The Exposition of Matthew (Matthew 5:5-12)
Part II: The Believer’s Relationship to God
(The Beatitudes of Christ)
Questions to be answered in this study
- What does beatitude mean?
- How were “great multitudes,” perhaps numbering in the thousands, able to hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount? Jesus gave his sermon long before the invention of microphones and speakers, so did He need to shout at the top of His lungs?
- What does the word meek mean?
- What does it mean to be “pure in heart”?
- What does it mean to be a peacemaker?
- What is sanctification?
- What is necessary to live according to the Sermon on the Mount at least partially?
- The beatitudes are not about doing. So, what are they about?
- What does the new nature received at the point of salvation bring about in one’s life?
- How can we “rejoice and be glad” in a world so filled with evil and trouble?
Introduction
Beatitude is a state of being which affects one’s attitude. The definition of attitude is: “A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior,” -Lexico.com. It is about the person Jesus and the behavior that characterizes a believer.
Last Sunday, we began our study of Matthew chapter 5, on the “Sermon on the Mount.” No one knows for sure what mountain it was where Jesus preached the sermon. In our recent visit to Israel, the tour guide took us to the place traditionally believed to be the mount of the beatitudes; it is near Capernaum above the Sea of Galilee’s. This mountain seems to be a likely candidate for the sermon because it is conducive to speaking to a large crowd.
The question is, how were “great multitudes,” perhaps numbering in the thousands, able to hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount? Jesus gave his sermon long before the invention of microphones and speakers, so did He need to shout at the top of His lungs? The answer is no. As our guide explained, the Sea of Galilee is bowl-shaped with strong winds that serve as a natural amplifier. A firm voice spoken downwind carries a fair distance. So, when Jesus preached on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee to a crowd seated below Him, the wind was likely to have been blowing toward the Sea of Galilee, which carried His voice to all those present. This is not taking into consideration a supernatural element, which is also possible.
Last Sunday, we covered only the first two beatitudes. Today we will take up where we left off with the third beatitude:
Matthew 5:5:
5. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
6. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
7. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
8. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
9. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
10.“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
11.“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
12. “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Beatitude #3: verse 5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” The word meek has the opposite meaning from what the world gives it. It does not mean weak. Here is the world’s definition: quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive. Here it is used in a sentence: “I used to call her Miss Mouse because she was so meek and mild.”
Here is the biblical meaning of the word: “Meek” is strength under control, or power under control.” Strong’s Bible Concordance refers to Biblical Meekness as “exercising God’s strength under His control.” My wife, Margaret, and I recently saw a movie on TV with a black stallion, and he was prancing, raring up, aggressive, and assertive. As powerful as he was, a rider broke the stallion’s resistance. The word used for breaking a horse for riding is meek, too meek a horse. So, it certainly does not mean weak.
It is not a matter of breaking the stallion’s spirit, but breaking his will is necessary. It means the stallion has become submissive to the will of its master. Meekness, in the Biblical sense, is talking about an attitude of submission to God’s authority. It means accepting whatever Is God’s purpose is for us in life. It is quite the opposite of those seeking the power and riches of this world and ambition, which can be the opposite of seeking God’s will.
Beatitude #4: verse 6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Jesus says those who are part of His Kingdom will hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is expedient that we do a check-up on what we yearning is. Is it the righteousness of God or personal ambition?
When we hunger, it means we want food or if we thirst, water. On earth, we long for a time when we will see God’s righteousness reigning on earth. Presently not only are we in the midst of a terrible virus attack, but we are also witnessing riots in our cities and on our streets all across America. We wonder if it will ever change. Is there any hope for the future? The only hope we have is the hope we have in our hearts because that is where God’s righteousness reigns. The kind of change on earth we long for will not come until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom and rules and reigns.
The prophet Micah describes that kingdom: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. 6 In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. ”
Part II: Our relationship with others
Beatitude #5: verse 7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Jesus describes citizens of the kingdom as people who know how to treat others and who shows love and mercy. The attribute of mercy is godly and comes with the new nature received from God at salvation. Last week there was a lot of news about the president offering clemency to Roger Stone. Attorney General Barr and the president’s staff advised the president not to do it. It could damage his reelection bid. The president did it anyway. That impressed me that he would consider a friend’s need over something significant to him. Clemency means mercy. I’m not arguing the right or wrong of what the president did, only the mercy he extended to a loyal friend.
Beatitude #6: verse 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Jesus says those in the Kingdom possess a pure heart. This way, we are honest in all our dealing with others, being a person who tells the truth. A person does not go to heaven for these reasons; they are this way because they are citizens of heaven. A fantastic reward lies ahead of these with a pure heart who will see God face to face.
Beatitude #7: verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” There have always been trouble makers in the church, stirring up trouble and causing division. Trouble makers are the opposite of what Jesus is saying concerning the nature of a true believer. They mediate conflict rather than inciting it. Their efforts are to reduce strife and encourage peace. Provocation among believers is antichristian. Only those who are peaceful at heart will see God. They are the true children of God.
Ironically, those who seek peace and righteousness will know persecution and suffer slander even from within the church because their relationship to Christ invites it. Persecution, suffering, and slander were everyday experiences among the prophets and later the very disciples of Christ who, for the most part, were put to death for their good works of spreading the gospel. Persecution is an ordinary mark on the children of God but one we should rejoice in because they also persecuted the Son of God who gave himself for us. If we share in His persecution, we also share in His reward.
Let us review the character sketch of the children of God, citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus describes them as people aware of their unrighteousness who depend on God’s mercy and grace for salvation and entrance into the kingdom. They are saddened by their sinful state and repent and follow Jesus in the newness of life. They commit themselves to the authority of God rather than seeking personal ambition and engaging in the lust of the world. They are people of mercy toward others, honest in dealing with others, seeking peace rather than mayhem. Yet, in all their attempts to live godly lives, they are persecuted. Their love of Jesus brings down the hate of those outside the kingdom.
Maybe you think that you miss the mark. Don’t be discouraged because this is God’s Gold standard to set our heart on and not one that comes automatically on a new believer. It requires sanctification daily to reach worthy goals. Sanctification is God making you into the person He created you to be. It is a continuous thing in life. It allows God to make you into the person He intends for you to be instead of the pharisaical way of living a hypocritical life of lies and deceit. It is the ideal and not a way that anyone can master with perfection, but it should be a goal to pursue. Our salvation is safe in Christ, but we are on a journey to become all He wants us to become. We act as citizens of heaven because we are one and not because we are trying to be one. In other words, we are not a child of God because of the things we do, but we do the things we do because we are the child of God. We serve Him because we love Him. When we receive the new nature by our faith in Jesus, we can exhibit the characteristics of Jesus in these beatitudes. It is a matter of being before doing and not the opposite of doing to be. It is only through confessing Christ as the savior that we can experience these qualities.
The new nature you receive in Christ will bring about a change in the way you think and act. Your desires will change, and you will submit to Christ with gentleness, and you will seek to show mercy and kindness to others; there will be a new kind of peace that will come over you, and you will seek peace rather than conflict and revenge. These are things you can’t gain by false righteousness and self-righteousness. They are qualities that come from God.
Beatitude #8: verse 10-12, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
I have combined the last two beatitudes because they are very similar. They are summed up in verse 10 and elaborated on in verses 11 and12. They concern the persecution of the child of God. It is hard to imagine that a person can be happy when persecuted. But here it is from the Bible, “Happy are those who are persecuted….”
It is pretty amazing that, in this world, a person is persecuted for being the right kind of person, a person who hates sin and loves righteousness, is meek, a servant of Holy God, a person who has rearranged his life to be a servant of God and fellow man. A person who pursues righteousness, is merciful to others, pure in heart, and a peacemaker, yet is he persecuted? More Christians have been martyred in the last century than all of history combined. So, it is not uncommon for disciples of Jesus to be slandered, scorned, ridiculed, and despised. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12.
Here is what happens: “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you,” 1 Peter 4:4. The truth is, if a person pursues righteousness, they will face opposition and persecution.
People of the world relate to a sinful lifestyle; they do not value the principles of righteousness that a God-fearing person does. They want to reform you to be like they are or belittle you for being what you are. Please don’t give in to their debauchery. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified,” 1 Peter 4:14.
We still have it relatively easy in America but not so in other parts of the world especially where Islam is prominent. Many Muslims have converted to Christianity. Do you understand the price they pay in the form of persecution? They may lose a spouse. Their family will disown them. They may be fired from their job. The government will discriminate against them. They may not even be able to find food.
The beatitudes end with the statement in verse 12: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Billy Graham said in a sermon: “All this will one day be over.” He referred to all the things against us in this life and then will be the reward. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad….” Those words describe something that goes far beyond ordinary happiness; It is a joy indiscernible. Here is why you should be extremely happy when persecuted: Your reward in heaven is great, and you are in the company of those who gave their all to serve God for whom He is well pleased.