THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 1

The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes.

If this is not THE MOST IMPORTANT, it certainly is one of the most important and most revealing instructional and informative teachings of Jesus. This could be called ‘the disciple’s basic training in the words, works and wonders of Jesus’. Basic may be how the natural man or woman would see it, however it is anything but basic. Although, this so-called ‘basic training’ begins in chapter 5 of Matthew and culminates in chapter 10, Jesus really never stops teaching directly or by example.

Matthew chapter 5 though Matthew chapter 10 gives us the process of Sanctification and the picture of Salvation. Popularly named ‘The Sermon on the Mount”, this teaching of Jesus is concise and mysterious.  It is hard, if not impossible, to understand with the natural mind and difficult to grasp, even by the faculty of the mind of a Believer.  It must be experienced to be understood.

This is the supernatural work of SANCTIFICATION by God.  Most of us work hard to avoid this process because it can be difficult, painful and bewildering.  But, actually, it is the amazing, supernatural work of God transforming us into His Own image and likeness as His children of Light.  It is through this very intense and difficult process that we become the heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Please, as you read the following verses, take careful notice of the process.  Here, the Bible explain to us, ahead of time, what we must endure, (yes, endure) in order to “inherit the Kingdom of God”. The disciple of Jesus would do well to learn these chapters by heart, because you will be needing them.

The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes (NASB).

Matthew5:1, Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the [footnote ‘a’] mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Verse 2. And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Verse 3. [footnote ‘b’], “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Commentary Break: Being made “poor in spirit” is, more literally, to be crushed in your spirit; to be pinched by toil, hopelessness and extreme poverty; A beggar with no hope of rescue on the verge of death and perishing, helpless and powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth, influence and honor; destitute of Christian virtue; destitute of the wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford.

It should cause one to wonder, how could they possibly be considered “Blessed” if they are made “poor in spirit”.

It is, however, because people of this class are the ones most ready to give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure. 

It is when life deals you crushing blows, which seem to be your end with no way of escape, that this marvelous work of salvation, redemption and sanctification can begin; and not before. 

We hear it said “you must come to the end of yourself to enter the Kingdom of God” which is true enough, but none of us have the will power to bring ourselves to such a desperate state.  It is God, alone, who will allow or bring crushing circumstances to bear on our lives which will cause us to turn to God for help.  And only God can save us from such desperate circumstances, redeem us to a state of wholeness, health and safety which is His Sanctification (holiness) of our lives. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

(Commentary Break: Mourning is an understandable response upon finding yourself severely pinched by poverty, reduced to begging; destitute with no influence, no position; lowly, afflicted and helpless; powerless to change your circumstances for the better; lacking in anything and terrified.

What we are reading is not punishment, it is ‘correction with purpose’. It is the process of sanctification through trials and tribulations leading to righteousness. This is a spiritual process resulting in a physical manifestation in the life of a Christ follower.

 Think with me in practical terms. Have you ever endured an especially difficult time?  Perhaps, as a child, you were corrected for bad behavior?  Besides receiving a scolding, you may have been spanked or had privileges taken from you?  Or perhaps you endured a time of suffering and loss?  Mourning is a natural response.  What did you experience next?  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. “Blessed are the [footnote ‘c’] gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

(Commentary Break: Do you remember after enduring a time of suffering or loss and “mourning” your loss, having something akin to a ‘good cry’, you how your emotions or spirit was quieted for a time?  You may have now had time to reflect on what has happened, and you lapse into a time of quiet, gentle appearing reflection. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

(Commentary Break: Do you remember coming through a difficult time, having a good cry, either mentally or actually shedding tears and then the ‘calm the followed the storm’ in your soul?  Do you also remember that, for some reason, with the storm of your life behind you, you were actually hungry?

It is the same in our spirit.  It is usually at this point that we begin to make life-decisions.  We are either getting angry and defiant or we decide to do better and to “be better”. 

For those being redeemed by the mercies of God, the process is to ‘hunger and thirst for right thinking and right living’: which is the very definition of Righteousness.

It is through this process that we gain new insights and understanding.  How apt are scriptures to remind us in the next verse that blessed are the merciful. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

(Commentary Break): The word ‘mercy’ in this verse literally means kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one’s self merciful

We are indeed being “Sanctified”:  Being made holy and set apart for God’s use. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 8. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

(Commentary Break): Our attitudes are changing.  Showing mercy is a sign that our hearts are changing and become pure in the sight of God.  We are being transformed in what we see and in how we see.  We are beginning to see matters as God sees them. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

(Commentary Break): A peace will begin to settle over the heart and mind of the redeemed and sanctified Believer.  We, not only, begin to experience ‘a peace that passes understanding’ from our deepening relationship with God, but we begin to demonstrate and practice that peace of God which earns us the title “sons (and daughters) of God”.  We are being made into His image. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 10. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Commentary Break): The bible tells us that it is now that we possess the Kingdom of Heaven.  This statement is too rich and too profound for the “casual Christian” or “casual Believer” to understand.

The Kingdom is a royal power, a kingship of dominion and rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom. It is of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom. This comes from the Greek root word ‘baino’, meaning ‘to walk’, as in Joshua 1:3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.”

 We are becoming, at this point, and in a real sense, we have already  become, heirs of the Kingdom of God, the place of the foundation of all power. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Verse 12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Commentary Break: You are not blessed because people insult you and persecute you, but you are blessed because it is a sign that, although you are still in the world, you are no longer of this world; you are ”made alive together with Christ and raised up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.(see Ephesians 1:4) (End Commentary Break).

Disciples and the World

Verse 13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [footnote ‘d’] can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

(Commentary Break): Verse 13 delivers an ominous warning. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [footnote ‘e’] hill cannot be hidden; verse 15, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a [footnote ‘f’] basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

(Commentary Break): Verse 14 delivers a clear instruction. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 2 – The Law, Relationships, Reaching for Perfection.

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