June 15, 2020
We are going to spend the next two weeks together as a church reading Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount! The Sermon on the Mount is the first of Jesus’ major teachings recorded in the gospel of Matthew. In it, Jesus explains the ethics and values of the kingdom of Heaven as opposed to the ethics and values of the world. The values and principles that are to govern our lives as followers of Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of Heaven are wildly different from those that govern the various cultures of our world, including the culture in which we live. Over the next two weeks, allow the words of the Lord Jesus to challenge the way you think, expose the worldly and idolatrous values and desires of your heart, and transform you to live in the new way that He has laid before us!
Today’s text is known to us as “the beatitudes”. Right off the bat in this sermon, Jesus completely flips the value system of our world on its head. The audience Jesus is addressing (as well as our own culture!) would have associated wealth, power, influence, and health with God’s blessing. Jesus reveals that those who are truly blessed by God are not necessarily the materially prosperous; they are those who are meek and lowly, the poor in spirit, those who are pure in heart and hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Jesus goes on to say that those who are truly blessed by God are those who are hated and reviled because of their faithfulness to the Lord. This seems so backwards to us, yet it is the kind of life to which Jesus calls His followers! See how this list Jesus gives of blessedness compares to the way you actually live.
Matthew 5:1-12
5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- Which of the beatitudes stands out the most to you? What are some things you can do this week to put these values into practice?
Father, creator of all, I come before you covered by the blood of your Son. Re-create in me a new heart. Today, Father, touch those without hope. Fill them with your spirit. In this upside-down world where evil is good and good is called evil, may your people stand and be salt and light. Help me to share the good news with all that cross my path this day. May I not cower in the face of evil. With boldness, filled with your Spirit, lead me this day to do battle against the evil one. When this day is done, my I fall to my knees with thanksgiving and praise your holy name. Remind me throughout this day, that you stand beside me and Jesus stands with me on the other side. And, your Holy Spirit is within me. Now, together let’s be going to find one more to add to the Lamb’s Book of Life. Amen
Amen!
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!! Praise be to God. I love your prayer.
The one that speaks out to me, especially in today’s environment, is “blessed are the meek, as they shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Today more than ever, we see if you aren’t loud and tough, you will not succeed, and God promises the opposite. Meek does not mean weak….
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Meek means mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
This should not be confused with being wimpy. I think of it as strength under control.
Jesus describes himself as meek in Matthew 11:29.
Yes!!!!! Meek = Strength UNDER CONTROL = self-control which is a Fruit of the Spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Word. I have always loved the Beatitudes because they tell exactly from Your mouth what You desire most in a person….the meek, the mild , the humble, the pure. Oh God,I am just a simple person with no great position or wealth just seeking You and trying to find meaning in my life. I identify most with one that says blessed are those that mourn for I truly have had much in my life over which to mourn. I find great peace knowing that You are all I need and You will comfort me. Please help me continue to do unto others as You would have us do and to be the kind of person that exemplifies those characteristics that You find so desirable. I look forward to another day following You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Looking forward to living in the Beatitudes together! Teach us Jesus!
Amen!! Yes teach us Lord.
Lord, help me to have an appetite, a hunger and thirst for righteousness and for You. You say that I will be satisfied when I desire the right things, which are found in You. Please stifle my other appetites that are not of You. Amen.
Thank you God I now am blessed and have a pure heart and I will see you one day.
Heavenly Father,
I know as we look at this world, things look awful. Help us to see the good as it is all around us when we look at things from your perspective. I know that Satan wants us to only see the evil and the ugliness that is currently happening but help us all to see that your light is still shining brighter than the darkness and wrong has never overruled right. As Christians give us the boldness to show love to all without being loud drawing attention to ourselves. Thank you for revealing to us the evil that exist so that we can pray for all the loss souls that are needing a Savior. You are a Good Good Father and thank you for your word that helps us to have the strength and wisdom to fight the good fight and share the gospel. I pray these things in the Christ name. Amen
amen thank you Lord
Rejoice and be glad…
I have experienced the the promise in verse 4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” My husband of fifty-eight years passed away in March of 2019. It has been getting easier as time goes by, but I have actually experienced such comfort from our Heavenly Father since that day. I am so thankful for my relationship with the Lord. I pray that I will be a witness for His great love in the world today.
Lord, I confess that I am poor in spirit, that apart from you I have nothing to offer you. Thank you for forgiving me, filling me with your spirit and allowing me to join you in your kingdom work. Please give me what I need today, to serve those that cross my path and give you glory.