The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) …

Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes  “Usual” standards by which men measure happiness or blessedness are not even discussed by Jesus Jn 18:36  From a Latin word meaning “consummate bliss or happiness; blessedness”

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes  Appropriately called this because they describe the “true” (spiritually) happy person  These “traits” are not…  …hereditary (hair, eye color; DNA)  …product of environment (language, accent)

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes  These “traits” are entirely self-willed, chosen cp. Lk 14:26-33  A person “chooses” to be spiritually poor; mournful; hungry & thirsty for righteousness

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes  Neither are these “traits” competing factors  Not describing 8 different citizens, each one blessed differently cp. 1 Cor 12:1, 4, 7-11  They describe the disciple of Christ  Each citizen possesses all these “traits”

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes  Most of them are about SELF (#’s 1-4, 6)  A couple of them are about how he views OTHERS (#’s 5, 7)  Only one is about how the WORLD views him (# 8)

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ê The Poor In Spirit v. 3  To be “spiritually impoverished; bankrupt”  To be totally aware of one’s need for God  Poor men are desperately needy…they can only beg Lk 16:20-21

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ê The Poor In Spirit v. 3  The “spiritually poor” realize they can claim no right to what they’ve lost Lk 15:18-19  Begging = a “hard challenge” due to stubborn pride Lk 16:3

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ê The Poor In Spirit v. 3  We’re only “spiritually happy” (blessed) when we acknowledge, accept our poverty  There is no other way into this kingdom cp. Lk 18:24-25

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ê The Poor In Spirit v. 3  Remember…this is a “chosen” poverty  An awareness of being destitute Lk 18:13  An awareness of being unable to correct it ourselves Jer 10:23

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ê The Poor In Spirit v. 3  Sin has made us “poor” Rom 6:23  Our “debts” are unpayable Mt 18:23-27  Yet, such poor can have a kingdom…they can be “rich” 2 Cor 8:9 Lk 12:21

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ë The Mournful v. 4  Many think physical sadness (death, etc.)  Such “sorrow” is necessary, comes to all (indiscriminate) Eccl 7:2-4 Heb 9:27  This is a “chosen” (sought after) sorrow

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ë The Mournful v. 4  The world says happiness is gained if we can avoid tears, “sad” situations  Jesus teaches otherwise  Happiness (Blessedness) = comfort

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ë The Mournful v. 4  The kingdom citizen has found “comfort” in God’s mercy extended in forgiveness  The kingdom citizen has tears because of his sins against God Gen 6:5-6

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ë The Mournful v. 4  Taught in prophecy Isa 61:1-3 Ezek 9:4-6 cp. Lk 4:18-21  This is “godly sorrow” 2 Cor 7:8-10  God is full of mercy Rev 21:4

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ë The Mournful v. 4  When the kingdom citizen chooses to cry this way, he will receive comfort for his sorrows (God’s mercy & forgiveness)

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  Possibly the most misunderstood trait  Not “weakness” (allow others to abuse you)  The world would classify such a one as “inferior” and a “failure”

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  It is “strength under control”  It is resolve to refrain from power when so inclined (temptation, defending self) Mt 26:53 11:29 Num 12:3 Ex 32:19-20

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  Definitely not natural…not an “inborn” trait  An attitude toward God and others that is chosen (willingly learned & possessed)

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  Focusing on self only bring “disaster”  Self must be denied for a higher purpose  It is not passiveness toward evil  “Humble strength”…not “weak shyness”

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  The “meek” man is more concerned about abuses directed toward God than those hurled toward himself

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  Illustrated in the following passages –  Jesus serving lost men Phil 2:6-7  Jesus experiencing complete obedience Heb 5:8-9

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  Illustrated in the following passages –  Man not avenging himself Rom 12:19  Man clothing himself with humility 1 Pet 5:5-6

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Ì The Meek v. 5  He will “inherit the earth”  Not the physical planet 2 Pet 3:7,  He has a future in the “new order of things” 2 Pet 3:13

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Í The Hungry & Thirsty v. 6  Very deep needs Mt 4:2 Jn 19:28  We have used these words re: ourselves  But, our needs have never been this critical  We “sense” or “choose” to be this way

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Í The Hungry & Thirsty v. 6  The knowledge & awareness of our own “emptiness” and the desire to be filled  “Long for; crave; eagerly desire” [Thayer on both words]

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Í The Hungry & Thirsty v. 6  “Righteousness” = right relationship with God; a desire to be like God; the state of one who is as he ought to be; correctness in thinking, feeling, acting [Thayer]

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) Lesson 2 – Kingdom Citizens 5:3-12 The Beatitudes Í The Hungry & Thirsty v. 6  Many try to fill themselves with things that aren’t as eternal as they Eccl 5: :7  Even though it is “desired,” it will miserably fail Lk 15:16-17 Eccl 3:9-11

The Sermon On The Mount (Matt. 5-7) …