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“THE BEATITUDES"

THESIS: To teach the hearers the truth concerning the meaning of the condition known as “blessed.”

TEXT: Mt 5:1-12

1. Today we will begin to look at the section of scripture commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) The first portion of this sermon is commonly known as “the beatitudes,”

a. "Beatitude" is from "beatus" or "beati", the Latin words for "blessed," which certainly those are who align their lives with that which was taught by our Lord herein.

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:

b. This is not the same event as in Lk 6. In Lk 6:12 Jesus went out into the mountain, and prayed there all night, then after He chose the 12 apostles, then He came down to a level place (plain KJV, Lk 6:17), and He healed them all (Luke 6:19), and then began to teach.

c. In Matt. 4:25 multitudes were following Him, and He went up into the mountain (Matt 5:1), and began to teach them (Matt 5:2). There is also variation in what was taught, so this is clearly not the same event as in Lk 6. The sermon on the Mount here looks back at Mt 4:23

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.

d. The beatitudes describes the nature of the kingdom to come, and it subjects, they have been called Pentecost pointers, teachings that pointed ahead to the kingdom of heaven, the church, for it is written (Heb 9:16-17) . . .

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

e. Let us note also that the commands the Lord taught here are universal in nature. The commands given here relate to the Gospel, as the 10 commandments relate to the Law To obey them would have not caused any to be unfaithful to the Law of Moses, Rather to do so would have built their spiritual character and faithfulness to God under the Law. We are not under the 10 commandments any longer as seen in (Rom 7:4, 7) . . .

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. . .
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

f. Rom 7:7 is a quote from ex 20:17, the 10th commandment teaching us that we are indeed dead to the 10 commandments. But we have 9 commands that are similar to 9 of the 10 commandments, yet they were not carried over, they could not have been in view of passages such as Rom 7:4, 7, but the fact is that these types of commands transcend all God’s dispensations and they were adjusted specifically for those periods through which God’s eternal purpose was being brought about.

Mat 5:2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

2. Here is our perfect example (1 Cor 11:1)

1Co 11:1 Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

a. We must open our mouth, if the truth is going to come out. One may say, well I don’t want to drive them away, or harden their hearts. To that I say, where is our Biblical example? The Bible states (2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 4:11a)

2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

1Pe 4:11a If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;

b. Preachers may have met people where they were at in their knowledge of God, but repentance was always preached, and the good news of eternal life through Christ and His Gospel. We need to preach the word (Isa 55:10-11)

Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; Isa 55:11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

c. God’s word does the work, and one’s hearts are their own responsibility, whether they be the wayside, rocky, thorny or good (Lk 8), but the word will accomplish God’s work thereon

d. The beatitudes start out with 7 character traits, these traits are the foundational principles as set forth in the New Covenant, these ought to be applied to all who love and seek after God.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

3. The word “blessed” here is not the same Greek word as seen in the instituting of the Lord’s supper (Mt 26:26), that word is “eulogeo” and means “to speak well of” (specifically unto God concerning the bread and the fruit of the vine of the context, in other words “He gave thanks”), the word found here is “makarios.” Some define the word "blessed" (“makarios”) here as “happy,” in some other context or time frame this may have been so. The word "happy" is related to the word "happen" which is something that comes on a person quickly, and departs just as fast (note the word “haply” in Mt 5:25; ASV)

This is not under contemplation here. Spiritually “fortunate” or “prosperous” is more correct. You certainly would not be happy when you are persecuted (Matt 5:11). Also would one consider Job blessed in his sufferings? (Ja 5:11)

Jam 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.

a. So the word “blessed” here has a forward view to an end, our hope of heaven, suffering, enduring, in order to receive that crown of life (Ja 1:12).

Jam 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing); for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.

b. Also consider Paul, where he wrote (2 Tim 4:7-8) . . .

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

c. The “poor in spirit” here (Mt 5:3) would be the spiritually humble, destitute (Gen 32:9-10; Judges 6:15; Isa 66:1-2; Lk 5:8-9).

Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O Jehovah, who saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will do thee good: Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two companies.

Jdg 6:14 And Jehovah looked upon him (Gideon), and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee? Jdg 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. Jdg 6:16 And Jehovah said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I (Isaiah) saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Isa 6:2 Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isa 6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.

Isa 66:1 Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest? Isa 66:2 For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.

Luk 5:8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Luk 5:9 For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;

d. Thus poor in spirit would be recognizing that in the sight of God we are lost in our sins, and in need of a Savior, and that would be in contrast to the spiritually arrogant (Lk 18:9-14 or Acts 9:1-2 vs.1 Cor 15:9; 1 Tim 1:15-16; Luke 17:10).

Luk 18:9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. Luk 18:13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. Luk 18:14 I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1Ti 1:15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: Ti 1:16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.

e. Here is the attitude of this beatitude summed up (Luke 17:10) . . .

Luk 17:10 Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

4. This is a paradox and contrary to our ideas, not that all who mourn will be blessed, because the sorrow of the world produces death. This is talking about outward manifestations of grief which are brought about by the realization of one’s sinful state, which in turn, bring about conclusions for one’s sinfulness being offensive toward and the need of God (2 Cor 7:10)

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

a. And results in the comfort that only He can give (2 Cor 1:3-5).

2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 2Co 1:4 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2Co 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.

b. Thus through Christ and His Gospel one will be blessed when one comes humbly morning in sin looking for salvation, as it is written in the prophet Isaiah (Isa 61:1-3) . . .

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isa 61:2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Isa 61:3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.

c. Thus mourning over sin, repenting, and being obedient unto the forgiveness of sins is a great reward to the soul, we can then know that God is on our side providentially, He hears our prayers, and we can look forward to eternity with Him (1 John 5:13).

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

5. Meek here would not be weakness, but rather that noble attribute which might be described as “power under control”, or “strength made tender.” In NT times the word translated “meek” here (“pra-us”) was used of a wild horse that was tamed and brought under control.

a. Love for God, the Truth, and one’s fellow-man, are the products of meekness. The meek are humble in response to Gods will, in response to man’s mis-treatment, and in response to life’s adversities.

b. Meek could also be described as “supremacy of will,” or “self control under duress,” picture a captain of a ship guiding his ship home in a terrible storm (similar of our working out our salvation; Phili 2:12), sure he is scared, but he focuses on the job at hand until it is completed, until he is in the home port.

c. Meek could also be described as the “equilibrium of soul” not being tossed to and fro, but guiding our ship in the knowledge that comes from God (Hab 2:14)

Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

d. The word “earth” here is the Gr word “ge” (as seen in the LXX translation of Ps 37) and would be better translated “land,” and whose primary definition is land, as in Ps 37:11; ASV, thus in YLT, the 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible, and Campbell’s Living oracles all in Matt 5:5 have this word is translated “land“.

e. This phrase had reference originally to Israel under Moses (the 5th commandment; Ex 20:12).

Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.

f. But in this NT passage the word “earth” or “land” here would be a type of heaven, our promised land, the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1).

g. Meekness is a requirement of all Christians

1) Meekness is required to be faithful when others engage in sinful practices, and cast scorn upon you

2) Meekness is required to endure persecutions.

3) Meekness is required to refuse to partake of such things as gossip, and laughing at harsh jokes

4) Meekness is required to teach and preach the truth in the face of opposition

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

6. Righteousness here refers to God’s word, which are His commands (Ps 119:172; Acts 10:34-35)

Psa 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.

Act 10:34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Act 10:35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.

a. This does not refer to doing right apart from God’s commands as confirmed in Ti 3:5 (Rom 6:16-18)

Tit 3:5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; Rom 6:18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

b. Consider those who try to incorporate the doctrines of men in religion, are they righteous in the sight of God? (Rom 10:1-4; 1 John 3:7)

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. Rom 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Rom 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

1Jo 3:7 My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:

c. Those that have a hunger (Ps 19:10) and strive for righteousness, justification, which only comes from God (Rom 8:33), who seek first the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33), shall find it, that one faith (Eph 4:5), the one Gospel (Rom 1:16-17), there is no other (Gal 1:6-9), these will be doers (Ja 1:25) of the will of the Father which is revealed in the Gospel (Mt 7:21), and will be filled through the faith (Eph 3:17) with the bread of life (Jn 6:35; 2 John 9b; John 8:31-32; Ps 107:9).

2Jo 1:9b he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.

Joh 8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

7. Those that are actively compassionate are under contemplation here. This verse would be very similar to Matt 7:1-2 where the word “judge” would be better translated “condemnation” with a view towards the Judgment, this is the realm of God not man, Christ has been appointed Judge by the Father (Acts 17:30-31; Rom 8:34)

Rom 8:34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

a. Mercy could be well-defined as “withheld punishment.”

b. There are times that punishment is just and helpful, as with a willful child, or a hardened criminal, but there are other times when mercy would be more beneficial like withholding a just punishment to the unaccountable child, or perhaps probation to the first time criminal offender which may manifest obedience based upon the action of mercy

c. We are not to condemn but to have mercy, just as God has shown mercy towards us (Mt 18:21-35; Lk 17:3-4; Ja 2:13; Tit 3:5).

Tit 3:5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Jam 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

d. Therefore let us always have a working faith with love (which manifests mercy) as an under gird for our lives, remembering (Gal 6:7; 5:6)

Gal 6:7 . . . God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

8. The pure in heart would not be those who have separated themselves from contact with the world, the world is where the Christian is to shine as a light (Mt 5:13-16), holding forth the word of life (Phili 2:15-16) in order that others may hear, believe, obey and be saved.

a. The pure in heart would be those who are separated from the lusts of the world (flesh, eyes, vain glory; 1 Jn 2:15-17) and drawn high to God (Ja 4:8; 2 Cor 6:17-18)

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 2Co 6:18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

b. For only God can purify the heart (Ps 51:10) . . .

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

c. A heart is impure because it is guilty of sin, sin is the transgression of God’s will (1 Jn 3:4).The offense is against God, so God must do the forgiving, since pardon from sin takes place in the mind of God, it is necessary that God tells how to be pardoned, He has done this in the Bible, He has laid out His conditions (hearing. believing, repenting, confessing Christ, and be baptized into Christ (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27; for the remission of sins; Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 5:17).

2Co 5:17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.

d. Thus our hearts, our souls, our inner persons are purified by the faith (Acts 15:6-11, Jude 3), the Gospel (Rom 1:16-17), the Truth (Jn 17:17), the word (1 Pet 1:22-23)

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 1Pe 1:23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

e. Single, focused, hearts are kept in this purified state by continuing to learn and follow God's will (Matt 6:19- 24; Ja 4:8; 1 Pet 1:22).

f. This is an ongoing process referred to as the renewal (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23; Col 3:9-10; Tit 3:5)

g. Which begins at conversion when one repents and thus determines to follow God’s will and not his own, and thus continues to study and apply God’s living word to his life wherein he in transformed into one likened unto God, one fit for heaven (Col 3:9-10; 2 Cor 4:16)

Col 3:9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, Col 3:10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

2Co 4:16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed being day by day.

h. “They shall see God” refers to being in heaven, for know one has seen God (Jn 1:18) for God is spirit, which cannot be beheld in a physical sense.

i. In the OT we have accounts of men seeing God. What they saw were manifestations that God produced for them to see (Theophanies), they did not see God as He truly is, only Christ has seen God (Jn 6:46).

Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father.

j. But the believer can see God now with the eye of faith, in nature, through His laws He set in place, in His working among men through His word, through His providence.

k. Job spoke by inspiration of a time when he would see God (Job 19:26). . .

Job 19:26 And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;

l. We also, if found faithful will be able to “see” God in our incorruptible bodies (Rev 22:3-4) . . .

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him; Rev 22:4 and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.

m. Jesus Christ is God (Jn 1:1), and we will see His resurrected glorified body at His 2nd coming (1 John 3:2)

1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (KJV)

n. And those that are not “holy” (set-apart) by the Gospel will not see God (in other words, “they won't make it to heaven”; Heb 12:14)

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

9. This would not apply to peace between men, for this is conditional upon others. We could be at peace with them, but not them with us (Rom 12:18).

Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.

a. Just the nature of the light of the Gospel exposing others sins, makes those who are godly at enmity with the world, the Lord said (John 15:18-19)

Joh 15:18 If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

b. There can be no middle ground (Mt 12:30; Ja 4:4) . . .

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

c. Yet we are to agape love our enemies (Mt 5:44), we are to pray that their hearts would open up to Christ and His the Gospel, and that God’s grace would give them time on earth to obey it unto the life eternal, that they may be our brothers and sisters forever in that eternal day.

d. Thus the Christian sees himself and others differently, he knows that he is not worthy of what God is giving him, and realizes that the lost are under the influence of Satan and are in need of God’s help which only comes through the Gospel, thus one prays for opportunity and boldness on his part and open and sincere hearts for the part of others.

e. The “peacemakers” here are teachers and preachers of Gods word, which enables all to be at peace with God, and thus with self (Ja 3:17-18), via the word (Lk 8:11), which instructs us (Tit 2:11,) and gives us all things pertaining unto life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), and brings about faith (Rom 10:17). So the peacemakers are the proclaimers of Gods word as seen in Rom 10:15 . . .

Rom 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

f. This (Rom 10:15) is a reference to Isa 52:7, which more clearly shows forth the peace under contemplation (Isa 52:7)

Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

10. Bringing forth the good news of salvation will bring forth peace to one group, but the other group, those of the world will be none to happy about what they hear, these coming verses would naturally follow the former, this speaks of those who endure in the Faith, the Gospel, the doctrine of Christ, even if unto death (Rev 2:10)

Rev 2:10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

a. This (Rev 2:10) is not talking about being faithful until the time when you die, but rather being faithful to the point of death, being killed for one’s faithfulness to Christ and His Gospel

b. We may not have to give our lives to be faithful unto God, be we must stand firm in the truth. In 2 Cor 13:5 we are told to test ourselves, here is one test to see if we are in the faith (2 Tim 3:12),

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

c. Do you past this test? If we are not convicted enough of our beliefs to stand up for them then we need to study, to be diligent until we are at that point (2 Tim 2:15), these are commands of the Lord.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

11. This is a prophetic statement concerning the early church. Many lost their lives for the cause of Christ. Yet this is still in effect to a lesser extent.

a. Notice the qualifications, “falsely” and “for my sake.”

b. This is not how the world thinks, yet we are blessed under these conditions. Do we rejoice, are we glad? We should be. Why?

c. Because great is our reward, we are in the company of God’s prophets, like Paul (2 Tim 4:8).

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

12. So, having looked at the teachings of Christ known by many as “the beatitudes,” we can sum them up simply with the words of our Lord as seen in Lk 11:28 . . .

Luk 11:28 . . . blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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