Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes and the Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon on the Mount  Second Year of Ministry (Luke 6:1)  Teaching in the Synagogues  Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom  Healing All Kinds of Sickness  Great Multitudes/Fame Spread  Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, beyond the Jordan Galilean Ministry – Summary of Activity Matthew 4:23-25

Sermon on the Mount Galilee Beyond Jordan Judea Jerusalem Decapolis

Sermon on the Mount  Second Year of Ministry (Luke 6:1)  Teaching in the Synagogues  Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom  Healing All Kinds of Sickness  Great Multitudes/Fame Spread  Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, beyond the Jordan  Taught Repentance (Matt 4:17) Radical change Galilean Ministry – Summary of Activity Matthew 4:23-25

The Sermon on the Mount Core Values of the Kingdom  The “constitution of God’s Kingdom”  Reflects the central theme of the Bible that God wanted for Himself a people. (I Peter 2:9-10)

The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7 The character of kingdom citizens and their relation to the world - 5:1-16. The high standard of righteousness in the kingdom - 5: True piety: inner devotion - 6:1-18 and separation from the world - 6: Proper judgments that flow from faith - 7:1-29 (Two choices 24-29)

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock …

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine AND DOES NOT DO THEM, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand …

"It seems certain that no other speech ever delivered has so influenced man as has this sermon on the mount. Its contents, so superior to any production of man, proved the Deity of its author. Its teaching is out of harmony with any school of religion or philosophy of that day; hence, their brightest lights could not have produced it. Its teaching is distinct, revolutionary, challenging every school of religious thought of the times, both Jewish and heathen. It is not a product of the times, but of Deity." (R. L. Whiteside, Bible Studies, Vol. 4, p. 117). The Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  “Beatitudes” - from the Latin beatus,  “blessed,” or to “make happy”  "Blessed" – from the Greek makarios  to be fully satisfied  In classical Greek this word described those who possessed consummate bliss.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  The English word happiness contains the root hap which means chance. Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy." (William Barclay, The Gospel Of Matthew, p. 89).  Makarios differs from “happy” because happy describes a person who has good luck, a blessed person is one whom God makes fully satisfied, not because of favorable circumstances, but because He indwells the believer through Christ.” (Word Study - Zodhiates)

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  William Barclay writes: “... that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life.”

The Beatitudes Matthew 5: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  All Christians are meant to manifest all of these characteristics. They are not proverbs to be applied individually, they are a composite. They are a seamless garment.  These qualities are chosen qualities

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  Greek word for “poor” (Ptochos) means one who has nothing and is completely empty, abject poverty “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 What it is not… “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)  The Pharisee in Lk. 18:10-12  The scribes in Lk 20:46; Mk 2:16-17  The Laodicean church in Rev. 3:17  Economically poor  Weak or cowardly (Cowardly spies “We are not able to go up against the people” Num. 13:31)  False humility  Self - reliant, confident, centered, or sufficient.  Boast in their birth, family, nationality, education, physical looks, race, wealth, or their culture. Phil 3:4-8

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 What it is … “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)  Isa.66:2 “ but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word”  Isa. 57:15 "For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly (poor, humble) of spirit”

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 What it is … “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)  Isaiah 6:3-5  Luke 5:8  Luke 18:13-14  Luke 15:21

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 What it is … “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones defined poor in spirit as “a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God.” He further described it as “this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God.”

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 How to increase this quality of being “poor in spirit”  By looking at God, His Son and His word.  See ourselves as God sees us. Have a realistic view of ourselves.  Contemplate standing before Him. We come empty, hopeless, naked and vile (Eph. 2:12; Rev 3:17)  Pray  Consistently and actively attend Bible classes and worship services

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12  This is the first, because it is the key to all the beatitudes that follow.  There is no entry into the Kingdom of heaven apart from it.  There is no one in the Kingdom of heaven who is not poor in spirit  It is the fundamental characteristic of the Christian and of the citizen of the Kingdom of heaven and all the other characteristics are in a sense the result of this one. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (vs 3)

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) “Mourn” – (Gr. Pentheo) is the strongest word for mourning in all of the Greek New Testament. Sometimes translated as wailing.

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4)  Financial loss  Sickness or death of loved ones  Loneliness or rejection  Not like King Ahab who wept because Naboth would not sell to him his family heritage. (cf. 1 Kings 21:4)  Not like Judas who wept after selling his Lord for 30 pieces of silver (cf. Matt. 27:3-5) What it is not….

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4)  Luke 7:36-38  Romans 7:23-24  Psalm 51 What it is….

Psalm 51  3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.  4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight  9 Hide Your face from my sins  11 Do not cast me away from Your presence

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4)  Luke 7:36-38  Romans 7:23-24  Psalm 51  2 Corinthians 7:9-10 What it is….

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (Judas - Matt. 27:3-5 vs Peter - Luke 22:60) 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Psalm 51  1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.  2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.  7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.  10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.  14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) In what way will the mournful of Matthew 5:4 be comforted?  Isaiah 61:1-3  Who fulfilled the prophecy? Lk 4:14-21  II Cor. 1:5: For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.  Rom 7:24-25: Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Beatitudes & The Gospel of the Kingdom Matthew 5:1-12 “Blessed are those who mourn” (vs 4) Psalm 51  Purification  Joy  Strength  Purpose

Psalm 51  12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.  13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.  14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.  15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.