Part one. Sermon on the mount
study of Mt 5:3-12
By. Bro. Cook
As we read Mt 5:3-12 I want to point this out to you.
Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, each one represents to us the principal graces of a Christian. The King’s first statutes to the people are Benedictions. He begins his teaching with blessings. When a king addresses his people usually it began with praise or blessing of the people or kingdom. Just as we see Christ begins His teaching with blessing's also called the beatitudes. Did you know the Old Testament ended with “a curse”: And the New Testament opens with “Blessed.” The word blessed is often rendered as “happy”. But we like blessed best. OK so in verses 3-12 Our Lord brings to men what we call the Beatitudes. Spiritual poverty is both commanded and commended. It is the basis of Christian experience. Now we are not talking about worldly poverty, But spiritual poverty. We are not to assume ourself s a very spiritual or more spiritual than others around us.
Lets look at Mt 5:3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The word "blessed" is first applied to God, and means more than "happy," as it has sometimes been translated. Happiness comes from earthly things; blessedness comes from God. It is not bestowed to everyone as we can see reason follows each beatitude. The poor in spirit. Who are the poor in spirit? They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of the same. The kingdom of glory is for them. Some of you may still say to your selfs I still don't understand what being poor in spirit means. I'm gonna help you the best way I can to understand. The humble are those who feel their dependence on God in all things, temporal and spiritual, and look to him for the supply of every want, more especially those who feel their need, as sinners, of spiritual blessings, and look to Jesus Christ to grant them. Full dependence on Christ.
Mt 5:4 (says) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. There is a lot here that could be said I will try to narrow it down a bit. Most of us have been to a funeral of a loved one, We may have cried or wept, thats OK God made us to mourn over the death of a loved one we read in Joh 11:34-36 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! Even Jesus wept knowing he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. It's natural. But guess what! He is not speaking of physical mourning but of spiritual morning. They that mourn; over their spiritual wants, and over sin as the guilty. Who long for spiritual blessings, and come to Jesus Christ for them, according to his directions. This beatitude includes also all the mourning to which God's children are subjected by the chastening through which God prepared them for the everlasting joy of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn. Not all mourners, for there is "a sorrow of this world that worketh death." Godly sorrow is meant, a mourning over sinfulness. How great a blessing is sorrow, since it gives room for the Lord to administer comfort! Our griefs are blessed, for they are our points of contact with the divine Comforter.
Moving on Mt 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Just to clarify no you will not get the earth as a possession as your own personal playground. What is meant then? Who are the meek? The meek are those who are gentle, forgiving, submissive, teachable, patient under injuries, don't do evil for evil, but overcome evil with good, They are the mild, the gentle, opposed to the proud and ambitious, lowly-minded, and are ready to give up their portion in the earth. They neither boast, nor contend, or exult over others. These are the meek. To Inherit the earth simply means to receive and enjoy every earthly and spiritual blessing that is for our good here, and in heaven with Christ for eternity. The sinful and lost condition of men will not hinder them from being truly and for ever blessed. It is the heavenly land especially that is inherited. The especial reference is to the Messiah's kingdom.
Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Hunger and thirst after righteousness, They desire to be and to do right because it is right! Not trusting in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ. Which by the apostle is called the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ which is unto all and upon all them that believe. Ro 3:22. Hunger is a felt want, in this case a want of righteousness before God, the righteousness that comes from the forgiveness of sins through Christ. Simply put the hunger and thirst are those who are continually seeking Him. ''For they shall be filled'' when you seek Him when you desire righteousness through Christ you will be filled. They receive what they desire, and are satisfied. This is their longing for goodness, that it is as if their “hunger and thirst” were their passion for righteousness. Where God works such a hunger in us we may be quite sure that he will satisfy it. To be filled is our assurance and joy in our salvation through Christ.
Let keep going Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Again lets look at who the merciful are. The merciful are those who feel for the sufferings of others, instead of resenting injury, are ready to forgive for their injury they have suffered. The fifth petition of the Lord's prayer implies that we must forgive if we expect to be forgiven Mt 6:12. Help those who need help. Some of us find it easy to help others. But some find it more difficult because no one has ever helped them. The blessing here is not just in the act of having mercy but also in having a merciful disposition. This is one that is easy to understand but hard to practice. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. God requires us to exercise the compassion towards others and in doing so it will be exercised towards us. If you have trouble showing mercy, or forgiving others, ask God to help you to offer that mercy just as it was offered to you by Christ.
Alright! Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Great I want to see God were is He? No,... not speaking of physical seeing Him with your eyes. But seeing Him with your Heart through His eye's. Let back up. First who are the pure in heart? Well the pure in heart are those freed from the dominion and pollution of sin in their lives. A pure heart begets a pure life. an impure heart, a corrupt life. To clear the eye we must cleanse the heart. Only purity has any idea of God, or any true vision of him. Ro 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. This is what having a pure heart means, Not letting sin reign your life. They will see God, Jesus is saying if you have a pure heart then you will have a right view of who God is and enjoy his presence in and around you. How great is that to know you see Him the right way to not need glasses to see him, many people use glasses to see God. What do I mean by this? Well some of us only look for Him at Church, or through a pastors message, or on a holiday, that is looking through glasses, your not seeing all of Him nor do you see Him as He is if you are looking through Glasses.
Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Peacemakers are those who desire and seek to have all men at peace with God, with their own consciences, and with one another. They do not start fights with people around them. There not the soldiers of a warrior king, such as the Jews expected. No, they are the one's who proclaim peace and good will among men. The verse before, this speaks of purity, and this of peace. First pure, then peaceable: this is God’s order, and it should be ours. What is a child of God? Christ is the great Peacemaker. A child of God is one who imitates Him, and whom he will make heirs according to his promise. Men are Known by their likeness to their Father. So hereby is our son ship known to ourselves and others. Men of peace are the children of the God of peace, and their Father’s blessing rests in them.
Let's move to the last three verses Mt 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Well when we are being persecuted it don't much feel like a blessing does it? It can be painful emotionally, and even physically. The Jews expected a conquering kingdom, and its citizens to be lords among the nations, but Christ pronounces a blessing on those who are persecuted, not for misdeeds, but for righteousness. This is the peculiar blessing of the elect of God. The only homage which wickedness can pay to righteousness is to persecute it. Those who in the first blessing were poor in spirit, are here despised as well as poverty stricken, which for the second time ensures to them “the kingdom of heaven. Ishmael mocks Isaac; but nevertheless Isaac has the inheritance, and Ishmael was cast out. It is a gift from God to be allowed to suffer for his name. When we are persecuted we should count it a Joy, because they also persecuted Christ and if we are persecuted for His name's sake then we are truly blessed. Boy, almost makes you want to be persecuted now don't it? Blessed . . . when men shall revile you. This is a personal application of what has just preceded. Some of those who listened were reviled by the Jews, and persecuted unto death. Persecution of the tongue is more common, but not less cruel than that of the hand. The rule seems to be, “Throw plenty of mud, and some of it will stick.” Just as they persecuted the prophets. It seem's to be the heritage of the Lord’s messengers. they killed one, and stoned another, Put some in prison. The honor of suffering with the prophets, for the Lord’s sake, is great. To this succession it is our high privilege to belong; and we are happy that it is so. Our joy and gladness are to exceed all ordinary bounds when we are honored with the decoration of this blessing.
If you don't have these blessings then your not living your Christian walk the way that Christ intended. If you do not poses these, you need to come to Christ ask Him to give you meekness, ask Him for a pure Heart, ect...These are the attitudes of Christ Jesus, and as Christ is the son of God and a son is known by His father they are also the attitudes of God the Father, and for those of us who have salvation through Christ we have been adopted by the father to be as his son's and share in His inheritance with Christ there for they should be our attitudes also. And we should count them with joy. If you don't know Christ He is waiting for you. He wants to share His blessing's with you, He has paid the price for your sin's all you need to do is accept Him for who He is. The Son of God and for What He has done. He died on the Cross for your sin's. Please accept Him today.
study of Mt 5:3-12
By. Bro. Cook
As we read Mt 5:3-12 I want to point this out to you.
Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, each one represents to us the principal graces of a Christian. The King’s first statutes to the people are Benedictions. He begins his teaching with blessings. When a king addresses his people usually it began with praise or blessing of the people or kingdom. Just as we see Christ begins His teaching with blessing's also called the beatitudes. Did you know the Old Testament ended with “a curse”: And the New Testament opens with “Blessed.” The word blessed is often rendered as “happy”. But we like blessed best. OK so in verses 3-12 Our Lord brings to men what we call the Beatitudes. Spiritual poverty is both commanded and commended. It is the basis of Christian experience. Now we are not talking about worldly poverty, But spiritual poverty. We are not to assume ourself s a very spiritual or more spiritual than others around us.
Lets look at Mt 5:3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The word "blessed" is first applied to God, and means more than "happy," as it has sometimes been translated. Happiness comes from earthly things; blessedness comes from God. It is not bestowed to everyone as we can see reason follows each beatitude. The poor in spirit. Who are the poor in spirit? They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of the same. The kingdom of glory is for them. Some of you may still say to your selfs I still don't understand what being poor in spirit means. I'm gonna help you the best way I can to understand. The humble are those who feel their dependence on God in all things, temporal and spiritual, and look to him for the supply of every want, more especially those who feel their need, as sinners, of spiritual blessings, and look to Jesus Christ to grant them. Full dependence on Christ.
Mt 5:4 (says) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. There is a lot here that could be said I will try to narrow it down a bit. Most of us have been to a funeral of a loved one, We may have cried or wept, thats OK God made us to mourn over the death of a loved one we read in Joh 11:34-36 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! Even Jesus wept knowing he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. It's natural. But guess what! He is not speaking of physical mourning but of spiritual morning. They that mourn; over their spiritual wants, and over sin as the guilty. Who long for spiritual blessings, and come to Jesus Christ for them, according to his directions. This beatitude includes also all the mourning to which God's children are subjected by the chastening through which God prepared them for the everlasting joy of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn. Not all mourners, for there is "a sorrow of this world that worketh death." Godly sorrow is meant, a mourning over sinfulness. How great a blessing is sorrow, since it gives room for the Lord to administer comfort! Our griefs are blessed, for they are our points of contact with the divine Comforter.
Moving on Mt 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Just to clarify no you will not get the earth as a possession as your own personal playground. What is meant then? Who are the meek? The meek are those who are gentle, forgiving, submissive, teachable, patient under injuries, don't do evil for evil, but overcome evil with good, They are the mild, the gentle, opposed to the proud and ambitious, lowly-minded, and are ready to give up their portion in the earth. They neither boast, nor contend, or exult over others. These are the meek. To Inherit the earth simply means to receive and enjoy every earthly and spiritual blessing that is for our good here, and in heaven with Christ for eternity. The sinful and lost condition of men will not hinder them from being truly and for ever blessed. It is the heavenly land especially that is inherited. The especial reference is to the Messiah's kingdom.
Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Hunger and thirst after righteousness, They desire to be and to do right because it is right! Not trusting in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ. Which by the apostle is called the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ which is unto all and upon all them that believe. Ro 3:22. Hunger is a felt want, in this case a want of righteousness before God, the righteousness that comes from the forgiveness of sins through Christ. Simply put the hunger and thirst are those who are continually seeking Him. ''For they shall be filled'' when you seek Him when you desire righteousness through Christ you will be filled. They receive what they desire, and are satisfied. This is their longing for goodness, that it is as if their “hunger and thirst” were their passion for righteousness. Where God works such a hunger in us we may be quite sure that he will satisfy it. To be filled is our assurance and joy in our salvation through Christ.
Let keep going Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Again lets look at who the merciful are. The merciful are those who feel for the sufferings of others, instead of resenting injury, are ready to forgive for their injury they have suffered. The fifth petition of the Lord's prayer implies that we must forgive if we expect to be forgiven Mt 6:12. Help those who need help. Some of us find it easy to help others. But some find it more difficult because no one has ever helped them. The blessing here is not just in the act of having mercy but also in having a merciful disposition. This is one that is easy to understand but hard to practice. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. God requires us to exercise the compassion towards others and in doing so it will be exercised towards us. If you have trouble showing mercy, or forgiving others, ask God to help you to offer that mercy just as it was offered to you by Christ.
Alright! Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Great I want to see God were is He? No,... not speaking of physical seeing Him with your eyes. But seeing Him with your Heart through His eye's. Let back up. First who are the pure in heart? Well the pure in heart are those freed from the dominion and pollution of sin in their lives. A pure heart begets a pure life. an impure heart, a corrupt life. To clear the eye we must cleanse the heart. Only purity has any idea of God, or any true vision of him. Ro 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. This is what having a pure heart means, Not letting sin reign your life. They will see God, Jesus is saying if you have a pure heart then you will have a right view of who God is and enjoy his presence in and around you. How great is that to know you see Him the right way to not need glasses to see him, many people use glasses to see God. What do I mean by this? Well some of us only look for Him at Church, or through a pastors message, or on a holiday, that is looking through glasses, your not seeing all of Him nor do you see Him as He is if you are looking through Glasses.
Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Peacemakers are those who desire and seek to have all men at peace with God, with their own consciences, and with one another. They do not start fights with people around them. There not the soldiers of a warrior king, such as the Jews expected. No, they are the one's who proclaim peace and good will among men. The verse before, this speaks of purity, and this of peace. First pure, then peaceable: this is God’s order, and it should be ours. What is a child of God? Christ is the great Peacemaker. A child of God is one who imitates Him, and whom he will make heirs according to his promise. Men are Known by their likeness to their Father. So hereby is our son ship known to ourselves and others. Men of peace are the children of the God of peace, and their Father’s blessing rests in them.
Let's move to the last three verses Mt 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Well when we are being persecuted it don't much feel like a blessing does it? It can be painful emotionally, and even physically. The Jews expected a conquering kingdom, and its citizens to be lords among the nations, but Christ pronounces a blessing on those who are persecuted, not for misdeeds, but for righteousness. This is the peculiar blessing of the elect of God. The only homage which wickedness can pay to righteousness is to persecute it. Those who in the first blessing were poor in spirit, are here despised as well as poverty stricken, which for the second time ensures to them “the kingdom of heaven. Ishmael mocks Isaac; but nevertheless Isaac has the inheritance, and Ishmael was cast out. It is a gift from God to be allowed to suffer for his name. When we are persecuted we should count it a Joy, because they also persecuted Christ and if we are persecuted for His name's sake then we are truly blessed. Boy, almost makes you want to be persecuted now don't it? Blessed . . . when men shall revile you. This is a personal application of what has just preceded. Some of those who listened were reviled by the Jews, and persecuted unto death. Persecution of the tongue is more common, but not less cruel than that of the hand. The rule seems to be, “Throw plenty of mud, and some of it will stick.” Just as they persecuted the prophets. It seem's to be the heritage of the Lord’s messengers. they killed one, and stoned another, Put some in prison. The honor of suffering with the prophets, for the Lord’s sake, is great. To this succession it is our high privilege to belong; and we are happy that it is so. Our joy and gladness are to exceed all ordinary bounds when we are honored with the decoration of this blessing.
If you don't have these blessings then your not living your Christian walk the way that Christ intended. If you do not poses these, you need to come to Christ ask Him to give you meekness, ask Him for a pure Heart, ect...These are the attitudes of Christ Jesus, and as Christ is the son of God and a son is known by His father they are also the attitudes of God the Father, and for those of us who have salvation through Christ we have been adopted by the father to be as his son's and share in His inheritance with Christ there for they should be our attitudes also. And we should count them with joy. If you don't know Christ He is waiting for you. He wants to share His blessing's with you, He has paid the price for your sin's all you need to do is accept Him for who He is. The Son of God and for What He has done. He died on the Cross for your sin's. Please accept Him today.
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