Where God’s Blessing Can Be Found

Pastor Rich Knight
Central Congregational Church
July 1, 2018
Matthew 5:1-12

This summer we’ll be studying the most famous sermon ever preached, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Much of the sermon is familiar to those of you who’ve been in church for years. These chapters in Matthew’s gospel contain some of Jesus’ most important teachings. In fact, some scholars believe that that’s exactly what Matthew has done here – he’s collected Jesus’ most important teachings. That would explain the variety of topics covered and the sometimes sudden shift from topic to topic.

William Barclay suggests an alternative reading to the introductory verses. Let me read them to you:

Matthew 5:1-2  When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

It’s quite a scene. Jesus climbs up a mountain, so he can address “the crowds.” So there’s a lot of people on that hillside. But then he sits down.

I picture an outcropping of rocks, which are often found on top of mountains. And he sits down on a large outcropping to teach.

In ancient times when a rabbi was giving an official teaching, he sat down.

We still speak of a professor’s chair. The Pope speaks from his seat in Rome. So Jesus sitting implies that a very important teaching is to follow.

2Then he began to speak, and taught them.

Barclay in his commentary says that the word “taught” is in the “imperfect tense,” which is used to describe an action that is repeated time and time again. So Barclay suggests that Matthew is saying, 

“This is what Jesus used to teach them.”

If he’s right then these are some of the most repeated teachings of Christ. This is the essence of what he continually taught them.

Let’s take a look:   (Matthew 5:3-12)

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

To understand the “Beatitudes,” these statements of blessing, we need to first understand what “blessing” means in the Bible.

There’s a Hebrew phrase that’s found in the Old Testament that helps us here. It’s, “O the blessedness of . .

“O the blessedness of the one who delights in the Lord.”

“O the blessedness of the one who trusts in the Lord.”

And the word is very strong – “O the supreme blessedness.” It has the idea of great bliss, happiness and joy within it. And it’s for the here and now. It’s not, “The poor in spirit will be blessed some day.” It’s, “O the supreme joy of the poor in spirit.”

The other way I understand blessing in the Bible is by thinking about the Irish Blessing: 

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

When you are blessed, it feels like the road easily rises to meet you and the wind is always at your back. It feels like God has your back, and that God’s favor rests upon you here and now.

“O the supreme blessedness and joy of those living in God’s favor, knowing that God is with them and is active in their lives.”

Let’s take a quick look at each Beatitude. I think you’ll see how these beautiful Beatitudes provide a great summary of the teachings of Christ.

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Poor in Spirit” means desperate, humble, almost helpless, so much so that that person needs to put their trust in God.

“Blessed are those who know just how much they need God.”

 

  1. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The Greek word for mourn here is a very strong word. Blessed are the broken-hearted, for God is very near to them to comfort and sustain them. Jesus was speaking to common folks of the First Century, whose day to day lives were very challenging, filled with hardship. And Jesus promises them that God draws near to those who mourn.

 

  1. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Meek is not a word that we like or that we use a lot. But the word here means, “strength under control.” When a horse was broken, trained and responding to the reins, it was said to be “meek.” Strength under control. Strength yielded to goodness, yielded to God! That’s meekness!

 

  1. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  for they will be filled.

I love this beatitude! O the joy, the happiness, the blessedness of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who spend themselves in trying to make the world more just and fair, for they will be satisfied . . . in the here and now! 

Whenever we strive for justice, for what is right and righteous, there’s a joy and satisfaction that comes from the effort. We worked on 21 houses in West Virginia. Everywhere you looked there were more houses that needed help, but it was still immensely rewarding to repair 21 on them. When you donate canned goods to the food pantry, you know you’re not going to eradicate poverty with your donation, but it’s nonetheless satisfying because you’re swimming in God’s current – and that’s where God’s blessing is found.

 

  1. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

This beatitude is the positive way of saying, “Judge not, lest you too be judged.” Be a merciful person and you will experience mercy in your life.

You’re living out and living in the blessing of God’s mercy!

 

  1. Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.

“Pure” here doesn’t mean perfection. It means single-mindedness; pure intentions. So often we’re distracted by lesser intentions and mixed motives. Even our finest deeds can be tainted by pride or ego or the desire for praise or recognition. But when we’re right with God, when we’re communing with God, we strive for goodness for goodness sake, for God’s sake, and not for ours. And Jesus is saying that that purity of intention, that single-mindedness will enable us to see God at work in and through us.

 

  1. Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called children of God.

 Notice is says, “peace-makers” and not “peace-lovers.” It’s in striving for God’s shalom (peace with justice & harmony) that we show ourselves to be children of God.

 

  1. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 This final beatitude would have been very meaningful for the earliest Christians who were often despised by family and persecuted by others for following Christ. Jesus is reminding them that sometimes following him is very costly. And sometimes when you do the right thing, you can pay a price, but that price is also a sign that you’re doing God’s will – persecuted for righteousness sake.

Do you see how much of Jesus’ teaching is in these beautiful words?

  • Striving for righteousness, for justice
  • Being merciful as God is merciful.
  • Being peace-makers
  • Single-mindedness for God.
  • Strength under control
  • Humble, poor in spirit, recognizing our need for God
  • And understanding that following him is often costly
  • But he is near to the broken-hearted to comfort and sustain them.

 

Let’s pray together:

Lord Jesus, give us these virtues. Let these truths not just be your truths, but let them be the truths of our lives as well. And now to that end, fill us with your life & power as we commune with you. Amen.

 

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