Matthew 5:1-12

 ***Week 2 Memory Verse***

If your right eye causes you to sin,

pluck it out and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin,

cut it off and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 

Matthew 5:29-30

 

 

READ Matthew 5:1-12!

 

The Beatitudes

 

The Sermon on the Mount took, place at the beginning of the Lord's ministry as he was ministering in Galilee which is the northern part of Israel where he grew up. He had been preaching to and healing a large multitude of people who had heard of him and had come to him from all parts of Israel and from Syria.

Nine times Jesus said, "Blessed are..." Blessed is from the Greek makarios. It means well off, blessed, supremely blessed, happy. Jesus tells us how to be happy, by following these spiritual laws and depending on God.

Matthew 5:3 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit;

God loves a humble spirit. In Isaiah 66:2b the Lord says, "...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word." (Also see Proverbs 16:19.) On the other hand, God hates pride. "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth do I hate." (Also Proverbs 11:2; Romans 12:3; Galatians 6:3)

...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven is the Lord's kingdom on earth.  Is it the church?  We are blessed to be a part of God's kingdom.

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn; for they shall be comforted."

God sees your grief. He wants to comfort you. "...to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto those who mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." Isaiah 61:2-3.

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."

Meek means humble and gentle. "The meek shall inherit the earth." Psalm 37:11. 

"The Lord lifts up the meek..."  Psalm 147:6. 

"The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord..." Isaiah 29:19. 

Again, God loves humility. (Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6; I Peter 5:5)

"...they shall inherit the earth." This will occur in the millennial reign when Jesus is ruling the earth and believers will be given positions of authority. (Revelations 11:15; Revelations 5:10; Revelations 20:4)

 Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."  God is pleased when we desire righteousness as much as we desire things that are essential for life.  He wants us to hunger and thirst after righteousness!  "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake." (Psalms 23:3)  "With the heart man believes unto righteousness." (Romans 10:10)  Jesus became sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21) This righteousness is not our own but from God.  It is not cheap.  Jesus paid for it by shedding his blood on the cross. 

Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy."  Merciful means compassionate; having tender mercy and compassion.  Hebrews 10:12 says, "...sow in righteousness, reap in mercy." We will get back what we give.  "...whatever a man sows that shall he also reap."

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."  Pure means spotless, righteous.  Purity is only obtained through the grace of God by the blood of Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God---Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Only those with a pure heart, by God's grace, will see God. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalms 24:3-5

Matthew 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the sons of God."

The Lord is the Lord of peace. II Thessalonians 3:16 "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means."  He is the giver of peace and desires that we live in peace. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."  Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior makes us a child of God.  It should also make us a peacemaker. (Romans 12:17-18)

Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are they which are persecuted  for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Being reviled we bless; being persecuted, we endure it." (I Corinthians 4:12).   

"If we suffer, we shall reign with him." (II Timothy 2:12)

"...Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (II Timothy 3:10-12)  According to II Timothy 3:12 those who live godly in Christ Jesus should expect persecution and according to Matthew 5:12 we should "rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven".  There is so much more to look forward to than what we can see and experience here on earth!

 

 

TIME OF REFLECTION:

In Matthew 5, verses 3 - 10, there are 8 things listed that God will bless and how He will bless them.  Side by side in your journal write the 8 characteristics/attitudes and the blessings. 

(Example: Be merciful - obtain mercy)

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  JULIA KILPATRICK is the wife of 45 years to Bro. Shannon Kilpatrick, mother to 7 adult children, and grandmother of 23 grandchildren.  Bro. Shannon and Mrs. Julia have been pastoring Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas since 1995. 







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