“A Series on the Beatitudes”
”Matthew 5:1-12 - When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain,and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 Thenhe began to teach them, saying:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heavenis theirs.4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heavenis theirs.11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecutedthe prophets who were before you.
(CSB)John Stott - “Thus the followers of Jesus are to be different – different from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New Testament of the Christian counter-culture. Here is a Christian value-system, ethical standard, religious devotion, attitude to money, ambition, life-style and network of relationships – all of which are totally at variance with those of the non-Christian world. And this counter-culture is the life of the kingdom of God, a fully human life indeed but lived out under the divine rule.”
Matthew 5:3 & Matthew 5:10 Both give promises about the Kingdom of HeavenStylistic Device - “Inclusion” -> Works as brackets meaning that everything in between these to verses speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven – “Beatitudes”
Characteristics or norms of those that belong to the Kingdom of God
· Blessed are the poor in spirit
· Blessed are those who mourn
· Blessed are the meek
· Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
· Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
· Blessed are the pure in heart·Blessed are the peacemakers
· Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake
Salt & Light Matthew 5:13-16 - You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
John Stott - “God intends us to penetrate the world. Christian salt has no business to remain snuggly in elegant ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into secular community.”
· Ecclesiastes 9:3 - The hearts of the children of man arefull of evil, and madness is in their heartswhile they live, and after that they go to the dead.
· Ecclesiastes 1:14 - I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.·Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.