We saw in Introduction to the Beatitudes -Part 1 the connection of the Beatitudes and the values of the Kingdom. Now we shall se the connection between the Beatitudes and the Fruit of the Spirit.
The gospel of Matthew gives us 9 Beatitudes. Each one is introduced by the word ‘blessed’, followed by the reason for such blessedness. Let’s review them.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you … for great is your reward in heaven.
Some people consider the 9th Beatitude as part of the 8th one. For the purpose of our study, I will view it as a separate Beatitude. So we have these 9 Beatitudes. We shall see if these beatitudes have any connection to the Fruit of the Spirit.
First of all we will focus on the writings of Paul. As we study the Scriptures we realise that much of what Paul wrote in his letters is an exposition and an application of the words of the Lord Jesus. The meaning of Jesus’ words is often well explained in the teaching of Paul.
We can ask ourselves this question, ‘Did Paul touch on the Beatitudes in his writings?’ What can that be? And we have the answer: It is the fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23, we find a list of 9 qualities which, together, are called the fruit of the Spirit. To my knowledge, there is nothing else in Paul’s writings, except for the fruit of the Spirit, that has this ninefold application. The 9 Beatitudes; the 9 qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. Is this a coincidence?
When you put the 9 Beatitudes and the 9 elements that constitute the fruit of the Spirit side by side, there doesn’t seem to be any correspondence. One starts with the statement, Blessed are the poor in spirit, and the other has The fruit of the Spirit is love.
Let’s not be too quick to come to a conclusion here. Remember that Paul is a commentator. He doesn’t simply repeat the Beatitudes. He will describe the content of these Beatitudes.
We shall digress a little.. In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul speaks of the works of the flesh. He writes in Galatians 5:19, Now the works of the flesh are evident. What are they? Here is the list: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealous-ies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. And Paul goes on to say, Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5: 19- 21).
Let’s look at another list found in Mark 7:21-22. This is what Jesus says, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. "
So we see that the works of the flesh is the overflow of the evil that is within the heart. And the works of the Spirit is the overflow of the working of the Spirit within us.
Understanding The Works Of The Flesh
In Galatians 5:13 we find that we are not called to be under bondage by trying to perform according to the law but we are called to liberty and we are to stand fast in that liberty. However Paul goes on to say not to use this liberty as an opportunity to walk in the works of the flesh.
This indicates that we have a choice to make concerning how we are going to walk. We have the choice of walking in the works of the flesh or walking in the leading of the Holy Spirit.
He wants us to walk according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
In order to give the Galatians an example of both lifestyles he gives us 2 lists that show what each type of lifestyle looks like. One is in Galatians 5 :19-21 and the other is in Galatians 5 :22-23
Notice it says that the results are very clear.
One list is an example of what happens when you choose to follow after the works of the flesh. It is not a comprehensive list. It is a list of examples of what to look for to see what you are following. The other list is what we have when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our way of life.
Now we come to an important question : What is the Kingdom of God mentioned in Galatians 5:21
The kingdom of God is referenced often in the gospels (e.g., Mark 1:15; 10:15; 15:43; Luke 17:20) and other places in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 28:31; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50). The kingdom of God is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven. Is the "Kingdom of God" different to the "Kingdom of Heaven."
While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew.
Speaking to the rich young ruler, Christ uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” inter-changeably. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). Jesus makes no distinction between the two terms but seems to consider them synonymous.
Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable Compare Matthew 11:11-12 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29. In each instance, Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God.” Clearly, the two phrases refer to the same thing.
The concept of the kingdom of God takes on various shades of meaning in different passages of Scripture.
Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. Several passages of Scripture show that God is the undeniable Monarch of all creation: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). And, as King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom” (Daniel 4:3). Every authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in one sense, the kingdom of God incorporates everything that is.
More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again.
We have see that the "Kingdom of God" is. We shall now see that it means to "inherit the kingdom of God."
The Christian's relationship to God is described by several metaphors in the Bible. One is seeing a Christian as a child of God. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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" (Romans 8:16-17). As children of God, we then have the right to inherit from our Father.
The inheritance is eternal life. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). It is not an inheritance given in this life. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption" (I Corinthians 15:50). The inheritance is something that comes later, after this life is over. "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).
That is why the Spirit is the down payment or guarantee of what we have not yet received. Or as Paul told the Colossians, "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Colossians 1:12). It is something Christians look forward to receiving. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" Colossians 3:23-24).
The inheritance is awaiting the believer in heaven. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (I Peter 1:3-5).
Since it is the believer who will gain eternal life and the believer compose God's Kingdom, then it is proper to say that the saved who enter heaven become a part of the eternal kingdom. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; also Acts 26:18). Thus, we also find statements that we will inherit the kingdom. In speaking of the final Judgment, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:34).
Since sin will not and cannot be in heaven, those who live lives of sin will not be a part of the inheritance of the kingdom. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Because sinners are of this world, sinners cannot be a part of the spiritual kingdom. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who prac-tice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" (Ephesians 5:5).
Understanding The Fruit Of The Spirit - Gal. 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Now I find it interesting that Paul uses 2 different terms in describing each choice. The first one is works - 5:19 and the second one is fruit -5:22.
One comes from trying, the other one comes from being.
The first choice is something that we have to work at. The second one is something that comes naturally as we are changed from the inside out.
And we also saw in Mark 7:21-22 that evil comes from the overflow from within.
But let’s go beyond what our first impression tells us. I would like to invite you to take note of this. When you look at the list of evil things in Galatians, what do you see? How is that different from what Jesus says? Jesus says, "from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts". Jesus is talking about the heart, the attitude of the heart. That is not what Paul is speaking about. He says, The works of the flesh are, and the categories follow.
Do you see what is happening? In Mark 7 :21-22 when Jesus says, ‘out of the heart,’ He is talking about the inward thoughts of man. Paul, as an expositor, is explaining what will be the consequences of those evil thoughts when it is manifested in action. That is why the 2 lists do not correspond directly to each other. The Lord Jesus is describing the inner attitude of the natural man, whereas Paul is talking about what happens when these evil thoughts become works, the works of the flesh. It is important to bear this distinction in mind. Jesus is talking about the thoughts of the heart, and Paul is talking about the manifestation of those thoughts in the works of the flesh.
Let’s go back to the Beatitudes and see how we can work this out. When we look at the Beatitudes, we see that it is talking about the inner attitude. Blessed are the poor, where? In spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart. The Lord Jesus is talking about the internal attitude of the spiritual man. But Paul is not speaking about inner attitudes in Galatians 5:22. He is talking about the fruit of the Spirit. A fruit is something that has come forth from the tree. It is a manifestation of the life of the tree. It is the outward expression of what the tree is. It is something that you can take from the tree without affecting the tree itself. And Paul, when he talks about the fruit of the Spirit, is expounding and explaining what happens when you have the inner attitude of the heart described by Jesus in the Beatitudes and when that attitude is transformed into an outward expression.
Paul concludes this chapter by encouraging us that since we already live in the Spirit, that we should choose to walk in the Spirit rather than operating in the flesh with provoking one another, envying one another or being conceited.
Let’s conclude. We have seen here that there is a clear connection between the Beatitudes and the fruit of the Spirit, and we described the nature of this spiritual connection. The Beatitudes have to do with the internal attitudes and values of our hearts. On the other hand, the fruit of the Spirit has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in us when these internal attitudes and values are found in us. Jesus said in Matt. 7:16-20 : "Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. "
So we have a choice. We can either work at following our fleshly nature by operating on our own evil desires or we can allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and produce fruit in our lives that we did not have to work at but instead have become a part of who we are.
What is the decision you are going to make?
