Title: Self and the Sermon on the Mount
Theme:
Text: Matthew 5:1-16
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I. Relationship of the subjects of the kingdom to self (Matthew 5:1-16)
II. Relationship of the subjects of the kingdom to law (Matthew 5:17-48)
III. Relationship of the subjects of the kingdom to God (Matthew 6)
IV. Relationship of the subjects of the kingdom to others (Matthew 7)
Blessed means happy. But it is more than what the world thinks of as happiness. For some they seem to think it is found in material possessions (cars, houses, money, jobs,), for others it is thought to be found in the opposite sex, for others it is power. But here we see it is none of these but an internal happiness. One that is found inside as a result of being saved. Boy does it make a difference.
Remember I said last Sunday night in these Be attitudes we will not found how to be saved but what we will find is the characteristics of one who is saved.
In each one of these what we are going to see is the result of the regenerated. I believe we see two things and two applications. One to the sinner. A sinner has to arrive at each of these realizations to be saved. Then we see the expected behavior after salvation.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
These are those who have been humbled by the grace of God and have acknowledged their sin and therefore dependence upon God to save them.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Those who mourn for sin shall be comforted in confession
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Meekness is not wimpy ness but it is humility. Again we realize who we are to an almighty God and we are humbled.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Those who are poor and empty in their own spiritual poverty recognize the depth of their need and hunger and thirst for that which only God can give them. To hunger means to be needy. Hungering and thirsting is the by-product of a regenerated
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
This is one who has had mercy given to themselves and because of this they give it to others. It is not like the unforgiving servant who was forgiven of his great depth but put his fellow servant in jail because of the measly amount owed.
We are not saved because we show mercy but because we are saved we show mercy
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4 AV)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14 AV)
God is searching for hearts that are pure. Man how important it is that we are pure. Pure intentions, pure ambitions, pure obedience, pure realization.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
When you have peace with God then it is not hard to have peace with man? It is only when our relationship with God is strained that our relationships with others are strained?
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus never hid the message that the world is opposed to him and will be opposed to his followers. The servants are not greater than their master.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12 AV)
This does not always mean physical abuses. Some Christians have suffered for Christ and have given their own life. Some have to put up with the social pressure. The rejection, the left out, the scoffed.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. {falsely: Gr. lying}
not just physical but verbal.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
2Cor 1:3-7; 12:7-10
Jesus does this for a purpose. He has a reason for every thing. In these next few verses we have the reason.
Why?
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
salt
1) adds flavoring
2) acts as a preservative
3) melts coldness
4) heals wounds
But if it losses its saltiness it is useless. It can add no flavor, or preserve or melt or heal.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. {a bushel: the word in the original signifieth a measure containing about a pint less than a peck}
Inconsistent living will hide the light of God in the lives of men. No matter how many beatitudes one shows if it is not consistent it is all lost.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify (yourself and thy lift you up?) your Father which is in heaven.
Our main goal and purpose is not to glorify man but to glorify God. We do this by the life that we live. We do this by the flavor we add or preserve or melt or heal we do this by the light we shine.
