Matthew 4:23-25 & 5:1-10
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.”
Imagine being one of the disciples. Aside from the rich young ruler that Jesus called a little later, it was a closed group. What did the disciples think? There was nothing Jesus could not do, from healing to making food; He was the complete “package,” and also a trustworthy friend. He definitely was someone you wanted to keep around. Yet they still did not understand who He was or His purpose in coming. Much like us, if we get sick or have a crisis in our life we ask God to heal us or help. What happens if He doesn’t, can we still trust Him? There’s a story that is very human in its content.
I asked God
“I asked God to give me a better boss, one that would be more understanding and treat me with respect. He said no, but rather learn to understand him and be an example of my love. I asked God to help me earn more money, after all there are things I want to buy. He said sure, just work more hours and if that doesn’t work then learn to be content with such things as you have, learn that true contentment comes from knowing Me.
I asked God to give me a better marriage, and He said be a better spouse. I asked Him to take away my desire for the things of the world, He said spend more time with me and together we will walk through these valleys of temptation. He gave me nothing that I asked for, but He gave me everything I needed.”
If you are a believer you understand this story and the struggle we have with our flesh. God gives us what we need; often it is not what we want. What we want normally comes from an insecurity that we believe will be satisfied by an external thing, be it a person, a thing or an action. We want others to think well of us, or to think we are successful, so we drive a nice car. We want people to find us attractive, so we buy nice clothes and whether we can afford these things or not we do it anyways. We want people to think we are smart, so we study and read and try always to give our opinions, but is it the favorable opinions of others what we really need or does God’s approval matter more?
As a gardener prunes the branches of fruit trees to produce more fruit, so God does to us via His no’s, via trials and difficulties. He knows that if we would but come to Him we would realize that what we think we need is but an illusion. What we truly need is His love – with that we have everything.
If we do it God’s way, it’s a win, win. In Proverbs 3:1-4 we have the following:
“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”
The nation Israel felt they needed a leader that could bring back the reign of King David and overthrow Rome. However that is not what they needed, for everytime they had freedom they fell into paganism. What they really needed was a Savior that could give them a new heart, and that is what Jesus offered. More miracles or having a restored Kingdom would not do that and as a nation they already had a history of miracles. They had Moses, Joshua, Elijah and Elisha to name a few and all these prophets did wonderful miracles but they still fell into paganism. Hence more miracles, though very beneficial to the recipients, would not give the nation the new heart it needed. To them Jesus was on par with the prophets, but definitely not God incarnate. In fact later in Matthew Jesus asks the disciples, “who do people say I am.” In Matthew 16:13-17 we have this dialogue,
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Jesus at times said some strange things, at times offending the people. Nonetheless, the disciples had a nice thing going – just like the guitar player in a famous rock group. Though not the singer, he shares in the fame of the group. From lonely fishermen toiling all night to being propelled into stardom, not a bad gig. No more fishing at night, being chilled by the winds and waves, wet and tired by morning just do it again the next night. This new life they could get use to. From being just fishermen, to the whole world ( so it seemed) knowing them.
As they continue with Jesus, Jesus gives one of His most famous sermons, The Sermon on the Mound, or the Beattitudes (or the Attitudes To Be).
Matthew 5:1-12
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
As you read through these verses, which ones speak to you and how many do you feel you understand? I am not sure that I understand their fullness. There have been books written on the Be Attitudes and I am only going to give you my own perspective on them. So I am sure that much more can be said.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our need. To know that you (we) do not have the resources within us to meet God’s requirement of Holiness. In 1Peter 1:14-16 we have God’s requirement.
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
I look upon His Holiness as a man who has much wealth, and I as a very poor man standing outside His enormous gates. Yet in my poverty and by God’s Grace alone, the gates swing open wide at my presence and His whole Kingdom is before me. No mansions or rooms that say reserved for the King only, no, even to His Throne room can I come. It’s a wonderful truth, yet so many of us live as paupers trying to find contentment in the values and things of this world, why? We must not know The Father.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” In seeing my poverty contrasted against the wealth of His holiness, hopelessness fills my heart. I mourn my state, much like the repentant tax collector, yet as unbelievable as it seems the Great King himself wipes my tears and says, “ learn of Me.” And like the first Blessed where the Kingdom is promised, comfort, eternal comfort is given. There is great reward in brokenness. Humility is truly the pear of great price among the attributes of Christ. In Luke 18: 10-14we have the account of the tax collector ( publican).
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican ( known to extort money from the people and seen as traitors) standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican ( known to extort money from the people and seen as traitors) standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” The attitude of meekness is a beautiful one. Meekness, praótēs “primarily does not denote outward expression of feeling, but an inward grace of the soul, calmness toward God in particular. It is the acceptance of God’s dealings with us considering them as good in that they enhance the closeness of our relationship with Him. However praótēs encompasses a wider expression of emotion. It includes expressing wrath toward the sin of man, even the sin within one’s own soul. Christ demonstrated His anger toward those who were chiding Him because He had done good on the Sabbath day (Mark 3:5) This meekness does not blame God for the persecutions and evil doings of men.” Meekness is also not the result of weakness, as some seem to believe, but it is strength under the rulership of Christ, for the sake of Christ. It is the result of strength coming into one’s own being from being actively engaged in and with a Holy God. It is the ability to be angry at evil as God is, but without sin. “ According to Aristotle, praótēs is that virtue that stands between two extremes, the orgilótēs (n.f.), uncontrolled and unjustified anger and aorgisía (n.f.), not becoming angry at all no matter what takes place around you.” It is the rightful balance between trusting God completely and taking matters into my own hands. It is the balance between praying as though I will not get a chance to work, and working as though I will not get a chance to pray. Meekness meets in the middle; I pray while I work and in so doing both worlds, faith and works meet. It is the conviction of wanting to have all parts of me under His authority; to live with no regrets because of taking matters into my own hands. Meekness as such is a rare gem, it is seldom seen. Let us be that gem for our Lord.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. The definition of hunger here is not that I’m hungry cause I missed dinner, but it’s use here is that I have missed many dinners, including breakfast and lunch as well. I need too eat soon! Thrist is just as needful. It means to be parched and my thirst is getting to the point of desperation. I have know only a limited number of those whose thrist and hunger for Christ has been too this extent. Having tasted of the world, buying into the lies of peace, happiness and contentment but experiencing the opposite, they have a passionate hunger to know their King. They have learned that the decisions made on the wide road of false peace has consequences, many being painful. It makes the persuit for the Holiness and the Person of God worthy of the sacrifices that will need to be made. Being conformed into the image of Christ (Rmn.8: 29 )for the sake of intimately knowing God is the highest of all ambitions and goals. Furthermore, we all hunger, it is part of being human. Why not hunger for something beyond us, greater than us, and in so doing we are elevated becoming a better us? For a person is formed by what they seek and esteem, so be careful.
In Matthew 7:13-14 we have this warning by Jesus,
“Enter ye in at the strait ( narrow, difficult ) gate: for wide ( easy) is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therein:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto (ETERNAL) life, and FEW there be that find it.”
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto (ETERNAL) life, and FEW there be that find it.”
The life of the Spirit cannot be found in the offerings of the world, and it cannot be duplicated. Our true need or hunger is for unity with God, not a person, thing or action as stated. He is the missing equation. Some of us can sense that, sadly more of us can’t and we find “contentment” in the offerings of this world; trinkets that distract and lure us away compared to the surpassing love of the Father found in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is what was lost when Adan and Eve disobeyed. They were in a most perfect environment and in a most perfect relationship until they yielded to the deceit and lies of Satan. The awareness of their now, new fallen state could not be ignore yet they were helpless to do anything about it. God, because of His enormous love for His creation, intervened providing the first sacrifices to “cover over their sin” so that their relationship howbeit less in intimacy, could continue. In Genesis 3:21 we have the first animal sacrifices ( the first of many where the innocent covers over the sin of the guilty with the ultimate being Christ).
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” ( most likely God took the lives of several sheep to cloth Adam and Eve)
To experience His love and His peace, oneness with God that they were “created into” and then to lose it, one could only imagine the void that filled their soul.
“for they shall be filled.”
A sense of wholeness, or completeness cannot be gotten or last by worldly endeavors. It is a gift to those who ask, seek, and knock. In context, these three words would be best defined as those who keep asking, those who keep seeking and those who keep knocking – the door will be opened. The fulfillment of this promise came with an enormous price, so it is reserved for the desperate ones.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
In Proverbs 11:17 we have this verse, “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” “Blessed are the merciful ones,” not merely those who express acts of mercy, though that does the soul good, but those who have this attribute hard wired into them as the result of the indwelling presence of God.” Mercifulness, has a kind heartedness inherent to it as well as a readiness to forgive. Holding grudges or tit for tact is foreign to this blessed attribute. It is best defined by Christ himself who could have said many things while dying on the Cross yet willfully said, “ Father forgive them for they know not what their doing.” No desire for revenge, only for union.
We will continue with the Be Attitudes with the next Vida. God has shared some new thoughts in this Vida. I trust it will be an encouragement as well as a conviction for change. God Bless you.
Father God,
Thank you for this wonderful study on this sermon that Christ gave us. Help us to heed Your Word and bring our lives under the constraints of Your love. Amen
Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur