1. Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-12

2. The Beatitudes Heart-level criteria for entering God’s kingdom
A relationship with God = being surrendered to God

3. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-12, ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

4. The Beatitudes
“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

5. The Beatitudes Not meant to stand alone Connect to each other
Build off the one before it

6. The Beatitudes Each has 2 parts “They,” “theirs”—emphatic in the Greek
“Blessed are . . .”
“For they are/theirs is . . .”
“They,” “theirs”—emphatic in the Greek
“They and only they are . . .”
“Theirs alone is . . .”
No spiritual blessing w/o the spiritual character

7. The Beatitudes Some talk about our relationship with God
Some talk about our relationship with people
All speak in a way that forces us to think

8. The Beatitudes “Beatitudes” = happy, or blessed “Blessed” = happy
To be blessed by God is to be approved of by God

9. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
“Poor in spirit” ≠ low self-esteem
“Poor in spirit” = to cower like a spiritual beggar
Poverty in spirit brings riches in eternity

10. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
To “mourn” ≠ grim or cheerless
To “mourn” = brokenness over our sin
“Immediately comforted and will continue to be so”

11. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
“Meek” ≠ weakness
“Meek” = strength under control
“Inherit the earth” = ruling & reigning with Christ

12. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
“Hunger” & “thirst” ≠ physical hunger & thirst
“Hunger” & “thirst” = hungering & thirsting for God
“Filled” = the more we want Him, the more He gives

13. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
“Mercy” ≠ feel someone’s pain
“Mercy” = feel someone’s pain & act to relieve it
Mercy toward others brings mercy from God

14. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
“Pure in heart” ≠ perfection
“Pure in heart” = single-hearted devotion to God
The reward is to know God more deeply than before

15. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
“Peacemaker” ≠ easygoing
“Peacemaker” = pursue wellness with God & man
To be at peace with God means to be a child of God

16. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
“Persecuted” ≠ “Blessed are the persecuted” period
“Persecuted” = “Blessed are the harassed for Christ”

17. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are you when men revile at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”
Taking insults, lies, torments, and death for Christ

18. The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
If we suffer for Him, we prove we really do know Him

19. The Beatitudes Characteristics of ones in the kingdom
Hearts like the King because the King has their hearts