The Teachings of Jesus Christ. Pt. 7 The Sermon on the Mount
Welcome back, Dear Readers!
We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount that is the first extensive teaching given by Christ. We will look at the Beatitudes today before moving deeper into our Master's powerful sermon. The photo below is of the area bordering the Sea of Galilee that may have been where Jesus preached His sermon.
Merciful in heart will obtain mercy
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
I remind us all that the word "blessed" means fortunate from enjoying spiritual happiness and favor with God. There is a blessing for those who are merciful.
The word "merciful" describes the active compassion that we bestow upon others. Websters 1828 describes it as being disposed to have pity upon those who offend us and having a willingness to forgive them.
Theologically, mercy is extended by God to the born again Christian. Mercy is God the Father withholding His wrath and punishment that we truly deserve because of our sins. We are guilty of being sinners and sinning but when we are born again, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to our account.
We are robed in Christ's perfect righteousness and that is what the Father sees when He looks on us. Therefore, because of the eternal sacrifice of His Son, He will be merciful to us. In turn, Jesus is teaching us that we are to be merciful to others.
Being merciful includes forgiving our enemies, displaying kindness to others and having a desire to spread the gospel of Christ.
The blessing is that all who are merciful will obtain mercy. God is so good to each of us and He is always willing to extend mercy to you and me when we fail and stumble. I wonder if we are merciful to those around us when they fail us or do something that offends us?
The Pure in Heart will see God
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Next up are those who are pure in heart. I think we can see that as the Beatitudes unfold they are progressively moving us toward having a pure heart that is being changed by God.
What is meant by pure in heart? It means free from corrupt desires or unstained by the guilt of anything. One can only be pure in heart when he or she is born again and has had all sins covered by the blood of Christ.
Our gracious and merciful Savior takes all our sin, guilt and shame away when He saves us. The least we can do is maintain a pure heart with our Lord by confessing and forsaking sin when we do stumble and fall.
The blessing for the pure in heart is getting to see God.
The Peacemakers will be called the Children of God
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The peacemakers are those who labor to reconcile parties that are in a conflict. A peacemaker is not easily offended. A peacemaker is dedicated to helping sinners be reconciled to God through the gospel of Christ.
Although they do not know it, sinners are living under the wrath of God in a state of condemnation. They are dead in trespasses and sins and are alienated from God. The work of Jesus Christ as Mediator between God and man can reconcile the sinner to his or her Creator through the new birth.
Peacemakers will be called the children of God.
Persecution brings great reward.
Matthew 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.
The next blessings that the Lord Jesus mentions are those that we might view as negative things. Christ says they are great things for the child of God.
First, being persecuted for righteousness sake. Jesus is teaching us that when we are doing what He left us here to do, we will suffer for the sake of the gospel. Second, men may revile us and say things that are not true about us.
This is the way of the world. Satan hates the gospel and men love darkness better then light. There will always be opposition to those who seek to please God rather than man. All who seek to live out the gospel will suffer persecution of some type. Our Lord is telling us that suffering is alright because our soul is safe and secure in His hands.
Those who suffer for Christ and the gospel will receive a great reward in heaven.
Points to Ponder.....
We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount that is the first extensive teaching given by Christ. We will look at the Beatitudes today before moving deeper into our Master's powerful sermon. The photo below is of the area bordering the Sea of Galilee that may have been where Jesus preached His sermon.
Merciful in heart will obtain mercy
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
I remind us all that the word "blessed" means fortunate from enjoying spiritual happiness and favor with God. There is a blessing for those who are merciful.
The word "merciful" describes the active compassion that we bestow upon others. Websters 1828 describes it as being disposed to have pity upon those who offend us and having a willingness to forgive them.
Theologically, mercy is extended by God to the born again Christian. Mercy is God the Father withholding His wrath and punishment that we truly deserve because of our sins. We are guilty of being sinners and sinning but when we are born again, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to our account.
We are robed in Christ's perfect righteousness and that is what the Father sees when He looks on us. Therefore, because of the eternal sacrifice of His Son, He will be merciful to us. In turn, Jesus is teaching us that we are to be merciful to others.
Being merciful includes forgiving our enemies, displaying kindness to others and having a desire to spread the gospel of Christ.
The blessing is that all who are merciful will obtain mercy. God is so good to each of us and He is always willing to extend mercy to you and me when we fail and stumble. I wonder if we are merciful to those around us when they fail us or do something that offends us?
The Pure in Heart will see God
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Next up are those who are pure in heart. I think we can see that as the Beatitudes unfold they are progressively moving us toward having a pure heart that is being changed by God.
What is meant by pure in heart? It means free from corrupt desires or unstained by the guilt of anything. One can only be pure in heart when he or she is born again and has had all sins covered by the blood of Christ.
Our gracious and merciful Savior takes all our sin, guilt and shame away when He saves us. The least we can do is maintain a pure heart with our Lord by confessing and forsaking sin when we do stumble and fall.
The blessing for the pure in heart is getting to see God.
The Peacemakers will be called the Children of God
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The peacemakers are those who labor to reconcile parties that are in a conflict. A peacemaker is not easily offended. A peacemaker is dedicated to helping sinners be reconciled to God through the gospel of Christ.
Although they do not know it, sinners are living under the wrath of God in a state of condemnation. They are dead in trespasses and sins and are alienated from God. The work of Jesus Christ as Mediator between God and man can reconcile the sinner to his or her Creator through the new birth.
Peacemakers will be called the children of God.
Persecution brings great reward.
Matthew 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.
The next blessings that the Lord Jesus mentions are those that we might view as negative things. Christ says they are great things for the child of God.
First, being persecuted for righteousness sake. Jesus is teaching us that when we are doing what He left us here to do, we will suffer for the sake of the gospel. Second, men may revile us and say things that are not true about us.
This is the way of the world. Satan hates the gospel and men love darkness better then light. There will always be opposition to those who seek to please God rather than man. All who seek to live out the gospel will suffer persecution of some type. Our Lord is telling us that suffering is alright because our soul is safe and secure in His hands.
Those who suffer for Christ and the gospel will receive a great reward in heaven.
Points to Ponder.....
- The Beatitudes move us toward understanding the mercy God has given to us so that we can learn to be merciful to others around us.
- The Beatitudes move us toward wanting a pure heart that God creates in us as we submit to Him.
- The Beatitudes move us toward peacekeeping. The world is full of rage and anger. Men are full of darkness and need to know that they can have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
- The Beatitudes prepare us for the persecution and attacks that will come as we live for Christ.
The Beatitudes are wonderful to contemplate. The next part of the Sermon on the Mount is where we find Jesus exposing the false religion propagated by the Pharisees. He will show us how shallow and bankrupt practicing external religious things really is.
Jesus shows this truth to us because He wants to show us how to live in a dynamic and very real relationship with the Father through Christ. I think that this is something we all long for and should zealously pursue.
Bob
Comments
Post a Comment