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