We have read, many times, the passage labeled “The
Beatitudes”.
A. They have been cited in preaching and used in
teaching.
1. I do not believe, however, that we have seen
the tremendous importance of these verses....
nor has it been impressed upon us, just how
necessary it is to use these as a daily guide for
Christian living.
B. Too often the “beatitudes” have been presented as
something good and beautiful.
1. However, we have distanced ourselves from
proper application of these words to our lives.
The beatitudes were not just a good speech that was
delivered to a bunch of Jews......under the old law.
A. If we understand what Jesus was saying, we have
to come to the conclusion that Christ was not only
addressing the Jews of His day....He was also
addressing you and me.
Let us look carefully at these passages and see what they
are saying to us.
I. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of Heaven.
Matt. 5:3 - 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
1. If I took a poll here, I think that every one
of you would say that you want to be in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
a. More properly......you would INSIST
that you were already in that Kingdom.
2. If this be the case.......according to this verse...
what should be an indicator that this is true?
B. Being “poor in spirit” could be taken as a
requirement of citizenship.
1. “poor in spirit” can be defined as this: A
knowledge and belief that one is actually
nothing, spiritually, without Christ.
a. This person would acknowledge that
God gives them all of their spiritual
wealth and talents.
1.) In the analogy of Luke 3:5, valleys
are associated with those who
are humble, while the mountains
are associated with pride.
Luke 3:5 - 5 Every valley shall be filled And every
mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be
made straight And the rough ways smooth.
2.) It is in this prophecy of Christ that
we see the leveling action of God
working in the hearts of men.
a.) Those declaring themselves
rich in the spirit will be found
wanting, while those who
acknowledge their own
spiritual poverty will be
declared.....JUSTIFIED.
Luke 8:13-14 - 13“And the tax collector, standing afar
off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat
his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14“I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather
than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
II. Blessed.....or happy (that is what the word means in the
Greek) are they that are sorrowful, for they will be
comforted.
Matt. 5:4 - 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall
be comforted.
A. Certainly we all want to be comforted when we
are sad and sorrowful.
1. Jesus is not teaching about physical problems
and cares, however.
a. The mourning and sorrow isn’t that
which comes as a result of death in the
family or any other physical loss.
2. The mourning that is referred to by Jesus, is
our mourning over sin’s wicked effects.
a. This person cannot but sorrow over his
own spiritual shortcomings....but also
over the general fallen state of all
humanity, and over the horrors of this
godless world....held captive by its own
vain and wicked inventions.
B. With people there are three different kinds of tears.
1. Tears at the loss of physical things.
a. These are not only bitter, but quite vain.
2. Tears of remorse.
a. Bitter and useless because they usually
come at a time when there is no longer
time for repentance.
Matt. 8:12 - 12“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast
out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.”
3. Lastly, we have tears of repentance when
the soul desires eternal rewards over the
physical gratification of a moment.
a. These are sweet and beneficial.
1.) This is the mourning that Christ
is addressing.
II Cor. 7:9-11 - 9Now I rejoice, not that you were made
sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were
made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss
from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces
repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the
sorrow of the world produces death. 11For observe this
very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What
diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves,
what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what
zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves
to be clear in this matter.
John 16:20 - 20“Most assuredly, I say to you that you will
weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will
be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
** We all want to be comforted in this way.....therefore we
all need to mourn the destructive wages of sin.
Rom. 6:23 - 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
III. The meek will be happy, for they will be the recipients
of the new Earth (heaven).....the abode of the saints for
eternity.
Matt. 5:5 - 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit
the earth.
A. I don’t know about you, but I don’t get really
excited about this big ball of dirt that we live on.
1. The new heavens and the new earth will have
to be spiritual places.......because we will have
spiritual bodies that won’t be compatible with
the physical.
2. Besides.......all the elements will be consumed
......if this is the case, unless God recreates the
elements....this would have to be a spiritual
place.
II Peter 3:13 - 13Nevertheless we, according to His
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells.
B. To enjoy this new and eternally wonderful place...
we need to be among those who are considered
meek.
1. Meekness carries with it a meaning of
kindness.....a lack of selfishness....and a
refusal to force matters.
a. One who is meek can be reviled and
put down in a multitude of ways....and
yet....this person will simply do the
right, honorable, and spiritual thing....no
matter what the situation.
James 3:13, 17 - 13Who is wise and understanding among
you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are
done in the meekness of wisdom. 17But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to
yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy.
2. Only those of us who are meek and free of
malice...like lambs....belong to Christ’s flock.
a. It can only be in this spirit that one could
offer himself up as a sacrifice to God...
in martyrdom.
1.) We see the example in Christ,
Himself.
Matt. 26:62-63 - 62And the high priest arose and said to
Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify
against You?” 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest
answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the
living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
I Peter 2:19, 23 - 19For this is commendable, if because
of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering
wrongfully. 23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in
return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but
committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
IV. Those who have an intense yearning for righteousness
are promised that they shall get what they yearn for.
Matt. 5:6 - 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, For they shall be filled.
A. This passage of scripture uses two very descriptive
words......hunger and thirst.
1. We can understand hunger and thirst....in a
physical sense.
a. If we are truly hungry and thirsty several
things can be assumed.
1.) All of our heart and mind will be
focused on our hunger or thirst.
a.) Very little or nothing will be
able to sidetrack us from our
quest.
2.) We will not be satisfied until we
are filled.
3.) We will want food and drink so
badly that it will actually hurt.
4.) Yesterday’s meal and drink will not
satisfy us for today.
Phil. 3:13-15 - 13Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended (gotten there yet); but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus.
15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind;
and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal
even this to you.
** The words of Paul in this passage gives us the definite
impression of an ernest desire and of a powerful drive
to get where he needs to be.
1. There is nothing “ho-hum” or taken for granted....
Paul is pressing on.....much like a thirsty man on
the desert.
a. Those of us who wish to be filled with
righteousness need, also, to pursue it with the
same intensity.
1.) That which happens with a fish out of
water is a good analogy of a Christian
who has stepped away from the things
of God.
a.) The same death will result if the
Christian stays out of his
Christian environment for long.
b.) This yearning for righteousness
should be as intense as the fish’s
yearning for water.
Matt. 4:4 - 4But He answered and said, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
CONCLUSION:
We have covered four of the Beatitudes....I think that even
in just these four Beatitudes, we can see an emerging
pattern.
A. The blessings of happiness are not just something
that would be nice......they are absolutely essential
to a Christian.
1. Is there a Christian alive who would not want
to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven?
a. According to the passages that we have
just read.....there is a condition.
1.) That condition is that the Christian
be poor in spirit.
a.) That he/she understand that
one is nothing outside the
realm of God.
2.) We understand that it is God who
has and continues to bless is with
all of our spiritual wealth and
talents.
2. I am also certain that we all want to be
comforted, spiritually.
a. Again....there is something that must be
present, in us, for this comforting to take
place.
1.) We must truly mourn what sin has
done in God’s creation.
a.) Our sins.
b.) The sins of our fellow
Christians.
c.) The sins of the lost world.
3. We all want to inherit the new Earth which
God shall create.
a. If we are to do that, we must learn and
practice meekness.
1.) Probably the best illustration of
meekness can be found in Christ
as He allowed Himself to be
crucified.
4. Lastly, for this time, is the fact that we need
to really yearn for the righteous things of God.
a. This won’t be a shallow and insincere
desire on our part......the passage that we
cite compares our desires for the
things of God as a “hunger” and a
“thirst”.
We all want the benefits (or the blessings)....are we all
prepared to walk the walk?
A. God requires our input to receive His blessings.
