Remarkable Insights On The Sermon On The Mount From The Greek Language

REMARKABLE INSIGHTS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT FROM THE GREEK LANGUAGE

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THE BEATITUDES : Matthew 5:3-9

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.

3. Blessed are the meek, for they will 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 will be shown mercy.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

INTRODUCTION

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The GREEK word for BLESSED is Makarios which means blessed , to be fully satisfied . In the New testament it indicates the state of the beleiver in Christ. He is indwelt by God because of Christ and as a result is fully satisfied. In the biblical sense , a blessed person is one whom God makes fully satisfied , not because of favourable circumstances , but because He indwells the beleiver through Christ . Makarios is the one who is in the world yet independent of the world: his satisfaction comes from God and not from favourable cirumstances.

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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The GREEK word for POOR is Ptochos which means poor and helpless ; one who in his abjectness needs lifting . One who has fallen from a better estate.His state is worse than the poor who can earn his bread by daily labour and who has the barest necessities. Ptochos is one who has nothing at all .

The GREEK word for SPIRIT is Pneuma which means the element in man by which he perceives , reflects , feels and desires.

The GREEK word for KINGDOM is Basileia which means King , Royal dominion .

Therefore when we realise our utter helplessness to have the right perception , right thoughts , right feelings and right desires in our own strength , we will become totally dependent on God and then God will rule over our lives and as a result we will experience total satisfaction and fulfillment in our lives . This is the blessing that Jesus wants us to experience.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

so that no one may boast before him.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

John 15:4-5

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Luke 16:19-31

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores

and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

In hell,where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

"But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

"He answered, ’Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

"Abraham replied, ’They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’