LESSON 2
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
CHPTRS.4-5
CHAPTER 5
Matthew 5:1-48
Matt. 5:1-7
THE THEME
A. THE “SETTING” LEADING UP TO THE SERMON…
1. In Matt. 3:1-3, we read of the preaching of John the Baptist.
a. Who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord.
b. The theme of his preaching concerned the kingdom of heaven.
2. In Matt. 4, we read of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry
a. After His temptation, Jesus begins preaching a message similar to John’s – Matt. 4:17.
b. His preaching in Galilee pertained to the gospel of the kingdom – Matt. 4:23.
B.PHRASES USED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE SERMON
“for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – Mt 5:3 2. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – Matt. 5:10 3. “…shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven” – Matt. 5:19 4. “…shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” – Matt. 5:19 5. “…will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” – Matt. 5:20 6. “Your kingdom come” – Matt. 6:10 7. “But seek first the kingdom of God” – Matt. 6:33 8. “. . . shall enter the kingdom of heaven” – Matt. 7:21
Both the SETTING and the use of a particular PHRASE should lead us to conclude that the :
C.THEMEof Jesus’ sermon on the mount is: THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Also note the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus speaking against some wrongs and setting things straight.
Matt. 5:21a,22a “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago…………… 22 But I tell you……………..
Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes
Constitution and Laws of the Kingdom of God
Matt. 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
5:1-2 HE MOUNTAIN MESSAGE OF YAH SHUA THE BEATITUDES And when Yah Shua sees the congregation, ascends a mountain: and when he sits, his disciples approach toward him: and opening his mouth he is doctrinating them, wording, Aramaic NC
A.The Beatitudes are 8-12 blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Each is a proverb-like proclamation, without narrative. In the Latin Vulgate, each of these blessings begins with the word beati, (beautiful) which translates to happy, rich, or blessed (plural adjective).
3107 makarios { mak-ar’-ee-os} a prolonged form of the poetical makar (meaning the same); TDNT – 4:362,548; adj AV blessed 44, happy 5, happier 1; 50
GK – 3421 { makavrio” }
blessed, happy–To be blessed means to be well off, happy, and fortunate. It is a state of well being that brings with it peace, contentment, and the knowledge that God is in control. It is something that all strive for. And even though some find wealth and fame, they never find or enjoy God’s blessing. Yet, discovering and enjoying God’s blessing is not a secret! God’s Word has revealed it already.
a.What was the first thing that God did to mankind after He created them? (Gen. 1:28) Some people believe that once God created mankind, He left them to fend for themselves. But this first act of God towards mankind shows that God wants to be actively involved with His people by blessing them.
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [a]moves on the earth.
b.What kind of lifestyle will not bring the blessing of God according to Proverbs 3:33?Proverbs 3:33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.
c.What kind of person will enjoy the blessing of God? (Prov. 28:20)
Proverbs 28:20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Bless- Beneficial endowment of God’s power to produce well-being (happiness) in every area of a person’s life. Abundant Life John 10:10
d.Note: The first sermon/words of Jesus were Blessed. God’s first words to mankind in Gen. 1:28 were blessed.
Again, Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [a]moves on the earth.”
c. Paul then reiterated: Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
HOW MANY MORE BLESSINGS DO WE NEED?
People are always asking God to bless them when He already has!
Matt. 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
5:3 Graced — the poor spiritual, for the sovereigndom of the heavens is their own: Aramic NC
Notice a synonym of blessed is graced.
A.“BLESSED ARE “POOR IN SPIRIT”
To be poor in spirit is to have a humble opinion of ourselves; to be sensible as we have no righteousness of our own, but His righteousness; to be saved only by the rich grace and mercy of God which is totally a gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Matt. 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, (have a repentant heart), for they shall be comforted.”
5:4 Graced — the mourner for they are comforted: Aramaic NC
B. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED”
MOURN not in a specific sense: but to mourn over one’s own sinfulness, like David did after his adultery with Bathsheba.
Ps. 51:3-4 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just [a]when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Note the relationship between these first two characteristics:
1) Unless one is first poor/humble in spirit…….
2)They will not mourn or be repentant. Those who mourn – those who are deeply sorry for their sin. Point: After seeing our sin we must see how it has hurt God and others and be deeply sorry. Yet repentance is more than being sorry, it is changing our attitude and heart back to the Mind of Christ.
Result: Will show true sorrow, even tears, both to God and to men. Will offer restitution whenever possible. Yet, tears and sorrow are only part of repentance.
Matt. 5:5” Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
5:5 Graced— the meek for they inherit the earth: Aramic NC
D. “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK” FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH”
a. I.e., gentle, easy to be entreated, a disciplined learner.
1) Would rather suffer injury than inflict it.
2) Not out of weakness, but out of humility, realizing one’s own weakness .
b. A good example of meekness is Moses ……..
1) He was certainly not a weak or timid man – Ex 32:19-20; 30-34 2) But when personally attacked, he was very humble – Num.12:1-3
The meek – those who tame themselves and submit to God. Point: Does not mean weak or fearful but instead means open, teachable, and not defensive.
Proverbs 5:11-14, Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:10-12, Proverbs 31, and Proverbs 32.
Result: Will seek advice and counsel and give up defensiveness about being corrected.
Matt 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
5:6 Graced— they who famish and are thirsty after justness for they satiate: Aramaic NC
Satiate means to satisfy (a need, a desire, etc.) fully or to excess, to overflowing. Again, referring to abundant life.
E. “HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS”
a. I.e., looking for the righteousness which will meet:
1) Their spiritual need.
2) Their mourning over the same .
b. To hunger and thirst suggests not a half-hearted search, but one exemplified by:
1) David in Ps. 42:1-2; 19:12-14
2) Paul in Ph. 3:7-15a
b.Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – those who seek God’s will with all their hearts. Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 13:44-46, and Philippians 3:7-11
c.Result: Will be deliberately going to God’s Word, communing with God in prayer and meditation, and other sources of spiritual enrichment and encouragement, like fellowship with the body.
d.We do know that the Lord draws us first and seeks us first.
Romans 3:10–12, says, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Because no one naturally seeks God, God seeks us.
Romans 5:8 English Standard Version but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
e.Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44).
f.Yet, Jeremiah 29:13 God says, “You will seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
And Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.
g.He makes the first step!
h.For they shall be filled.
Philippians 1:10-11 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Note: It is interesting to notice that the first four beatitudes have to do with getting right with God and being filled with His righteousness. The second four beatitudes have more to do with living the life of God among men.
Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
5:7 Graced— the merciful upon their being befriended: Aramaic NC
F. ARE “MERCIFUL”
a. Loving towards those who need it. (e.g., the Good Samaritan)
b. Possessing a forgiving spirit toward those who sin against them.)
1) E.g., Jesus in Lk 23:34 2) E.g., Stephen in Ac 7:60 c. Jesus stressed this characteristic on several occasions…
1) Later in His sermon, in teaching on prayer – Mt 6:14-15 2) In His parable of The Unforgiving Servant – Mt 18:21-35.
d. This virtue grows out of our personal experience of the mercy of God. The only thing flowing from the Throne of God right now is grace and mercy.
e.The merciful – those who show to others what God has shown to them. Point: God laid down His life for us when we were so undeserving. Those who live like God must now give their lives for others even those who seem so undeserving, showing concern and forgiveness.
I John 3:16, Philippians 2:5-7, and Mark 10:45
f.Result: Involvement in the lives of others in giving ways.
“For they shall obtain mercy.”
The law of sowing and reaping is in effect.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
We will continue with Les.2 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue