THE WORDS OF JESUS
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Pt 8
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
These words of Jesus are part of a larger discourse which should be read as a whole to get the correct meaning and progression of His teaching. Each verse, if taken individually or apart from the other related verses, will leave you will a partial understanding, which in this case is a failed understanding. Let me explain in natural terms:
Jesus’ teaching, which has become popularly known as “The Sermon on the Mount”, is a spiritual teaching, a spiritual discourse about entering or inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven, alternatively known as the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5:3, tells us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, is discussed in the previous lesson, part 7.
The main theme, the guiding principle and the main objective, not just for Matthew chapter five, but for the entire ‘Sermon on the Mount’, chapters five through nine is: How you shall enter or inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, how you become a ‘son of God’ doing the works of Jesus, and are made into the salt and light of this world.
Matthew chapter five, however, is specifically an outline for and a picture of God’s method of salvation and the process of sanctification. (Jesus modeled the testing the ‘Christ follower’ will face in a precursor event, when Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1-11.)
Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”, as it is called, can be viewed as a (1), human response to a spiritual phenomenon, (2) a description of the psychology of how your mind, will and emotions work, or (3) as the steps and stages of being transformed into a true disciple of Jesus through the renewing of your mind. In any case, the person who ‘endures to the end will be saved’, and
The Apostle Peter adjures us, in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.“
Although enormously difficult, bewildering at times and sometimes heartbreaking, this is what each and every believer in Christ must face:
You will be made poor in spirit, verse 3,
You will be made to mourn, verse 4,
You will be made meek, verse 5,
You will be made to hunger and thirst for righteousness, verse 6,
You will be made merciful, verse 7,
You will be made pure in heart, verse 8,
You will be made a peacemaker and a son of God, verse 9,
You will be persecuted, verse 10,
You will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, verse 10,
You will be reviled, persecuted, falsely accused, verse 11,
You will gain a great reward in heaven, verse 12,
You will be made the salt of the earth, verse 13,
You will be made the light of the world, verse 14.
Put another way, that is in a simple, plain language of the human experience:
You will suffer testing, temptation and chastisement for the purpose of purging, cleansing and restoring your soul. This will come either by the Hand of God or will be allowed by God.
This normally will be followed by a ‘deep heartfelt cry’; an attitude of meek humility is the result, and it settles over your heart, body and soul. You will sense a desire for things to be made right in your life.
Instead of a critical spirit, you now will see through new eyes of mercy. You will now begin to be controlled by a pure heart. You will have an attitude of mercy toward others who are afflicted by sin, as you have been afflicted.
You will have been changed. Some family, old friends and acquaintances may tease or even ridicule your changed heart and attitude.
It is now that you have inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.
You will suffer false accusations and new persecutions. But your heavenly rewards will begin to shower upon you, both now and in the future, eternal rewards.
There is little doubt that you are becoming the salt of the earth by your life and your words. Your life will emanate the Light of Christ, and it will be visible to all.
Take heart as you endure these things, because, just like with Jesus, so it will be with you, when your testing is complete, “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 