I. Introduction
A. A guy walking in the desert desperately needed a drink. As he followed the dunes, he came upon another man riding a camel. He asked the man if he had something to drink. The man on the camel said "No, but if you like, I have a nice selection of ties. Would you like to buy one?" "No!" The first man replied. "Are you crazy? I need something to drink, not a tie!" So the man on the camel rode on, and the walking man continued his slow and very thirsty trek for several days. Finally he came upon a cantina. He gratefully approached the doorman at the cantina and said, "I'm so glad I made it! Can I get in and get some water?" The doorman frowned at him. "Not without a tie."
1. The outline for this message was taken from “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible,” from Leadership Ministies Worldwide
B. As we started out last week we said that it is seldom in history so few words been spoken with so much meaning.
1. The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before the world a descriptive picture of the true disciple of God.
2. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect, now as well as in eternity.
a. Lets make our outline as follows
(1) Jesus saw multitudes (v.1-2).
(a) Which we have already covered
(2) The poor in spirit: shall be given the Kingdom of Heaven (v.3).
(3) Those who mourn: shall be comforted (v.4).
(4) The meek: shall inherit the earth (v.5).
(5) Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: shall be filled (v.6).
(6) The merciful: shall obtain mercy (v.7).
(7) The pure in heart: shall see God (v.8).
(8) The peacemakers: shall be called the children of God (v.9).
(9) The persecuted: shall be given the Kingdom of Heaven (v.10-12).
(a) Lets turn to Matthew 5:4
II. Body
A. Those who mourn: shall be comforted
Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
1. Mourn means to have a broken heart.
2. The Greek here is the strongest word possible for mourning
a. It is like the deep mourning and wailing that occurs over the death of a loved one
b. It is sorrow, a desperate, helpless sorrow
c. It is a sorrow for sin, a broken heart over evil and suffering
d. It is a brokenness of self that comes from seeing Christ on the cross and realizing that our sins put Him there
3. But, lets talk about things
a. Who is it that mourns?
(1) Turn to Luke 18:13
(2) Who is it so full of grief that he cries and weeps and utters groanings deep from within? There are three persons who mourn and utter such groanings
(3) The first is illustrated in Luke 18:13, he is the person who is desperately sorry for his sins and unworthiness before God
(a) He has such a sense of sin that his heart is just broken.
Luke 18:13 (NKJV)
"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!
(b) Turn to Matthew 9:36
(4) The second person who really feels the desperate plight and terrible suffering of others
(a) The tragedies, the problems, the sinful behavior of others~the state, the condition, the lostness of the world-all weigh ever so heavily upon the heart of the mourner
(b) This second person is like Christ in Matthew 9:36
Matthew 9:36 (NKJV)
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd
(c) The third person is the one who experiences personal tragedy and intense trauma
i) Turn to James 4:8 - 10
4. Men ought to mourn over their sins
a. This leads to confession and humility before God and results in being lifted up
James 4:8-10 (NKJV)
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. {9} Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. {10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up
(1) Turn to Isaiah 53:3
b. The person who mourns is comforted by Christ Himself
(1) Christ was called the "man of sorrows" and was acquainted with grief
(2) He is able to comfort and to draw a person ever so close and to strengthen him beyond imagination
Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
(3) There is a godly sorrow, but there is also a worldly sorrow
(4) There is also a self-centered sorrow
(a) Turn back to Matthew 5:4
5. For those who mourn there is comfort
a. There is a present comfort
(1) Turn to John 14:27
(2) A settled peace: a relief, a solace, a consolation within
John 14:27 (NKJV)
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid
(a) Now turn to Ephesians 1:3 and 1 John 1:9
b. An assurance of forgiveness and acceptance by God
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1) Turn to John 14:26
c. A fullness of joy: a sense of God's presence, care and guidance
John 14:26 (NKJV)
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you
(1) Turn to Romans 8:28
(2) A sense of His sovereignty
(3) A sense of His working all things out for good to those who love Him
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose
(a) Turn to Psalms 16:11
Psalms 16:11 (NKJV)
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore
6. That is the present comfort and there is an eternal comfort
a. A passing from death to life
(1) We don’t have to read the next passage, we should all know it by heart, John 3:16
John 3:16 (NKJV)
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life
(2) Turn to Isaiah 25:8
b. There will be a wiping away of all tears.
Isaiah 25:8 (NKJV)
He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken
c. And there are two places in the Revelation which say that our tears will be wiped away by Jesus and by God, Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4
Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)
"for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4 ((NKJV)
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
(1) Now lets read Matthew 5:5
B. The meek
Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth
1. To be meek is to have a strong, but tender and humble life
a. It is a strong yet teachable spirit
b. It is not being weak, bowing or spineless
c. It is a man who is strong, very strong, yet he is humble and tender
d. It is a man with all the emotions and ability to take and conquer, but he is able to control himself
e. It is discipline, a man disciplined because he is God-controlled
f. The opposite of meekness is arrogance or pride
g. In too many persons there is an air of sufficiency and superiority
h. A meek person knows that he has needs and does not have all the answers
i. Who are the meek?
(1) The person who is controlled, not undisciplined
(a) Turn to Romans 6:12
(b) The mind and body are disciplined, never let loose
(c) Passion and urges, speech and behavior, sight and touch are always controlled.
Romans 6:12 (NKJV)
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts
i) And then turn to 1 Corinthians 6:12
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV)
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
ii) Turn to 1 Corinthians 9:17
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
j. The person who is meek is humble not prideful
(1) Turn to Romans 12:3
(2) He is humble before God
(3) He knows his need for God and for God's hand upon his life, his need to be saved and controlled by God
(4) He is humble before men
(5) He knows he is not the epitome of mankind, nor the summit of knowledge among men
(6) He does not have it all nor does he know it all.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith
(7) And turn to Philippians 2:3 - 4
Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. {4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others
k. The person who is meek is gentle, not easily provoked
(1) Turn to 2 Timothy 2:24
(2) He is always in control when dealing with people: cool, even-tempered, able to show displeasure without reacting impulsively, able to answer softly
2 Timothy 2:24 (NKJV)
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient
(a) Turn to Matthew 6:14
l. The person who is meek is forgiving, not vengeful
Matthew 6:14 (NKJV)
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
(1) Turn to Psalms 4:4
m. The meek person is a quiet person
(1) He studies to be quiet.
Psalms 4:4 (NKJV)
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
(a) Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:11
n. The meek person is quiet before men
(1) He walks quietly before men, controlled in all things, in both speech and behavior.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NKJV)
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
2. Going back to Matthew 5:5 it says that the meek shall inherit the earth now, that is, they presently enjoy and experience the good things of the earth.
(1) Turn to Philippians 1:6
b. The meek have found themselves
(1) They are comfortable with themselves
(2) They know who they are; therefore, they are strong and confident, yet tender and humble.
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(a) Turn to 2 Timothy 4:8
c. The meek know where they are going; they are teachable
(1) They have nothing to prove
(2) They have purpose, meaning, and significance in life
2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
d. The meek are assured of victory, conquest, triumph over whatever confronts them
(1) Turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13
(2) They are controlled; therefore, they control circumstances instead of letting circumstances control them
(3) They are free from stress and tension
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
(a) Turn to Romans 5:1-5
Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; {4} and perseverance, character; and character, hope. {5} Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us
(b) Turn to Matthew 11:28 - 30
e. The meek have peaceful souls
(1) They carry whatever pressure and tension comes their way to Christ, and He relieves it all
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
3. The reward of the meek
a. Turn to Romans 8:16-17
b. The earth is theirs eternally, that is, the new heavens and earth. An inheritance of eternal life and dominion is promised them, for they are joint-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV)
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, {17} and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together
C. We have run out of time again
1. We will continue next week beginning at verse 6, Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
III. Conclusion
A. Remember that Jesus was teaching His disciples, not the crowd
1. He is pointing out various virtues and the inherent rewards
a. His purpose may well have been to cause His disciples to do a little introspection, am I this kind of person?
(1) Is my spirit poor? Along with all that means
(2) Am I a meek person
(3) Do I mourn
(a) Not necessarily for the passing of a loved one
(b) But do I mourn for the condition of the human soul?
(c) Do I mourn for the lost, the destitute, the unloved of this world?
b. Matthew has recorded The Sermon on the Mount for our contemplation as much as for the disciples
(1) Or should I say Matthew has recorded The Sermon on the Mount for our contemplation as His disciples
(2) How do we measure up?
