Skip to main content

71. The Beatitudes


Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:22-26, Psalm 37:10
Key Verse:  A little while and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 
Psalm 37:11

In these first nine statements, Jesus turns the world's way of seeing life on its head.  From the world’s perspective, you are successful when you aggressively climb the social latter.  You are blessed when you are in control.  You are blessed when you have enough to eat and enough money to control your own destiny. 

Jesus is saying that you are blessed when you are meek and not forceful.  Jesus is saying that you are blessed when you are poor in spirit, not proud.  Jesus is saying that you are blessed when you help to make peace, rather than demand your own way.  Jesus is saying that you are blessed when you are persecuted?  Really? 

Most of Jesus' listeners would have been surprised at Jesus' words.  They were used to watching the lives of the rich and powerful, religious and political leaders flaunting their power.  They were probably used to seeing themselves as nothing because they were powerless and humble.  In truth, most of Jesus’ listeners wished that they could have a bit more power and control, just as we do today.  Jesus was saying, however, that they were already blessed, just as they were, if they were as He was now describing.  A good speaker knows how to capture an audience’s attention with something astonishing.   But this wasn’t just a technique being used by a good speaker.  Jesus spoke the Truth and it is the Truth that is astonishing because it is a whole new way of thinking, so different from where our sinful hearts tend to lead us. 

They were used to the lectures of the religious; "You're not good enough!”  And they had probably heard many zealots proclaim: "Down with the Romans!  They are our problem!”  To hear Jesus say, "Blessed are you,” just where you are, was a new thought. 

Jesus was beginning to assure them of God's faithfulness to them, even though their position was humble for now.  The proud will not be proud forever.  The powerful cannot endure. Psalm 37:10 says, "A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found." They will fade away and be no more. But you are blessed because God is pleased with you. 

When Jesus' mother Mary sang her song of praise to God, after learning of her pregnancy, she sang: "His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble.”  (Luke 1:50-52) Now Jesus continues this theme to put a new song in other hearts as well. 

Hymn: “The Beatitudes” 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

258. "Remember, Always Remember!"

Exodus 12:1-30 Key Verse: "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14 "Celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17) "And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:27) The original act was an act of worship as the first true act of freedom for the people of Israel. They had been brought to Egypt by Joseph during a time of famine so that through Joseph God could preserve their lives. ( Genesis 37 , & 39-50 ) After Joseph died, however, instead of heading back to C...
Post a Comment
Read more

This Little Light of Mine

Scripture: Psalm 130 Listen Link: www.lcepc.org then look for “sermons” tab. It’s the first Sunday of Advent. Today we lit one candle and heard the passage, in Isaiah 9, about the great light! We have heard that the great light is the child born to us on Christmas day. It is Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. Christmas is a day we will truly celebrate as we have for years and years, and our ancestors before us for centuries. Christmas is coming! Advent means coming! It is good to spend the next few weeks reflecting on all that it means for us. We begin from the depths of darkness. The world is still suffering the effects of sin. We are still suffering the effects of a world broken by sin. And not just the consequences of our own sins. According to Romans 8:22, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The fires in California, the floods and storms on the East coast, and all the other natural disasters we hear ab...
Post a Comment
Read more

August 13 What Is Fitting

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ~Proverbs 19:10   On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. ~Acts 12:21-23  Wow! Well, what in the world can there be to benefit us here? First of all, perhaps we should review the first Biblical definition of a fool, penned by no other than Solomon’s Father, David himself. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1) It is not fitting for the fool to live the blessed life. Why should they when they deny from whom all blessings flow?  King Herod was a fool. Now, just to be clear, this is not the Herod who ruled at Jesus’ birth and ordered the slaughter of the male children in Bethlehem. He ...
Post a Comment
Read more