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Part 1
by Samuel E. Ward
The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-12
February 2, 2014
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Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV2011) 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Introduction to the Beatitudes
In our hymn books we have music that encourages to "Count Your Blessings," hold on to the promise of future "Showers of Blessings," and be reminded that "We Are So Blessed!" The blessings of God are designed to reward righteousness, faith, endurance, and sacrifice for cause of Christ. That is why the consideration of such blessings as presented in scripture can be such an encouraging pursuit.
In an environment and culture that needed to coexist with pagan Rome, the value of righteousness, faith, endurance, and sacrifice must have seemed to some in Israel as overrated. One might wonder if many in Israel were beginning to think like Habakkuk who asked God,
Habakkuk 1:2-4 (NIV2011) 2 How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
It is probable that the common people felt the pressure of injustice not only from without (Rome), but also from within by way of their religious leaders.
Let us note some biblical insights from scripture as a prelude to delving into the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
A. The Temporal Blessings of Common Grace Which Are Ours by the Kindness and Mercy of God, Psalm 145:9; Mat 5:45; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:17.
There are some benefits that God gives to all regardless of their standing with Him—approved or disapproved, righteous or unrighteous, saved or unsaved. Christian apologist Dr. Norm Geisler writes,
"The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Psalm 145:9). Jesus said God causes "his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45) and God "is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35). Barnabas and Paul would later say the same thing: "He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy" (Acts 14:17).
I would add that these particular benefits are temporal—tied to this earth. There are blessings that extend into eternity for all eternity.
B. The Eternal Blessings of Grace Which Are Ours by Faith in Christ
Other benefits, the eternal ones, belong to those who come into relationship with God by His grace through faith in His Son. This being so, everything that had kept them from enjoying eternal fellowship with God has been removed by Christ's death on the cross for man's sin. This restoration to the favor of God has obtained for them blessings that are eternal, including everlasting life and everything that comes with it.
Ephesians 1:3-10 (NIV2011) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
1. We ought to praise God for these eternal blessings:
a. We will obtain the necessary holiness in order to one day see God, Hebrews 12:14.
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV2011) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
b. We are adopted as God's sons and daughters.
c. We have redemption by Christ's blood.
d. We have the forgiveness of sins.
e. We have the knowledge that one day all of heaven and earth will be completely under the rule of Christ.
What privileges are ours because we have come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! The knowledge that these things are ours in Christ should sustain us in the present evil age until the coming righteous rule of Christ. Though we die in this evil world, we will live in the kingdom of Christ when He restores all things to Himself in heaven and earth and we reign with Him.
It was this forward look to the ultimate end of things that pushed Christ through the pain of the cross. It is this forward look that can sustain us through our own battles against sin and evil.
2. We ought to endure suffering in joyful thanks because of the promise of these eternal blessings.
a. The promise of the joy to come.
Hebrews 12:1-4 (NIV2011) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
We must learn to live with eternity's values in view. That is the first message Christ enunciated in the Sermon on the Mount in the section we have come to call The Beatitudes. This message is meant to be an encouragement to those in Israel who were hoping that Jesus would usher in the new kingdom ruled by God's Messiah as promised in their ancient scriptures.
b. The promise of sharing in the glory of Christ because we were willing to share in His sufferings
Romans 8:14-18 (NIV2011) 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
If only Israel could have comprehended the kingdom Jesus was referring to on that day on the Mount, they would have yearned for the kingdom of heaven rather than a kingdom on earth. Yes, Rome had made them poor, brought them grief, took away their dignity, refused them justice, hardened their hearts, made them cynical of the value of doing right, unwilling to make peace, and they had become victims of persecution.
But Jesus said that this was only a temporary situation. God had something much better for them. If they could embrace eternal values and even forego seeking earthly gain and profit, the kingdom of heaven would be theirs and any temporal earthly gain would be replaced with eternal blessings.
We are truly blessed if we can live our lives . . .
With Eternity's Values in View
These are the truly blessed ones! These are the ones of whom Christ speaks in the Beatitudes.
