Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes

Introduction

1. Today in-depth, starting with “The Beatitudes”
2. Beatitude from Lt. meaning blessedness
3. Each of the 7 or 8 “Beatitudes” gives a characteristic and the blessing which follows.

1. “The Poor in Spirit”

   1. Not the “poor in pocket”
   2. “Spiritually insufficient funds”
      1. Jer. 10:23 - O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man
      2. Luke 18:9-14 - The tax collector shows what it means to be poor in spirit.
   3. God can work with a humble person
      1. 1 Cor. 1:26 - Not many wise, mighty, noble
      2. Jas. 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up

2. “They that Mourn”

   1. Odd - happy mourners?
   2. Mourning over our own sin/others
      1. Matt. 26:75 - After denying the Lord Peter wept bitterly
      2. 2 Cor. 7:10 - Godly sorrow produces repentance
      3. Jer. 9:1 - I would weep all day and night for the slain of the Jerusalem
      4. Matt. 23:37 - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets
   3. When we find that we canʼt mourn over sin we are in trouble:
      1. Eph. 4:19 - Being passed feeling are given over to sin
      2. 1 Cor. 13:6 - We cannot rejoice in sin

3. “The Meek”

   1. Does meekness mean weakness, timidity?
   2. Consider:
      1. Moses (Num. 12:3; Ex. 32)
      2. Jesus (Isa. 53:7; Matt. 11:29; John 2:15)
   3. Another paradox
      1. In the world “might equals right”
      2. Meek, not the assertive and aggressive, inherit the earth (Rom. 8:17)

4. “Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness”

   1. Common experiences of life (Hunger/Thirst)
   2. Pr. 27:7 - The satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet
      1. The satisfied loath the Gospel- Career, entertainment, sports, friends
      2. The Gospel is sweet to the hungry - Salvation, heaven, even Sin, judgment
   3. Do you hunger and thirst?
      1. For learning and doing Godʼs will
      2. Canʼt go to heaven with out it

5. “The Merciful”

   1. Mercy is: Kindness toward the troubled/Desire to relieve the afflicted
   2. God desires mercy in His people
      1. Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13; 12:7 - Mercy more than sacrifice
      2. Jas. 2:13 - Judgment is w/out mercy to the one who has shown no mercy
   3. Are you Merciful?
      1. Person sins: do you resent? Do you seek his/her repentance/salvation?
      2. Person uses different judgment: bad mouth? Treat unkindly?

6. “The Pure in Heart”

   1. The heart: Mind, Will, Emotions, Conscience
   2. God wants it all pure:
      1. Mind (Phil. 4:8)
      2. Will (Pr. 3:5)
      3. Emotions (Rom. 12:15)
      4. Conscience (Acts 24:16)
   3. God takes notice:
      1. 1 Sam. 16:7 - The Lord does not see as man... the Lord looks at the heart
      2. Acts 1:24 - You, O Lord, who knows the hearts of all
   4. Are you watching and examining your heart? (Pr. 4:23)

7. “The Peacemakers”

   1. Peace is: harmony, unity
      1. Not speaking of an earthly peace (though, thats good too - Rom. 12:18)
      2. Not speaking of peace keeping (not upsetting - Jer. 6:14; Matt. 10:35)
   2. But, the greatest peace, spiritual peace with God
      1. The Lost:
         1. Isa. 59:1, 2 - Sin divides us from God
         2. 1 Tim. 2:4, 5 - There is one mediator
      2. The Saved
         1. Eph. 4:1-3 - We endeavor (give diligence) to preserve unity in the body
         2. Pr. 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath
         3. Pr. 25:11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver
         4. 2 Tim. 2:23-26 - The way of the servant of the Lord which brings peace

8. “The Persecuted”

   1. Persecution comes in various forms: Physical/Verbal
   2. We should expect to receive this:
      1. 2 Tim. 3:12 - All who desire to live godly in Christ will suffer persecution
      2. Phil. 1:29 - To you it has been granted not only to believe... also suffer
      3. Luke 14:27 - Bear your cross every day
   3. There is a blessing in receiving persecution
      1. Jas. 1:3 - The testing of your faith produces patience
      2. Matt. 5:11, 12 - You are in good company with the prophets of God