 5:10 .]
To Hunger And Thirst After Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 NKJV Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
The first three
Beatitudes were the emptying process. Now we come to seek for an answer to our
helplessness. In the Greek this verse denotes one of desiring, not just a
portion but all of the righteousness of God. Righteousness cannot be achieved
in our own strength; it is a standing before God. God has imputed to us
righteousness because we believe in Jesus Christ There are two types of
righteousness
(1) Of the law, which at its best leads to
self-righteousness which results in judging others.
(2) Righteousness given by God through believing
in Jesus Christ This is the righteousness of Christ.
We cannot improve
upon this righteousness, and it leads to gratefulness Righteousness is being
right with God and our fellow man We're not to hunger and thirst after
happiness, but after righteousness Blessed is the man, not who is righteous,
but who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. That person will be filled with the
righteousness.
As hunger and
thirst are the keenest of our appetites, this refer to "those whose
deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings."
Just as physical craving is urgent, pressing and calls to be instantly gratified, there is a spiritual craving equally, if not more intense.
Just as physical craving is urgent, pressing and calls to be instantly gratified, there is a spiritual craving equally, if not more intense.
In ancient Judaism,
righteousness meant “to acquit, vindicate, restore to a right relationship.” It
does not refer to the external piety as Jews demonstrated but the sanctifying
righteousness that comes from Christ alone through faith.
Jesus here declares
that those who feel a most intense desire for righteousness shall obtain it.
Romans 3:21-26 NKJV But now the
righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law
and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by
His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to
demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and
the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 8:3-4 NKJV For what the
law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in
the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
II Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV Now
then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew
no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him.
Blessed Are The Merciful
Matthew 5:7 NKJV Blessed are the
merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Meekness is rather
a passive virtue, mercy is an active one.
This beatitude has
primary reference to the forgiveness of offensives.
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV “For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The Greek Eleos and
Hebrew Hesed translates the word simply as love. A love the is steadfast, that
keeps a relationship alive forever, no matter what happens.
The English definition invariably refers to physical acts of kindness. For example, treating the poor and miserable with affection and generosity. But there is another dimension to mercy which is the essence of blessedness. That is mercy to the soul. It extends love and warmth to those deprived of a connection to God. It is sensitive to souls that are bleeding and dying and longs to bring the healing that Christ bought on the cross for them through His own blood and death. To souls that are weak and growing, it reaches out to strengthen and equip them through the word of God and prayer. It touches lives via counsel, reproof, prayer, forgiveness, comfort, etc. offering God’s mercy through Christ – free , sovereign, abundant and eternal. This mercy can only come from those lives in whom Christ lives and reigns, those hearts led by the Spirit. Only those who have soul vision that looks beyond the externals are capable of this mercy.
The second part of the statement “for they shall obtain mercy” is a solemn reminder that we are all in need of mercy from God; that we are merely transmitters of God’s mercy and not givers of mercy. The more we transmit, the more we receive. Mercy is not something we can keep for ourselves it has to be shared and then we can “then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”. Heb 4:16.
Do we have the deep spiritual perception that can see souls in need? Are we prepared to go the extra mile to reach out and meet these needs? Are we faithful enough to persevere in the honorable role of being agents of mercy on behalf of Christ?
The English definition invariably refers to physical acts of kindness. For example, treating the poor and miserable with affection and generosity. But there is another dimension to mercy which is the essence of blessedness. That is mercy to the soul. It extends love and warmth to those deprived of a connection to God. It is sensitive to souls that are bleeding and dying and longs to bring the healing that Christ bought on the cross for them through His own blood and death. To souls that are weak and growing, it reaches out to strengthen and equip them through the word of God and prayer. It touches lives via counsel, reproof, prayer, forgiveness, comfort, etc. offering God’s mercy through Christ – free , sovereign, abundant and eternal. This mercy can only come from those lives in whom Christ lives and reigns, those hearts led by the Spirit. Only those who have soul vision that looks beyond the externals are capable of this mercy.
The second part of the statement “for they shall obtain mercy” is a solemn reminder that we are all in need of mercy from God; that we are merely transmitters of God’s mercy and not givers of mercy. The more we transmit, the more we receive. Mercy is not something we can keep for ourselves it has to be shared and then we can “then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”. Heb 4:16.
Do we have the deep spiritual perception that can see souls in need? Are we prepared to go the extra mile to reach out and meet these needs? Are we faithful enough to persevere in the honorable role of being agents of mercy on behalf of Christ?
Blessed Are The Pure In Heart
Matthew 5:8 NKJV Blessed are the
pure in heart, For they shall see God.
The pure in heart
are those who are free from evil desires and purposes.
Purity of heart or
soul in Greek is Katharos, meaning, clean, blameless and unstained from guilt.
We are declared pure, because of the work of JESUS to sanctify us through His
blood, when we give our hearts to Jesus. We remain pure, subsequently, by an
ongoing commitment and lifestyle.
The minute we
“accept Christ”, we acknowledge our hopelessly sinful nature and surrender to
His cleansing action.
The cleansing is possible
by His blood which makes us spotless, with a clean sheet to start with.
I John 1:5-7 NKJV This is the
message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and
in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and
walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the
light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
The tough part is
to put forward all efforts to keep this sheet clean.
We see God by faith
now
Ephesians 1:15-21 NKJV Therefore
I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the
saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and
what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according
to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and
might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also
in that which is to come.
We get a sneak peak
into a new and wonderful world led by our Saviour, beyond our wildest
imagination.
Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all
things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things
were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him
all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence.
That world is here
today and growing into a full fledged Kingdom of God of the future when we can
see God face to face. And eventually
face to fac
I John 3:1-3 NKJV Behold what
manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children
of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we
shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself,
just as He is pure.
Do we dare choose
purity? Are we beginning to see God?
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 NKJV Blessed are the
peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
The term includes
all who make peace between men, whether as individuals or as communities. It
includes even those who worthily endeavor to make peace, though they fail of
success. They shall be called God's children, because he is the God of peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a
Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His
shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Here again Jesus varies from human ideas. In worldly kingdoms the makers of war stand highest, but in his kingdom peacemakers outrank them, for the King himself is a great Peacemaker
Colossians 1:19-20 NKJV For it
pleased the Father that
in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things
to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made
peace through the blood of His cross.
Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV For He
Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle
wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in
ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making
peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to
you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have
access by one Spirit to the Father.
Peace is NOT
absence of emotional or physical turmoil. First it's a harmonious and loving
relations between us and God. The deepest secret of Christ’s peace was His
unbroken communion with the Father, in which His will was completely
surrendered and his whole being hung in total dependence upon God. He shared
His secret with the disciples encouraging them not to fear those who kill the
body but those who kill the soul. Peace in distress comes with knowing our soul
is strengthened through our physical, mental and emotional troubles. It comes
with “soul vision”- seeing situations through the lens of the soul.
Next week we will finish The Beatitudes with Persecution
For Righteousness Sake and then we will
be looking at Jesus’ teaching on what having true influence as a
follower of the King looks like. Christ asserts that we are the salt of the
earth and the light of the world. As salt we preserve and flavor a rotting and
insipid world. As light we are to lift the brightness of Christ up with
confidence and allow him to shine through us to reveal the darkness of our
world. Jesus reveals to us that the ultimate purpose of our influence is to be
distinct to the people around us so that they would encounter the love of
Christ and give glory to God. We’ll
talk about the relationship of Jesus to the Law
Matthew 5:13-48
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