This sermon of Jesus goes all the way till the end of ch.7.
I really don’t like the title Sermon on the Mnt because it is not descriptive.
It’s like, my message today is...Sermon from my Pulpit?
It’s actually a sermon on a rolling hill.
It’s located near the edge of the shore of the sea of Galilee, in a natural amphitheater.
Maybe, A Mountain of a Sermon; or Sermon of the Monarch; or The KingdomManifesto; or The Constitution of His Kingdom; or The Portrait of Jesus.
It's not the do attitudes it's the be attitudes. It’s who we shouldbe, more than weshould do.
We also see how they are progressive as they unfold.
When Jesus opens His mouth, we open our ears & hearts. Pray: Like Samuel we declare,Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.And in our listening...may we understand. And in that understanding...may we have wisdom to live.Lord, we will go w/You, live w/You, Follow You...wherever You lead.
This is not...God’s plan for Salvation. Nor a charter for world peace. Nor is it only applicable for the future in the literal 1000 year millennial kingdom.
If it’s only for the Millennium than what about vs.10,11?
See Jesus’ own ending, in whom He says it’s for. Mt.7:24-27
Not just those that heard His words, but those that’ll hear His sayings. 7:24
It is certain that this Sermon has definite application for us today.
These truths are all repeated in the N.T. epistles for the church today.
This is not...a 2nd Lawora 2nd set of commandments.It goes much deeper than the lawbecause it deals with internal attitudes as well as outward actions.
Note also, the demands of the sermon on the mount are much more difficult than those found in the law of Moses. Only the true believer in Jesus Christ can put the sermon on the mount into practice. See Rom.8:1-8
THE BEATITUDES(1,2)
Luke gives usBeatitudesalso in Luke 6:17-23butit seems different than Matthew’s.
Contradiction? No. Differences include location/occasion (mount vs. level place). Content (both have diff content, the other doesn’t have). And also listeners (disciples vs. disciples + many others).
If the world wrote these they’d sound more like, Blessed are the healthy. Blessed are thewealthy. Blessed are the beautiful. Blessed are the always tanned. Or something like that.
BLESSED(3)Blessed
Blessed - happy (because I’m Happy, Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof)
Jesus’ 1st year teaching, probably 1st sermon. So, His 1st word of His
µακάριος(ma-Kar-ios)1st found in the 5th centbc by Pindar ancient Gk Lyric poet/Thebes
At first, it was only used of the GK gods (Homer uses µάκαρ only 8x’s of men).
Slide16 Homer said, it denotesthe transcendent happiness of a life beyondcare, labour and death. (Theological Dictionary of the NT, Hom. Od., 5, 7.)[Itdenoted the state ofgodlike blessedness]
Later it it meant to be rich. It becomes a leading philosophical term for innerhappiness.It has nothing with your outward circumstance.
It hast to do with the weather inside. What is the coldest place you’ve been?
Mine was w/Jeff Thompson in Ukraine. I never remember being colder than that winter there. But in every car & room we were in it was warm, climate controlled.
Good example of the believer in Jesus. It doesn’t matter what thetemperature is outside, if it’s controlled on the inside.
Everyone is pursuing Happiness (Even the last Ted Radio Hour show was on Simply Happy)
Our constitution guarantees the pursuit of happiness.
Jesus’ constitution points out the pathway to happiness, as He describes the attitudes which lead to happiness.
True happiness is our birthright as members of the family of God.
Christians should be the happiest people on earth [NOT the worlds superficial happiness which depends on circumstances]
Let’s look at this 1st step to Happiness. We’ll look at The Role & The Reward on each.
THE ROLE(3a)Blessed are the poor in spirit
What poor in spirit is not...
He doesn’t start with be Self-assertive. Aggressive. Confident. Esteem yourself. No! but poor in spirit. Not those poor in pocketbook, but those who realize their own spiritual poverty.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Luthern Pastor, philosopher, theologian. His opposition of Hiltlerism led to his death by the Gestapo April 9th,1945) Dietrich said concerning the disciples,“They have no security, nopossessions, no real estate, no earthly society to claim their absolute allegiance, no spiritual power, experience, knowledge, they were unlearned and ignorant, they lost all, everything that could make them rich, they even lost their own selves! They have no other hope but in Him who called them!”
Poor in Spirit is not the attitude of, I’m not worth anything, or I can’t doanything. Nope, that’s False Humility.
Poor in Spirit is the opposite of being prideful in spirit.
King Saul said to Samuel, “...honor me now, please, before the elders of my peopleand before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” Hispride made him a slave.He was not theKing over Israel, Israel wasKing over him.
Blessed are the poor in pride. Those who aren’t proud of ancestry (Jews then), aren’t proud of social status, aren’t proud of their nobility, aren’t proud of their class.
This beatitude speaks of emptying, while the rest are a manifestation of a fullness.
We can’t be filled unless we’re emptied. Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones said, Thisone is first because it is obviously the key to all that follows.
What poor in spiritis... (humility)
Poor in spirit is the tax collector whodared not even lift his eyes to heaven ashe prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful tome, for I am a sinner.’ Lk.18:13
How we walkwith thebroken speaks louder than...how wesitwith thegreat.
See its when I realize I don’t have it in me to make it, to be accepted by God. I don’t have it in me to change this thing I see inside of me. I don’t have the love I need. I don’t have the strength I need. I don’t have the faith I need.And I have calculated everything, and you know what, I come out a zero.
So since nothings here...I better look up to HIM for everything. Jim Cymbala
Oh how happy is that person. Pre-Jesus I idolized BrianbutBrian doesn’t make itin himself. Thatemptying of ourselvesis the only way to get into His kingdom.The kingdom is for those who have gotten tired of themselves, have given up onSlide25a themselves and realized...I need to run to Jesus!
So, this speaks to one whorealizestheir ownspiritual povertyand thenputs alltheir trust in God’s ability to supply their spiritual need.
It’s being aware of your spiritual poverty & of your need of divine help.
Maybe we can say, Happy are thebeggars (sp) because whatever they need their father is going to give it to them.
We are just one beggar, telling another beggar, where to find bread.
Do you want to have everything heaven has?
God says, What! you’ve come to the end of yourrope, end of yourwealth, end ofyour health, end of yourself...and you only have ME? :) I’m going to give youeverything you need.
You need wisdom, a job, healing, & you’re going to trust Me for it because you’re at the end...Beautiful!
Remember the Israelites in the wilderness...when they went into the land, God said, I’m going to bless you and your land, and your crops are going to be abundant, you’re going to have milk and honey and a lot more...but please don’t forget...I’mthe One who gave you everything.Otherwisethe veryblessingsof God will become a trap. And you will trust in them instead of Me. You’ll lose poverty of spirit.
When you were in the wilderness you didn’t know where to go...and I brought you through the Red Sea. I led you with a cloud by day, fire by night, you had nothing. And I sent you manna every day. Every morning you woke up with nothing, and you depended on Me and look how I took care of you. And now watch it...because as I give you other things, other blessings...they may become a substitute for Me. And instead of trusting Me and having poverty of spirit, you’re going to walk around saying, look at my farm, look at my land. No, you’re going to say, look atmy God, look at my Provider.
How many want to live their, every day, at the end of themselves?
THE REWARD(3b)For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven
This isn’t for salvation...theirs IS the kingdom of heaven. (present tense)
Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - We’ll reign askingswhen we submit asservants.
This is the Paradox of the Christian life: Wesurrenderthat we mightreign.
Last week we looked at the overview of Jesus’ 1st sermon on the mount/hill top (from ch.5-7)
It's not the do attitudes it's the be attitudes.
We looked at the 1st beatitude Blessed are the poor in spirit For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Or, blessings (a godlike happiness) upon the one who realizestheir own spiritual
poverty/emptiness& thenputs all their trust in God’s ability to supply theirspiritual need.
You must enter the kingdom of heaven...lowly,poor, bankrupt (sp)
If you send a sinner to school, you’ll have an educated sinner.
If you send a sinner to a psychologist, you’ll have a well adjusted sinner.
If you give a sinner money, you’ll have a wealthy sinner.
If you give a sinner religion, you’ll have a religious sinner.
But send a sinner repentant of his sins to the cross, and you'll have a forgivensinner. [Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply tothe crossI cling]Rock of Ages
Slide6 The Sermon on the Mount describes the way in which we are free to live when we commit ourselves to the kingship of Jesus.
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When we realize that in Jesus the kingdom is near to us, we are free to abandon ourselves totally to God’s will, confident that, as we obey, He will act to shape events.
Note: 1st, these are8 character traitsthat identifytrue servanthood. 2nd, these traits open the door toinner happiness.
3rd, attached to each character trait isa corresponding promise.
Slide7 Msg vs.3,4 You’re blessedwhen you’re at the end of your rope. With less of youthere is more of God and his rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Slide8 HAPPY ARE THE SAD(4)Title
Blessed are those who mourn - What a strange paradox!
Who wants to congratulate someone because they carry a heavy burden, or an aching heart?What has been yourdeepest darkestgrief?
Blessed are they who mourn someone they’ve lost recently. Blessed are they who mourn a previous marriage. Blessed are they who mourn a wayward son/daughter that hasn’t come back yet. Blessed are they who mourn a dream that is fading quickly.
We need to mourn over the absence of holiness in our lives/world. We need to mourn when we don’t even blush at evil.
Someone said, If you want to know someone’s character, find out what makes himlaugh& what makes him weep.
What we laugh at & what we weep over indicates our values of life & values are a part of maturity.
IV. Slide9 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN(4a)
What is it to Mourn? πενθέω (pen-theh-o) To lament, to grieve, to mourn for the dead.
Slide10 Trench, To grieve w/a grief which so takes possession of the wholebeing that it cannot be hid.
Kittels, In most instances it is a sorrow which is outwardly expressed in someway. By tears, by laments, or that which is at least associated w/such expressions.
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Augustine, Mourning is sadness at the loss of things held dear.
When pain is kept inside it poisons the emotional system in the same way an infection spreads thru the bloodstream.
The main thrust of this Beatitude is a supernatural sorrow.
Jesus is talking about repentance of sin. 2 Cor,7:10nlt For the kind ofsorrow
God wants us to experience leads us away from sinand results in salvation.
This is the logical response to the 1st beatitude.
Slide11 When a person sees his spiritual bankruptcy he can respond 1 of 4 ways:
He can deny his sp bankruptcy exists, like the Pharisees, & put up a front.
He can admit his sp bankruptcy & try to change things himself.
He can admit his need & so despair over it that he gives up completely.
eg. Judas, when he saw he was a sinner, committed suicide.
The logical thing is to admit your own spiritual needs & turn to God for what that need is.
A person truly poor in sp will mourn over himself & his sin, & thru this mourning, experience the comfort of God.
Slide12 We must distinguish between regret, remorse, & repentance:
Regret is when my conscience of sin rests only in mymind, Then its’ regret.
Remorse is when it affects my mind & heart, it is remorse. And remorse left here is dangerous.
Repentance is when that concern for my sin brings me to the place where I am willing to turn from it & obey God. When my concern affects my will as well as my mind & heart...then I have experienced true repentance.
Slide13 eg. In the Prodigal Son story, he involved his mind, heart,&will.
His Mind told him his fathers servants were better off than he was.
His Heart made him sick of his situation, I perish w/hunger.
His Will motivated him to arise & go to his Father. (He didn’t stay sitting in the pig pen)
Slide14a MOURN FOR WHAT? Mourn over Sin & Despise it.
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What’s your attitude toward sin? Do you see it the way God does & seek to treat it the way God does?
If you try to cover sinordefend it...you certainly have the wrong attitude.
Slide14b Mourn for Himself in what he HAS DONE
Are you able to say, O, wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Ps.38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Slide14c Mourn for Himself in what he DOES
Ask yourself, What is it in me that makes me behave like that? Why should I be Irritable? Why should I be bad tempered? Why am I not able to control myself? Why do I harbor that unkind, jealous & envious thought? What is it in me?
Blessed is the man who is not only conscious of his failure,butwho grieves over it,who takes it to heart.
Blessed is the man who is so grieved over his moral and spiritual lackthathe turnshis face towards Him was able to supply his need.
Slide14d Mourn for the sins of OTHERS
Like Jeremiah (Israel's captivity). Jesus (Jerusalem). Paul (churches he ministered to)
Mourn over the wife who left her husband for another. For the man who has bailed on his responsibilities. For your friends child who is so rude to his parents. Mourn over your backslidden friends.
Blessed, therefore, is the believer that shares with Jesus the pain and anguish of a world gone wrong. Blessed is the believer who enters into the fellowship of His suffering. Blessed is he that fills up that which is lacking of the suffering of Christ his own body. Blessed is he who struggles under the weight of a friend’s pain/agony/woe
Slide15 FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED(4b)
One of life’s major mistakes is being the last member in the family to come down w/the flu - after all the sympathy has run out. :)
What type of Comfort? (God’s) - Sorrow that is turned into Joy.
Comfort - comes from 2 Latin words meaning w/strength. To encourage, give strength.
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Our mourning puts us in touch w/the eternal resources of God, & the result is God’s comfort.
Ps.138:3msgThe moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large w/strength
What 4-Ways do we find Comfort? Through God, the Scriptures, the HS, His people.
Those who enter into the fellowship of Christ sufferingdo find comfort.
They find it not only later in the by & by, but in the here & now.
They find it in all circumstances, in all situations.
Slide16 Tears are investments in future Joys.
Ps.30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
When we learn how to mourn, we’ll have a deeper understanding of the sinfulness of sin
& the graciousness of God.
Whose mourning leads to Comfort?
Well, everyone whose mourning leads them to Jesus Christ.
Whenever your sorrow, Whenever your burden, whatever your heart ache, if it turns your missteps towards Him, you are sure to find consolation & comfort1
Would you not now exchange your bitterest sorrow for the world’s rarest joy?
Slide17 Robert Louis Stevenson tells of a storm that caught a vessel off a rocky coast and threatened to drive it and its passengers to destruction. In the midst of the terror, one daring man, contrary to orders, went to the deck, made a dangerous passage to the pilot house and saw the steerman, lashed fast at his post of holding the wheel unwaveringly, and inch by inch, turning the ship out, once more, to sea. The pilot saw the watcher andsmiled. Then, the daring passenger went below and gave out a note of cheer:
“I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.”
Whole Bible (54)New Testament (18)Gospels Only (5)Individual Books (11)
Verses 1-3
Pray: Like Samuel we declare, Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. And in our listening...may we understand. And in that understanding...may we have wisdom to live. Lord, we will go w/You, live w/You, Follow You...wherever You lead.
Mine was w/Jeff Thompson in Ukraine. I never remember being colder than that winter there. But in every car & room we were in it was warm, climate controlled.
Jesus’ constitution points out the pathway to happiness, as He describes the attitudes which lead to happiness.
Dietrich said concerning the disciples, “They have no security, no possessions, no real estate, no earthly society to claim their absolute allegiance, no spiritual power, experience, knowledge, they were unlearned and ignorant, they lost all, everything that could make them rich, they even lost their own selves! They have no other hope but in Him who called them!”
So since nothings here...I better look up to HIM for everything. Jim Cymbala
Verses 4-7
poverty/emptiness & then puts all their trust in God’s ability to supply their spiritual need.
2
3rd, attached to each character trait is a corresponding promise.
IV. Slide9 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN (4a)
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God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation.
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& the graciousness of God.
“I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.”