Facetime – Matthew 5 – The Beatitudes
Good morning ER – As always, I’m thrilled to be here with you – this part of our COTN family holds a very dear place in my heart. So thank you for the opportunity to enter God’s word with you.
As you know over the last several weeks we have focused on the words of Jesus, the red letters – Facetime with our Savior and we have the beautiful privilege to continue that this morning.
Before we dive into scripture – I have a question for all of you!
How do you describe blessing in your life? If I were to ask you to fill in the blank, “I am so blessed because ________________________” What would be your answer?
What would be the worlds answer – how does culture define blessing?
I invite you to hold on to these thoughts and blessings and see where we meet Jesus in the scripture today…
We are jumping in as Jesus is journeying through Galilee, he has just called his first disciples, and he is proclaiming the good news, healing the sick, lame, and possessed. News had spread about him and large crowds were gathering around him seeking his healing touch. Remember that in their culture they believed that their infirmities made them unclean and unfit for a blessing. But this Jesus was healing and touching even them!
When Jesus saw the crowds he went up on the mountain to teach his disciples – lets pick up in scripture in Matthew chapter 5 beginning at verse 1.
SLIDES
Matthew 5:1-12
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Let us pray.
This is what we refer to as the BEATITUDES – which literally means supreme blessedness, perfect happiness, or state of utmost joy. They are the preamble of Jesus’s longest sermon recorded in scripture – The sermon on the Mount.
I think it is safe to say that most of us in the room did not fill in the blank with “ I am so blessed because I am Poor in spirit or at the end of my rope, what about I am so blessed because I am sad – mourning . Anyone say because they are persecuted?
Anyone?
Likely those answers looked more like, I’m alive and well, because of my beautiful family, because my doctors report came back well, or maybe because you got to come worship this morning. These are all great answers – awesome blessings indeed.
But did you know that when we chose to serve the Lord – our blessings would not be ordinary!
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As Jesus taught this message in Matthew 5, he was speaking to believers – to those that were following him. But the onlookers were hearing him as well. So if you are in the room today and you don’t yet know Jesus – these words are for you as well. They may seem strange and even Upside down – but hang tight. His ways are always for our good – always our best. Always right.
God’s word is so good and as we dive in a study it deeper, we see his redemptive goodness for us was always his plan.
If we turn back a chapter as the Old Testament comes to a close in Malachi – they are a desperate people, a rebellious people…400 years of silence was about to begin and it ends with a warning and promise from God.
Malachi 4:6 – “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.”
But God in his goodness – sent his son as the true promise – and His teaching to us begins with blessings as He comes to restore and redeem – to heal.
So we see the possibility of a curse but the Savior comes showing us the option of blessing. We see a glimpse of his mercy.
You can use that for Bible trivia night – the Old testament ended with the possibility of a curse but our God chose to send his son with the teaching of blessing on his lips opening the New Testament.
Lets take a closer look at these blessings and what our Lord is telling us brings these blessings…
Blessing? What is the true meaning of this word repeated in matthew 5?
First, Id like to share some ways I use the word blessing or bless…
God bless you (sneeze), I am so blessed to be here, what a blessing! I even use “blessings” in my sign-off in emails.
And… you may be familiar with this one…
VIDEO
I promise I try to use that blessing in the kindest way possible.
“Bless your Heart” was certainly not the kind of blessing Jesus was speaking and teaching his disciples.
But what did Jesus mean by blessing?
Jesus radically reframes the cultural understanding of a successful or “blessed” life. Rather than relying on wealth, status, or power, true blessedness—or makarios—describes an inner joy and spiritual prosperity that is entirely independent of earthly circumstances.
Many translate this as HAPPY but that can be a very misleading translation, especially in our culture – where our happiness depends primarily on our lifes circumstances.
This again is understanding the goodness and gifts of our Lord not through the lens of the world but through spiritually cleansed eyes = through the filter of Jesus.
We see in Matthew 4 that our Savior was invited to look at all kingdoms of the world and even offered them by the devil if he would simply bow down to him.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Lets take a comparative look at these attributes of the Kingdom of God vs the world– character traits may look different through the Kingdom perspective (God’s way) and the worlds counter – perspective.
| The Beatitude (Jesus’ Kingdom Perspective) | The World’s Counter-Perspective |
| “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” (Knowing your need for God) | “Blessed are the self-sufficient…” (Praising the independent “self-made” person) |
| “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Grieving over sin and brokenness) | “Blessed are those who always smile…” (Hiding pain; valuing a stiff upper lip) |
| “Blessed are the meek…” (Strength under control; surrendered power) | “Blessed are the aggressive…” (Dominating others; winning at all costs) |
| “Blessed are those who hunger… for righteousness” (Desiring God’s will) | “Blessed are those who hunger… for more” (Chasing fame, status, or material wealth) |
| “Blessed are the merciful…” (Showing grace, forgiving others) | “Blessed are the vindictive…” (Holding grudges; never letting others off the hook) |
| “Blessed are the pure in heart…” (Motives of integrity and holiness) | “Blessed are the cunning…” (Looking out for #1; doing whatever works) |
| “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Resolving conflict; seeking harmony) | “Blessed are the provocateurs…” (Starting drama; aggressively defending one’s turf) |
| “Blessed are those who are persecuted…” (Suffering for standing with God) | “Blessed are the popular…” (Fitting in seamlessly with the crowd) |
These teachings are frequently described as the blueprint of the “upside-down kingdom.”
We see this throughout scripture –
A leader must be a servant
The last will be first – the first will be last
We must do good to those that hate us – bless those that curse us
Jesus himself did not come to be served but to serve
That my friends should bless us indeed. Excite us that we can live in a kingdom that is contrary to the world – and we had a savior that came to give us these good gifts and perspectives.
You may be saying I want that? Where do I start?
So glad you asked…
At the very beginning of Jesus’s message… (Matthew 5:3)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It begins with us recognizing our desperation for Jesus. Realizing that I have nothing to offer or give without him. It is recognizing our complete need and spiritual bankruptcy before God. I am not good enough to save myself or earn his favor – I must depend on his grace. Getting to the place you empty your attempts at self sufficiency and pride and cry out – I need a savior. That is the very best place to find yourself.
I want to be clear here, this is not about a lack of material possessions or poverty in a physical sense. This is a spiritual need – spiritual emptiness. And Jesus is not promising material possessions here. These blessings give us spiritual richness, divine favor, and deep joy.
Jesus is also not telling us to tear ourselves down, hate ourselves, or live full of insecurity. It is about clearly knowing our need for him – not pride or shame.
And the promise? “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – Those who admit their need for the Lord – recognizing that the world and self is not satisfying – God will welcome them into his eternal family and they will experience his saving grace.
The best picture I can picture this is thinking of a new born baby – fully dependent on those caring for him – utter dependence for everything – to fed, clothed, cleaned, cuddled. There is absolutely no strength they can muster to do this own their own – the same is true for us spiritually if we will recognize and admit our need.
Listen to David cry out – finding himself poor in spirit – a great example to us.
In Psalm 51:16–17, David prays:
“For you do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise”
Despite his royal status, David frequently expressed his spiritual neediness and humility before God. In Psalm 51, after his sin with Bathsheba, he confesses his transgressions and pleads for God’s mercy, showing contrition and dependence on God’s grace rather than his own righteousness
We also see a poor in spirit picture in Paul. He often acknowledged his weaknesses and the sufficiency of God’s grace. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, he speaks of his “thorn in the flesh” and rejoices in his weaknesses because they allow God’s power to be made perfect. This demonstrates a recognition of personal insufficiency and reliance on God
If you know what I am talking about this morning – you are wanting to shout AMEN!
This is joy indescribable!
We have been given the privilege to live in the kingdom of God – where things are upside-down but the are upside – down right because they are Gods ways!
Matthew uses a poetic literary tool here that starts with the poor in spirit and ends with those that are persecuted for righteousness sake, there’s is the kingdom of heaven. The result in the first and the last are the same promises – Gods’ Kingdom. This shows us that every attribute in between also receives these – they are a like a sandwich and the result is His kingdom.
Though we don’t have the luxury of diving deep into each one of these – what have been called attitudes of Christ. I encourage you to read them and ask the Lord to search your heart.
I want to make certain that you don’t leave here today thinking I have handed you a spiritual checklist.
This is how most Christians see and tackle the beatitudes
SLIDE OF CHECKLIST
But Jesus is not giving us a list of too do’s but he is showing us a portrait of what he is creating in us that is a likeness of him
SLIDE OF PORTRAIT
Working it out in us through the process and gift of purification in him.
Jesus was reshaping their understanding of what it means to be children of God and citizens of heaven.
It all starts with being aware of our need in him and receiving his grace.
And His work begins in us that we mourn over sin in us and others
And we are comforted
We will find ourselves reflecting meekness in our responses
And we inherit the eart or rest in His peace both now and forever more
And hunger and thirsting for His ways and righteousness and not the ways of this world
And we will be filled
We will show mercy because of our longing to be like him and respond like him
And we will be shown mercy
We will be pure in heart – mind and deed.
And we will see God
We will be examples of peace and help others pursue it.
And we will be called children of God
And for righteousness sake will face persecution
And ours is the kingdom of heaven
Note that blessing sandwich – ours is the kingdom of God!
All while knowing we are called blessed in the eyes of the Lord.
This is the work of the Lord.
It starts with recognition of our condition without him
The next step is yielding or surrender
Knowing our hope and help is in the Lord alone.
This will be our reminder that being in poor in spirit is not a one time action, a continual posture, it is a lifestyle.
So where are you standing this morning? Would you say – Oh I am poor and spirit – I recognize my need for him.
Or are you smack dad in the middle of what the world causes blessing – striving – scraping for what it promises? What is keeping you there?
Believers its an opportunity for a check in – some facetime with Jesus not a checklist. Are you as dependent on him as you once were?
Lets seek him -pray with me!
Lets pray.
Lord, thank you that you bring us your upside down kingdom and that we are not stuck with grasping for true joy in this world and its ways.
Father today there are those in the room that need to simply cry out again – Father, I need you. I know you are my savior but keep me in this perspective of knowing I need you and yielding to you daily. I am here Lord, meet me here.
Or Lord, there may be those in the room that are recognizing they need you and need to cry out today for your mercy – making you their Lord – beginning their journey of your blessings. Give them deep desire for you and courage to come.
Father, search us all. Find us at your feet – eager to experience your blessings in and through us and may your kingdom expand through those blessings.
Have your way Lord, Have your way. Amen
As we sing, the alters are open – there are pastors available to pray with you. I am available. Would you come this morning expressing “Lord, I need you”?