The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-12)

“The Beatitudes”
Matthew 5:1-12

INTRODUCTION:
How would you summarize the kind of person Jesus says is a member of His kingdom, His church?

This chapter begins Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount.” He has taught that men must repent in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (4:17). These three chapters (5, 6, 7) are some of the fundamental expectations which Jesus has for those who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Many scholars suggest that the Sermon on the Mount continues a theme of Jesus being a “New Moses,” with the mountain here in chapter 5 reflecting Mount Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount reflecting a new “Law.” This is, supposedly, the first of five major sermons Jesus gives (if you ignore others that aren’t “major”), with each section concluding with a similar phrase: 7:28; 11:1; 15:53; 19:1; 26:1. However, Matthew does not state or hint that Jesus is a “new Moses.” In fact, the Hebrew writer will say that Jesus is greater than Moses (Heb. 3:5-6), yet there are a number of parallels between Jesus and Moses, as we have already seen in the first few chapters of Matthew.

One contrast I want to make is that in the Law of Moses, as God began giving the law to Israel, He began with the Ten Commandments, which, mostly were “do not…” statements. However, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry here, God gives the law of Christ in a positive form: here is how you need to live.

Also, before we move further, let’s make a comment about the word “blessed.” Some translations use the word “happy,” but it is only a very shallow synonym for “blessed.” A better translation of the Greek word is “a recipient of God’s favor.” I think we will understand the word better as we move our way through this text. The word “blessed” (ver. 3) gives this paragraph its normal designation “beatitude” from the Latin beatus. The verb “to bless” is found 419 times in the OT. Some of those are in the forms of “beatitudes” (see Psalm 1:1). There are about 45 beatitudes in the OT and 37 in the NT. Man is blessed by God when he lives out the following virtues in his life. God is blessed by man when He receives man’s worship, honor, approval, and praise.

Jewish rabbis often sat and taught while the students stood. Jesus does that here. The crowds were assembled around Him and His disciples came to Him. Since only the four fishermen, so far in Matthew, have been called, the group of disciples is likely broader than those four but are found within the crowd mentioned in verse 1. The setting (5:1-2; 7:28-8:1) argues strongly for a single occasion when Jesus sat and taught this sermon.

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU ARE POOR IN SPIRIT - 5:3:
The “poor in spirit” are those who are humble. Those who recognize their need for help in life, especially their need for salvation, are those who seek assistance from God. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. Let me here make a quick comment about the expression “kingdom of heaven…” because those who believe in a 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth want to say that the expression refers to a different kingdom than the expression “kingdom of God.” That’s not true. “Kingdom of heaven” is a distinctly Matthew expression. He uses it 32 times. No other NT writer uses it; they all use “kingdom of God.” But there is no difference.

God has always valued humility (Psa. 51:17; Isa. 57:15; James 4:10). In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, Paul writes that the gospel finds its strongest appeal among those despised by the world.

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU MOURN - 5:4:
Those who “mourn” are those who are sorry for their sins, who mourn over their sins. Jesus promises they will be comforted. That is, they will be forgiven and encouraged.

Christians should be sorry for their sins (2 Cor. 7:10). That is what compels them to change their minds about their sin (repent) and to change their behavior.

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU ARE GENTLE - 5:5:
Those who are “gentle” or “meek” are those who do not allow power or position to make them proud and arrogant. A good definition of “meek” is “power under control.” One has the power or ability or opportunity to respond negatively or harshly but chooses to respond gently. They are humble and easily spoken to. Jesus promises they will inherit the earth. Here, the “earth” is a metaphor for the blessings of God. Jesus is not speaking of the physical earth, since this earth will be destroyed when He returns (5:18; 2 Peter 3:10-12).

Jesus is the best example of gentleness: 11:29; 12:15-21; 21:5. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Ga. 5:23).

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - 5:6:
Those who “hunger and thirst” for righteousness are ones who desire, more than anything, more than food and water, to be right with God. Jesus promises that they will have what they seek, to the full. “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you” (Psalm 42:1).

Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) and the living water (John 4:13-14). He will see that those who hunger and thirst to be right with God will be satisfied.

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU ARE MERCIFUL - 5:7:
Those who are merciful are those who do not give to others as they deserve. Justice is giving to someone what they deserve; grace is giving to sermons what they do not deserve. Mercy is not giving to someone what they deserve. Although biblically, there is overlap between mercy and grace. Christ’s disciples control their anger, their mouth, and their actions and are gentle, generous, and compassionate with those who need grace and forgiveness. Jesus promises that they will receive mercy from the Father in heaven.

James writes that we will not receive mercy if we show no mercy (James 2:13). Nor will we receive forgiveness if we do not forgive (Matt. 6:15).

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU ARE PURE IN HEART - 5:8:
Those who are pure in heart are individuals who have no greater desire than to be right with God with purity and sincerity. Their motivations are pure; their minds are concentrated on God. Their outer lives reflect their inner convictions. Purity of heart comes by faith (Acts 15:9) when one obeys the gospel of Christ (1 Peter 1:22).

Because we love God and desire to see Him, we will purify ourselves (1 Tim. 1:5; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; 2:22; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:1-2). Man has not seen God yet (Exo. 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:16), but Christians will (1 Cor. 13:12; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 21:3; 22:4).

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU MAKE PEACE - 5:9:
Those who are peacemakers are those who actively strive to bring reconciliation between two warring parties. They look for a solution that is amicable to both individuals. Jesus says they will be called sons of God, just as He was identified as the Son of God (3:17). He is Son by nature; peacemakers will be sons of God by grace, yet being a peacemaker is not always easy in a world that thrives on conflict.

God is the “God of peace” (Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23). God has always valued those who sought peace in a world of conflict: Prov. 6:19; Psa. 34:14; Rom. 14:19; Eph. 4:3; Gal. 5:22; Heb. 12:14; James 3:16-17; 1 Peter 3:11. The verb form of the noun “peacemaker” is found in Col. 1:20.

YOU WILL RECEIVE DIVINE FAVOR IF YOU ARE PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT - 5:10-12:
The first eight beatitudes are third-person statements (“those”). In verse 11, Jesus shifts to the second-person (“you”) to emphasize the possibility and likelihood of persecution among His followers.

Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are those who have lived and taught the gospel of Christ but are persecuted by the evil who do not like to have their wickedness set in contrast to the light of Christians. Jesus promises that the kingdom of heaven will be theirs.

Similarly, those who are insulted and persecuted and lied about in an evil way, because of their walk with Christ, will be blessed. Jesus directs His thoughts directly to His disciples and calls on them to “rejoice and be glad,” because their reward will be great. In fact, they are in great company because the prophets of God from the OT were also persecuted for preaching God’s word.

In 1 Peter 4:13-16, Peter writes that Christians should make sure they are not persecuted because they are doing evil but rather because they are serving Christ. See also John 15:18-25; Acts 14:22; 15:41; Phil. 3:8-10; 2 Tim. 3:12.

Jesus will teach that the rewards for faithfulness far outweigh the price of discipleship: 19:29-20:16; 25:22-23; Rom. 8:17-18; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

What are those rewards found here in the beatitudes?

1) The kingdom of heaven will be yours.
2) You will be comforted.
3) You will inherit the earth.
4) You will be satisfied.
5) You will receive mercy.
6) You will see God.
7) You will be a “son of God.”
8) Your reward will be great.

Take home message: Work on these attributes so you can glorify Your King and honor the Father.