A Messiah Who Blesses
Text: Matt. 5:1-12
Introduction
1. Illustration: Dietrich Bonheoffer in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, begins with "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die."
a. What should we die to? Should we die to self? Should we die to our sin? Should we die to the whims of an ungodly society?
b. If we want to truly follow Christ, the answer to all these questions is a resounding "Yes!"
2. Bonheoffer understood what it means to count the cost of discipleship.
a. He was a pastor, theologian, and church leader during the reign of terror known as Nazi Germany.
b. He escaped to the United States, however, while in the US God spoke to him that he was needed in his homeland.
c. After returning, he was arrested and placed in a concentration camp, where he was hung for his faith.
d. He understood counting the cost, but he also understood that the reward of following Jesus outweighs that cost.
3. Jesus teaches us that:
a. Although our society values self-preservation, blessing comes when we make ourselves vulnerable.
b. Although our society values looking out for number one, blessing comes from being other-minded.
c. Although our society values winning at all costs, blessing comes from being sincere.
d. Although our society values pleasure, blessing comes from right living.
4. Read Matt. 5:1-12
Proposition: If we want to truly be followers of Jesus, we must be willing to transcend the standards of an ungodly society.
Transition: First, Jesus talks about the...
I. Blessings of Vulnerability (1-6)
A. Realize Their Need
1. The next three chapters of Matthew have been referred to as The Sermon on the Mount. The reason for this is based on the very first phrase of chapter 5: "One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside..."
a. As Matthew stated in chapter 4, multitudes of people began to flock to Jesus because they heard about His healing and deliverance from diseases and oppression.
b. Jesus wanted to get away from all this and begin to teach His new disciples.
2. Matthew shows this by continuing..."and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them."
a. It is interesting that Jesus sat down. Although one would stand to read Scripture publicly, Jewish teachers would sit to expound it, often with disciples sitting at their feet (The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
b. The audience of this teaching is Jesus disciples and not the crowd.
c. The word "disciples" refers "to being a follower of someone, in the sense of adhering to the teachings or instructions of a leader" (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).
d. Jesus wanted to take some time and teach His disciples what was truly important to them as His followers.
3. The first thing that Jesus tells His disciples is “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."
a. This first section of teaching is known as the Beatitudes.
b. Beatitude comes from the Latin beatus which means "blessed."
c. To be blessed is to receive God’s approval, favor, endorsement, and congratulations (Turner, 75).
d. God blesses those who admit their spiritual poverty. They realize that they are totally dependent upon Him and cannot do it on their own.
e. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
f. Verse 3 and 10 have identical promise statements and are both in the present tense, whereas the other statements are future tense (Turner, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, 76).
g. In other words, to those who realize their spiritual poverty, theirs is the Kingdom, here and now.
4. Next, Jesus says, "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
a. There are many things that we can mourn over: the loss of a loved one, hardship, personal crisis, or facing our own mortality.
b. However, the mourning that Jesus is talking about here has to do with sin
c. This is in keeping with Matthew’s theme of repentance (Turner, 76).
d. It also goes along with the idea of realizing our spiritual poverty.
e. Psalm 51:1-5 (NLT)
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight...."
f. David realized, that although he had sinned against other people, above all he had sinned against God.
g. Jesus is saying that those who truly show remorse for their sin, not because they got caught, but because they have offended a holy God, will receive comfort in the form of God’s forgiveness.
5. Jesus also says, "God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth."
a. This verse is traditionally translated "Blessed are the meek..."
b. However, I believe the NLT captures what Jesus is trying to communicate.
c. True meekness is an unassuming humility that rests in God and renounces self-effort to relieve oneself form oppression and to achieve one’s wants (Turner, 76).
d. Again, it goes back to the idea of spiritual poverty - without God’s grace we are without hope.
e. Once again Jesus goes against the grain of human culture and experience by asserting that the meek, not the yuppies, the militants, the financial tycoons, or the super-pios types will inherit the earth" (Turner, 77).
B. God Dependant
1. Illustration: Dr. Samuel Brengle (Salvation Army) said, “The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. It could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, he used it. The moment he throws it aside, it becomes only old iron. O that I may never lose sight of this.”
2. True disciples of Jesus realize they are spiritually bankrupt.
a. Revelation 3:17 (NLT)
You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
b. We are sinners in the hands of an angry God.
c. We are without hope aside from Him.
d. We are spiritually blind, deaf, and mute without Christ.
e. We cannot be right with God, except by the blood of Jesus.
3. True disciples of Jesus realize their need for Him.
a. John 15:5 (NLT)
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
b. Without Him, we can do nothing.
c. Without Him, we have nothing.
d. Without Him, we are nothing.
e. We need Him more than life itself.
4. True disciples of Jesus long for more of Him.
a. We are not satisfied with the fact that we are saved.
b. We are not content with the fact that we are going to heaven.
c. We realize that unless we continue to grow and become more like Jesus we will die.
d. We long for, cling to, and rely on Jesus.
Transition: In this teaching, Jesus also stresses the...
II. Blessings of Other-Mindedness (7,9)
A. Those Who Are Merciful
1. The first set of beatitudes deal with how we relate to God, but the second set deal with how we deal with people.
2. Jesus says, "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
a. The word mercy means, "to show compassion and concern for someone in difficulty, despite that person’s having committed a moral offense (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).
b. We are to be merciful to others because Jesus has been merciful to us.
c. We are to extend mercy to others even if they have not shown it to us. We are not judged based on what others do, but only on what we do.
d. It is not a matter of how others respond to our mercy, but how God will judge us for what we have done (France, 168).
3. In verse 9, Jesus says, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."
a. Psalm 34:14 (NLT)
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
b. This is not about being a passively peaceful person but an active reconciler of people.
c. We are to be like our heavenly Father who treats His enemies well.
d. Because Jesus reached out to us when we were His enemies, we must reach out to make peace with our enemies.
e. Notice that Jesus says that if we do this we "will be called the children of God." Why do you suppose that Jesus said this? Because children resemble their parents.
f. We will be called the children of God if we are agents of peace because that is what God is like.
B. Consider Others
1. Illustration: A man was driving home from work one evening when he suddenly realized that it was his daughter’s birthday and he hadn’t yet bought her a gift. So, the man rushed off to the nearest toy store and asked the sales clerk, "How much is that Barbie in the window?" The sales clerk replied in a condescending tone, "Which Barbie? We have Barbie Goes to the Gym for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Ball for $19.95, Barbie Goes Shopping for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Beach for $19.95, Barbie Goes Nightclubing for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.00." The overwhelmed man asked, "Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.00 and all the others are only $19.95?" "That’s obvious!" said the sales clerk. "Divorce Barbie comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, Ken’s boat, and Ken’s furniture.
2. Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
3. True disciples of Jesus are selfless, not selfish.
a. As followers of Jesus, we put the needs of others ahead of our own.
b. As followers of Jesus, we are willing to sacrifice for the good of others.
c. As followers of Jesus, we consider what others need more than what we want.
4. True disciples of Jesus show mercy because they have been shown mercy.
a. As followers of Jesus, we are willing to forgive others because we know the depth of our own spiritual debt.
b. As followers of Jesus, we are willing to show kindness to others, whether they deserve it or not, because we know we did not deserve it.
c. As followers of Jesus, we are willing to over look it when people hurt us, because Jesus was willing to forgive those who crucified Him.
5. True disciples of Jesus live by a higher standard than our society.
a. Our society tells us to look out for number 1, but Jesus tells us to look out for others.
b. Our society tells us that revenge is sweet, but Jesus tells us that vengeance is His to repay.
c. Our society tells us tells us that it is a dog-eat-dog world, but Jesus tells us that this world is not our home.
Transition: Jesus also teaches us the...
III. Blessings of the Sincerity (8)
A. Hearts Are Pure
1. Jesus makes it clear that righteousness is not an outside in issue, but it is inside out.
2. Jesus said, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God."
a. The one who is single-minded in commitment to the kingdom and its righteousness will also be inwardly pure. Inward sham, deceit, and moral filth cannot coexist with sincere devotion to Christ (Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM).
b. Jesus is talking about an internal purity that manifests itself in outward behavior.
c. It is more than just doing things right on the outside, but it is a righteousness from within.
d. It is more than just doing things right on the outside, but it is a righteousness from within.
e. Psalm 24:3-4 (NLT)
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
3. This would become a major contention with Jesus and the religious leaders of His day.
a. The Pharisees of Jesus day were obsessed with outward ritual purity which misses the point (France, 168).
b. Jesus said that they were like whitewashed tombs - clean on the outside, but on the inside filled with dead men’s bones.
c. The gospel purifies us and transforms us from the inside out.
4. Jesus promises that those who are pure in heart will see God.
a. They will see Him now through the eyes of faith.
b. They will see Him in the future in the splendor of His majesty and holiness.
c. They will see Him coming victoriously through the gates of splendor riding a white horse leading the armies of heaven.
B. Be Genuine
1. Illustration: I recently ran across a quote that is very profound. "Sincerity is to speak as we think, to do as we profess, to perform what we promise, and really to be what we would seem and appear to be."
2. True disciples of Jesus are pure in their faith.
a. They practice what they preach.
b. They live what they believe.
c. They are as transparent as a house of glass.
3. True disciples of Jesus are pure in their relationships.
a. They are trustworthy, honest, and dependable.
b. They are same whether they are at home, church, or at the grocery store.
c. They are consistently people of integrity.
4. True disciples of Jesus are pure at heart.
a. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
b. They have nothing to hide because they are “what you see is what you get” kind of people.
c. They may not be perfect, but they are consistently trying to be more like Jesus everyday.
Transition: Most of all, Jesus talks about the...
IV. Blessings of Right Living (10-12)
A. Persecuted For Doing Right
1. Jesus now moves from being peacemakers to being persecuted.
2. He says, "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."
a. Opposition is a normal mark of being a disciple of Jesus, as normal as hungering for righteousness or being merciful (Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM).
b. John 15:18-20 (NLT)
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you."
c. We might expect that if we treat others well they will also be kind to us. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
d. Jesus treated others with kindness, humility and mercy, but they killed Him for it.
e. He reminds us that others will treat us the same way they treated Him.
f. However, He tells us to do what is right simply because it is right.
g. Notice that He says we are blessed if we are persecuted for doing what is right.
3. Notice what Jesus says next, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way."
a. Jesus promises that we will be blessed for being persecuted, but we must realize that it is a double blessing.
b. If you remember, I said earlier that, like v. 3, v. 10’s blessing is present tense. In other words, we are blessed here and now with the Kingdom of Heaven. We don’t have to wait for blessing for we already possess it.
c. However, Jesus also says that our reward will be great in heaven. So not only are we blessed now, but we will also be blessed later when we are reunited with Jesus in heaven.
4. In fact, so great is our reward that Jesus tells us to be happy when we are persecuted. Look what He says, "Be happy about it! Be very glad!"
a. Jesus tells us that when we are persecuted we are not simply to grin and bear it, but that we are to rejoice because we are identifying with Him.
b. Later, Jesus disciples would follow this teaching to the letter.
c. Acts 5:41 (NLT)
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
d. 1 Peter 4:13 (NLT)
Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
B. Because It Is Right
1. Illustration: Persecution of Christians Continues in Many Nations. About 45 million, or two-thirds of all Christian martyrs in the history of the church, actually died in the twentieth century, according to a new book, The New Persecuted: Inquiries into Anti-Christian Intolerance in the New Century of Martyrs by Italian journalist, Antonio Socci. While thousands of martyrs died in places like the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, millions more have died for their faith in nations like Turkey, where 1.5 million Armenian Christians were murdered. The author estimates that an average of 160,000 Christians have been killed every year since 1990 in a variety of nations such as Pakistan, Sudan, Algeria, and Nigeria.
2. True disciples of Jesus will face persecution, because we are enemies of the devil.
a. Before we came to Christ, he left us alone because we belonged to him.
b. Now that we are friends of God, he will fight us every step of the way.
c. The good news is that we win!
d. Revelation 12:11 (NLT)
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
3. True disciples of Jesus will be persecuted, because we are enemies of an evil society.
a. We live in a society that has lost its mind.
b. In our society, right is wrong and wrong is right, and anyone that disagrees with them is considered to be intolerant and fanatical.
c. The media, political and educational systems are against us.
d. However, there is one thing of which we can be sure.
e. Romans 8:31-37 (NLT)
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Conclusion
1. As true disciples of Jesus, we are a blessed people.
a. Blessed because we are willing to make ourselves vulnerable.
b. Blessed because we are other-minded.
c. Blessed because we are sincere.
d. Blessed because we are persecuted.
2. What do you need to do to become more of a disciple of Jesus?
a. Vulnerable
b. Other-minded
c. Sincere
d. Persecuted
