The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes

May 19, 2013 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Jesus exhorts us to have attitudes of humility and kindness.

Focus Passage: Matthew 5:1-12

Supplemental Passage: Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7 NASB)

I. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

a. "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matthew 5:3 MSG)

b. To be poor in spirit is to have a humble opinion of ourselves; to be sensible that we are sinners, and have no righteousness of our own; to be willing to be saved only by the rich grace and mercy of God; (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

II. Blessed are those who mourn

a. "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. (Matthew 5:4 MSG)

b. Not just to mourn over the loss of a person, but to mourn over your sins and your sinful state. To mourn the separation from God by sin.

III. Blessed are the gentle

a. "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. (Matthew 5:5 MSG)

b. Meek does not mean weak. Meek means gentle and full of humility; not to be run-over, but to be strong in the face of adversity.

IV. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

a. "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. (Matthew 5:6 MSG)

b. Everyone hungers and thirsts for something; why not hunger and thirst for the things of God?

V. Blessed are the merciful

a. "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. (Matthew 5:7 MSG)

b. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2 NASB)

c. The merciful, those who, instead of resenting injury, are ready to forgive, shall obtain the divine mercy. (The People’s New Testament)

VI. Blessed are the pure in heart

a. "You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. (Matthew 5:8 MSG)

b. “…whose minds, motives, and principles are pure; who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but who desire to be holy in heart, and who are so. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

VII. Blessed are the peacemakers

a. "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. (Matthew 5:9 MSG)

b. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

VIII. Blessed are those who have been persecuted

a. "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. (Matthew 5:10 MSG)

b. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12 NASB)

IX. Blessed are you when people insult you

a. "Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. (Matthew 5:11 MSG)

b. For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (Philippians 1:29 NASB)

X. REJOICE and Be Glad

a. You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even!--for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (Matthew 5:12 MSG)

b. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible says: The followers of Christ are encouraged to suffer joyfully on two considerations.

1. They are thereby conformed to the prophets who went before.

2. Their reward in heaven is a great one.

Invitation: