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Walk through Matthew with me. Matthew 5:1-12
Good evening, everyone. This is truth and love. Thank you for watching. Thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it. We get truth and love from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 where Paul says. But speaking the truth in love.
We are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head even Christ. Again, thank you for joining me if you would. Hey brother, hope you're doing well. If you would give me a heart alike a share. Just want to use those Formulas to help get the Word of God out.
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This is just a live stream and Us spending time together. Getting God's Word out to our community. So I'm thankful to be able to do it do that with you. So let's let's jump right into our text tonight.
I'm continuing to walk through the book of Matthew not going to be a Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through 12 and Just a recap of what we've looked at especially the last video that we did Matthew chapter 4 verses 23 through 25.
We need to know what and it is. I'm so thankful when we're able to learn. The key direction that the author of these books are taking us especially John when John tells us why he's writing his book is so helpful as we're walking through the book of John to know why he's Writing that book and he's he's he's blessed us by telling us that and making that so clear.
We know also from Matthew that Matthew is proclaiming the kingship of Christ. He's proclaiming the anointed one has come. He's proclaiming the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of Christ.
However, you want to say it? That's that's Matthew's direction that's the direction that Matthew was taking us through his book so we can keep that in mind as We walk through the book of Matthew and what he has to say to us.
So going above and beyond. Reading the text, you know as we're beginner Christians as we're New in our faith, you know reading through the text getting familiar with it, you know, that's what we want to do but as we continue to to be students of God's Word as we continue to to look at God's Word and Hear what he has to say to us.
We want to keep these things in mind so that we can hear God speaking to us through his word. So When we read Matthew it becomes more than just An account of what happened in the past, right? These stories these accounts.
They are more than just an account of history and let us know what happened in the past. Those things are good to know and it helps us to understand the context and the meaning Of what the author was talking about all those things help in interpretation.
But we want to know what God is saying to us and and and more than just. This was an account of Jesus' life. The places that he walked the people that he talked to. God has a theme. God has a thread. God is is consistent and he's Working us through history.
In scriptures from the beginning of beginning of history beginning of time. All the way to the to Jesus Christ the new testament and in the book of revelation it's It's a thread all the way through. And the bible walks us through that thread if we will if we will open it up and see that thread and see what God Is doing.
Um what he's teaching us God is very consistent. And one of the things that we were looking at With the understanding that Matthew was teaching us that Jesus is is king messiah the anointed one Matthew was is pointing to the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of Christ with that in mind.
We understand as we look through all of scripture. That it's not a new concept. And we look we looked at that at the last video. Um that this kingdom idea is is not a new concept. When we looked at Matthew 4 23 through 25 Adam was given dominion.
He was he was made king over the earth. And he was to have dominions to do it and fill it. And and take not just stay in the garden. Sometimes we we think of adam and eve and adam and eve and the garden of eden.
But the mandate was for them to fill the earth. Not just the garden of eden. The mandate was for them to subdue the earth. Not just the garden of eden. And so Adam was given kingship and he Sub-authority he got his authority from god.
So god is the ultimate authority and then you had adam who was who was given that authority. By god to do those things to take it to take god. Um and and This mandate throughout the whole earth, of course.
Time after time after time god as we looked in the last video. We we learned that god never Abandoned that plan god never abandoned that that idea for him to have um Use man. To have dominion over his earth um and he he has the the kingdom of israel.
Um and israel had kings. Um, he had abraham and all these all these men, uh throughout the old testament were given the same mandate to to You know fill the earth to to multiply to um you know to subdue it to to share the good news to um.
To spread the gospel all over the whole world. And so this this kingdom idea is not a new concept. And so when you get to matthew chapter 4 verses 23 through 25, jesus is proclaiming the the good news of the kingdom.
It's not a new kingdom. It's god's kingdom. And he's proclaiming the good news of it. And this is the um as the articles that we reread last week. This is the end times kingdom. And this is the last kingdom.
And the reason it's the last kingdom is because it's the kingdom that has that has fulfilled prophecy. You know, you go back to to isaiah and the the famous verses that we think about when it comes christmas time that um That One will be born and um his his kingdom will will be everlasting.
Um, this is that king a kingdom that shall have no end. Um. And and matthew was proclaiming that jesus is proclaiming that um, and then just Looking at the consistency of matthew, uh, we've matthew showed us.
Um specifically and and not so specifically how jesus Has fulfilled prophecies of the old testament. Um pointing to this anointed one this messiah to come. And matthew 4 23 through 25 was no different that jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom the good news of the kingdom and then he He begins to heal every kind of disease and at least all the sicknesses and diseases um, and that's a fulfillment of isaiah chapter 35 that he is going to um, um.
Heal all these diseases and and um, and also I found this found this verse very interesting. And i'm sure we'll bring it up, uh when dan and I do a video sunday evening, um looking over daniel chapter 9.
Where is that verse at i'm gonna find it real quick. Um, where did I write it down? Sorry about that. I know I wrote it down somewhere. Um, Matthew. It's in two places matthew um I can't believe I can't find where I wrote that down.
Um. Anyway, it's it's in matthew and luke. And i'll i'll find it later. I'm, i'll definitely find it before sunday evening. I didn't think I would recite it tonight, but but it's in matthew and it's in luke repeating luke.
Uh, the only difference is in in matthew. It says, um, jesus will jesus will cast out demons by the spirit of god and and luke says. What time? I hear your son. What time I your is your video sunday evening?
Uh, probably going to be 8 30. Dan dan and I try to do our videos on 8 30 on sunday evenings um. And I do apologize for the the flip-flopping on time sometimes. It's hard. Um, I know most of you like me work and then um, if you're trying to coordinate doing a video with someone else.
Sometimes it's difficult to to make your paths cross every time that you want to. And so dan and I have been trying to do sunday evenings at 8 30 and we've been walking through the prophecies. Uh, well, we pretty much walk we're walking through the whole book of daniel specifically looking at the prophecies.
And so we're going to be continuing Daniel chapter 9 we we did a daniel chapter 9 our last video um but this week is going to be specifically the um, the 70 weeks 70 77s that the the time frame that daniel gives us, uh, and the uh, the seven weeks the 62 weeks, um, and then the the last week, um, the seven years.
So dan and i'm going to be looking at that. Um, but anyway, and thank you for your question tim in matthew Jesus says about the spirit of god and then in lucas says about the finger of god, but what he says is that when you see um.
When you see me, um, or when you see the the messiah Cast out demons by the spirit of god or by the finger of god. Then you know this the kingdom has come upon you. Isn't that interesting? Jesus says when you see that happen.
The kingdom has come upon you um and so I can't remember exactly why um the direction I was going with with those verses, but it but it falls right in line with um, With with matthew what we're looking at in matthew the theme of matthew, um, Isaiah 35 fulfills, uh, or matthew 4 23 to 25 fulfills isaiah 35.
Uh matthew showing again that jesus is is the anointed one fulfilling all these prophecies. And and that's where I was going with it. And just as he was healing all these diseases pointing back to isaiah 35 jesus is is Giving this prophecy.
Um about his casting out demons and about his um. About the spirit of god or by the finger of god and when you see that know that the kingdom Uh, the kingdom of god is upon you and so we'll we'll find those verses.
I know I wrote those down today um, but that Our ears need to perk up um. Because just because you're reading through um, matthew The beginning of matthew you're walking through matthew you're walking through john.
Um Doesn't mean we we shouldn't think about Everything that's going on. We need to think about the theme of matthew. We need to think about the gospel. We need to think about um, the kingdom Eschatology everything because god is so consistent.
He has this he has this thread. Going all the way through scripture old testament and new testament. Um, everything is connected and and makes sense and so. Just because we're in matthew one, two, three, four and now five Doesn't mean we can't think about how everything ties together and so.
Because the eschatology is so separated we've gotten so accustomed to it being Separated from every other theology from every other every other teaching. Um. If it's my understanding that the most requested book for for uh pastors to preach is the book revelation because people um.
It's the hardest to understand it's the most intriguing people want to know about in times. Um and so the uh, the the theory or the um The position of the you know, the preacher rapture and and all those types of interpretations.
What does this mean? What does that mean? Um, so many people have been interested in that and and the books have been bestsellers. The movies were bestsellers so everybody's interested in that but what happens is.
Is that that issue? Is separated from the rest of scripture. When what god does is everything is tied together and and there's a consistency With god and there's that this thread throughout scripture and so When we hear kingdom.
Just because there's a kingdom here and then there's a kingdom. Um in in the um with the position of of eschatology. We don't necessarily need to to divide it ourselves when when god doesn't divide it.
Um when when jesus is speaking of a kingdom He's speaking. Um Uh. Of the same kingdom that it is, um that is spoke of in our end times theology in our end times studies um, we want to separate the two but jesus is speaking of Of this kingdom the good news of the kingdom the gospel of the kingdom and we don't have to look forward to um another kingdom to come.
Jesus fulfills all the prophecy. And that kind of leads us into matthew chapter 5 and we'll go ahead and jump on in there. Um Jesus Is saying that this this is that kingdom matthew john paul. They all are are telling us that jesus has fulfilled these prophecies.
He has brought this end times kingdom. Why isn't it in times kingdom? Because it's the last one. It it's the best one it's the it's the perfect one. It's the only one that that is going to please god because jesus Is the king he's the head of it.
We had to have him as a king. Everyone else failed adam abraham and and david and and all the rest. Everyone failed but jesus. And so you have in matthew. Um. This kingdom is brought up from the very beginning you have john the baptist in chapter three verse two.
He says repent turn. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This this kingdom that has been prophesied. It's here. It's here with us and then jesus without skipping skipping a beat without contradicting john.
Without contradicting the prophets or or the law or moses. He says repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand in chapter 4 verse 17 Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is at hand and he doesn't stop there.
Uh, just like we we've been talking about for the last few minutes john, uh, matthew chapter 4 verse 23 Jesus is going into their synagogues and what happens in their synagogues now. Remember, this is not the temple temple was in jerusalem, but all the other cities had had their own synagogues and uh.
And jesus was going around to the different cities going into their synagogues and when you would go into the synagogue um the teacher the rabbi. Would take the scripture read it and explain it. I mean, that's where we get our expository preaching and teaching from that.
We open up god's word. We read it and we explain it. Just like jesus did just like nehemiah did just like all the examples that we have in scripture. Exposition expository and so I can't help but think.
Um since that's the way it worked. Jesus is going into the temple. He's um. And we have a record of of him doing this in the past. You know, he I think it's isaiah that he reads but here I can't help but they think he's doing the same thing.
Jesus is opening god's word. He is reading it and he is explaining it just as the tradition is. But as he is explaining it. Guess what? He is showing them in in scripture. Think about the the men on the road to emmaus and jesus meets them.
And what does he do? He shows them himself. And that that's sealing up that confirming that daniel talks about. That's where that happens. Jesus is confirming it that's sealing up a prophecy and vision.
It's it's sealed is confirmed in him and he is he explains. And it shows them himself in the old testament what they've been missing. Is what they've been looking for and then they find it in him and here I can't help but think he's doing the same thing um reading explaining and then Proclaiming the gospel or the good news of the kingdom from the old testament.
I can't help but think that's what he's doing. Um, if anybody has any other suggestions because it doesn't it doesn't specifically spell that out that that's what happened. But knowing that's the tradition and that's that's how it worked.
I can't help but think. This is what jesus was doing proclaiming the gospel or the good news of the kingdom. As he was reading and explaining the text. And then it's confirmed by the the healings. Fulfilling isaiah chapter 35 the message of the kingdom.
Doesn't stop there. Now we're in matthew chapter 5. Let me go ahead and read verses 1 through 12. And when he saw the multitudes he went up on the mountain and after he sat down his disciples came to him.
And opening his mouth he began to teach them saying blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle where they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful where they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see god. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of god.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you? And persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on account of me.
Rejoice. And be glad for your reward in heaven is great. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Now instead of um. Going through these verse by verse um. These this section is officially known as the as the beatitudes.
If you've been if you've been to church any amount of time if you've been to sunday school. This section is known as as the beatitudes but instead of going through these verses um. Section by section line by line word for word.
Um, there there's so many other great pastors that you can find online and and you know do that yourself. Uh, i'm briefly going to talk about you know. Each verse and and highlight it but a but a detailed um exposition you know, if you if you listen to macarthur if you listen to um, other good expositional pastors and and preachers.
Or maybe even your pastor has has walked you through the beatitudes of matthew chapters, uh, five or chapter five verses one through twelve um. You know, you can find those there. What I wanted to focus on Is is basically what we have been hinting at or discussing so far is that there's there's a a bigger picture of.
These are kind of easy, um to exposit to go verse by verse with because there's yeah, you know, there's um. Uh, jesus is teaching us how to live but when when we just exposit verse by verse. And we don't explain that there's a bigger picture at play that the thread that is woven from the old testament to the new testament this this theme of Jesus being king this theme of the kingdom.
I think we missed something. So that's what I want to focus on tonight as we look at these these verses is remembering the bigger picture and then. You know on our own we can look at the the specific verses, um one by one.
But the bigger picture is is the kingdom. If you look at verse verses three, this is very interesting how jesus. Um, Puts this put this sermon together if you look at verses three. And then verse 12, uh, excuse me verse 10.
This kingdom of heaven the the people who have ownership of the kingdom of heaven um Are are explained the people who who have ownership who own the kingdom of heaven or or it's theirs it belongs to them is given to them.
The the rest of the beatitudes are kind of sandwiched in. These two verses the the first verse about Those whom the king, um, the kingdom belongs. Here and then on the other side another verse about whom the kingdom belongs.
So there's there's bookends. There's there's a sandwich there and this idea of kingdom ownership or kingdom belongingness um. It is really really really really shines out or sticks out to me. Looking at these passages, um, blessed are the the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
So what about this, uh theme of the kingdom. And And is it the same one that that we are to be looking for because so many are looking for um. Another kingdom to be to be brought down. But john the baptist and jesus.
And so many others are telling us in scripture that the kingdom of heaven is at hand jesus. It has brought the kingdom of heaven. And and so the kingdom that They were looking for and the kingdom that so many christians today are are looking for in the future Is here and found here in jesus and jesus is is presented bringing and presenting this kingdom.
Um, this should excite us um instead of Us being consumed with anxiety in the world, which is something that jesus addresses here in five chapters five six and seven anxiety and worry. We should be excited and and leave that anxiety and leave that worry.
Because the kingdom has come. The kingdom has come and it's and he's brought it to this earth fulfilling this this um. This promise and this theme that god has not let go of that. He is working through men to um to subdue the earth to um.
Uh. Have dominion in the earth. To to bring his gospel bring the good news to fill the earth and that's our um, that's our mandate as well. Go into all the world. Disciple the nations fill the earth. That's our mandate.
That's the mandate of this kingdom and g and we can't do it. That's already been proven. But jesus is going to do it through us. That's why it's possible all things are possible jesus says right with god but we need to realize that.
It's not possible with us and that's What verse three is about blessed are the poor in spirit and we'll get to that in a second. Really realizing that we're destitute that we need to we're empty. We're we're we can't do anything on our own.
Um. We need to go back to john that we apart from christ we can we can do nothing. And and so we need to realize that um. But this this kingdom idea let's think about that this kingdom idea before we walk through these verses.
Um. Look at look at verse 13. And of course, we'll continue to walk through through matthew, but I wanted to show you these verses. Um in this sermon that he gives matthew chapter 5 verse 13, listen to this he says you are the salt of the earth.
And Many of you if you've been in church if you've been in sunday school. We've talked about these verses before you are the salt of the earth, but if salt has become tasteless. How will it be made salty again?
It is good for nothing anymore except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot so You. You've heard the description salt is good for taste salt is good for preservation. We are here to preserve the earth.
Why do we why do we teach that in matthew chapter 5 verse 13? But then we're looking for the destruction of the world. We're looking for the end of time god to destroy the earth it doesn't make sense that we teach both.
It's almost contradictory teachings it's teachings that seems like would would butt heads with one another. But jesus is teaching That you are the salt of the earth you um in in verse 3 in verse 10. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is who he's talking about you. Those that belong to the kingdom you are the salt of the earth. And that's true. It's it's for it's for flavor and it's for preservation. And jesus is saying There's something to this filling of the earth um.
Having dominion In the earth making disciples because it belongs to jesus. He is the king of this earth. And so he is going to use us to to bring flavor and to bring preservation. And then you know verse 14 very similar.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden um. You know, why why should we care about the world? If we're if we're going to be um taken out if we're going to be um, you know rescued out or Um evicted evacuated.
Um, whatever you want to say. Why should we care about the world? Yes, we we care about souls. We want to see people saved but But this preserving of the earth and being a light to the world jesus is concerned about His earth that which he is king over.
And he's not concerned about he's not having them to be thinking about um. Or to preach um. That they will be leaving soon and to to um warn people. You know, we're going to be taken out of here real soon.
So you you need to jump on board? No, he's talking about preserving the earth. Not leaving the earth preserving the earth. I hope you can hope you can see that. I hope that makes sense. Um. And then in chapter 5 verse 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments and so teaches others shall be called Listen to the word shall Shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
So this is this is something that is taking place um at this time in this moment throughout the existence of the kingdom if he doesn't speak as it's as if Um, this is a future event you do this and then this will happen later.
He is speaking as if this is happening currently. This is what this is what should be happening within the kingdom those who those who um. Whoever then annuls one of the least of the commandments and so teaches others shall be called The least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps and teaches them.
He shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Something that is currently taking place. This is um, this is what activity in the kingdom of heaven is supposed to be looking like not something future.
But something that is currently Did and and now taking place because we are still In the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of christ. Um. Not a future kingdom he brought it. And he's established it and he is continuing to run it.
Um. And then the last one chapter 6 verse 10 um. Just to highlight. And how can we how can we overlook this special verse? Jesus offers up the example prayer. Starting in verse 9 pray then in this way our father who art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name. Then what did jesus say? Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. Where? On earth as it is in heaven jesus cares about this planet this earth and it's The things that are within it. Not just our souls.
But the whole place Is the lord's and he's the king of it all. So now that i've established that That that the kingdom has come the kingdom is here. It's the end times kingdom because it's the everlasting kingdom.
There's not going to be another one. It's the perfect kingdom. Jesus begins to teach in matthew chapter 5 and then 6 and 7. This is what kingdom activity should look like this is what you should look like in the kingdom.
And so beginning in in verse 3 blessed are the the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The reason why he begins with this verse, um, I think it's obvious is because. The only way to to enter into the kingdom of heaven is to recognize your your need for christ.
Um, you you cannot be self-sufficient you cannot get into the kingdom of heaven on your own. You cannot be saved on your own. You cannot do enough good works. You cannot Forgive yourself. There's no way for us to Please god or get into the kingdom.
We must become poor in spirit empty of ourself empty of our self-reliance empty of our pride empty of everything within us. And come to christ. That's the only way into the kingdom of heaven. And i'm sure that's exactly why he he begins begins with that verse and then verse 4.
And these are interesting as as I read through these as I looked at these and and maybe you've noticed the same thing. Um. What kingdom activity looks like? Is is so different than what any earthly kingdom has ever looked like.
Um, isn't that amazing and i'm sure that you've noticed that that that Kingdom activity the way we live what jesus says what we should be looking for what we should look like who we are. Not necessarily what we do, but who we are is different than any other kingdom.
That has ever been or ever will be on this planet almost really contradictory To anything man can conjure up. Blessed are those who who mourn for they shall be comforted. So what's what's the uh, what's worldly wisdom and I kind of made some notes here about How what that looks like, uh worldly wisdom um.
How the world is contradictory to the the kingdom of heaven. And and let me make this comment before we move any further, uh, I wanted us to notice that When we hear kingdom of heaven um. We should think Kingdom kingdom from heaven you remember jesus Jesus was asked, you know, are you a king?
Um. But he says my kingdom is not of This world he says yes, i'm a king but my kingdom is not of this world. It doesn't mean that it's not here. But it's substance and its origin where it comes from. It is.
It's not derived from here. It's derived from heaven and its character is from heaven. It exists here. Just like we do we are. We are in the world, but we're not of the world same concept. We're here we exist here.
But our origin and our character and where we come from and um where we get our our guidance and um. How we're sustained is is from somewhere else. From outside ourselves from outside this this planet.
It's from heaven. It's from god. So that's what he's saying when he said this theirs is the kingdom of heaven. It's here. But its character and origin and source is somewhere else um. So so in verse four, what is the um, what is the worldly wisdom?
The the first thing that come to my mind is We're taught time heals all wounds um I don't think that that's biblical wisdom. Um, and and there's so many other examples, um, I just gave one for each there's so many other examples that we could talk about um, but just thinking about world worldly wisdom.
Time heals all wounds, you know, I don't think that that's biblical wisdom, you know time may um. Time will distance us from the the event and there will be a disconnection you you'll um, you'll lose Familiarity with with the event.
Um, you'll become more numb to the to the event and the and the pain. But it doesn't heal. How does it heal the wounds? Only in christ when he's blessed are those who mourn for they shall be Comforted that's where your healing comes from it comes from.
Um, the kingdom of heaven it comes from christ. Verse five. Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth and and there in verse five. Going going back to the kingdom and going back to the kingdom being here on this earth and not a future kingdom and and jesus's focus on um.
This planet that he loves you are the salt of of the earth um. Here in verse five. Why would we why would he be teaching that there are people who will inherit the earth if You know our our home is beyond the jordan.
You know in the sweet by and by and we go to heaven. What is this? What is this concept of inheriting inheriting the earth if there's not something to it? This we've got to think about that. We've got to think about that so blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth gentleness here.
It is not being a doormat. I've heard it described. Uh, jesus was um meek and mild um I can't remember exactly how it was put something under control. Power under control is is How they explain the definition of of being gentle or or jesus is being meek and mild this this power.
Under control and so gentleness here is not a doormat. What's what's worldly wisdom? Worldly wisdom says we're looking for um, and this is something that um, Jesus teaches here. In this sermon do not um store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
But that's the direction that the world wants us to go you want to find your happiness um find your satisfaction in treasures here on this earth and so instead of gentleness, we're taught we need to be aggressive and prideful um and take no prisoners because our our treasures are here in this earth.
That's where our satisfaction is. That's where we're going to find our pleasure. But jesus says it's the gentle. Those who have power under control. Those will inherit the earth. And then verse six blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be um satisfied.
The notes that I took I thought of the the phrase, uh carpe diem cease cease the day um. And and then I thought about being hedonistic. I'm, just just concerned about our pleasure. And and things that give us pleasure.
And that's our focus in this life is just fulfilling that Need for pleasure and and satisfaction um, and then of course. We soon realize and some people never come to that understanding, but we're never satisfied.
So we're just constantly looking for that that next bit of pleasure that greater pleasure. And that's why that's why drugs and so many things are slippery slope and it's a snowball because you're never satisfied.
You got to have the next biggest thing um. And that's what we're taught here. That's worldly wisdom seize the day um seek pleasure for yourself because. This is this is all there is um. And this is so contradictory to the word of god and and what kingdom living looks like.
But jesus says blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. What what do you do when you're hungry and you're thirsty? Um, do you continue on about your way? No, it begins eventually begins to consume you your stomach will hurt.
Your your mouth will become dry and your throat will hurt. Um, your body is screaming to you that you need food and you need water and jesus is saying That you need to have that kind of passion. And focus.
For righteousness for right living according to the teachings of christ, of course. Number seven blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy and of course you can think of many different things that the world teaches us, but uh.
The first things that come to my mind Concerning worldly wisdom was that it doesn't matter um who you hurt or who you step on to to get ahead in this world. Show no mercy, isn't that the the theme isn't that the the mantra because we.
We've got to focus on ourselves if we don't worry if we're not concerned about ourselves. Nobody else will be. And if we want to be happy we've got to you know. Have the finest things that have the finest things you've got to um, you've got to make that money.
And to make the money you've got to have the position to have the position. You've got to to step on who you got to step on you've got to um. Hurt you who you've got to hurt and you've got to. You can't dwell on that you just got to move forward um.
And how contradictory is that. To scripture blessed are the merciful. For they shall receive mercy those who don't those who don't deserve it. We should show mercy to. Isn't that the um example that that christ gives?
Um. It makes me think about that song. Once your enemy. Now your friend. Seated at your table um I can't remember how the how the verse goes. But but talking about us being seated at his table once his enemy now now his friend.
Um. Um. What's the verse uh. While we were yet sinners christ died for us. And jesus says blessed are the merciful they shall receive mercy. None of us deserve the the grace and kindness of god and that's where what mercy is.
And so no one deserves it and so Nobody deserves to receive mercy from anybody else. That's why it's mercy and we we grant it and give it because christ was so merciful to us. When we definitely did not deserve it from him.
Blessed are the verse say blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see god. Um worldly wisdom as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Justifying ourselves justifying our actions justifying everything that we do as long as it doesn't hurt anyone anybody else i'm fine to do it.
Um. And we'll see that jesus Looks at the heart. The father looks at the heart as he as we go through matthew 5 6 and 7. You've heard it said of old. But I say to you and we learn that god looks at the heart.
And then verse 9 blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of god. As The bible says, um as far as it depends on you live at peace with with all men. And worldly wisdom worldly wisdom works so differently um.
They want to they want to proclaim peace. They want to say peace is their goal. They want to say unity is their goal but in reality What they push As so attractive on the surface Is the most divisive things that they could do.
Um, I know we've done videos on critical theory and critical race theory that Pits people against one another critical theory and critical race theory. It pits the haves versus the have-nots. Um the oppressors versus the oppressed the blacks against the whites.
What whatever you want to call it? Whatever Category you want to look at. It is putting one group of people against another. Under the guise of peace. And it's so deceptive. But jesus says blessed are the peacemakers.
For they shall be called sons of god. Those who seek peace reconciliation with one another. We we don't need these um deceptive and and false ideas and and social Experiments that that come from the world.
We need god's word. We need reconciliation. And that comes from being gracious and merciful toward one another forgiving and loving um. That's that's kingdom living that jesus is talking about. And then of course we looked at verse 10 blessed are those who have been persecuted for the for the sake of righteousness.
For for obeying christ for for living in this way. You will be persecuted or blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake but theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you. When men cast insults at you persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on account of me.
So there's a this blessedness. To if you if you go back and you and you find some good sermons you find some good teaching on these verses you know, you'll You'll learn that this word blessed is more than just a a sense of of happiness.
It is a divine blissfulness. God is himself is described as as blessed and so this is. This is teaching us and it's showing us that when we when we live um when our life is is In this kingdom living. We will become like christ.
Blessed and what does that mean? God does not seek any any satisfaction. From anywhere else. He is complete in and of himself. So what does that mean for us? If if we live this way, we are departing from the world and we are finding our satisfaction in christ if if.
If you are gentle if you hunger and thirst for righteousness if you're merciful for firm. Or to those who don't deserve it if you are peacemakers. Guess what by obeying christ in these areas that are contradictory to the world.
Then you are showing that you are Finding your satisfaction in christ you have blessed are those those who are poor in spirit you have Realized your emptiness and you are feeling yourself with christ in its place.
Because you are obeying him and when you find your complete satisfaction in him. This is the result you begin to you'll be merciful. You'll be gentle. You'll be pure in heart. You'll be peacemakers and and you will be blessed you will um.
You will have this divine blissfulness because your Satisfaction is found completely in jesus christ just as he is completely satisfied in and of himself. And that's not going to be attractive to the world.
We are not going to be attractive to the world. People are not going to like us. How can you not like peacemakers because it is in opposition to the way they want to live? How can you not like people who are merciful people who are gentle?
Because kingdom living is in such opposition. It brings conviction. To those who want to live for themselves. Who are selfish who are prideful who are seeking the pleasures of the world? It is so convicting.
Therefore. We are hated for righteousness sake. We are hated For jesus's sake for his name's sake. Because we're finding our satisfaction in him. And then one more point that I wanted to make because I may I may forget it but it's on.
It's on these same lines. That it we're we're living contrary to the world. We're pointing to christ and and our satisfaction in him by how we live and therefore it causes friction with the world. And we'll get to it probably next time but verse 16 says let your light shine before me in such a way.
That they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven. I couldn't help but think about The uh The story that I that I heard recently coming out of the middle east when um, and I believe it was hamas who was Firing missiles at israel and they have israel has what they call this iron dome and so hamas when they were and I think this story is legitimate.
I think this story is true. When they were firing missiles at israel, um, they were falling they were um, maybe I I don't know the story exactly so I don't want to misrepresent it. I I do know that um because the iron dome um.
And because of of course god's um god's hand. The missiles did not make their way to israel. They they were the missiles were doing something crazy enough for the folks that were shooting the missiles at israel to say um.
Their god is protecting them basically to some sum it up their god is protecting them. And so I can't help but think That when we live according to this kingdom living message from christ. And the world we we have this friction with the world.
I can't help but think that that's what jesus is talking about in verse 16 when he is saying let your light so shine before me. And this light or being the light of the world is is this kingdom living?
And and they may not like us they will not like us they do not like us and it will continue to cause friction with the world but jesus is saying that this behavior. Finding your complete satisfaction in jesus christ and living this way will cause those in the world To glorify our father who is in heaven.
So we should be thankful for that. That he can do the that in us in this world. And we want to live that way. And also proclaim the gospel that others may enter into the kingdom be saved. And live in this eternal kingdom with us forever.
And enjoy this divine bliss. That is only found in jesus christ. Thank you for joining me. Um again, thank you for your support. I ask that you would continue to pray for me and my family. Would you Leave comments share.
Help me as I try to share the gospel in god's word with our community. So thank you for joining me. Let me pray as we wrap this up father. We thank you for the time that you've given us together in your word We pray that you you would um cause it to be useful.
For your glory and our community in jesus name. Amen. All right. Thank you guys for watching. Remember that that jesus is king. Go speak with the authority of christ. Live in the victory of christ and go out there and share the gospel of christ.
I hope to see you soon.