Download MP3
Text: Matthew 5:1-16
Introduction of the series:
The word beatitudes or 'beati' is the greek term for blessed. He is describing the special favor of God towards his people both physically and spiritually and the consequences of living within that favor.Before we start, its important for us to understand that these passages is written to reveal the present condition of Israel, on how they fail first as a human being who was created by God for His own purpose and as His nation/people where other nations will be bless; for them to repent now that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This is a hope for all of them to received the blessing of God in the coming of Christ to be enjoyed fully and eternally but Jesus Christ started by subverting the expectation of the crowd of what His blessings truly mean by giving two words that often times really used in the same sentence, that is the words blessed and poor.
In Matthew 5:3, These people knew that they are part of Abraham’s descendant and rightfully the kingdom of heaven is theirs already and here is Jesus saying to them unless you are poor, the kingdom of heaven is not theirs. It was a heavy blow for them because first the blessing was not of prosperity and they are lacking to be part of the kingdom. Again this was to tear them down from their false foundation and to bring them down to the attitude of being poor.
In Matthew 3:4, to mourn for their present condition and he will what comfort them not just to console but to turn their mourning into joy as he has promised in Isiah 61:3
“To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”
In Matthew 5:5, to shun their pride or their confidence in their citizenship or in their own capability and to humble themselves in the light of what Jesus is about to teach. Again this is a preparation for them for he will break their understanding of the standards of the law given to them by God and how unattainable it is, his words are meant to pierce in the soul of the listener with a purpose to bring them to repentance. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Matthew 5:6 - this is the hope of Jesus Christ to those who will be part of the kingdom of heaven, that they will be in pursuit of righteousness or will be walking towards the direction of repentance and here Jesus is assuring them that “when” they came to that point they will be satisfied according to His will.
Matthew 5:7 to show mercy as for one who receives and understand His mercy.
in his parable in Matthew 18:21-35 he expresses this in detail. In Matthew 18:33 of this passage the kings declaration is “to have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you."
In Matthew 5:8 God cries out for His people who will in Deuteronomy 6:5 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Not through conformity to the ceremonies and tradition but the demand is a true heart that is sanctified by Christ wherein its naturally obedient to Him and seeks him whole-heartedly. In Ezekiel 36:26, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Matthew 5:9 This shows the overview of what he is about to teach to these people and what he is happening right in front of them. in their present situation they are at war with God and again through him, what he is offering is a way for them to be made right with God and His power to keep the peace between man and God.
Matthew 5:10-12 Pastor Yun emphasizes yesterday that the Lord will not change your environment but He will change you. This world is always acting towards rebellion to God and those who belong to the kingdom of heaven is not from this realm. So the world around us will persecute us for doing what was right, will mock you and persecute you and lie about you. The Lord will not change that situation for us but he will transform us that even in the midst of these we are in v.12 happy about these for we are followers of Christ and this is our joy to suffer the same way for His sake. Acts 5:41 “The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”
So after that introduction Jesus reintroduced them, reminded them of their original design again, first as man who is made for His purpose and as His nation/ people.
Matthew 5:13 you are the salt of the earth, a man that is to reflect the glory of God.
In Genesis 1:27 “So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”
To bear my image but you have lost your purpose as a salt loses its saltiness, the original purpose it was created and serve and now you have no purpose but to be thrown out.
In Matthew 5:15 you are the light of the world that should not be tainted by any means. You cannot stained the light even when you touch it but it continue to give of light overcoming the darkness, a guide to those who are blinded and a hope for those who are lost. What happened is the failure of His people to fulfill this purpose as they were corrupted by the surrounding nations and was lead astray. Remember last last Sunday preaching about a foreigner Naaman who came to know God of Israel as the only true God that is what Israel should be but as we read the old testament and see the trend up to this preaching, it was a continuous failure even after countless spiritual reforms.
Conclusion
The promise of a Messiah was given to the Jewish nation to restore them to this; original purpose and the bible teaches us the centrality of Jesus in this message and His sovereignty that is at work with in these whole story. The inauguration of His ministry is the realization of that promise and as he revealed Himself to us just like in Matthew 4:16“the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined.”
A land that is hopeless and worst they think that they are just fine but a light has shined to reveal these broken condition of ours and Jesus teaches us in response to this reality to repent, turn from our old ways and to be transformed in his likeness so we too will also shine that light.
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
Connect With Us