Encounter Jesus – Matthew Week 3

Who Did Jesus Say Was Blessed?

Matthew 5: 1-12

HANDOUT: Week 3 and 4: Beatitudes

AUDIO

OUTLINE

Overview of the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7)

  • Recall Matthew 4-9 – Jesus is bringing the Kingdom of Heaven – Teaching, Proclaiming Good News, Healing
  • Sermon on the Mount is the Teaching of the Kingdom
    • Seems to capture a ton of His teaching on how to live in the Kingdom
    • He probably teaches these points many times as he goes all through  Galilee (chapter 4)
    • Remember, He’s an itinerant preacher and gospels only report on a few days.
  • One large sermon / day of teaching. Probably the bottom line points
    • It flows logically and interconnects, but transitions rapidly from topic to topic
    • We know in other cases He taught for days. So this is probably the core teaching of much longer points.
    • Traditionally sited near Capernaum.
    • Followed by massive crowds – went up on mountain to teach his “disciples” – probably more than the 4 he’s called so far. End of chapter 7 references a crowd who heard Him.
    • So these disciples are probably not yet fully committed followers – but more than just the crowd looking for the Jesus show
  • Its theme = Kingdom of Heaven
    • Kingdom references at beginning, end, key transitions, crucial verses in sections

Overview of the Beatitudes

  • Tells us about the priorities and meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven. It bookends on Kingdom of Heaven to let us know its ALL about the Kingdom of Heaven.
  • Reveals Jesus’ heart, His values which are wildly different from the culture then and now
  • Jesus fully embodies these values and qualities, and we need to remember that He is our example
  • Viewed as a unified whole, we see what it means to “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”
  • Read 5: 1-12
  • Blessed = The person singularly favored by God. It’s not just a good feeling within, but literally blessed by God.
  • Most of the beatitudes are future tense – focus on ultimate blessing, end times, consummation
    • Verse 3 and verse 10 are present tense AND identical – Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – now!
    • Bookending – means all of this section is focused on the Kingdom of Heaven, all one topic.
    • We don’t pick and choose which groups we want to be and ignore others.
    • As Kingdom people, we are to have ALL of these qualities.
    • We won’t be perfect. many of these are fruit of the Spirit, so we must intentionally cultivate them and our relationship with God to experience them.
    • They don’t happen by accident.

Verse 3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Who are the poor in spirit?
    • Greek word for poor already has religious tones by the 1st century
    • Those so poor they have confidence only in God
    • The poor in spirit admits they are spiritually bankrupt, that they are sinful, that they are unworthy of God and so depend completely upon Him
    • So the Kingdom of Heaven is given to those who are so poor – financially or spiritually that they know that they have nothing to offer God and don’t try
    • They just cry for mercy and God gives it to them
    • No posturing, not strutting, no thinking they deserve something or earned something.
    • I think of Jesus in the Garden here – sweat like blood, etc.
    • Are we poor in spirit? Many churches and Christians are proud of their knowledge, history, reputation, money, buildings, accomplishments.
    • Christ’s heart is for the poor in Spirit, those absolutely surrendered to God, they get the Kingdom of Heaven.

Verse 4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

  • Tremendously comforting when we mourn the loss of a loved one – we shall be comforted
  • Also a dimension of collective mourning – to those hearers who are Kingdom minded, they were mourning because of the sin and humiliation of Israel
  • Read Matthew 23: 37-39 – that’s what collective mourning looks like – Jesus mourning over Jerusalem’s sin.
  • Verses 3-4 tied to Isaiah 61: 1-2 (read it) – in Luke’s gospel, this is the passage Jesus claims for himself in Nazareth to declare His status as Messiah
  • Jesus is the comforter for all who mourn. Looking forward, we see God wiping away tears in heaven.

Verse 5 – Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

  • Who are the meek?
    • The Greek word meekness signifies lack of pretension; gentleness, and self-control.
    • Meekness toward others implies freedom from malice and vengefulness.
    • Jesus is the perfect example of meekness – at the trial & crucifixion
    • Note Jesus’ heart – It’s not the strong, aggressive, rich, etc. who inherit the earth.
    • It’s the weak, those who find strength and confidence in God alone, who will inherit the earth
  • How will they inherit the earth?
    • Inherit the earth = enter into the Promised land (the inheritance)
    • Read Psalm 37: 9-11
    • People understood this to describe the Messiah.
    • Points to New Heaven & New Earth
  • Our culture despises meekness, just as Greco-Roman culture did. It says we should strike back, get in people’s faces, fight the man!
  • That’s not what Jesus did for himself and it isn’t the attitude of someone who really processed the sacrifice of Jesus  Christ and the grace and mercy of a God who had every right to destroy us, but didn’t.