Beatitudes (Part I)

We have read, many times, the passage labeled “The

Beatitudes”.

A. They have been cited in preaching and used in

teaching.

1. I do not believe, however, that we have seen

the tremendous importance of these verses....

nor has it been impressed upon us, just how

necessary it is to use these as a daily guide for

Christian living.

B. Too often the “beatitudes” have been presented as

something good and beautiful.

1. However, we have distanced ourselves from

proper application of these words to our lives.

The beatitudes were not just a good speech that was

delivered to a bunch of Jews......under the old law.

A. If we understand what Jesus was saying, we have

to come to the conclusion that Christ was not only

addressing the Jews of His day....He was also

addressing you and me.

Let us look carefully at these passages and see what they

are saying to us.

I. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom

of Heaven.

Matt. 5:3 - 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

A. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. If I took a poll here, I think that every one

of you would say that you want to be in the

Kingdom of Heaven.

a. More properly......you would INSIST

that you were already in that Kingdom.

2. If this be the case.......according to this verse...

what should be an indicator that this is true?

B. Being “poor in spirit” could be taken as a

requirement of citizenship.

1. “poor in spirit” can be defined as this: A

knowledge and belief that one is actually

nothing, spiritually, without Christ.

a. This person would acknowledge that

God gives them all of their spiritual

wealth and talents.

1.) In the analogy of Luke 3:5, valleys

are associated with those who

are humble, while the mountains

are associated with pride.

Luke 3:5 - 5 Every valley shall be filled And every

mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be

made straight And the rough ways smooth.

2.) It is in this prophecy of Christ that

we see the leveling action of God

working in the hearts of men.

a.) Those declaring themselves

rich in the spirit will be found

wanting, while those who

acknowledge their own

spiritual poverty will be

declared.....JUSTIFIED.

Luke 8:13-14 - 13“And the tax collector, standing afar

off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat

his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14“I

tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather

than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be

humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

II. Blessed.....or happy (that is what the word means in the

Greek) are they that are sorrowful, for they will be

comforted.

Matt. 5:4 - 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall

be comforted.

A. Certainly we all want to be comforted when we

are sad and sorrowful.

1. Jesus is not teaching about physical problems

and cares, however.

a. The mourning and sorrow isn’t that

which comes as a result of death in the

family or any other physical loss.

2. The mourning that is referred to by Jesus, is

our mourning over sin’s wicked effects.

a. This person cannot but sorrow over his

own spiritual shortcomings....but also

over the general fallen state of all

humanity, and over the horrors of this

godless world....held captive by its own

vain and wicked inventions.

B. With people there are three different kinds of tears.

1. Tears at the loss of physical things.

a. These are not only bitter, but quite vain.

2. Tears of remorse.

a. Bitter and useless because they usually

come at a time when there is no longer

time for repentance.

Matt. 8:12 - 12“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast

out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and

gnashing of teeth.”

3. Lastly, we have tears of repentance when

the soul desires eternal rewards over the

physical gratification of a moment.

a. These are sweet and beneficial.

1.) This is the mourning that Christ

is addressing.

II Cor. 7:9-11 - 9Now I rejoice, not that you were made

sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were

made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss

from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces

repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the

sorrow of the world produces death. 11For observe this

very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What

diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves,

what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what

zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves

to be clear in this matter.