The Blessed Series

The Blessed

Series: Jesus began to preach

04/18/10 AM

Text: Matthew 4:17; 5:1-10

Introduction

This morning we begin a sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount. This series of messages, titled “Jesus began to preach,” is intended to be practical, providing lessons on applying the Lord’s spiritual principles of the sermon to everyday life and will encompass all of Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus’ longest uninterrupted teaching in all the Gospels and, perhaps excluding Psalm 23, the Sermon on the Mount is one of the most familiar passages of Scripture. Everybody knows “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” “Turn the other cheek,” “Walk the extra mile,” and “An eye for an eye.” But familiarity does not make the principles revealed by Jesus any easier for us to apply as His disciples.

In the order of chronological events the sermon follows immediately after Jesus’ 40-day fast and temptation in the wilderness, His baptism by John in the Jordan River, the calling of the 12 Apostles, His multiple healings, His Galilean ministry, the beginning of his great popularity, and with inauguration of his teaching ministry. Matthew tells us in chapter 4: 17 that “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

The sermon begins at Matthew 5:1 and continues through to Matthew 7:28, providing a clear teachings of what is expected from a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 5:1 makes it clear that these teachings were given to disciples) and in this series we will examine these expectations and consider how we are to apply them to our daily walk in Christ.

We will begin with the lessons given to the blessed found in Matthew 5:3-10.

I. These are not World's Attitudes.

A. Matthew 5:1 ...His disciples came to Him.

1. Nobody is like this naturally but Jesus says “Repent.”

2. John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

B. Sometimes the beatitudes are not our attitudes.

1. "Idealistic." "Can't really live in the real world like that."

2. When they are we can expect to be insulted, abused, and persecuted (v11 notice also that we'll be rewarded because of it.)

3. To Walk with Jesus is to step OUT of the crowd.

C. All in the church are called out (ecclessia)

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

D. The Beatitudes are a Package Deal

1. Not like gifts of the Spirit Romans 12:6-8

a. Some have these gifts, others have other gifts.

II. What is the meaning of Blessed?

A. It is more than to be happy

1. The Greek word used here is makarios and we need to understand the fullness of it's meaning.

2. Many English translations of the Beatitudes translate makarios with the word “happy,” as in “Happy are those mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Our English word “happy” come from the Middle English word “hap” meaning chance. Thus, happiness as we know it depends upon beneficial circumstances. That’s not what Jesus had in mind in the Beatitudes.

3. In our case, “blessed” is the best translation of the original word; and in this context it means one who, by adopting these attitudes will externally be the recipient of God’s favor, and internally experience joy and peace.

a. It is related to the word “bliss,” which was used by the ancient Greeks to describe the existence of the gods, a life of anxiety-free, work-free, untroubled state of perfect harmony and calm.

b. The Greek word conveys something like a short cry of joy, “Oh, you fortunate person!”

c. Thus, adopting these attitudes provides one with an internal joy unaffected by circumstances and the recipient of God’s eternal favor and the recipient of a reward. And some of these rewards are given in this life; some in the next.

Let’s look at these “attitudes of beatitude” quickly and then spend a few moments in application.

III The Beatitudes are to Be our Attitudes.

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit… applied to Lazarus (Luke 16), and rendered beggar. We recognize our spiritual poverty which cannot be relieved by one’s own efforts, but only by the free mercy of God.

Unlike the Pharisee in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18 who reminded God how fortunate He was to have a servant like him, the tax collector, so remorseful over his sin, and with no pretense or excuse, simply said, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”