I. Introduction
A. A man walks into a shoe store, and tries on a pair of shoes. "How do they feel?" asks the sales clerk. "Well ... they feel a bit tight." replies the man. The assistant promptly bends down and has a look at the shoes and the mans feet. "Try pulling out on the tongue." offers the clerk. "Nath theyth sthill feelth a bith tighth." He says.
1. The outline for this message was taken from “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible,” from Leadership Ministies Worldwide
B. Seldom in history have so few words been spoken with so much meaning.
1. The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before the world a descriptive picture of the true disciple of God.
2. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect, now as well as in eternity.
a. Lets make our outline as follows
(1) Jesus saw multitudes (v.1-2).
(2) The poor in spirit: shall be given the Kingdom of Heaven (v.3).
(3) Those who mourn: shall be comforted (v.4).
(4) The meek: shall inherit the earth (v.5).
(5) Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: shall be filled (v.6).
(6) The merciful: shall obtain mercy (v.7).
(7) The pure in heart: shall see God (v.8).
(8) The peacemakers: shall be called the children of God (v.9).
(9) The persecuted: shall be given the Kingdom of Heaven (v.10-12).
(a) Lets turn to Matthew 5:1 & 2
II. Body
A. Compassion: Jesus saw the multitudes.
Matthew 5:1-2 (NKJV)
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. {2} Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying
1. Notice this important fact, the Sermon on the Mount was given to the disciples not to the multitudes
a. Just why this is stated this way, I don’t know
(1) Seeing the multitudes
(a) Jesus was moved compassion over their desperate plight and need
(b) I know it doesn’t say that here, but in other places it does
(2) But seeing the multitudes Jesus got together with His disciples
(3) He had to begin preparing them for their ministry to the multitudes
b. How long did He have the disciples with Him up on the mountain
(1) It doesn’t say
(2) But it does say when He had come down from the mountain, multitudes followed Him
2. Preaching and teaching are not to be done only in the church, but wherever people are found
a. On mountains
b. By the seashore
c. In homes
d. On the streets
e. Any place and every place where people are
3. Crowds are important, but a small band of disciples is critical to accomplish the great commission
a. Turn to Matthew 28:19 - 20
b. The mission of the Lord is reaching people, but the method of the Lord is to make disciples
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
(1) The great commission here says make disciples
(a) It doesn’t say make Christians
(b) It doesn’t say convert the heathen
(c) It says make disciples
c. The mission of the :Lord giving intensive training to a small group so they can help in the ministry to the multitudes
(1) But, going back to Matthew 28:19 it says to make disciples
(2) If we do as the Lord did, we will make a few disciples and train them to do the work of the ministry
(a) The ministry is to make disciples
i) Turn to 2 Timothy 2:2
d. Making disciples was also the method Paul used
2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV)
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
4. Christian leaders are to call together small bands of disciples for special training and preparation
a. Turn to Mark 3:13-15
b. Matthew says without any explanation that "His disciples came to Him"
(1) But Mark says that Christ called the disciples together for training and preparation
Mark 3:13-15 (NKJV)
And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. {14} Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, {15} and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons
(2) He appointed twelve that they might be with Him
5. Three things are needed for training and preparation
a. A place
b. A time
c. And a message
(1) The words "He went up...and when He was seated" seem to be saying that Jesus had deliberately chosen this place and time for this training
(2) All had been planned; Jesus was personally prepared
(a) Lets turn to Matthew 5:3
B. The poor in spirit: shall be given the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
1. One commentator defines blessed this way
a. Spiritual joy and satisfaction that lasts regardless of conditions; that carries one through pain, sorrow, loss, and grief
2. Using this definition the people of the earth seek blessings
a. The problem is that they seek it in the things of this earth
(1) Position
(2) Money
(3) Fame
(4) Power
(5) And sensual pleasure
(6) Please note I said and, and not or
(7) People seek all these things to one extent of another
(a) But turn to Matthew 6:19 - 20
Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; {20} "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal
(b) Turn also to 1 John 2:15 - 16
(8) Christians, disciples of Christ are to be different.
1 John 2:15-16 (NKJV)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.
(a) Turn to 2 Corinthians 6:17 - 18
3. People seek to be blessed in this world
a. This tells us much about people
b. They are carnal and corruptible
c. People are sinful and dying
d. There fore we are to do as said in
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NKJV)
Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
(1) This sets the scene for the beatitudes which follow
(a) Go back to verse 3 of Matthew 5
Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
4. Blessed are the poor in Spirit
a. These are those who acknowledge spiritual poverty
(1) It is poverty, absolute and abject poverty of spirit
(2) It is being destitute and conspicuously poor in spirit
b. Lets examine several significant facts about the "poor in spirit."
(1) Being poor in spirit does not mean that a man must be poverty-stricken and financially poor
(a) Hunger
(b) Nakedness
(c) And slums are not pleasing to God, especially in a world of plenty
(2) Christ is not talking about material poverty
(a) He means what He says: poor in spirit
(b) Being "poor in spirit" means several things
i) To acknowledge our utter helplessness before God, our spiritual poverty, our spiritual need
ii) We are solely dependent upon God to meet our need
iii) It means to acknowledge our utter lack in facing life and eternity apart from God
iv) To acknowledge that the real blessings of life and eternity come only from a right relationship with God
(3) Being poor in spirit means to acknowledge our utter lack of superiority before all others and our spiritual deadness before God
(a) To acknowledge that we are no better, no richer, no more superior than the next person-no matter what we have achieved in this world
(b) Our attitude toward others is not proud and haughty, not superior and overbearing
(c) To be "poor in spirit" means acknowledging that every human being is a real person just like everyone else, a person who has a significant contribution to make to society and to the world
(d) The person "poor in spirit" approaches life in humility and appreciation, not as though life owes him, but as though he owes life
(e) He has been given the privilege of living; therefore, he journeys through life with a humble attitude and he contributes all he can to a needy world out of a spirit of appreciation.
(f) The opposite of being "poor in spirit" is having a spirit that is full of self
(g) The opposite of being “poor in spirit” is self righteousness
i) There is a world of difference between these two spirits
ii) We should note that the opposite of being “poor in spirit” is a concentration on self
iii) Where the “poor in spirit” has a concentration on God and others
c. There are two critical steps taken by the person who truly acknowledges his spiritual poverty
(1) He turns his primary attention away from the things of this world
(a) He knows things can never make him rich in spirit
(2) He turns his primary attention to God and His kingdom
(a) He knows God alone can make him rich in spirit
d. The "poor in spirit" are weary and burdened for the world
(1) They know the truth of this world and of eternity
(a) Therefore, they have set their face to do their part for both
(2) They are weary of the deceptive appearances and enticements of this world
(a) They have learned that "all is vanity [empty]" and all is corruptible
i) All waste away, even human life itself
ii) Therefore, they feel weary and burdened for those who are still lost in the world
(3) They are weary from having labored so much to reach their generation
(a) They have labored to serve and make their contribution as God has called them
(b) They have toiled so laboriously for one reason only, the love of Christ constrained them to reach their generation
i) Turn to Matthew 18:2-5
e. The "poor in spirit" are those who approach the world as a child
Matthew 18:2-5 KJV)
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, {3} and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. {5} "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me
5. Now what does Matthew 5:3 say further, what is the reward for the “poor in spirit”?
Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
a. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
(1) Turn to Hebrews 8:12
b. Just what does this mean? The kingdom of heaven these things
(1) The poor in spirit receive forgiveness of sin and God's continued remembrance: the assurance that God will never forget.
Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
(2) Turn to Acts 2:42
(3) The poor in spirit receive a fellowship with other believers who walk as they walk
Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(a) Turn to 1 John 1:3
1 John 1:3 (NKJV)
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
(b) Turn to John 5:24
(4) The poor in spirit receive the gift of life that is forever: the eternal fellowship with both God and the congregation of those who are poor in spirit.
John 5:24 (NKJV)
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
III. Conclusion
A. We have run out of time
1. So we will pick up on the Beatitudes next week beginning with verse 4
B. But we do have a challenge before us
1. First are we the poor in spirit?
2. As you can see, being poor in spirit is an attitude toward the world and toward God and others
3. How do we measure up?
4. Is the kingdom of heaven going to be our reward?
