Sermon on the Mount… vs. 1-2

• 1^st – The Mountain… vs. 1
  • Seeing the multitudes – He went up on a mountain!
  • The Mountain…
    • The Ministry of Jesus [teaching – preaching – healing] quickly gathered LARGE crowds…
    • And SEEING them – it stirred Jesus to want to TEACH them…
    • But He did NOT teach them in the city of Capernaum – instead He went up the MOUNTAIN!
    • MOUNTAIN – traditionally the 200 meter high hill just a little northwest of Capernaum…
    • Known to this day as the Mount of Beatitudes [הר האושר]
  • The Reason…
    • The question has to be asked – why did Jesus TEACH on the mountain…
    • FIRST – it might have been to help him since it was a LARGE multitude…
    • The elevation of the hill would allow him to be HIGHER – more easily seen and heard!
    • SECOND – it might have been to see who would follow…
    • The top of the mountain is over a kilometer – up a steep hill – from the city…
    • It would have taken an EFFORT for the people to CHOSE to come and LISTEN to Jesus!
    • A lot of people treat church as an afterthought…
    • They will come – if it is convenient – if there is nothing more important to do!
    • But following Jesus is NOT easy – it takes SACRIFICE – it takes EFFORT…
    • If we only come to hear the WORD of the LORD when it is easy…
    • Then we are going to miss out on the BEST of what Jesus wants to say to us!
• 2^nd – The Disciples… vs. 1-2
  • When He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them!
  • The MESSAGE Jesus gave was NOT meant for everyone…
  • He sat down and began to teach [διδάσκω] when His DISCIPLES came to Him…
  • DISCIPLES [μαθητής] – someone who wants to LEARN – a STUDENT…
  • This is NOT referring to the TWELVE – they were not chosen yet – Matthew 10:1
  • These DISCIPLES – were anyone who was willing to climb the MOUNTAIN!
    
  • The ETHIOPIAN eunuch traveled THOUSANDS of kilometers to come to Jerusalem…
  • And because he came seeking God – God send Philip to tell him about Jesus – Acts 8:26
  • We will NOT find Jesus – if we are NOT looking for Jesus…
  • When we come SEEKING the LORD – become DISCIPLES – that is when He will SPEAK to us!
  • Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek Me and find Me – when you search for Me with all your heart.”
• 3^rd – The Teaching…
  • This is the Sermon of the King…
    • The teaching Jesus gave them – is the LONGEST one recorded in the New Testament…
    • Spanning THREE chapters in the book of Matthew – Matthew 5-7
    • Teaching those who want to LEARN how to be part of His KINGDOM – in THREE ways:
    • How to be SAVED from our SIN – Matthew 5
    • How to have in a RELATIONSHIP with God – Matthew 6
    • How we are to RELATE to others – Matthew 7
  • Blessed…
    • Jesus opens up the teaching by giving eight BLESSINGS…
    • BLESSING [μακάριος] – 50x in NT – 9x here – meaning to be HAPPY…
    • We call them the Beatitudes – from the Latin word for HAPPY [beatus]!
    • Jesus is not giving to us EIGHT different BLESSINGS – there is just ONE blessing…
    • The BLESSING is that we can be citizens of KINGDOM of God…
    • And Jesus is going to tell the DISCIPLES how!

• 2^nd – The Beatitudes… vs. 3-12
  • 1^st – Poor in Spirit… vs. 3
    • The Poor…
      • Blessed are the poor in spirit!
      • BLESSED are the POOR [πτωχοὶ] – those who lack POWER – those who are WEAK…
      • Not POOR monetarily – speaking of being POOR spiritually [in the spirit]
      • Psalm 14:1 – “[We] are corrupt …there is none who does good!”
      • If you have ever seen a piece of rotting fruit – covered in filth – smelling terrible…
      • The instant reaction is to avoid it – there is NOTHING good there!
      • In the same way – we are CORRUPT – there is nothing GOOD in us…
      • We do not do BAD things because we are SINNERS…
      • We CANNOT do GOOD things – because of we are POOR [weak] spiritually!
    • The Kingdom…
      • For theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
      • FOR [ὅτι] better translated as BECAUSE [causative conjunction]
      • BECAUSE – it is a BLESSING to recognize SPIRITUALLY poverty…
      • It is the KEY to becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven!
      • Until we see the PROBLEM – that we are SINNERS…
      • We are not going to be open to the SOLUTION that God provided for SIN!
  • 2^nd – Those who Mourn… vs. 4
    • Weeping…
      • Blessed are those who mourn!
      • BLESSED are those who MOURN [πενθέω] – to be BROKEN – WEE…
      • Because there is only ONE payment for SIN – and that is DEATH – Romans 6:23
      • We are NOT talking about physically death [though we will all die]
      • We are talking about the SECOND death – the Lake of Fire – Revelation 20:14
      • Knowing our FATE is eternal FIRE – should make us WEEP and MOURN!
    • Comforted…
      • For they shall be comforted!
      • It is a BLESSING to MOURN – because God comes to COMFORT us…
      • COMFORT [παρακαλέω] – called to come along side of us!
      • When the PRODIGAL son took his inheritance and left – it broke the Father heart…
      • Yet when the SON came back – HUMBLED – mourning over his foolish choices…
      • Luke 15:20 – “His father saw him – and had compassion – and ran [to him].”
      • When we realize we are doomed SINNERS – and CRY out God for help…
      • Heaven and Earth cannot keep our Heavenly Father from us…
      • Our Dad RUNS to come and embrace us – pick us up – and HELP us!
  • 3^rd – The Meek… vs. 5
    • Power of God…
      • Blessed are the meek! 
      • BLESSED are the MEEK [πραΰς] – 3x in NT – also translated as LOWLY and QUIET…
      • MEEKNESS means not putting our faith in our STRENGTH…
      • Instead realizing that we need to look to the POWER of God!
      • Moses was MEEK – because he depended on God – Numbers 12:3
      • Jesus was MEEK – because He depended on the Father – Matthew 21:5
      • We WANT to be those who are MEEK – humble before the LORD…
      • Because the opposite of MEEKNESS – is PRIDE and arrogance…
      • If we think we can be GOOD enough – try HARD enough to get to heaven…
      • Then we are NOT meek – we are the PROUD!
      • I Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud – but gives grace to the humble!”
    • Our inheritance…
      • For they shall inherit the earth!
      • Which is why is a BLESSING to be MEEK – because only by the POWER of God…
      • Do we get to INHERIT the earth [the Millennial Kingdom]
      • At the END of the SEVEN years of Tribulation – the KING will return – Revelation 19:16
      • He will destroy the armies of the Antichrist at Armageddon – Revelation 16:16
      • And He will set up His millennial KINGDOM here on the earth [Kingdom of God]
      • Where we will rule and reign with Jesus for a THOUSAND years – Revelation 20:6
      • Not because we DESERVE it – but because we were HUMBLE – God gave us GRACE!
      • Psalm 37:11 – “The meek [humble] shall inherit the earth.”
  • 4^th – The Hungry… vs. 6
    • Participle…
      • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness!
      • BLESSED are those who HUNGRY [participle] and THIRSTY [participle]
      • PARTICIPLE – takes a VERB [action] and makes it an ADJECTIVE [description]
      • EXAMPLE – someone might occasionally go for a run [verb]
      • But a RUNNER [participle] is someone who is defined by running!
    • Righteousness…
      • DISCIPLE is described [adjective] as being always HUNGRY and THIRSTY [Calorie Fellowship]
      • But not for FOOD – they are continually craving RIGHTEOUSNESS
      • RIGHTEOUSNESS [δικαιοσύνη] – to be accepted by God!
      • With the same passion we CRAVE food and water…
      • We should also LONG to be accepted by God – made RIGHT before Him!
        
    • Filled…
      • For they shall be filled!
      • It is a BLESSING to HUNGER and THIRST – because we will be FILLED…
      • FILLED [χορτάζω] – to be satisfied [no longer hungry]!
      • Because God will MAKE [passive] us RIGHTEOUS through Jesus Christ…
      • In Jesus – we have lived a PREFECT life – there is NO sin…
      • When God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes…
      • He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect – flawless!
      • II Corinthians 5:21 – “[God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us – that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
  • 5^th – The Merciful… vs. 7
    • Not judgmental…
      • Blessed are the merciful!
      • BLESSED are the MERCIFUL [ἐλεήμων] – to relate to and have sympathy towards others!
      • We know what it is like to be a SINNER – because we are one…
      • We know we are POOR in spirit – we MOURN over our failures…
      • As a RESULT – we can relate to others when they make MISTAKES…
      • We are not JUDGMENTAL – instead we are MERCIFUL and try and HELP!
      • Galatians 6:1 – “Brethren – if a man is overtaken in any trespass – you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
    • No judgement…
      • For they shall obtain mercy!
      • It is a BLESSING to be MERCIFUL to others – because then we will receive [passive] MERCY!
      • When we are harsh to others – we will receive the same from them…
      • Better to think the best of others – do not focus on their FLAWS…
      • Because then other will tend to think the BEST of us and our motives!
      • Matthew 7:2 – “Others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others – it will be used to measure how you are judged.” [NIV]
  • 6^th – The Pure of heart… vs. 8
    • Forgiven…
      • Blessed are the pure in heart!
      • BLESSED are the PURE [καθαρός] – to be CLEANSED of filth!
      • The new year is full of resolutions meant to try and make us healthy…
      • Promising to avoid particularly unhealthy food [lechon] – that is bad for our heart…
      • Food that can cause filth to build up – and eventually get to the place where it can kill us!
      • Spiritually we all have a FILTHY heart – coated in years of SIN…
      • And if we do not do something about it – it can kill us…
      • But if we are willing to CONFESS our SIN – God is willing to CLEAN our heart!
      • I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins – He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse [καθαρός] us from all unrighteousness.”
    • Heaven…
      • For they shall see God!
      • It is a BLESSING to have God CLEAN our HEARTS…
      • Because it is ONLY with a CLEAN heart – we can we SEE God!
      • Moses wanted to see the FACE of the Lord – Exodus 33:18
      • But God told him – no man can look on His FACE and live – Exodus 33:20
      • Because God is HOLY – therefore SINFUL man would perish in the pure light of the LORD!
      • Yet when we come to the NEW Jerusalem – and we NO longer have sin…
      • When we have be in our glorified bodies – we will be able to look upon our HOLY God!
      • Revelation 22:4 – “[We] shall see His face.”
  • 7^th – The Peacemakers… vs. 9
    • Evangelism…
      • Blessed are the peacemakers!
      • BLESSED are those who BRING [ποιέω] PEACE [εἰρήνη]
      • Speaking of those who BRING the message of PEACE – the GOSPEL!
      • Ephesians 2:14 – “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace.”
      • Because it is not enough to KNOW we are POOR in spirit – and MOURN our SIN…
      • It is not enough for us to be MEEK – and realize we need the power of Jesus…
      • It is not enough for us to HUNGER and THIRST for His righteousness…
      • It is not enough for us to have a PURE heart – we need to think about OTHERS…
      • We are called to share the GOOD news – tell EVERYONE about Jesus!
      • Romans 10:14 – “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace.”
    • Sons of God…
      • For they shall be called sons of God!
      • We are BLESSED when we share the Gospel of PEACE…
      • Because talking to others about Jesus – shows we are the SONS of God!
      • I had a good friend in college who married a PRINCESS from Burma…
      • The reason I know that – is because he told EVERYONE about it!
      • If we are the children of the KING – we are NOT going to be shy about it…
      • We are going to tell EVERYONE who our FATHER is…
      • Our boldness in sharing the gospel of PEACE – is PROOF we belong to the KING!
  • 8^th – The Persecuted… vs. 10-12
    • For Righteousness… vs. 10
      • Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.
      • For theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
      • BLESSED are those who are PERSECUTED [perfect] – to constantly be mistreated…
      • We are PERSECUTED for the sake of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ…
      • We are called to tell others the message of the GOSPEL of peace…
      • But we are NOT to expect everyone to like what we SAY!
      • The GOSPEL is not GOOD news for everyone…
      • Some people LOVE [ἀγαπάω] their SIN – and do NOT want to come to Jesus…
      • So when we WARN them – tell them they are NOT going to heaven…
      • Their reaction is to attack the MESSENGER – they PERSECUTE us!
      • But the PERSECUTION has a subtle BLESSING attached to it…
      • It is another PROOF that we belong the KINGDOM of Heaven!
      • John 15:18 – “If the world hates you – you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world – the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world – but I chose you out of the world – therefore the world hates you.”
    • False Accusations… vs. 11
      • Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you.
      • And say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake!
      • We are BLESSED when men are ASHAMED of us – PERSECUTE us…
      • Say EVIL things about us that are NOT true – for the sake of Jesus…
      • But there is no BLESSING if we SUFFER for making poor choices!
      • Peter 4:15 – “But let none of you suffer [because of sin].”
      • I have known people who claim to be SUFFERING for the Lord…
      • But if you look at their lives – their PROBLEMS are a consequence of their CHOICES…
      • We need to be careful NOT to blame God for our poor decisions…
      • The BLESSING of the Lord only comes when we SUFFER for His sake!
    • Great Reward… vs. 12
      • Rejoice and be exceedingly glad – for great is your reward in heaven.
      • For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you!
      • When we are PERSECUTED for sharing the Gospel of PEACE…
      • We MUST [imperative] be HAPPY [χαίρω] and overflow with JOY [ἀγαλλιάω]
      • Because the PERSECUTION reminds us this is NOT our HOME…
      • And our REWARD will not come on EARTH – it comes once we get to HEAVEN…
      • Because just like the PROPHETS of God who went before us:
      • Hebrews 11:36-38 – “[Who] had trial of mockings and scourgings – chains and imprisonment! They were stoned. They were sawn in two [and] were slain with the sword. Of whom the world was not [imperfect] worthy.”
      • As Steven was stoned to death because he STOOD up for Jesus – Acts 7:56
      • He looked up and saw Jesus – STANDING at the right hand of the Father in heaven…
      • Jesus does not STAND at the right hand – He sits – Colossian 3:1 / Hebrews 8:1
      • Here and ONLY here do we see Jesus standing in Heaven…
      • Jesus stood because He was PROUD of His son – He was cheering him as he came home!
      • Being BLESSED by God – does not mean we have an EASY life…
      • It might even mean we have to DIE for our faith [everyone dies]
      • The BLESSING is we heaven after we die – because we are CITIZENS of the Kingdom!