In Matthew 5 Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with what we have called the beatitudes . What are the beatitudes and how do they apply to the Christian life? Over the next several weeks we’re going to take a closer look at these paradoxical statements of joy.
Why would I call the beatitudes paradoxical statements of joy? Jesus repeatedly says blessed, but Jesus does not bless what we might expect. “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . . blessed are those who mourn. . . blessed are the meek and gentle. . . blessed are those who are persecuted.” These are definitely not the American idea of blessings!
Why do we call Jesus’ statements “the beatitudes?” A beatitude is a condition of supreme well-being, joy happiness and cheer. Jesus begins each of the beatitudes saying, “blessed.” Blessed means fortunate, well off, or happy. However, Jesus is not talking about a superficial blessing; the beatitudes are not a promise of laughter, pleasure or earthy prosperity.
Jesus offers a blessing which is independent of outward circumstances. Christ’s blessing brings a hope and joy which cannot be taken away by this world because His blessing brings God’s favor and grace into our lives. “With God on our side like this, HOW CAN WE LOSE?” (Romans 8:31 MsgB)
I sometimes refer to the beatitudes as “BE ATTITUDES;” these are the attitudes, characteristics or qualities which should be a part of the Christian life. The “Be Attitudes” are the building blocks of a Christ-like lifestyle. Put simply the beatitudes show us how to BE LIKE JESUS.
When we live our lives like Jesus we live a blessed life–a life full of joy, so the beatitudes are also essential qualities for joy. Jesus lived a joyful life! (Why should we want to be like Jesus if He were always depressed?) Living like Jesus gives us joy this world can’t give, AND CAN’T TAKE AWAY!
+ Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (NIV)
My greatest desire for us as a church is for us to be like Jesus, to experience His joy in everything we do. If we are living our lives like Jesus, then we will be His hands, His feet, and His voice; we will walk where Jesus walks, do what Jesus does and say what Jesus says. Furthermore, if we as a church live like Jesus, then we will be a joyful church which other people will want to be a part of.
How much are we living our lives like Jesus? Are our lives different from our non-Christian family and friends? We may live in the same homes, drive the same cars, and work the same jobs, but are the guiding principles we live by different?
Far too often we don’t look much different from people who are still in the world. As Christians we live in the world, but are not to be of the world; our minds should not be squeezed into the mold of the world, but be transformed (see: John 17:16; Romans 12:2). Living like Jesus means we should be different!
The beatitudes: building blocks to be like Jesus.
+ Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)
Jesus opens the sermon on the mount with this paradox, “Happy are the poor in spirit.” What appears on the surface to be a contradiction is due to our misunderstanding of what Jesus is saying. The first step to understanding what Jesus is saying is to know what He is not saying.
1. Poor in spirit does not mean financial poverty. In fact spiritual poverty has nothing to do with money. Your personal wealth or lack of wealth is not what Jesus is referring to. Yet some teach that to be truly blessed by God you must surrender your financial wealth. Didn’t Jesus tell the rich young ruler to go and sell everything and then come to follow Him? Yes, He did. Aren’t riches among the thorns which choke the word of God keeping it from being fruitful in a person’s life? True again. However, money is not the problem; the real issue is the condition of the heart. You and I could be financially poor having nothing which is valuable in the eyes of the world, yet we may not be poor in spirit. As we’ll see the heart of the pauper may still be rich or full of self.
2. Poor in spirit also does not mean being biblically illiterate. Some say we need to be spiritually rich; we need a wealth of biblical knowledge to make us mature in our faith. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, maturity is not dependent upon your biblical knowledge, but upon your obedience to the word. Genuine maturity is proved by our love for one another and not by how much of the bible we can quote or time spent in prayer. The spiritual poverty which Jesus said is blessed will transform the way we live our lives.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Putting it simply, THE POOR IN SPIRIT DIE TO SELF. Spiritual poverty which is blessed by God surrenders control to God.
+ Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. (NLT)
We’re to become a “living sacrifice,” to lay our lives on a cold stone altar–a place of death–and surrender control of our lives to God. When God is in control Jesus says we’re blessed!
If we are honest with each other none of us want to surrender the control of our life to anyone. People all around us are living for themselves. Americans are living for pride and personal independence. Most people would agree–what is really important is to look out for number one!
>>When “Old Blue Eye’s” died in May 1998 at the age of 82 everyone agreed: There will never be another Sinatra. Sinatra had an amazing career; he even topped Elvis! He holds the record of 40 consecutive years with a song on the billboard charts. One of those chart topping songs was “I Did It My Way” a theme song for many Americans.
>> The opening verse says, “Now, the end is near, So I face the final curtain – My friends, I’ll say it clear State my case of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full, And traveled each, and every highway – And more, much more than this I did it my way.”
>>When Sinatra died, he left family and friends, plus a world full of fans who grieved his loss. He also left behind millions of dollars in cash and assets: cars, houses, land and stocks. He left all of his platinum and gold records, his Grammys, and his Oscar. When Francis Albert Sinatra died, he left behind exactly what you and I will leave behind when our days on Earth are over. HE LEFT BEHIND EVERYTHING.
Just like all of us will someday do, Frank Sinatra left this world to stand face-to-face before Jesus Christ. When God asks him, “Frank, why should I let you into my Heaven?,” he won’t have the courage to sing, or even say the words “I did it my way.” When we stand before the Lord in heaven our self achievement and accomplishments, no matter how great or small will not count for anything.
If we are going to receive the Kingdom of Heaven, then we must be “poor in spirit.” God’s eternal reward will only be given to those who die to self and live for Christ. Only one answer matters when we stand face to face before the Living God, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. Everything I did for myself counts for nothing; I am saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone.”
American values–the things which are important to this world clash with the values of God’s kingdom. Until we are transformed by the power of God, Jesus’ teaching is going to rub us the wrong way.
God will bless the surrendered life, but what does it look like when we are willing to die to self? The poor in spirit have three common character traits; genuine spiritual poverty has these qualities: brokenness, humility and dependance. These are the first building blocks necessary to be like Jesus.
1. The poor in spirit are BROKEN.
+ Luke 20:17-18 17. . .“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. (NIV)
Speaking to the Pharisee’s Jesus shows the contrast between those who accept or reject Him as the cornerstone. All who are unwilling to accept Christ will be crushed and completely destroyed. The Pharisees understood Jesus meant they would be among those crushed. They wanted to have Him arrested on the spot, but they were afraid of the people.
Jesus was surrounded by those who believed He was God’s chosen Messiah. Just like many Christians today, many of these would be followers of Christ did not understand their need to fall upon Jesus and be broken. Jesus uses this figurative image of falling upon the capstone to illustrate how our pride and self dependance must be broken! God knows if we are never willingly broken, then we will one day be crushed and utterly destroyed on the day of judgment.
Long before we are aware of our helplessness, before we realize we have no strength to help ourselves JESUS COMPREHENDS THE CONDITION OF OUR LIVES.
+ Matthew 9:36 When [Jesus] looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. (MsgB) The NIV says the crowds were “harassed and helpless.”
Jesus sees us. We are the confused and aimless, the harassed and helpless. We can only come to Christ when we are poor in spirit and lay broken before Him. ONLY THEN DO WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER GOD; WE’RE POWERLESS.
When we realize our need for help we fall broken before the Lord. At last the sheep have a shepherd to lead them. Like David we can say, “The Lord is MY shepherd, I shall not want.” Only when we are broken before God do we find the help we need.
Brokenness is the beginning of change in our lives. Until we are broken we cannot see ourselves as we really are. We believe we are strong, but suddenly we understand how weak we really are. Our perceived strength also keeps us from seeing God for who He is. Until we are broken we see God in our image with the same limitations, but once broken we can see God’s omnipotent power, His omniscient knowledge and His abundant grace poured into our lives.
Brokenness changes everything. It is the first building block of the poor in spirit needed in our lives to be like Jesus.
2. The poor in spirit are HUMBLE.
What is humility? The dictionary defines humility as “a lack of vanity or self-importance,” but genuine humility is not a self abasement or degrading of self. When we put ourselves down as unworthy or incapable it’s really still a type of pride. Why? Because pride in any form focuses on self.
If we want to really understand what humility is then we need to look at Jesus. He is our example.
Jesus didn’t put on a false humility saying, “I’m a nobody.” Jesus knew His identity. In Luke 22:70 Jesus is asked, “Are you the Son of God?” Jesus didn’t respond by diverting attention to who He was or saying, “I’m only God’s servant.” Jesus simply replied “Yes that is who I am.” Some might call that a boastful statement, but humility does not deny who you are.
Humility does not change who you are. The single greatest act of humility was for God to become a man, the creator to become like His creation. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, became a man. Humbly Jesus, who had no limitations, accepted the limitations of humanity, but it did not change His identity as the very Son of God.
+ Philippians 2:6-8 6[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! (NIV)
Jesus shows us what humility is really like. It is not simply a lack of vanity or self-importance. Genuine humility thinks of others and not self. Jesus didn’t sit in heaven thinking about all He would have to give up to be our Savior; He wasn’t concerned with being recognized. Jesus’ only though was of us. Jesus knew He alone could meet our need and was willing to do whatever it took to help us. HUMILITY IS OTHER’S FIRST.
Everything Jesus did was an act of humility. Putting other’s first was Jesus’ sole desire; He did nothing for Himself. How different Jesus is from you and me! Jesus showed us by example that the world does not revolve around ourselves.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, while His disciples were concerned about being first and who was the greatest, Jesus washed their feet. It was customary for a host to make his guests feel welcomed by having a servant wash their feet. Jesus did what none of his disciples were willing to do for each other. . . or even for Jesus! Jesus took the place of a servant and washed their feet.
+ John 13:14-15 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (NIV)
Humility is not simply washing feet (although it can be done as an act of humility). Jesus wants us to emulate His lifestyle and serve others. Jesus’ heart was humble. Jesus did not think only of Himself; Jesus though of others first; likewise WE NEED TO LEARN HUMILITY AND PUT OTHERS AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
Building blocks to be like Jesus. The beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” is the foundation. Brokenness and humility are the first two blocks placed, but a third is needed if we are going to begin to be like Jesus.
3. The poor in spirit are DEPENDANT UPON GOD.
+ Matthew 5:3 You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (MsgB)
Sometimes the most difficult words to say are, “I need help; I can’t make it alone.” We would rather say, “I can do it myself,” or “I’ve earned it.”
None of us like problems or difficulties in our lives. We are much happier when all is sooth sailing. However, God loves us enough to show us our weakness, our vulnerability. Therefore, God will send hardship and difficulty into our lives to wake us from our slumber, so we can see our need of Him. The most important lesson each of us must learn is to stop relying on ourselves and depend upon God.
+ Hebrews 12:7 God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. (MsgB)
Still none of us like troubles. Too often our response to problems is “WHY ME?” “Why me” underscores our independence and even perceived personal superiority to others. What we are really saying is “I don’t deserve this.”
+ Jeremiah 17:5-7 5This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. 7"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. (NLT)
God wants us to learn to say, “WHY NOT ME, I’M GOD’S CHILD?” “Why not me” acknowledges our position before God and our dependance upon Him. Furthermore, “Why not me” puts us in a position to be blessed by God.
+ Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says–he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, TO REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE LOWLY AND TO REVIVE THE HEART OF THE CONTRITE.” (NIV).
That’s the good news: When we are poor in spirit, when we fall upon Jesus and are broken, when we humble ourselves before God, and when we acknowledge our dependance upon Him, then God will pick up the broken pieces and put us back together again.
God is looking for those who are poor in spirit–those who are willing to die to self. These are those whom God will restore and make new.
Conclusion:
Jesus promised blessing to the poor in spirit. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Don’t miss this! When we die to self through brokenness, humility and dependance upon God, then we are apart of His family–heirs with Christ!
+ Romans 8:15-17 15This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What’s next, Papa?" 16God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. 17And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! (MsgB)
Jesus’ preached a simple message, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.” The poor in spirit are the recipients of God’s kingdom!
God loves us and accepts us just the way we are, but He loves us to much to leave us that way. God wants us to be like Jesus. The beatitudes are the building blocks to be like Jesus. The first is “the poor in spirit” to die to self through brokenness, humility and dependance upon God.
This is only the beginning. The beatitudes are not a multiple-choice list of options. It’s all or nothing. If you want to be like Jesus, then we’ve only just started, so let’s continue to unpack these paradoxical statements of joy and learn to be like Jesus!
