Matthew 5:1-16

Mount of Beatitudes

The Mount of the Beatitudes is usually considered to be the most strikingly beautiful and serene of the Christian holy places in the country. Additionally, this site has managed to escape much of the commercialism of modern Israel. Tradition places three of the New Testament's most significant episodes here: the Sermon on the Mount, the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes and Jesus' post-Resurrection appearance

The Mount of Beatitudes stands serenely near the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. It is the only definable mountain that is in close proximity to the Evangelical Triangle, that area in which Jesus conducted most of his ministry. The Triangle was the area falling between the cities of Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida. The Mount of Beatitudes is the likely spot where Jesus sat down and gave the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:1-12. Today the mount is adorned with a lovely Roman Catholic church built in 1937-1939. The church grounds have an abundance of beautiful flowers and a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee as well. Scattered throughout the grounds are plaques reminding the visitor of each Beatitude.

Central Location

The suggestion of this hill for the location of the Sermon on the Mount is a good one.  Once known as Mt. Eremos, this hill is located between Capernaum and Tabgha and is just above the "Cove of the Sower."  This spacious hillside provides much room for crowds to gather, as evidenced by preparation for 100,000 Catholics to observe mass nearby with the Pope's visit in March 2000 (it rained and fewer came, but the space was available). 

Chapel

The mountain is topped by a Catholic chapel built in 1939 by the Franciscan Sisters with the support of the Italian ruler Mussolini.  The building was constructed by the noted architect Antonio Barluzzi is full of numerical symbolism.  In front of the church, the symbols on the pavement represent Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Charity, Faith and Temperance.  Inside the church hangs the cloak from Pope Paul IV's visit in 1964.

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seeing the Multitudes

This flows from the last two verses of chapter 4-

Matthew 4:24-25 (NKJV)24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

address both disciples (5:2) and crowd (7:29a; RSV he taught them). As he teaches the disciples, Jesus calls the crowd to discipleship1

Jesus will withdraw from the multitudes and go up to a mountain to deliver this discourse to His disciples.

Matt. 5:1 And after seeing the crowds, He went up into the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,

Remember that when it says his Disciples came to him we are talking about a Multitude of people not just the 12 – in Luke, it was a Crowd of his disciples and a multitude

Jesus was always concerned for the multitudes, for whom He had great compassion-whether they were “distressed and downcast” (Matt. 9:36), sick (14:14; cf. 4:23), hungry (15:32), or in any other need. Whether the people were physically ill or healthy, emotionally stable or demon-possessed, financially poor or rich, politically oppressed or powerful, religiously insignificant or influential, intellectually ignorant or educated, Jesus had compassion on them. Jesus attracted all strata of people because He loved them all.

rsv Revised Standard Version1Elwell, W. A. (1996, c1989). Vol. 3: Evangelical commentary on the Bible. Baker reference library (Mt 5:1). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.cf. confer (Lat.), compare

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Everything Jesus said on this occasion was spoken publicly, to the multitudes (cf. 7:28–29). His intention was to drive them to a recognition of their sin, and thus to the need of a Savior, which He had come to be. Until they believed in Him, the demands of the sermon could only show them how terribly far they were from meeting God’s standards. This masterful evangelistic sermon is designed to confront men with their desperate condition of sinfulness. 2

He always has a deep compassion for the people, that was drew people to Him – his compassion --------------------------sitting in this culture was a sign that he was going to teach. Rabbis would sit when they taught, remember Jesus in the synagogue in Nazarus He took the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat and began to teach. Sitting was a sign of teaching.. ---

As the multitudes began hearing of Jesus, the last verse in chapter 4 says they came from one hundred miles or more to be with Him. Jesus, seeing the multitudes, climbed a hill, sat down, and prepared to teach. In Jewish culture, if you were preaching, you would stand. But if you were teaching or explaining, you would sit. That is why even today when a university wants to establish a certain teacher or course, it will call that position “the Chair,” as in “the Chair of Philosophy” or “the Chair of Psychology.” So, too, when the Pope speaks on doctrinal matters, he is always seated when he makes his proclamation. He is speaking “ex-cathedra,” which literally means “from the chair.”

So here, we see Jesus seated, ready to give an authoritative, important, significant teaching. 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice was as a teaching, not a show !!

It was not show time, Jesus taught the people, to teach them what following Him following God would look like practically. Dealing with heart issue, relational issue, putting it out there without any fluff. He taught them… be began..

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.3Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

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Blessed Greek makarios corresponds to Hebrew asher and means “blessed,” “happy,” and “fortunate” all at once, so that no one English word is adequate. For a Hebrew example, compare Psalm 144:15: “How blessed/happy/fortunate the people whose God is Adonai!”

To them it meant “divine joy and perfect happiness.” The word was not used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. This is what the Lord offers those who trust Him!4

Blessed today we say Happy, in our text these two words can be used however when following Jesus I need not happiness I am glad when it comes and it does often however I need Joy, walking with God what a difference of life. Its how this all begins to make since. How can we be happy when we are poor in spirit, or hunger , or persecuted. There is a inner joy that comes when we know Jesus.

Inner strength.

In the Muppet Christmas carols, watching with kids not grandkids. There is a line in one of the songs they sing.

We reach for you and we stand tall And in our prayers and dreamsWe ask you bless us all

When we reach out to God there is a strength that comes. To say I CANT TO THIS.. and his spirit tells us we can .. YES WE CAN ..

---------------------------when we put these concepts together, there is inner strength when.. notice the list. Poor, hungry, persecuted.

so none of this makes since unless we look to GOD, and have GOD looking after us..

its like

Little pregnant, Pretty Ugly,

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4 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Mt 5:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

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Our attitude toward ourselves (v. 3). To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of oneself (Rom. 12:3). It does not mean to be “poor spirited” and have no backbone at all! “Poor in spirit” is the opposite of the world’s attitudes of self-praise and self-assertion. It is not a false humility that says, “I am not worth anything, I can’t do anything!” It is honesty with ourselves: we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God.5

TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT THIS..

are the poor in spirit, some see this as, Jesus is referring to the condition of those who are financially poor—they have no recourse but to turn to God for their hope. The righteous poor were objects of God’s special concern (Psalm 9:18; 40:18; Isaiah 57:15; James 2:5).

In one way we are all very rich.

We have a profound obligation to care for the poor and their children. It's established in more than 2,000 Bible verses that declare God's love for those in poverty.

1. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more fortunate than the one million people who will not survive this week.6

Jesus always has a heart for the poor, we are rich in comparison to so many,

2. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.

3. If you can attend a church or political meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, then you are more blessed than three billion in the world.

4. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in your pocket, then you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

What do we do with the wealth we are given.. FURTHER THE KINGDOM.. Giving needs to be a topic of discussion in our fellowship.

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5 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Mt 5:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.6 http://www.compassion.com/textarchive/2005/when+is+poverty+going+to+end.htm

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2- another way to look at this , and probably more ‘right’ for what Jesus is talking about is poor …. IN SPIRIT. A humility that comes when we get our eyes off self and on the one that loves us.

That is the point of the first beatitude. The poor in spirit are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and their complete dependence on God. They perceive that there are no saving resources in themselves and that they can only beg for mercy and grace. They know they have no spiritual merit, and they know they can earn no spiritual reward. Their pride is gone, their self-assurance is gone, and they stand empty-handed before God.7

THE POOR IN SPIRIT ARE THE HUMBLE.. its hard to understand this. “ I am really nothing, I am so low” people would respond, you are so humble.. “ thank you its not me it’s the lord” its not him – this is not humility..

THIS IS A HONESTLY – ITS HAVING A HONEST EVALUATION OF YOURSELF AND A HONEST PRESENTATION OF YOURSELF.

This can be hard – its humbling..

In Isaiah the first 5 chapters he is really giving it to them, it is a harsh judgment. Then in Chapter 6 he see the LORD – his response was WOE IS ME.. I am a man of unclean lip.

Humility is where it starts, we realize who we are.. we drop the arrogance and who are were are really .. it is a awesome thing when we really see the truth about ourselves are relies that we need help.. Humility will do this.. when we really see who we are.. peace settles in our heart.. to be who we are before God.. to be honest about ourselves.. it is so hard, we hid, we don’t want people to see who we really are.. we hid being the smiles, don’t let them know..

What was the first thing that Adam and eve did when they fell, they hid.. they started the cover-up process. They hid behind a fig leaf.. fig leaf makes you itch.. they sowed fig leafs.. they knew they needed to suffer. God comes along and says .. let me help you with some lamb skin seat covers.

When I try to cover myself, it is painful.. only Jesus can cover us. Then God can do something in our lives.

for theirs The good news has that has now come to the poor is that the kingdom is “theirs” (which is emphatic in Greek).

7MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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is the kingdom of heaven Jesus emphasized this at the beginning of His Galilean ministry (Luke 4:18-19 citing Isaiah 61:1,2). Note the present tense of the verb, “is theirs.” The kingdom is theirs now, however, it will also be in the future when they will inherit its fullest blessings “they will inherit the earth,” “they will see God,” “great is your reward in Heaven.” These are sacred paradoxes referring to both present and future blessings.

WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES AS WE REALLY ARE, THEN THE NEXT THING HAPPENED. WE WILL MOURN

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Blessed are those who mourn, Here we have a second allusion to Isaiah 61:2. The One anointed by the Spirit will comfort those who mourn. The Messiah will comfort the downtrodden and poor. The Rabbis accordingly referred to the Messiah as the “Comforter” because of His mission in the Messianic age. Those who mourn do so because of the slowness of God’s justice but now its time to rejoice because the kingdom has arrived.

When you realize you’re a sinner and when you mourn over your sin, the Lord will come to you and say, “I don’t condemn you. Go your way and sin no more.” That’s what the woman caught in the act of adultery heard, as did the prostitute who fell at the feet of Jesus weeping. “Leave her alone, Pharisees,” Jesus said. “The one who is forgiven much loves much.” In the state of realizing our poverty and in our mourning, we truly enter into the kingdom and are comforted.8

To truly mourn over your condition. You want total freedom from your sin, then mourn over your condition. Don’t glory in it.

Penthountes (mourn) is a present participle, indicating continuous action. In other words, those who are continually mourning are those who will be continually comforted. In his ninety-five theses Martin Luther said that the Christian’s entire life is a continuous act of repentance and contrition. In his psalms David cried out, “For my iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they weigh too much for me” (38:4) and, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (51:3).

There is no record in the New Testament of Jesus laughing. We are told of His weeping, His anger, His hunger and thirst, and many other human emotions and characteristics. But if He laughed, we do not know of it. We do know that, as Isaiah predicted, He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). Yet today we often hear of another Jesus, who laughs and cajoles and draws people into the kingdom by His

8Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

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nonjudgmental spirit and His winsome way. The fun-loving, escapist world of comedians is found plying its trade even in the church-and finding ready acceptance. 9

Getting serious with God over who you really are.. when we do this..

for they will be comforted. God is the One who will comfort them (the so-called divine passive), where God is the unnamed source of comfort.

There is a Grief over loss.. but to mourning that guarantees comfort, when you know the true about yourself, it drives you to your knees and you repent and say LORD I NEED YOU, I am sorry for what I have done and over WHO I AM.. you mourn..When you take these two steps you come into the kingdom.. you cant be saved without these two things..

To walk down a isle. You don’t come to the lord saying Lord you are so luck, I have influence, I have brains . you are so glad to be getting me.. we mourn .. Jesus tells us about a Pharisees and republican.. the tax collector.

Luke 18:10-14 (NKJV)10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

TO COMFORT – to call to himself to strengthen

9MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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4151 παρακαλέω (parakaleō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 5714; Str 3870; TDNT 5.773—1. LN 33.168 ask for earnestly, beg, plead (Ac 28:20), for another interp, see below; 2. LN 33.315 invite (Lk 8:41); 3. LN 33.310 call together to (Ac 28:20), for another interp, see above; 4. LN 25.150 encourage, console, urge (Eph 6:22)10

it’s the hug when needed, it’s the second wind when you just cant go on, it’s the knowing that everything really is going to be OK.. it COMFORT – HE CALLS us and we come,

my sheep hear my voice.

JOHN 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 aI and My Father are one.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Its to bad that the word MEEK rhymes with the word WEAK..

He is such a milktoast man, a pushover. This is not being weak

If we think being Meek is Weak try it for a Week

What is meek.. great power under complete control. This show us that there is a change.

.vb. verbrDBLHebr Swanson, A Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament)rStr Strong’s LexiconTDNT Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New TestamentNLN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexiconpinterp interpretationNLN Louw-Nida Greek-English LexiconNLN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexiconpinterp interpretationNLN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon10 Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.a John 17:11, 21–24

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Blessed are the meek, This is the same Old Testament theme. The meek refers to those who do not throw their weight, about but rely on God to give them their due. It was used of wild horses that had been tamed—power under control. Meekness is a characteristic of Jesus’ own ministry (11:29; 12:15-21; 21:5). The promise is quoted from Psalm 37:11.

Our attitude toward others; we are teachable; we do not defend ourselves when we are wrong.11

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control. Praus, the Greek word translated “meek,” is a term used to describe a powerful stallion broken and able to be ridden. Moses was known for his meekness in the Old Testament. Numbers 12:3 declares him to be the meekest man on the face of the earth. Jesus was known for His meekness in the New Testament. In the only autobiographical description of His personality, Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). So too, after a person realizing he is poor in spirit and begins mourning, he finds himself meek with his strength harnessed for the purposes of the King and for Him alone. 12

Gentle is from praos, which basically means mild or soft. The term sometimes was used to describe a soothing medicine or a soft breeze. It was used of colts and other animals whose naturally wild spirits were broken by a trainer so that they could do useful work. As a human attitude it meant being gentle of spirit, meek, submissive, quiet, tenderhearted. During His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was hailed as the coming King, though He was “gentle, and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). Paul lovingly referred to the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1) as the pattern for his own attitude.

for they will inherit the earth. All will be theirs.

Klēronomeō (to inherit) refers to the receiving of one’s allotted portion, one’s rightful inheritance. This beatitude is almost a direct quotation of Psalm 37:11-“But the humble will inherit the land.” For many generations faithful Jews had wondered, as God’s people today sometimes wonder, why the wicked and godless seem to prosper and the righteous and godly seem to suffer. Through David, God assured His people, “Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there” (v. 10). The wicked person’s time of judgment was coming, as was the righteous person’s time of blessing.

11 Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (27). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.12Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.v. verse

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Our responsibility is to trust the Lord and obey His will. The settling of accounts, whether in judgment or blessing, is in His hands and will be accomplished exactly in the right time and in the right way. In the meanwhile, God’s children live in faith and hope based on the certain promise, the divine pronouncement, that they shall inherit the earth.

Paul both warns and assures the Corinthians, saying, “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God” (1 Cor. 3:21–23). Because we belong to Christ, our place in the kingdom is as secure as His.

It is also certain “that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9). One day the Lord will take the earth from the hands of the wicked and give it to His righteous people, whom He will use “to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the judgment written” (Ps. 149:7–9).

Our inheritance of the earth is not entirely future, however. The promise of the future inheritance itself gives us hope and happiness now. And we are able to appreciate many things, even earthly things, in ways that only those who know and love the Creator can experience.

In the beautiful words of Wade Robinson,

Heav’n above is softer blue,

Earth around is sweeter green;

Something lives in ev’ry hue

Christless eyes have never seen!

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,

Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,

Since I know, as now I know,

I am His and He is mine.

Nearly a century ago George MacDonald wrote, “We cannot see the world as God means it in the future, save as our souls are characterized by meekness. In meekness we are its only inheritors. Meekness alone makes the spiritual retina pure to receive God’s things as they are, mingling with them neither imperfection nor impurity.” 13

13MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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Before we are a Christian, we were out of control, before we were saved, then something happened.. when we relised who we are and we mourned over our sin and then a whole new spirit of meekness come upon us. Now the power is funneled to profitable to the kingdom what a difference God makes in our lives. When God takes control…

TO BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF GOD.. HE CONTROLS OUR LIFE.. THE LIGHTS ARE ELECTRICAL UNDER CONTROL.

When we are born again.. we get hungry… Notice the next thing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessed are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, For spiritual hunger and thirst see Psalm 42:1,2; Isaiah 55:1,2.

When we became a child of God, he gives us a hunger for his word.. this amazed me.. read the bible ? yes and loving it.. what a difference.

Notice the order: First you’re poor in spirit, then you’re mourning over your sin, then you find yourself meek. Now that you’ve gotten rid of all that self-grandeur and self-glory, you find yourself hungering and thirsting because you’re emptied of all that junk.

I am personally convinced the reason many people are not filled is because they have not been emptied. They are still full of themselves. Pride must go before you find yourself hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

My wife fixes me excellent meals, but if I stop off and score a couple of burgers before I head home (as I have been known to do on occasion), even though there’s a wonderful meal spread on the table, I don’t have an appetite for it because I’m full of burgers and shakes.

Some people have lost their appetite for the Word of God. They no longer desire to worship; they no longer crave rightness. They are no longer meek, or mourning, or poor in spirit because they are full of the burgers and shakes of self-importance. When you empty yourself of self, happy are you because you’re going to hunger once more for righteousness.

for they will be filled. God will satisfy them.

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Feeding on the word of God..

JESUS TOLD PETER FEED MY SHEEP, FEED ON THE RIGHT THINGS. Not entertainment but on HIS WORD.

THE RESULT OF SPIRITUAL HUNGER

The result of hungering and thirsting for righteousness is being satisfied. Chortazō was frequently used of the feeding of animals until they wanted nothing more. They were allowed to eat until they were completely satisfied.

Jesus’ divine pronouncement is that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be given total satisfaction. The giving of satisfaction is God’s work, as the future passive tense indicates: they shall be satisfied. Our part is to seek; His part is to satisfy.

Again there is a marvelous paradox, because though saints continually seek God’s righteousness, always wanting more and never getting all, they nevertheless will be satisfied. We may eat steak or our favorite pie until we can eat no more, yet our taste for those things continues and even increases. It is the very satisfaction that makes us want more. We want to eat more of those things because they are so satisfying. The person who genuinely hungers and thirsts for God’s righteousness finds it so satisfying that he wants more and more.

God’s satisfying those who seek and love Him is a repeated theme in the Psalms. “For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good” (Ps. 107:9). “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing” (34:10). The best-loved of all psalms begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” and later declares, “Thou dost prepare a table before me … my cup overflows” (23:1, 5).

Predicting the great blessings of Christ’s millennial kingdom, Jeremiah assured Israel that in that day, “ ‘My people shall be satisfied with My goodness,’ declares the Lord” (Jer. 31:14). Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar that “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14). To the crowds near Capernaum, many of whom had been among the five thousand He fed with the five barley loaves and the two fish, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).14

The fact is that God never has a famine , he fills those who hunger for his rightness. When you eat you grow.. when you don’t eat you don’t grow. We have to eat.. every table.. clean your plate.. finish your pees. When you become a follower of Jesus you get 14MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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so hungry for God and the word you not begin to grow. When you grow you begin to change. Now you become MERCIFUL

We begin to take on some of his traits..

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessed are the merciful, The importance of mercy and its reciprocal nature is stressed in Matthew (6:12, 14,15; 9:13; 12:7; 18:21-35; 23:23).

Mercy is God not giving what we deserve.

GOD is so rich in mercy.. in fact .. his mercy endures .. FOREVER….He renews is very morning.. great is your faithfulness.

God looks at us in the morning and says .. spent it all in one place … here is a new batch for today

merciful

adj 1: showing or giving mercy; "sought merciful treatment for the captives"; "a merciful god" [ant: merciless] 2: characterized by mercy, and compassion; "compassionate toward disadvantaged people"; "kind to animals"; "a humane judge" [syn: kind] 3: used conventionally of royalty and high nobility; "our merciful king"

n. pl. mer·cies 1. Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency. 2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy. 3. Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: It was a mercy that no one was

hurt. 4. Alleviation of distress; relief: Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy.

Idiom:at the mercy of

Without any protection against; helpless before: drifting in an open boat, at the mercy of the elements.

[Middle English, from Old French merci, from Medieval Latin merc s, from Latin, reward.] Synonyms: mercy, leniency, lenity, clemency, charityThese nouns mean humane and kind, sympathetic, or forgiving treatment of or

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disposition toward others. Mercy is compassionate forbearance: “We hand folks over to God's mercy, and show none ourselves” (George Eliot). Leniency and lenity imply mildness, gentleness, and often a tendency to reduce punishment: “When you have gone too far to recede, do not sue [appeal] to me for leniency” (Charles Dickens). “His Majesty gave many marks of his great lenity, often... endeavoring to extenuate your crimes” (Jonathan Swift). Clemency is mercy shown by someone with judicial authority: The judge believed in clemency for youthful offenders. Charity is goodwill and benevolence in judging others: “But how shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves?” (Thomas Browne).

THE MEANING OF MERCY

For the most part, the days in which Jesus lived and taught were not characterized by mercy. The Jewish religionists themselves were not inclined to show mercy, because mercy is not characteristic of those who are proud, self-righteous, and judgmental. To many-perhaps most-of Jesus’ hearers, showing mercy was considered one of the least of virtues, if it was thought to be a virtue at all. It was in the same category as love-reserved for those who had shown the virtue to you. You loved those who loved you, and you showed mercy to those who showed mercy to you. That attitude was condemned by Jesus later in the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy’ ” (Matt. 5:43). But such a shallow, selfish kind of love that even the outcast tax-gatherers practiced (v. 46) was not acceptable to the Savior. He said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. … For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? … And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (vv. 44–47).

Yet many people have interpreted this beatitude in another way that is just as selfish and humanistic: they maintain that our being merciful causes those around us, especially those to whom we show mercy, to be merciful to us. Mercy given will mean mercy received. For such people, mercy is shown to others purely in an effort toward self-seeking.

The ancient rabbi Gamaliel is quoted in the Talmud as saying, “Whenever thou hast mercy, God will have mercy upon thee, and if thou hast not mercy, neither will God have mercy on thee.” Gamaliel’s idea is right. When God is involved there will be mercy for mercy. “If you forgive men for their transgressions,” Jesus said, “your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14–15).

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v. verse15MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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After you have gone through the emptying process and you’re filled with God’s love, you’ll be merciful toward others—no longer judgmental, critical, or analytical. Truly, the more righteous a man is, the more merciful he will be. The more sinful a man is, the more harsh and critical he will be.16

for they will receive mercy. Those who give mercy will receive mercy.

There is a difference between – GRACE , MERCY , JUSTICE

Justice – Getting what you deserveMercy – Not getting what you deserveGrace – Getting what you don’t deserve

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessed are the pure in heart, This means those who love God with all his heart (Deuteronomy 6:5).

There is a difference between having a clean heart and a pure heart. All of us who have embraced the Lord have clean hearts. But a pure heart is one not distracted by the things of the world. Think of it this way: All soap is clean. But only one is 99.44 percent pure. Ivory soap doesn’t have deodorants, perfumes, additives, or colorings. Ivory is nothing but soap. Other soaps are clean, but they’re not pure. The pure in heart shall see God.

•     “Why don’t I see God?” people ask.

Could it be because you’re no longer pure in heart?

•     “Are you saying I’m lost?”

No. But has your vision been obscured by a bunch of perfumes and additives, still clean, but no longer Ivory, deodorized and perfumed, but no longer pure? 17

Getting rid of the distractions.

16Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 26). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.17Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 26). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

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for they will see God. See God in the sense that they will be in His presence.

THE RESULT OF HOLINESS

The great blessing of those who are pure in heart is that they shall see God. The Greek is in the future indicative tense and the middle voice, and a more literal translation is, “They shall be continuously seeing God for themselves.” It is only they (the emphatic autos), the pure in heart, who shall see God. Intimate knowledge of and fellowship with God is reserved for the pure.

When our hearts are purified at salvation we begin to live in the presence of God. We begin to see and to comprehend Him with our new spiritual eyes. Like Moses, who saw God’s glory and asked to see more (Ex. 33:18), the one who is purified by Jesus Christ sees again and again the glory of God.

To see God was the greatest hope of Old Testament saints. Like Moses, David wanted to see more of God. “As the deer pants for the water brooks,” he said, “so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?” (Ps. 42:1). Job rejoiced when he was able to say, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee” (Job 42:5).

Purity of heart cleanses the eyes of the soul so that God becomes visible. One sign of an impure heart is ignorance, because sin obscures the truth (John 3:19–20). Evil and ignorance come in a package. Other signs of an impure heart are self-centeredness (Rev. 3:17), pleasure in sin (2 Tim. 3:4), unbelief (Heb. 3:12), and hatred of purity (Mic. 3:2). Those who belong to God exchange all of those things for integrity and purity.

F. F. Bullard wrote,

When I in righteousness at last

Thy glorious face shall see;

When all the weary night has passed,

And I awake with Thee,

To view the glories that abide,

Then and only then will I be satisfied.

17

(Cited in William Hendriksen, The Gospel of Matthew [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973], p. 278) 18

PURE IN HEART.. being single minded, you goal is one direction and you have made up your mind , you have settle the issue you are on your way, my might stumble but you are on your way, you have purified your heart.

Psalm 84:5-7 (NKJV)5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.

Valley of weaping, they make it a place of springs..

How do we get our heart right. Confess it. Cover me God help me, he will .. Lord I AM YOURS from this moment on I AM YOUR PROBLEM. I am setting my face on you. They see God when you do this. I SET MY HEART ON YOU..

When you do this, you recognize that God is working. You see God in your life, before you would have missed those things..

KEEP YOUR HEART PROV. 4

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note on a variant reading: Some manuscripts do not read they themselves but simply they. They themselves is emphatic in Greek, while the other reading does not place the same emphasis.

Blessed are the peacemakers, The peacemakers are the ones absence of selfish ambition (see Psalm 34:14).for they themselves This is emphatic in Greek.

p. page18MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean wearing a peace symbol, marching against nukes, or marching for whales. I suggest to you that the finest peacemaking activity in which you can engage is introducing people to the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ. What happiness is there that can compare to the joy of seeing a friend, relative, or neighbor open his heart to Jesus? Truly, it is then that we are blessed indeed.19

Do all you can to live peaceable, bible speaks of living a quiet life.

Titus 3:2 (NKJV) 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

James 3:17 (NKJV) 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

2 Peter 3:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

will be called sons of God. God is the supreme peacemaker (Ephesians 2:14-18; Colossians 1:20)

When your relationship is right vertically it is right horizontally

The true peacemakers are making peace with God and others. Leading those to Jesus.

Peace will come when the prince of peace comes. If you have not lead someone to Jesus you are missing the greatest joy in life. When you do .. its life changing

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessed are the ones persecuted Persecution will be their experience.for the sake of righteousness, Righteousness is more than just doing good, it refers to ones entire life dedicated to the things of God.

19Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 26). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

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for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This rounds off the series of beatitudes (cf. v. 3)

From a general description of the disciples character the sermon now turns to a direct address of Jesus to His disciples. This indicates the effect that character will have on their life and witness.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom. The progress from one beatitude to the next is obvious here. Being a peacemaker by practicing justice and love and living by kingdom standards is initiating a confrontation with society which can be taken as a judgment. To will God’s will is to be different from those who will their own will. This is the way of the Cross in which God’s will cuts across the will of humanity. The kingdom is breaking into time, calling persons to be disciples of Christ, living by His mercy and love. The response of humanity is either repentance and faith, or rejection and persecution. The King Himself came as the “suffering servant,” as one who identified with humanity in its problems without altering His own relation with the Father, thereby calling us to the kingdom of the Father. This confrontation led to the Cross, a fact which led Paul to say, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12, KJV).20

This is a hard one.. he defines this one so its not missed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt. 5:11 Blessed are you when they insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you [falsely], on account of Me.

Note on variant readings: Instead of they insult you some manuscripts read the men insult you. After evil many manuscripts read word or thing. There is a question whether falsely should be in the text or not. Some manuscripts do not have it. Instead of on account of Me two manuscripts read on account of righteousness. There are two Syriac manuscripts which read on account of My name.

Blessed are you when they insult you, and persecute you, Insult and slander are the forms which persecution of Christians have taken place since the earliest of times (10:24,25, 1 Peter 3:16; 4:4, 14-16).and say all evil against you [falsely], on account of Me. They will accuse believers of things that are not true. The reason they do this is because of their hatred of Jesus.

20Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 24: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 24 : Matthew. Formerly The Communicator's Commentary. The Preacher's Commentary series (Page 18). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.

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This is hard.. the hardest of all these for me.. they are telling lies, they are hurting us. This is very hard, yet Lord help us..

We have had testimony night, no one every said , this is glorious, they are lying, they are saying things that are not true, its exciting its all about Jesus if all for you God. Yes I love it.

Lets be glad they are lying what if they were telling the truth. Even JAMES says.

Count it all JOY when we fall into trials.

Paul and Silus on a prison cell, the suffering. They were singing praise. Why there is a jailor and his family that God wanted to save, to save them you will have the snot beat out of you.. they were rejoicing they were worthy .

Jail on these days were different. They at midnight they sang.. what did they sing. Jesus loves me.. father Abraham. .. what made then sing.. we can not assume that we will not see persecution .

Acts 16:25-28 (NKJV)25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt. 5:12 Rejoice, and be very glad, because your reward is great in heaven; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Note on a variant readings: One Syriac manuscript does not have who were before you. After who were before you a few manuscripts have their fathers.

Rejoice, and be very glad, When this occurs we are to be happy.because your reward is great in heaven; Believers will be rewarded for their withstanding persecution.for in this same way they persecuted the prophets The prophets were persecuted and killed (see 23).

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who were before you. The disciples of Jesus are the true successors to the Old Testament prophets.

What? Persecution? Maybe you thought if a person possessed a “beatitude mentality”—if he was aware of his own poverty, if he mourned over his sin, if he was meek, if he hungered and thirsted after righteousness, if he had a pure heart, if he showed mercy—he would be popular. But such is not the case, for if the attitudes of meekness and mercy, poverty of spirit and righteousness of heart are being worked out in you, you will encounter persecution. You will have enemies. You will be slandered and misunderstood because in 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul says this, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” That’s a promise.

Jesus said, “Happy is the one who is persecuted. You’re joining a great company, the company of the prophets. And, indeed, you will have profit in heaven—exceedingly great reward.”

“Be happy,” Jesus said, “because your reward in heaven is going to be great when men persecute you—and they will!” Notice one more thing before we leave these verses. It says, “and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Many times Christians are being persecuted not because they’re living righteously, but because they’re weird. Weirdness doesn’t count!

These are the attitudes that will lead to happiness and fulfillment: poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, meekness that no longer struts, but submits, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, persecution—this is the pathway to happiness. 21

Exceeding glad.. WHOOPEE !!!!!!!!!

This is all others center, this is a indication that something has changed in us..

THE RESULT OF ALL THIS .. YOU WILL BE SALT AND LIGHT

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page 27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

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In these four verses the Lord summarizes the function of believers in the world. Reduced to one word, that function is influence. Whoever lives according to the Beatitudes is going to function in the world as salt and light. Christian character consciously or unconsciously affects other people for better or for worse. As John Donne reminds us, “No man is an island.”22

Woodrow Wilson told the story of being in a barbershop one time. “I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself to have his hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered, though it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him. And before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware I had attended an evangelistic service, because Mr, D. L. Moody was in that chair. I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular affect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They talked in undertones. They did not know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship.”23

SALT AND LIGHT (5:13-16)Jesus gives the analogy of salt and light to His disciples.

Matt. 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, how will it be me made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown outside and trampled under foot by men.

You are the salt of the earth; Believers are now compared to salt.but if the salt becomes tasteless, The question is how can salt become tasteless.how will it be me made salty again? It cannot be made salty again.It is good for nothing anymore, Once salt loses its purpose it becomes valueless.except to be thrown outside and trampled under foot by men. There are many opinions as to what salt has reference to:

(1) To give flavor.

(2) As a preservative to prevent corruption.

(3) Wisdom.

The Rabbi’s commonly used salt for the image of wisdom (see Colossians 4:6). This may explain why the Greek word translated “lost its taste” actually means “become foolish.” The believers in Jesus will make the earth a better place to live by their distinctive character.

22MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.23MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press.

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Salt was used to season food (Job 6:6), and mixed with the fodder of cattle (Isaiah 30:24). All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Leviticus 2:13). To eat salt with someone was to partake of his or her hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after his host’s interests. Ezra 4:14 reads: “We have maintenance from the king’s palace” (KJV), or “We share the salt of the palace” (NRSV).

A “covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5) was a covenant of perpetual obligation. Newborn children were rubbed with salt (Ezekiel 16:4). In our text-verse, disciples are likened unto salt, with reference to its cleansing and preserving uses. A number of years ago, Sir Lyon Playfair, a biblical writer, argued on scientific grounds that under the generic name of “salt” in certain passages, the substance mentioned is actually petroleum or its residue asphalt. Thus in Genesis 19:26 it would read “pillar of asphalt;” and in Matthew 5:13, instead of “salt,” “petroleum,” which loses its essence by exposure, as salt does not, and becomes asphalt, from which pavements were made.

Someone who is referred to as the “salt of the earth” has a basic, fundamental goodness; the phrase can be used to describe any good person.

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt. 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden.

You are the light of the world. Believers are compared to light. Jesus Himself is the true light (John 1,9).A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden. Light, like salt, affects its environment by being distinctive (see examples in the next verse).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt. 5:15 Neither do they light a light and place it under the bushel basket, but upon the lampstand, and it gives light to all the ones in the house.

Neither do they light a light and place it under the bushel basket, An obvious truth, nobody lights a light with the idea to hide it.

24Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible. "Rewritten and updated by Harold J. Chadwick"--Cover.; Includes index. ([Rev. ed.].) (Page 408). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.

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but upon the lampstand, and it gives light to all the ones in the house. A secret disciple is of no benefit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A light is meant to shine and give direction. Individuals Jesus described in verses 3-10 would obviously radiate and point others to the proper path. Their influence would be evident, like a city on a hill or a lamp . . . on its stand. A concealed lamp, placed under a bowl (a clay container for measuring grain) would be useless. Light-radiating people live so that others see their good deeds and give praise not to them but to their Father in heaven. (V. 16 includes the first of 15 references by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to God as “your [or our¯ or My¯] Father in heaven,” “your heavenly Father,” “your Father.” Also see vv. 45, 48; 6:1, 4, 6, 8-9, 14-15, 18, 26, 32; 7:11, 21. One who stands in God’s righteousness by faith in Him has an intimate spiritual relationship to Him, like that of a child to his loving father.)

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Matt. 5:16 In this same manner, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In this same manner, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Your father a favorite expression of Matthew reflecting a major emphasis of Jesus’ teaching.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He wants us to be a joyance happy person. One traight of happy people. They are doing things for other.

You want to be happy, you want to be a great witness.. here you go.. others centered.

vv. verses25Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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