The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes I. Base Text: Matthew 5:1-16 II. Context A. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist; begins His ministry (Matthew 3:13-17) B. Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) C. He then returns to Galilee, begins preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom: repent, for the Kingdom is at hand (Matthew 4:12-17, 23) D. He calls some of His disciples, preached and healed in the synagogues, and many crowds began to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-25) E. Seeing the multitudes, He sits upon a mountain and begins teaching the disciples in the hearing of the multitudes (Matthew 5:1-2) F. This teaching develops into an extended discourse (Matthew 5:3-7:27) G. Hence, the "Sermon on the Mount" III. Meaning A. While the Sermon on the Mount is one long discourse, Jesus discusses different subjects in discernible units B. The first two such units are found in Matthew 5:3-10 and Matthew 5:11-16 C. Matthew 5:3-10: The Beatitudes 1. Called the "beatitudes" because of the repetition of "blessed" 2. Blessed is the Greek makarios, "blessed, happy" 3. Therefore, throughout this section, Jesus declares types of people who are truly blessed, fortunate, and happy, and the blessings they will receive 4. Yet those whom Jesus declares as happy are normally not considered very happy! 5. The "poor in spirit": could refer to those who are poor in spirit, those who need greater faith and spiritual strength, or those who are poor in spirit, the "pious poor" who serve God but do not have much materially (cf. Luke 6:20) 6. Those who mourn; those hungering and thirsting for righteousness; the merciful; the pure in heart; the peacemakers; those reviled and reproached for Jesus 7. "Meek" are those who are internally strong but maintain self-control 8. By declaring such people "blessed", Jesus challenges prevailing expectations about who is fortunate and who is not (cf. Luke 6:20-26 as well) 9. In the eyes of many, the rich, those who laugh and have no need to mourn, the proud and strong, those who are willing to do what it takes to get what they want, and the crowd-pleasers are blessed, happy, and fortunate 10. Yet it is not so according to the good news of Jesus' Kingdom, and Jesus clearly identifies Himself with the downtrodden and those who humbly and quietly pursue after the holiness of God 11. Their rewards are commensurate: the poor and the persecuted receive the Kingdom; those who mourn will be comforted; those hungering for righteousness will be filled; the merciful receive mercy; the pure in heart will see God; the peacemakers are reckoned as sons of God 12. The meek will "inherit the earth," referring to Psalm 37:11 13. Are these all actual people with different characteristics or do they make up the types of characteristics that should mark a disciple? Probably a bit of both! 14. Jesus speaks of such people as if they exist now 15. And yet, since they all receive the commendation of God in Christ, all disciples should seek to develop those characteristics in their lives D. Matthew 5:11-16: The Mark of the Disciple 1. The list of the blessed leads up to those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (Matthew 5:10), and Jesus then shifts and begins speaking directly to and about "you," most likely the disciples (cf. Matthew 5:1) 2. "Those" who are persecuted for righteousness' sake now become "you," the disciples, persecuted for Jesus' sake 3. This should give them joy, for so they persecuted the prophets! 4. Jesus then describes His disciples in terms of three images 5. They are the salt of the earth: when properly purified and in proper amounts, they preserve and provide flavor to food; when impure or excessive, they are only good for ice removal! 6. They are a city set on a hill: they cannot be hidden and are public for everyone to see 7. They are the light of the world: they are to represent holiness, righteousness, and all that is good, and as such should be seen as so being and doing publicly 8. Thus people might see their good works and give glory to their Heavenly Father 9. Jesus declares these things to be true of the disciples without qualification: this is the position in which they find themselves despite their personal failings and problems 10. Yet these are the marks of a disciple: a person who follows Jesus should be known as such, even if they are persecuted because of it, and are to persevere in good works E. Jesus thus begins the Sermon on the Mount by commending and blessing those honored by God even if they are despised by the world, and establishes the place of His disciples in the world how they are to view themselves in the world IV. Application A. There are many who wonder whether the Sermon on the Mount is merely the description of an ideal, an impossible standard for humanity B. Jesus' teachings, however, are intended for people to understand and follow, and so it is with the Sermon on the Mount C. Being the Blessed 1. We do well to consider those whom Jesus calls blessed and see which of their characteristics we can develop in our lives 2. We may not be truly poor, but we can learn to depend on God and to use all we have to build up treasure in Heaven as they do (cf. 1 Timothy 6:6-8, 17-19, James 1:9-10) 3. We may not presently be mourning, but we can be a source of comfort to those who are and to understand the value of mourning (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:2) 4. Yet we can all strive for meekness; we can all hunger and thirst for righteousness; we can be merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers, and should do so (cf. Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:18, 1 Peter 1:16-17, 4:7) 5. At some point, if we live for Christ as we should, we will experience persecution, and find our hope and trust in God (Acts 14:22, 2 Timothy 3:12) 6. We do well to honor those whom Jesus honors, and find the blessings in things not normally considered fortunate D. Living as Salt and Light on the City on the Hill 1. Jesus uses these images to remind believers of their value and standing 2. Believers are made distinct by virtue of their place in God's Kingdom and purposes, set apart for sanctification (Galatians 5:17-24, 1 Peter 1:16-17, etc.) 3. As salt, believers can either be impure and cast out, overbearing and spit out, or provide distinctive flavoring and preserving: judicious words and good deeds (Colossians 4:9, Titus 3:3-8) 4. As light, believers are to allow Jesus, the light of the world, to shine in and through them and their thoughts, feelings, and actions, giving others reason to glorify God (cf. 1 Peter 2:11-12) 5. As light, and as the city on a hill, believers cannot expect to do these things in hidden ways; they are to be evident and obvious to all! 6. Are we not in Christ? Then are we not the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city set on a hill? 7. Are we good salt? Are we shining as lights in the world? Are we trying to hide our light? Do we recognize that we are public and obvious for all to see? 8. How can we do better at manifesting all that to which we have been called and for which we have been chosen (cf. Ephesians 2:9-10, 2 Peter 1:5-11)? V. Conclusion A. Thus Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount B. Many who are considered downtrodden or of little importance are actually the fortunate and blessed C. Disciples of Jesus are to be the salt of the earth, a city on a hill, the light of the world D. Let us seek to be the ones whom Jesus blesses, living as salt and light in that city, and glorify and honor God in Christ! E. Invitation/songbook