The B’s of the Beatitudes
Matthew 5:1-12
INTRODUCTION: Too often in our Christian lives we become acclimated to certain phrases and in turn they lose their power.
The Lord’s Prayer is a great example… Many non-Christians recite this prayer as a devotional because of its poetic quality, without ever really focusing on its true meaning.
Of course the scriptures are filled with quotable passages that have lost their meaning
“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED” has become the modern motto for justifying any and every action when it was intended to show our lost condition, not to make us feel happy about it
“JUDGE NOT” has been turned into a reason for many to not read the Bible, because they consider it to be judgmental
“DO UNTO OTHERS…” is used by many organizations – yet the author of the quote, Jesus Christ, is left out completely
Likewise the “Beatitudes”, Christ’s introduction to His sermon on the mount, can often be quoted without really understanding their meaning.
Tonight we are going to focus on the truths held within the Beatitudes. What do they mean to us? How do they affect our lives as Christians? What did Christ mean when He said, “Blessed are those…” and “Blessed are they…”
I. Blessing
a. Christ began each of the Beatitudes with a pronouncement of blessing
b. The term “blessing” is used a lot in modern society
i. We ask ‘blessing’ over our meals
ii. A young man may ask his girlfriend’s father for his ‘blessing’ for marriage
iii. Some even go to mediums and spiritualists for special ‘blessings’ from false gods
c. But what does the term “blessed” mean?
i. The dictionary describes the word “Blessed” as:
1. "To make holy or sacred." e.g., "And God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it"
2. "To ask God’s favor for; to commend to God’s favor or protection", e.g., "God bless mommy...daddy"
3. "To wish good for; to feel grateful to" “God bless you”
4. "To make happy or fortunate" “I sure feel blessed!”
5. "To praise, to glorify, to call holy" “Blessed God”
6. "To guard or protect from evil", e.g. "God bless this house"
d. To many people the term blessing in the Beatitudes means, “Happy”
i. Even the great commentaries of both John Wesley and Matthew Henry use the term “happy” to describe the feeling Jesus was trying to project in the beatitudes
ii. At the risk of disagreement, I would say that I don’t believe that “happy” is the best way to describe the term “blessing”
iii. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes
1. If you don’t believe that, just go home tonight to a home with a tree through the roof or a flooded living room – happiness will not be your first thought
2. This is because happiness is really dependant on a situation
3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
4. No one would expect you to leap for joy at the loss of a loved one
5. Even Christ wept at specific times (The death of Lazarus; Over Jerusalem)
e. I would say that “joy” rather than “happy” is a good expression for the blessings of the beatitudes
i. One can feel joy in what God has done for them regardless of what the situation is
ii. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, given to the believer, and is an appropriate state even in the midst of trial, persecution and even immense pain
iii. It is possible because our joy stems from the knowledge that no matter what we go through in this life, it is not compared to the promise of heaven
f. Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
II. Behavior
a. Jesus went on to give a quality of life that corresponded with the preceding blessing
b. These behaviors did not represent groups, but was a composite picture of the believer
i. We often hear or read the Beatitudes and conjure up pictures of different groups of people that experience different blessings
ii. Here is the “meek that will inherit the earth”, over there are the “poor who have the kingdom of heaven” and onward a little we find the “merciful who have obtained mercy”
iii. But this is not the idea: The believer represents all of the above
c. Here is a picture of the believer: A person who has
i. Recognized their spiritual poverty apart from Christ (poor in spirit)
1. ILLUSTRATION: “I Don’t Give A D---” The Archbishop of Paris once told a story of three young men who were visiting the cathedral of Notre Dame. On a dare, one of the young men entered the confessional booth and made a false confession to the priest. The priest, aware that the young man was deceiving him, assigned him this penance - stand in front of the crucifix in the church, look Jesus in the eyes, and say three times, "All this you did for me, and I don’t give a d---." The young man and his friends laughed as they entered the sanctuary. He looked into Jesus’ eyes and said, "All this you did for me, and I don’t give a d---." The second time, his voice faltered, "All this you did for me, and I don’t give a d---." The third time, he couldn’t say the words. The young man returned to the confessional booth and made a sincere confession to the priest. He went on to become a priest and eventually, became the Archbishop of Paris.
2. What caused him to see the error of his ways – could it be that he faced the clay mold of Jesus’ face in the sanctuary and finally realized he would one day have to face the real Christ at judgment?
3. He became “poor in spirit” when he realized how depraved he was away from Christ
ii. Regretted their sinful lifestyle (mourn over their sin)
1. ILLUSTRATION: “Against God alone have we sinned” Imagine when you were a child, doing something that really hurt your parents, like stealing a watch that was a family heirloom to wear to the prom (even though they said no when you asked), and then losing it while out.
2. Would you mourn over:
a. The loss of the watch? Most likely
b. How they would feel when they found it was gone? Definitely
c. Your deserved punishment for stealing? Absolutely
iii. Been humbled by the power of almighty God (meek)
1. ILLUSTRATION: “Traffic Ticket” The greatest example of fear leading to reverence is when a proud person is pulled over for a traffic violation. A person who would normally never use such phrases as please, thank you, yes sir and no sir, will immediately spew with these complementary statements
2. Why? Because the person understands the power of the police officer
3. The police officer has the power to decide if there is going to be punishment incurred and how much
4. Because of a fear of punishment, a normally haughty person is humbled
a. This is, of course, not always the case –sometimes pride even seeps into actions involving police
b. This makes for great video on shows like “Cops”
c. It also shows the plight of pride in the face of authority
5. When we humble ourselves at the feet of an all powerful God, knowing full well His ability to bring judgment as well as bring mercy, a life that is pleasing to Him will begin to spew forth
iv. Sought the righteousness of God, and not their own (hunger after righteousness)
1. Apart from Christ, people do not hunger after God’s righteousness
2. Most burn with hunger for physical pleasure and self-righteousness
3. For many people today “Righteousness” has as much appeal to them as “bath time” has to a five year old child
v. Forgiven those who have wronged, even hurt him/her (merciful)
1. A sometimes hard, but necessary task
vi. Asked God to create in them a clean heart (pure of heart)
1. ILLUSTRATION: “Heart Transplant” When a person has a heart condition that is desperate, what does that person need? A heart transplant. They need to be given a new and better heart so that they will be able to live.
vii. Chosen to become authors of peace rather than decent (peace-makers)
1. Something to point out: If the peace-maker is blessed, what about the peace-breaker?
viii. Suffered persecution, big or small, in the name of Christ (persecute you for My sake)
1. If you are Christian, living the life, you will suffer persecution
2. But remember that you are still blessed through that persecution
3. Blessed with the knowledge of eternal life through the Savior, Jesus
III. Benefit
a. He explained the particular blessings of the believer
b. Each blessing looks ahead to the coming kingdom
c. Amazingly there is an order to the blessings that should correspond to the life of the believer
i. When we recognize our spiritual poverty and go to Christ for provision we are given the promise of eternal life (theirs is the kingdom of heaven)
ii. When we repent we take comfort in knowing that, while we do not deserve salvation Christ died to give it to us (they will be comforted)
iii. As we bow to the power of God, we are no longer bound by the god of this world: Satan – we inherit a new life here on earth (inherit the earth)
iv. As we yield to God’s righteousness we are filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit (shall be filled)
v. At judgment we will receive the mercy of God rather than condemnation (shall obtain mercy)
vi. In eternity we will bask in God’s glory (shall see God)
vii. We will forever be with God as His children (be called the children of God)
viii. Our final gift is eternity in Heaven (theirs is the kingdom of heaven)
CONCLUSION: The beatitudes are not God’s way of salvation, but God’s way of life for those who have responded to Christ’s call of repentance and faith.
They show God’s blessings for His children, both temporal and eternal
Tonight, I want to conclude with this thought… it is a good thought
God has promised a special blessing to all who follow His Son – the blessing of eternal life with Him in heaven… So:
Take joy, you who are poor in spirit –you will see heaven
Take joy, you who mourn – God’s comfort is upon you
Take joy, you who are meek – the earth is given to you
Take joy, you who are desperate for righteousness – the Spirit will guide you
Take joy, you who show mercy – for God you will receive no condemnation
Take joy, you who have been given pure hearts – one day your eyes will see God
Take joy, you who seek peace – God is your father
Take joy, even in trials – for in heaven is your reward
(Heads bowed, eyes closed)
