Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes define the desired characteristics of Christians. They are a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all Christians. They contrast Kingdom values with worldly values.
Jesus described the traits he was looking for in his followers. He said that God blesses those who live out those traits. Each beatitude is an almost direct contradiction of society’s typical way of life.
The Beatitudes are given to Christians to show them what disposition to have in order to draw closer and closer to God and to acquire holiness.

Introduction

Bible Section 5

Matthew 5-7

 

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5: 1-2
Matthew 5–7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum. This sermon probably covered several days of preaching. Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and how to live in it. The sermon calls believers to a very high standard of living.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
In this sermon, Jesus expanded the intent of the Ten Commandments. Jesus gave us the new covenant or the new way he want us to live.
The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets, who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus compels his followers to be different from worldly people. Position, authority, and money are not important in his Kingdom—what matters is faithful obedience from the heart.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8
God’s high standards would be impossible to follow without the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Sermon on the Mount was not rules by which you get into the Kingdom of God, instead it was guidelines to be followed after you’re in the Kingdom.
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus Raised the Ethical Standards of the Old Testament

The Hebrew religion of the Old Testament was an unfinished religion. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called us to higher ethical standards than the Old Testament required. He did not come to abolish the old law, but rather to raise the standard. He demanded not less righteousness but more. The traditional standards were no longer adequate. A man might obey them and yet not be a good man.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20

Wise and Foolish Builders

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus tells a parable that compares and contrasts two builders: one wise and one foolish.
He emphasizes how critical it is to have a strong foundation.
Building a house is simply an analogy for building a life.  You are building a life and the foundation you choose is the most important feature of your life.

 

In order to stress that hearing is not doing, Jesus tells this well-known parable of the two house builders. One is wise and the other one is foolish. Both of them are building a house.

The life that we are living now is like building a house. How he builds his life will determine his destiny, not just for this life on earth but also for eternity.

Outwardly, these two persons look similar. There is no big difference in the kind of house they are building. Perhaps they used the same kind of material. Both houses seem nice and attractive. But inwardly, they are very different. The fundamental difference between them is the foundation on which they built their houses. However you can’t see the foundation. It is hidden.

The difference will be revealed only when a storm comes. The house built on the rock will stand firm whereas the house built on the sand will be destroyed.

The foolish man is the one who builds his house on a shifting foundation. He is likened to the person who hears Jesus’ words but does not put them in practice. The wise man is the one who builds his house upon a rock. He is likened to the person who not only hears Jesus’ words but also puts them in practice. Therefore the difference between the two men is likened to the difference between the foundation of their house, between obedience and disobedience. That is the main factor that determines whether a man is wise or foolish.
Matt 7:24-27 The two lives Jesus compares at the end of the Sermon on the Mount have several points in common: They both build, they both hear Jesus’ teaching, and they both experience the same set of circumstances in life. The difference between them isn’t caused by ignorance but by one ignoring what Jesus said. Externally, their lives may look similar; but the lasting, structural differences will be revealed by the storms of life. The immediate differences in your life when you follow Jesus may not be obvious, but eventually they will turn out to affect even your eternal destiny.

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[x] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
The opposite of worry is faith.

Materialism

Matthew 6: 19-24

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:19-24
Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasures results in a heart that is in the wrong place.
What we treasure the most controls us. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of something.
Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures.
Jesus says we can have only one master. We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters.
Affluenza is the disease of greed; it’s the materialistic mindset that says getting more money and possessions is the ultimate aim of life. Materialism is defined as “the preoccupation with material things rather than spiritual things.”
Instead of putting the highest value on things of this earth we need to place the highest value on things of heaven. We need to realize our soul is more important than our body.

When it comes to newer, bigger, better, stronger, faster it should not be things that we have in mind but faith and godliness and holiness and love and hope and a relationship with God and Christ.

We must seek to be content with what we have, and materialism is the exact opposite of that contentment. The Bible tells us that a person’s “life is not in the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15) and that we are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

 

Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus was condemning hypocrisy—fasting in order to gain public approval. The Pharisees voluntarily fasted twice a week to impress the people with their “holiness.”

Jesus commended acts of self-sacrifice done quietly and sincerely. He wanted people to adopt spiritual disciplines for the right reasons, not from a selfish desire for praise.

Forgive Others

Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
As Christians, we are to forgive those who harm us. We are to forgive others whether they ask for forgiveness or not.
We must forgive those who have hurt us because God commands it. If we do not forgive those who harm us, God will not forgive us.

Forgiveness does not excuse sin. No forgiveness calls sin, sin, and in many ways it holds the sinner accountable for their actions. Forgiveness says, “You hurt me, and what you did was wrong, but I will not hold resentment and unforgiveness in my heart. I will not take revenge, and I will not hate you.”
Christians are given the power to forgive from God. Forgiveness is an act of faith.By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness and justice for God to work out.

For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.’’ Matthew 18:35

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’’ Mark 11:25

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

“because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13

Prayer

Matthew 6: 5-15

Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6: 5-15

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-11

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11
Jesus promises that those who persistently ask and seek, will receive and find. Don’t give up in your efforts. Continue to ask. Seek with earnestness, diligence, and perseverance.

 

Like a parent, God won’t give us things that are not good for us or are not part of his will for our lives.

As we learn to know God better, we learn to ask for what is good for us, and then he grants it.

God is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy, and we don’t have to beg or grovel as we come with our requests. He is a loving Father who understands, cares, and comforts.

Not What We Say, but What We Do

Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7: 21-23
It is not what we say or what we know, but rather what we do.

What we say and what we know are not a substitute for obedience (what we do). Evidence of our sincerity is our obedience. We express our faith through our actions.

Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. He wants us to do right, not just say the right words.
Jesus exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. On “judgment day” only our relationship with Christ—our acceptance of him as Savior and our obedience to him—will matter. Faith in Christ is what will count at the judgment.

 

‘Don’t expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven just because you say that I am your Lord. You have to do the will of my Father.’