Is Kingdom Living Revelant in a Modern World?

The Sermon on the Mount  Matthew 5:8-11

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Matthew 5:8-11

Introduction

“You cannot choose which beatitudes you want to be true of your life, and leave the others to one side. The Beatitudes come as a whole, not as a series of options.” S. Ferguson

There is no better life than in the Kingdom

1. Merciful

v.7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Life in the kingdom or Christianity is about the internal or what is on the inside.

“Merciful” – “full of mercy”

one who is benevolently merciful involving thought and action. It reflects being concerned about people in their need. 

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17

God is the source of mercy and he is rich in mercy – Ephesians 2:4

“But God being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us…”

“They shall receive mercy” –

Simply put: you be merciful to others and God will be merciful to you!

“…if the grace of Christ is in us, if the spirit of the Lord is in us, we are merciful, we shall obtain mercy in that day. What makes me merciful is the grace of God. But the grace of God does make me merciful. So it comes to this. If I am not merciful there is only one explanation; I have never understood the grace and mercy of God…” ML Jones

2. Pure in Heart (v.8)

“Blessed are the pure in heart…”

 “heart” – Biblical imagery shows us that the heart is the personality of man. It is his mind, his will, and his emotions! It is all of man!

 Proverbs 4:23; Mark 7:20-23

“pure” – to cleanse from filth and iniquity!

“Purity of heart must never be confused with outward conformity to rules.” Carson

 “…for they shall see God.”

“Purity of heart cleanses the eyes of the soul so that God is visible.” J. MacArthur

3.  Peacemakers (v.9)

“Blessed are the peacemakers…”

 ‘Peacemakers’ – are those who resolve conflict by truth and bring to bear the righteousness of God.

 “He (Jesus) makes peace between God and man by removing sin, the ground of alienation; he makes peace between man and man both by removing sin and by bring me into a right relationship with God.” DA Carson

 We proclaim peace between man and the God whom they have rejected. It is this gospel of peace which we bring as a solider of Jesus.

 “…as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” Galatians 6:15

 “…they shall be called sons of God.” - In Jewish thought, ‘son’ often bears the meaning “partaker of the character of” or the like.

4.  Persecuted (v.10,11)

Those believers who are being persecuted are being persecuted for ‘righteousness’ not stupidity.

 Philippians 1:29 - “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…”

 1 Thessalonians 3:3 – “…that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.”

 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”

 “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

 “They (persecuted ones) have aligned themselves with the prophets who were persecuted before them, and thereby testify that in every age God’s people are under the gun. Far from being a depressing prospect, their suffering under persecution, which has been prompted by their righteousness, becomes a triumphant sign that the kingdom is theirs.” DA Carson