Quick Definition of “Blessed”
God’s Eternal Benefits
An Introduction to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12
Every year the media comes out with a list of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Typically, they’re in the areas that people want to see most developed in their lives over the next year. In the 2015 survey, Nielsen found these to be the six most popular New Year’s resolutions:
6. Get organized
5. Spend more time with family and friends
4. Spend less and save more
3. Enjoy life to the fullest
2. Lose weight
1. Stay fit and healthy
There is nothing wrong with these things. Some are worthwhile pursuits, but are they the very best pursuits? When a disciple has committed their life to the cause of Christ, would they also make these things a top priority?
I read a quote this week from a well-known missionary who lived a couple hundred years ago. When asked a similar question about how he’d like to improve his life during his furlough, this committed disciple of Christ gave quite a different response.
He said, “When I return home
Does my soul long for those things? This missionary sounds like a man who is totally dissatisfied with the world and who is completely satisfied in his pursuit of God. He is a man who exemplified the disciple described in the Beatitudes.
At first glance, the Beatitudes seem to belong to an entirely different world than the one we live in. If Jesus told us only what is bad, but never gave us something better, then we’d be left discouraged and frustrated. But, Jesus points us to new Kingdom realities and pursuits that are far more satisfying than anything we longed for previously.
- Our world loves losing weight and getting in shape. That’s a fine goal, but Jesus has something far more valuable than outward appearances for the Kingdom-minded disciple when they hunger and thirst for righteousness.
- Our world loves money. The treasure of the Kingdom-minded disciple lies in the pursuit of the eternal God. Money to them is just another tool to further God’s purposes. They love it no more than they love a quality screwdriver.
- Our world loves to enjoy life – even if the pleasure comes from sin. The Kingdom-minded disciple will gladly push aside sin because they are captivated by the promise of eternal life with God and the pleasure He promises.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus described to his followers the appropriate attitude for the person who belongs to the Kingdom of God. Jesus wasn’t trying to make us feel guilty, but he was raising up a whole new standard. Jesus gave his followers better objectives to pursue than the lack-luster objectives of our culture.
The Beatitudes Outline the Best Pursuits for Citizens of God’s Kingdom – Psalm 16:11
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is setting before us a whole new vision of how the gospel enters and transforms our thinking. It describes a new kingdom mindset that has new passions and new behaviors. C.S. Lewis once gave a remarkable sermon called “The Weight of Glory.” In it he made this powerful statement:
“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.”
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is trying to help us see that our world is far too easily pleased. Our world, with its fleeting passions, is weak and needy.
As disciples, we belong to a new kingdom, so it is fitting to have whole a new mindset. Long gone are the dreams of temporary sinful pleasure that last a moment, then fade away for an eternity.
Instead, the disciple is offered real, lasting pleasures of righteousness. He is given real freedom from the bondage of sin. Jesus doesn’t have two types of disciples: those who submit to the authority of Christ and those who do not. The call to be a disciple is the same for every person. To be a disciple of Christ means to openly live a life committed to Him.
A true disciple is a person who has committed their life to Jesus Christ and His mission. In our passage today, Jesus describes the mind of a person who is whole-heartedly driven to pursue the Living God and the never-ending pleasures at his right hand.[2]
The Beatitudes Describe a Life Surrendered to Jesus as Lord – Romans 10:9, Galatians 2:20
The Beatitudes describe the attitude of a person who has totally and completely surrendered to the authority of Jesus as Lord. This person is different from the norm in that they are humble, merciful, pure, and peacemaking. This person openly confesses their allegiance to Jesus in a hostile world.
Sometimes people misspeak about salvation, saying, “I’m going to make Jesus my Savior.” while they go on living as if they never surrendered their life to Him. Do you think we can “make” Jesus do anything? He’s King. He does what He pleases.
However, our good King has extended to us an offer. It’s an offer open to all who would receive it. Those who respond to His call and submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior and King are invited to be a part of his new kingdom. Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” No one is a part of this kingdom who does not recognize Jesus as King and Lord, as well as Savior.
Beware of making our Lord your teacher first and Lord second. The tendency to recognize Jesus as a great teacher without recognizing His authority as King of Kings is prevalent today. It is a dangerous trend – especially if it enters into the church!
We must know Him as Lord first before His teachings can have any real meaning at all. In fact, without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, the teachings listed here in the Beatitudes lead to little more than despair. In my flesh, I’d never have the genuine desire for humility or purity. Without Jesus ruling in my heart, the Beatitudes describe an attitude that is simply unattainable.
- Imagine walking up to a man in the bondage of pornography and telling him to be “pure in heart” in his own power. It would be an ideal that he could never attain and probably would not want to attain in his own power.
- Imagine walking up to an ISIS terrorist and saying to him, “be merciful” and a “peacemaker.” Without Jesus, he would have no desire to do either thing! He loves violence!
Jesus was not attempting to erect standards that no man could attain. When a person responds to the call of salvation and submits their life to the authority of Christ, they have a new power to follow the Lord’s commands. Jesus does not just teach us, but He is active in making us what he teaches us to be. The Beatitudes are a description of a life that has been saved and radically transformed by the power of Christ.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The Beatitudes are about Kingdom Life in a Fallen World – Ephesians 2:19b, Matthew 6:10, 1 Peter 2:11, Ephesians 6:12, John 15:19-20, Romans 7:22-25
A paradox lies at the heart of the new Kingdom that we are a part of. On one hand, the day a person submits their life to Jesus, they are forever a part of a new Kingdom. Paul says “you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…”[3] That new Kingdom begins here and now.
In another sense, we only experience a small fraction of Kingdom life in this fallen world. In fact, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”[4] in the same sermon just a few verses later. There is a future, as well as a present, aspect to the Kingdom.
So how can the kingdom be here and yet still lie in the future? You may be thinking, “Pastor, that’s the kind of question theologians debate. I don’t care about that. That has absolutely nothing to do with my life.” In fact, it has a lot to do with your life. It is one of the most practical questions a person could ever ask. Our role in the present kingdom and the promise of a future kingdom both lie at the heart of the Christian life.
Disciples are members of a new, eternal kingdom even while they live in the kingdom of this world. Peter gives this exhortation in 1 Peter 2:11, “I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
I once had another pastor tell me that he stopped talking to his church about spiritual warfare. He was afraid that his congregation would start seeing demons around every corner and it would cripple them. I understand his hesitation, but I’m even more concerned that we’ll forget we’re in a battle if we don’t talk about spiritual warfare.
The new lifestyle of the disciple is opposed on every side: by the world, by the devil, and even by our own flesh. We are engaged in an epic struggle every day! Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” For this reason, the Christian is engaged in a daily battle that is far more intense than anything they experienced before they submitted their life to Jesus.
Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:19-20, “19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
If our King was tested, tempted, opposed, rejected, and eventually crucified by this fallen world, then it shouldn’t surprise us that being part of God’s kingdom will involve an ongoing, epic struggle against the world. But we don’t only struggle against the world, but against our own selves. Paul said in Romans 7:22-25
“ 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
When we come into the new kingdom we often bring old habits and ways of thinking from the old kingdom. The missionary, who I mentioned at the beginning of the message, commented that even after years of ministry, he was continually seeking “mortification” or the killing off of sin in his life. Even for a godly person, it can be an epic struggle to rid themselves of the sin that once reigned supreme in their life.[5]
So, it’s true that the Beatitudes belong to an entirely different world than the one we currently dwell in. They are Kingdom principles for God’s people. They speak of how to invite God’s blessing into our lives both now and in the future.
The Beatitudes Speak of God’s Blessing – Verses 3-11
The word blessed could be literally translated as “happy.” However, it can be quite misleading to translate it that way. Happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective conclusion. Blessed is a fact, not just a feeling. Jesus is not talking about what people feel like. He is talking about what they are.
When God blesses a person, it means that He is approving of that person. Being blessed is being “approved by God.” One commentator said, “those who are blessed will generally be profoundly happy, but blessedness cannot be reduced to happiness.”[6] We have to ask ourselves, what is more important to pursue: the approval of God or the approval of man?
If God’s blessing speaks more to us than the approval of loved ones (no matter how much we care about them), or of the approval of colleagues (no matter how influential they might be), then the beatitudes will speak to us very deeply and personally. I believe the pursuit of God is ‘A Better Pursuit.’
- In Jesus’ day, people had largely strayed from the things that God blesses and moved on to other pursuits.
- In our day, the pursuit of God is rarely spoken of even in a church context. Too often, churches are consumed with the pursuit of self instead of the pursuit of God.
Jesus is calling Christians back to the whole-hearted pursuit of God: a better pursuit. The Beatitudes exemplify the passionate disciple. The life of a disciple begins with the question, “how can I be saved?” The Beatitudes address that question and then move past it.
Application
In our study of the Beatitudes, we will take considerable time looking at each one separately, but there is some truth to be gained in looking at them collectively. The most important application of the Beatitudes is to see our great need for Jesus.
The Beatitudes Tell us How to Enter the Kingdom – Verse 3-6, 1 John 1:8-9
Verse 3 says, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The first step to entering the kingdom of heaven is to admit our spiritual bankruptcy. When we are no longer trying to get to heaven on the basis of our own merit, then God can grant us the free gift of eternal life on the basis of Christ’s merit. Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…”
Admitting that we could never be good enough to deserve God’s approval is a process wrought with utter humility (even humiliation). The “poor in spirit” have taken a spiritual ax to any prideful thought that might lead them to believe they are good enough to earn God’s approval. The “poor in spirit” know that they need Jesus!
Verse 4 says, 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” This Beatitude deals with our attitude towards our own sin. ‘Mourning’ in this context can refer to a hatred of our own sin. Instead of criticizing others for their shortcoming, we are more concerned with examining ourselves. John Owen is known for saying “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”[7] He also said, “Indwelling sin always abides while we are in this world; therefore it is always to be mortified.” [8]
The apostle John wrote, “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”[9] The disciple knows their sin and it grieves their heart. They are continually working to kill it off.
Verse 5 says, 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” This verse deals with our attitude towards God.
- Do I approach God with an attitude of submission?
- Or do I think God is impressed with who I am or with what I’ve done?
The answer is the difference between life and death. It’s the difference between heaven and hell.
Verse 6 says 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” When a person realizes that their own efforts to save themselves are completely lacking and they hunger for righteousness outside or themselves, it opens up the opportunity for God to come in and clothe that person in Christ’s righteousness. Paul encourages believers in Ephesus to “to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”[10]
The new righteousness we attain through the person of Jesus is accompanied by a real-world life change. Once a person receives citizenship in the Kingdom of God, their new life begins to manifest itself in a whole new attitude:
- Because of Jesus, a disciple becomes merciful instead of condemning.
- Because of Jesus, a disciple wants to cultivate purity instead of sin.
- Because of Jesus, a disciple seeks to be a peacemaker instead of a trouble maker.
Then, as the disciple grows to become more and more like Jesus, they may experience the kind of treatment that Jesus endured when He was on earth: reviling, persecution, false accusation, and more.
BUT… because of His grace the persecution doesn’t’ make them bitter. The persecuted become a light in a dark place. They shine for the Lord all the brighter while the darkness becomes ever darker. Now that they’ve entered the kingdom, they are excited to use every opportunity – even persecution – to enlarge it.
The Beatitudes Tell us How to Enlarge the Kingdom – Isaiah 66:2b
Christ is glorified as we apply God’s righteousness in practical ways to the world around us. As we explain more about the Beatitudes in the coming weeks, it will become clear that these new attitudes are impossible for the person who does not know Jesus as Lord. These ideals can never be reached in human strength.
However, the person who is “poor in sprit” is highly esteemed by God. The Lord, speaking in Isaiah 66:2b, says, “…this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
The Beatitudes weren’t written to be discouraging or to define a standard we could never meet. On the contrary: Jesus was telling us how to get God’s attention and how to obtain the most enjoyment and blessing from the kingdom.
The Beatitudes Tell us How to Enjoy the Kingdom – Verses 3-10
Over and over again it says:
Blessed are the _________ for they will…
When you read the promises listed in the verses, you can see how believers are able to enjoy God more and more as they cultivate Christian character in their lives.
- Theirs is the kingdom
- They will be comforted
- They inherit the earth
- They will be satisfied
- They receive mercy
- They will see God and are sons of God in the eternal Kingdom of heaven
It all points to the richest and fullest blessing a person could ever attain. There is a price to pay for God’s blessing, but the results are worth the price. Any lesser pursuit is hardly worth the effort. Pursuing the Kingdom of heaven and God’s blessing is the very best pursuit you could ever have.
Jesus invites us to a full life with eternal rewards. He wants us to receive a full measure of God’s eternal benefit package. Are you willing to give up the pleasure of this world for the eternal pleasures of God?
[1] Bounds, EM “Power Through Prayer,” pg 45
[2] Psalms 16:11
[3] Ephesians 2:19b
[4] Matthew 6:10
[5] Romans 6:12
[6] Carson, DA “Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount” pg 16
[7] Owen, John “On the Mortification of Sin in Believers” page 5
[8] Owen, John “On the Mortification of Sin in Believers” page 5
[9] 1 John 1:8-9
[10] Ephesians 4:24b
Senior Pastor Mark Stafford
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