The DNA of the Committed Matthew 5:1-12

The DNA of the Committed is characterized by need.

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. justice, for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful, God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. theirs.

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. prophets were persecuted in the same way. Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT)

Who’s Jesus talking to ? One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

“Blessings on those who are poor in spirit, “Blessings on those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”

Bless Jesus begins, significantly, not with demands but with blessings. This already tells us something about Jesus: he blesses before he commands, he helps before he orders. – Dale Bruner – Dale Bruner

Grace and Blessing I am with you… I am on your side.

1 We admitted that we were powerless over were powerless over alcohol - that our lives alcohol - that our lives had become had become unmanageable. unmanageable. poor in spirit 2 Came to believe that a power greater than power greater than ourselves could restore ourselves could restore us to sanity. us to sanity.

Jesus blesses the spiritually in adequate. This holy paradox is the gospel… it is the dispirited who live before God, and it is the marvelously spiritual who often expire from God’s presence. – Dale Bruner

Just as the First Commandment in the Ten Commandments “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out,” Exodus 20:2 is the power for keeping every following commandment, so the First Beatitude is the blood for living of the Sermon on the Mount. - Dale Bruner

Where do you live? On the mountain or in the valley?