THE BEATITUDES PART 2- MATTHEW 5:7-12

 

The Merciful

5:7

The remaining beatitudes deal more with our attitude to other people, whereas the first beatitudes dealt more with our relationship with God.

Mercy includes forgiveness and compassion for those who are suffering or those who are in need even if it is a consequence of their own actions.. Those who show mercy to others will receive mercy from God. 

Our ability and desire to show mercy flows from the other characteristics Jesus has mentioned. If we are poor in spirit, recognizing our own spiritual weakness, if we are meek, if we seek to be righteous, we find it easier to be merciful.

For example, how do you treat a church member who has done something bad and is repentant? How do we treat someone who has failed in some area of life? How do we treat someone who is the victim of bad circumstances? How do we treat the poor, the disabled, the sick?

If we are proud of ourselves, or if our image is important to us, we may shun the church member, or criticize them and even those associated with them. The disciples attributed a man’s blindness to sin, either his or his parents. We often have the same attitude. (John 9:2)

For example, when I was a child, my best friend’s father left the family for another woman. Their church shunned them even though it was the father’s sin, not theirs. Parents would not let their kids invite these kids to their house and would not let their kids visit the house of the abandoned kids. I remember my friend showing up at my house crying over it. My friend never got over it. 

Jesus also told a story about this. We call it the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest and a Levite crossed the road to avoid the man. But a Samaritan bound the man’s wounds and doctored them. He put him on his own animal and took him to an inn. He paid for the man to stay there and recover.  He was the one who showed the man mercy. Jesus said to go and do likewise. (Luke 10:29-37) 

We often do not show the mercy our gracious heavenly Father has shown us. We judge, we gossip, we speculate, and we shun. But Jesus said mercy is a trait of those who are in the kingdom. 

John Stott wrote: “Nothing moves us to forgive like the wondering knowledge that we have ourselves been forgiven. Nothing proves more clearly that we have been forgiven that our own readiness to forgive.” 

The Pure In Heart

5:8

The pure in heart are  blessed for they shall see God. The pure in heart are those who are sincere. Their lives are free from falsehood. They are transparent, devoted to God with all of their heart, not just acting like it and observing rituals.

This was part of Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees. They were dedicated to outward observances of law and ritual, but their hearts were not devoted to God. Jesus condemned them, saying: 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside, they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25)

Only the pure in heart will see God, both now and in eternity. Only the pure in heart can stand the glory of the Holy God. 

The Peacemakers

5:9

Christians are to be peace makers. There are two elements to this. 

First, we should not be creators of conflict or the cause of it. God has called us to peace. (1 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Peter 3:11) Have you ever known someone who likes to “stir the pot”? One of my places of employment had a woman who did this. She would create situations of conflict, pitting one person against another or the group against one person. It kept the staff in turmoil.

Church members can create conflict with gossip, false accusations and faulty assumptions. These people are not peacemakers, they are peace destroyers.

The second part of peacemaking is seeking the reconciliation of others who are in conflict. This may involve talking to both parties about the reason for the conflict, or leading the parties to sit down and talk about it between themselves. 

Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker. He reconciled people to God through his death on the cross. (Romans 5:11; Colossians 1:20) He also made peace between Jews and Gentiles, abolishing the wall of the law to make one man of the two, making peace. (Ephesians 2:15) And Jesus prayed for the unity of the church, that we might be “one” people in agreement with each other as the Son and Father are. (John 17:22) 

That is why peacemakers are called sons of God. 

Yet, we cannot pursue peace at any cost, peace at the expense of truth. The Ecumenical Movement told us to ignore differences and unite in loving Jesus. But, true doctrine is vital. There can be matters we disagree about without losing unity, but the truth of the gospel is not one of them. 

This is not always easy, for it may be difficult to ascertain which doctrines are vital and which are secondary. We see this continually as denominations and churches divide over doctrinal matters. We must stand for truth, but even then, we can do so with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) 

The Persecuted

5:10-12

The final blessing involves persecution. This one is different than the others in that there is a longer explanation. 

This one also is somewhat foreboding because it presumes persecution will come. He says “when” not “if” you are persecuted. (11) 

First, you may be persecuted simply for your faith, because you believe in Jesus for salvation. That may range from intellectual disdain to physical torture and death. 

The world is full of people who think Christians are stupid to believe as they do. Social media is full of it. Books and articles are written to proclaim it. You may encounter it in social interactions. Paul explains this for us: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”. (1 Corinthians 2:14) 

Formerly Christian countries including Great Britain and Canada have arrested pastors for preaching Biblical truth. 

But physical torture and death also have happened and happen today. It began with the stoning of Stephen. (Acts 7) It continues today as Muslim groups slaughter Christians in places like Nigeria. Government persecution  against Christians happens in China, North Korea, and other places. 

This is what Jesus means says you are blessed when persecuted for righteousness sake. 

Second, you may be reviled and accused falsely, not only for your faith, but for living a moral life according to Biblical standards. You may be accused of thinking you are better than others simply because you will not engage in behaviors they do. Or, you will be accused of being judgmental and unloving.

In all these things, you can rejoice. In the midst of persecution, you know that you are the object of God’s favor and you will be greatly rewarded in heaven. You will be like the Old Testament prophets who were persecuted by their own people. 

Jesus ends the blessings the same way he began them, saying you have the kingdom of heaven. Standing firm in the faith in the face of opposition shows you have a place prepared for you with Christ for eternity. And those who suffered for the faith will be rewarded by the Lord.

This ends the Beatitudes. So, it is a good time to reflect on the traits of kingdom citizens and to resolve to live accordingly. 

THE BEATITUDES (PART 1) - MATTHEW 5:1-5

 

Jesus Discipling

5:1

Seeing the big crowd, Jesus went up on the side of a mountain to separate from the crowd and teach his disciples, those who were committed to following him. 

Jesus sat down. This was the posture of teaching for a rabbi. He would sit and his disciples would sit around him. Sitting was a sign he was about to teach. The crowd would know this and sit to hear him. 

This teaching became known as the Sermon on the Mount, as named by Augustine. It comprises chapters five through seven. 

The Beatitudes

5:1-2

This chapter begins the Sermon On The Mount, and the sermon begins with what we call the Beatitudes. The name comes from the Latin word “beatus”, which is translated as “blessed”.

There is debate about who the Beatitudes apply to. But, we know that Jesus has been preaching the gospel of the kingdom. (4:23) And he begins the Beatitudes with a statement about the kingdom of God. So, we can ascertain that he is talking about the characteristics of those who belong to the kingdom, i.e., believers. He was saying “this is what believers should look like”. 

The words “he opens his mouth and taught them” carry weight because it indicates a teacher speaking with authority. He was teaching them that his kingdom brought a new way of thinking and living. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament and now teaches what attitudes and behaviors the New Covenant requires and results in. 

“Blessed” means uniquely favored by God. This person has the approval of God. It means much more than “happy”, as some have tried to teach. For example, Robert Schuller wrote a book called the “Be Happy Attitudes” teaching that these eight attitudes lead to a happy life. It is not about our feelings, it is about God’s attitude toward us and our relationship with him.

The Poor In Spirit

5:3

The first people Jesus says are blessed are the “poor in spirit”. You are poor in spirit if you have confidence only in God’s grace for your good standing with him. This is similar to the Old Testament phrase “contrite in spirit”. God said he would dwell with the person who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. (Isaiah 57:15)

This is the picture conveyed in the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. (Luke 18:9-14) The Pharisee trusted in himself that he was righteous and help others in contempt.Even his prayers were bragging on himself. 

In contrast, the tax collector prays for mercy and acknowledged that the was a sinner. He left in good standing with God,  but the Pharisee did not. 

Some commentators refer to it as an acknowledgement of “spiritual bankruptcy”, meaning one who realizes he is unworthy of God’s favor on his own and who is dependent on God. 

The poor in spirit have the kingdom of heaven. They have eternal life in fellowship with God. They enjoy the reign of Christ and living in the kingdom. This is not just a promise of the future, but of the present life in Christ. 

Certainly the full state of blessedness with only come when the kingdom is consummated. But, with the inauguration of the kingdom and our entry into it, we already share in the present blessedness of the kingdom.   

Those Who Mourn

5:4

Also blessed are those who mourn. This means mourning for sin, both personal and corporate. We mourn and weep over our own sin. This is repentance. 

This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”. (John 16:3)

We also mourn for the sins of the church, of the nation, and of a world living in opposition to God. 

The apostle Paul confronted the Corinthian church over its tolerance of sin. He wrote: “Ought you not rather to mourn?” (1 Corinthians 5:2)

The Old Testament prophets are an example. They wept over the sins of Israel. For example, the Psalmist said “My eyes shed streams of tears because people do not keep your law”. (Psalm 119:136) 

We once held a service next door to an abortion clinic that was opening. We confessed and mourned the sin of our nation in sponsoring abortions.

When we mourn and repent of our sin, we are comforted. That comfort comes in the form of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) 

Matthew also alludes to Isaiah 61:1-4, which speaks of the time of the Lord’s favor, when the Messiah\Christ will bring good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, and give those who mourn beauty for ashes. He will bring the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, or spirit of despair. 

So, the first two beatitudes tell us that citizens of the kingdom should be aware of their sins and grieved by them, becoming aware of the greatness of God’s grace in bringing us into the kingdom through the death of Christ. 

The blessings come now in part, but are fully realized at the consummation of the kingdom as pictured in Revelation 7:17, when Jesus guides us to springs of living water and wipes away every tear from our eyes. 

Charles Wesley captured these thoughts in his hymn “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”:

"He speaks, and, listening to His voice,

New life the dead receive;

The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,

The humble poor believe.”

The Meek

5:5

The next blessed group is those who are meek. Meekness is a gentle spirit that is free from malice and vengeance. It is a humble spirit toward others. 

Jesus modeled it for us. He said “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. (Matthew 11:29 KJV) He seems to be referring to Psalm 37, which says not to fret about evil people because “the meek shall inherit the earth”. (Psalm 37:11) That tells us that meekness, or a gentle spirit, was desired by God even under the Old Covenant. 

Even Moses, the leader of Israel who stood up to Pharaoh, was meek. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth”. (Numbers 12:3) Meek does not equal week. 

The godless may exert power at present. Even so, believers, as “the meek” may still enjoy the earth now and rejoice in knowing it belongs to Christ. They also know they ultimately inherit the new heavens and earth. 

Revelation 21:1-7 gives us a picture of this new heaven and earth. God says it is the inheritance of those who believe in him. No one else will have a part in it. And it will be beautiful and perfect and in the presence of God.  

Meditate on these things this week.

Are you poor in spirit? Do you mourn sin? Are you meek? 

Confess your shortcomings, receive forgiveness, and live according to Jesus’ instructions. 

JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY IN GALILEE - MATTHEW 4:12-5:1

Jesus Begins His Ministry In Galilee

4:12-17

Sometime after the arrest of John, Jesus moved from Judea up north to Galilee. He heard about the arrest and withdrew from Judea, where Herod ruled. He went to Nazareth, his hometown. Jesus’s family still lived there.  (John 2:12)

He then went to Capernaum, which is on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It became the base for his ministry in Galilee. 

This is in the original allotment of the tribe of Naphtali.

   

Matthew shows this to be a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2, which he cites:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

Isaiah’s prophecy is in the context of the Assyrian invasion of Israel. (Isaiah 8) Israelites that survived the invasion were mostly taken into exile in different parts of the Assyrian kingdom. Gentiles from other nations were exiled into the area. 

Although Jews migrated back into the area, especially under the Maccabees, it continued to be a mix of Jews and Gentiles. The Judeans looked down on the Galileans because of this.

The people in Galilee lived in spiritual darkness, in the presence of many false gods of other nations. Jesus then appeared, a great light for those living in the area. (John 1:4) 

Matthew is saying the Messiah was promised to Galilee of the Gentiles. This foreshadows his commission in 28:19 for the disciples to make disciples in all nations. 

Jesus began to preach to the Galileans. “From that time” means this is a turning point; something new is happening. He said: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. 

John the Baptist preached the same message, but he was saying people should repent to prepare the way for the Messiah to come. It was to be ready for the one who would come and bring justice and restoration to Israel.

But when Jesus preaches this, is saying the kingdom has come, beginning with his appearance preaching and performing miracles, especially casting out demons. Repentance is necessary for entrance into the kingdom. So, John announced the kingdom and Jesus leads his people into the kingdom. 

Calling The First Disciples

4:18-22

Having settled in Capernaum, Jesus went walking by the Sea of Galilee. There, Jesus found men he called to be his disciples. Matthew gives us a short account of these callings. The other gospels have other details, but I am not doing a “harmony of the gospels” here, just dealing with the text of Matthew.

Jesus first saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew. They were fishing by casting a net into the sea.

Matthew notes that Simon was also called Peter.  He does not yet explain why that is so. But we will see why in chapter 16.

Jesus tells the brothers to follow him and he will make them fishers of men. (19) The appeal of that phrase to them indicates some prior contact with Jesus as is indicated in John 1:25-51. They immediately dropped their nets and followed Jesus. 

Jesus then encountered two other brothers, James and John. They were sitting in their boat with their father, Zebedee, but mending their nets rather than fishing. Nonetheless, they left their father and immediately followed Jesus. (22) 

We see, then, that these four were businessmen. They had property, homes, boats, and families. They left their families and their businesses to follow Jesus.  

The Ministry In Galilee

4:23-25

Jesus became an itinerant rabbi or teacher. Unlike today, that did not require formal religious training. He had disciples, notably the four mentioned so far. And he traveled from town to town in Galilee. 

On the Sabbath, he would attend the synagogue and he would teach. It would be common to recognize a visiting rabbi. He might be called on to read a scripture and comment on it. We have an example of this i the synagogue in Nazareth, as recorded in chapter 13. He also proclaimed the gospel, or good news, of the kingdom, as we will see in chapter 5. 

In addition to meeting spiritual needs, Jesus met physical needs. He healed people. Matthew says he healed every disease and affliction brought to him. By healing, he showed the kingdom was indeed present. 

Jesus became famous in the area. Certainly his authoritative teaching, especially applying scripture to himself, would result in discussions and gossip.

But his healing ministry would certainly bring fame. In an age before the sophisticated practice of medicine we have today, there were no cures for many diseases. But Jesus healed them all. Everyone healed, and those who cared about the, would tell others of the miracle. And then others would come for healing.

He even became known in Syria. 

So, more and more people were brought to him for healing. He even cast out demons. That would also certainly cause his fame to spread. And it was more evidence that the kingdom was at hand.

Soon crowds began to follow Jesus. Some came to be healed. Others stayed to listen to what Jesus had to say after healing them. Some heard him in the synagogue and wanted to know more. Some just came for the show. And, of course, some came who wanted to know if this teacher and healer could be the Messiah.

The crowds got bigger. People came from the towns he visited in Galilee, but some also came from Judea and even Jerusalem. And some came from the Gentile countries beyond the Jordan River, including Syria and the 10 cities of the Decapolis. 

Jesus Discipling

5:1

Seeing the big crowd, Jesus went up on the side of a mountain to separate from the crowd and teach his disciples, those who were committed to following him. 

Jesus sat down. This was the posture of teaching for a rabbi. He would sit and his disciples would sit around him. Sitting was a sign he was about to teach. The crowd would know this and sit to hear him. 

This teaching became known as the Sermon on the Mount, as named by Augustine. It comprises chapters five through seven. We will study the sermon itself beginning next week.