Sunday School Lesson
June 30
Lesson 5 (KJV)
Right Attitudes
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 61:1–8
Background Scripture: Matthew 5:1–12
Matthew 5:1–12
- And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
- And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
- Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Key Verse
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.—Matthew 5:12
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
- List characteristics that mark a blessed life.
- Give examples of how Jesus’ teachings go against the standard practices of the world.
- Express gratitude to a fellow believer for living “beatitude attitudes.”
HOW TO SAY IT
beatitude
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bee-a-tuh-tood (a as in mat).
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Corinthians
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Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
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Ecclesiastes
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Ik-leez-ee-as–teez.
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Ephesians
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Ee-fee-zhunz.
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Nahum
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Nay-hum.
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Palestine
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Pah–luh-stin (i as in eye).
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Introduction
- Blessed Awareness
As someone who has traveled extensively, I am acutely aware every time I come home how convenient my life is in big and little ways: clean water in my home for daily showers; refrigeration to keep food fresh and safe to eat; fast internet and dependable cell phone coverage. I come home feeling more satisfied about the accessibility of education for myself and my loved ones and less frustrated with participatory government. For a while, I do not take for granted being able to attend church without fear.
In our age of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and continual complaining, even these comforts at home aren’t always enough to convince us that we are blessed. We want something even bigger, even better, and we certainly don’t hope for hardships. How can we become people who wake up counting our blessings in all circumstances?
- Lesson Context
The word beatitude does not occur in the Greek New Testament; it comes into English through Latin and means “a blessing.” Beatitudes in the Bible begin with the word blessed. A rich source for such beatitudes is the book of Psalms, which even begins with a blessing (Psalm 1:1). Jesus spoke many blessings that New Testament writers preserved in Gospels and letters.
The basis for God’s blessing is His love. The person whom God blesses receives an expression of His love, whether the person knows it or not (Matthew 5:45). Some whom God blesses are further singled out for finding favor with God (Luke 1:30, 42).
Blessings often have both a present and a future fulfillment. If one is blessed, the benefits are evident now or will come soon. Unlike a curse, a blessing is never earned but is granted by God according to His good pleasure (see Psalm 8). Furthermore, a righteous action itself can be considered a blessing, because virtue is part of its own reward. When Jesus says “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29), He is not advising us to believe so that we can receive a blessing. He is saying that the state of being a believer is a blessing in and of itself.
Both Matthew and Luke include the Beatitudes of Jesus in their accounts of one of His sermons (compare Luke 6:20–23). It’s quite possible that those two writers recorded different teaching occasions. But if that is the case, there is at least a significant overlap in what Jesus said at both times.
The general form of the Beatitudes is (1) to pronounce a certain group of people “blessed” and then (2) give a reason for or result of that blessing. However, some key differences exist between the two writers’ accounts regarding how the Beatitudes are worded (see commentary below for examples). Beyond the differences in the Beatitudes themselves, Matthew does not include woes to various groups of people who seem to be enjoying good things in this life (compare and contrast Luke 6:24–26).
- Prelude
(Matthew 5:1, 2)
- The Mountain (v. 1)
1a. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain.
Great multitudes had begun to follow Jesus from all the regions of Palestine (Matthew 4:25). Jesus chooses a mountain as a venue to address and teach these followers. In such a location, He is above them and the crowds can spread below (see Luke 6:17 regarding an alternative sermon location on a plain).
Preaching from a mountain is symbolically important for Israel because Moses received God’s law for the first time at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:2, 3). Because of Matthew’s description of the location, we call this the Sermon on the Mount. The traditional site for Jesus’ sermon is a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee from the northwest, but this is uncertain.
1b. And when he was set, his disciples came unto him.
Once Jesus has chosen his teaching platform on the mountain, his disciples come closer unto him. Matthew presents this teaching occasion as both intimate and public. It is as if Jesus is teaching a small group on the stage of an auditorium while a large crowd listens from the seats.
The full complement of 12 disciples has not yet been announced in this Gospel (see Matthew 10:1–4); only Peter, Andrew, James, and John are named thus far (4:18–22). According to the Gospel of Luke, however, the 12 were designated before the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:12–16).
- The Words of Jesus (v. 2)
- And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying.
Jesus’ teaching is always oral in the New Testament, not written. Matthew presents a situation in which the curious followers of this wonder-worker simply cannot get enough of Him. They want to hear everything He has to say, just as they want to witness His healings and exorcisms (Matthew 4:23–25).
What Do You Think?
Under what circumstances should the church give preference to oral vs. written teaching? When should it be the other way around? Why?
Digging Deeper To what degree does combining the oral with the written (such as with a PowerPoint presentation) improve teaching, if at all? Why?
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- Blessings
(Matthew 5:3–9)
- On the Desperate (vv. 3–6)
3a. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
This is the first of eight total beatitudes. The first four beatitudes give promises to those living tough and unfulfilling lives who need God’s blessings desperately. The first group Jesus blesses is the poor in spirit. Both spiritual and material poverty are indicated, though in the third Gospel Jesus’ words are explicitly about the materially impoverished (Luke 6:20). Poverty grinds on the human spirit, and often the poor have no hope of relief except from the Lord (1 Samuel 2:8; Psalms 72:12; 140:12; Luke 1:52, 53; 4:18, 19). Those who recognize their spiritual poverty are humble and lowly (Proverbs 16:19; see also Job 42:1–6).
3b. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus understands His ministry as bringing good news to the poor (see Luke 4:18, 19, quoting Isaiah 61:1, 2). Indeed, Jesus later says that it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven(Matthew 19:23). The blessing here is that there is no entrance fee, whether in money or spiritual riches, to be welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom is a major theme in Matthew, mentioned over 30 times by this writer. This kingdom is anticipated as being very near because Jesus has brought it near in His ministry (4:17; 10:7). He makes this explicit in His teaching (5:10, 19, 20; 13:24, 31, 33; etc.) and gives signs of its truth with His healing ministry (see especially Matthew 8, 9).
What Do You Think?
Should ministry to those who are poor in spirit be combined with ministry to those who are poor in material things? Why, or why not?
Digging Deeper How, if at all, does John 6:26 cause you to modify your answer? What about Romans 15:27?
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4a. Blessed are they that mourn.
To mourn is more than tearful behavior, for the New Testament has another word for weeping (see Mark 16:10; Luke 6:25). Jesus speaks to those who are grieving, who have a deep sense of sorrow and loss. This may be for personal sins, for life’s tragedies, for community loss, etc.; Jesus does not say.
4b. For they shall be comforted.
Many Jewish people of Jesus’ day carry constant sorrow about their national situation and history. They are humiliated and oppressed by the Romans who occupy their land. Yet for Jesus’ hearers, the promise is not of national renewal or even of improvement in their personal situations. Jesus promises they will be comforted. They will find relief from their sorrow (Revelation 7:17; 21:4; compare Psalm 34:18). True and lasting comfort comes from God (2 Corinthians 1:4; 7:6).
What Do You Think?
What are some practical ways for Christians to be a blessing of comfort to those who mourn?
Digging Deeper Are there times when we should not attempt to comfort someone who mourns? Why, or why not?
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5a. Blessed are the meek.
Some equate meek with weak. Better synonyms for biblical meekness are gentleness or humility. The opposite of meekness is aggression, especially self-serving aggression.
5b. For they shall inherit the earth.
Jesus is not encouraging His hearers to be meek, for such is not His purpose here. Rather, He is offering hope and a promise to those who know their meekness: they will inherit the earth. In so doing, Jesus recalls Psalm 37:11, where David declared the same thing. Jesus and David both use earthin the sense of land. Ancient Israel inherited the promised land according to God’s promise (Genesis 12:1, 7; Joshua 1:1–6). In the same way, David anticipated the meek in Israel receiving their inheritance from God, and Jesus promises that the meek are not forgotten (compare Romans 4:13).
6a. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.
The pangs of physical hunger and thirst are reminders that no one survives without food and water. But Jesus is describing those who are consumed by their pursuit of righteousness, by the pursuit of justice. Theirs is not a whim or short-term goal, but a daily obsession.
We often understand the word righteousness more narrowly than the original text intends, because of its religious overtones. Righteousness, at its base, is knowing and doing the right thing. Since this knowledge comes only from the Lord, it is a religious word. But its applications apply to every corner of human existence. Righteousness is for living in every facet of one’s life.
Righteousness is tightly paired with judgment, what we often refer to today as justice. Justice is the desire to see the right thing done, especially for others who cannot ensure that they are treated correctly. While justice can mean punishing a wrongdoer, it is also a proactive stance. Righteousness and justice do not wait for something to go wrong so that it can be made right. Injustice should be prevented as often as possible.
These terms and concepts are ultimately defined by God (Job 29:14; Psalms 33:5; 36:6; 50:6). A human perspective might allow the exploitation of the poor in order to gain riches or simply to take care of oneself before thinking of others’ needs (Isaiah 5:7). From God’s perspective, however, the poor should be protected and assisted, not victimized and oppressed (Job 37:23; Psalm 103:6).
6b. For they shall be filled.
Jesus’ promise is that spiritual hunger and thirst will be satisfied in the kingdom of Heaven (compare and contrast the beatitude on hunger in Luke 6:21). A trusting relationship with the Lord is the only antidote for those who yearn for spiritual food and drink (Psalm 107:9). The kingdom of Heaven is the place where everyone may eat without need of purchasing food (Isaiah 55:1, 2; see also Revelation 22:17). The kingdom of Heaven that Jesus represents fulfills all our godly desires for both personal righteousness and community justice (Isaiah 9:7; 11:4).
- On the Hopeful (vv. 7–12)
7a. Blessed are the merciful.
The second set of four beatitudes offers promises to people who live in godly ways. Some people seem always to “err on the side of mercy.” They give of themselves and their possessions selflessly. They truly feel the pain of their friends and family who are suffering and seek to bring comfort to those situations.
What Do You Think?
What safeguards can we adopt to avoid making things worse while extending mercy?
Digging Deeper Give examples, without mentioning names, of failure to do so.
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7b. For they shall obtain mercy.
Jesus promises the merciful the mercy of God himself. God’s deep desire to be merciful will rest on them as they show mercy themselves and wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18). Jews of the first century view mercy as a primary attribute of the Lord, repeated throughout their Scriptures (2 Samuel 24:14; Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 25:6; etc.). But God’s mercy is not blind. Elsewhere, Jesus teaches that unmerciful, unforgiving people should not expect mercy or forgiveness from the Lord (Matthew 6:14, 15; 18:23–35; see also James 2:13).
8a. Blessed are the pure in heart.
The group addressed by the sixth beatitude is most perplexing. Who deserves to be identified as pure in heart? The Bible often speaks of evil in the human heart in a universal manner (see Genesis 8:21; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Romans 3:10), a trait that excludes purity in the same heart. Yet elsewhere the pure in heart meet God (Psalm 24:3, 4).
Jesus is not addressing a select group of people who are without sin, for no one in His audience or elsewhere meets that standard. The heart for Jesus’ hearers is more than the seat of emotions such as love or hate. It is, rather, the source of the human will or motives. While no one is without sin, some habitually act with pure motives. For children, it is the parent who always makes decisions for the best interests of the family. For citizens, it is the official who puts the interests of the people being served above personal benefits. For church members, it is the leader who prioritizes the good of the church even if it may be painful or costly for that leader. Their primary motivation is to please God. Such are the pure in heart.
What Do You Think?
In what ways can a Christian be an example of one having a pure heart while not coming across as “holier than thou”?
Digging Deeper Fine-tune your conclusion by considering the Bible’s numerous “conscience” passages (example: 1 Corinthians 10:23–32).
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8b. For they shall see God.
This promise may also seem unusual, but in the ancient world to be allowed to see the monarch is an enormous privilege (see Esther 4:11). For Jesus, the purehearted will gain this great blessing (Psalm 42:2; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:4). They will experience intimate fellowship with the Lord himself; they will ascend His holy hill and enjoy His presence (Psalm 24:3, 4).
Chronological Outline of Selected Events in Matthew
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Early Period
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Genealogy (1:1–17)
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The Birth of Jesus (1:18–2:13)
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4 bc
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The Flight to Egypt and Return to Nazareth (2:13–23)
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Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
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John’s Minisity (3:1–12)
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The Baptism of Jesus (3:13–17)
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The Temptation (4:1–11)
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The Galilean Ministry
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ad 27
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The Calling of four Fishermen (4:18–22)
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Teaching and Miracles in Capermaum (8:14–17)
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The Call of Matthew (9:9–13)
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Teaching and Healing the Mukinudes (12:15–21)
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ad 28
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The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–8:1)
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Oppasition to Jesus (12:22–45)
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The Great Sermon in Parables (13:1–35)
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Miracles of Compassion (9:18–38)
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The Twelve Apostles naesed (10:1–4)
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The Feeding of 5000 (14:13–33)
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Walking on Water (14:22–33)
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Peter’s Great Confession (16:13–20)
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The Transfiguration (17:1–8)
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Journey to Judea
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ad 30
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Jesus in Perea (19:1–12)
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The Rich Young Ruler (16:16–22)
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The Blind Men at Jericho (20:29–34)
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The Final Days
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The Triumphal Entry (21:1–17)
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The Day Oof Questions (22:1–46)
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Prediction of the Second Coming (24:45–51)
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The Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1–13)
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The Passover Meal and the Lord’s Supper (26:17–29)
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Ahony in the Garden (26:36–46)
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The Death of Jesus (27:27–66)
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The Resurrection (28:1–15)
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The Great Coenneission (28:16–20)
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Keep this chart posted throughout the study of Unit 2 to establish a chronological perspective.
Power in Praise
On the night of March 31, 2014, 9-year-old Willie Myrick was playing in his driveway in Atlanta. A would-be kidnapper approached Willie and lured him until he was close enough to be forced into the car.
For three hours, the assailant drove the boy away from his home to an uncertain fate. Willie Myrick did not respond with a struggle or with tears. Instead, he began to sing his favorite gospel song, “Every Praise,” repeatedly. The song visibly enraged the driver. “He was cursing at me, telling me to shut up,” Willie told a reporter later. Finally, the kidnapper kicked the boy out of the car. Obviously shaken but not hurt, Willie ran to a nearby house and called his godmother.
Willie’s pure heart motivated him to sing his favorite song in the face of danger, and he was delivered by God from his trial. How is the purity of your heart affecting your experience of God?
—J. E.
9a. Blessed are the peacemakers.
The seventh beatitude can call to mind diplomats brokering treaties between nations to avoid war. Such people may deserve a blessing, but they are not the target group for Jesus here. Instead He addresses those peacemakers in His audience who are bold to resolve conflicts, restore relationships, and avoid strife (Romans 12:18; James 3:18).
Biblical peace is not simply an absence of violence. Rather, it is a full experience of well-being and harmony (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). The greatest need for peace is in our relationship with the Lord, what Paul refers to as “reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). Peacemakers in the kingdom of God bring about reconciliation between people and God and then between individuals as based on the shared restored relationship with the Lord (Ephesians 2:16).
9b. For they shall be called the children of God.
The promise for peacemakers to be called the children of God is not just as a label but as a reality (1 John 3:1). To be a child of God makes us heirs of His riches (Romans 8:17). Third-party reconciliation work can be thankless and frustrating. Jesus promises hope to such workers, namely full inclusion in God’s family.
10a. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
The eighth beatitude is the other side of the coin of the seventh, just considered. Those who bring peace are not always honored and encouraged. Here, those who stand for God’s righteousness (see comments on Matthew 5:6, above) are seeking peace, but there are many for whom injustice and unrighteousness have benefits. These are not exclusively criminals but, instead, anyone who is comfortable living in the midst of injustice and sinful behavior. Challenging this status quo will receive a strong response. Rather than heeding the message and repenting, the guilty will target the messengers for punishment (1 Peter 3:14).
10b. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The promise for the persecuted comes back to the first beatitude. As with spiritual poverty, the ones persecuted for righteousness will receive the kingdom of heaven. Their rewards are not found in the world of sin, injustice, and corruption, but in the realm of the Lord, the sphere where God reigns as king. He will be their protector and rewarder (Genesis 15:1; Psalm 12:7, 8; Nahum 1:7).
- Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Jesus expands the simple description of persecution from verse 10 to include reviling and having all manner of evil said falsely (1 Peter 4:14). The corresponding beatitude in the third Gospel includes “when men shall hate you” (Luke 6:22). This further strengthens the magnitude of evil that is directed at believers. The reason for persecution is quite focused: for my sake. Followers of Jesus are hated and persecuted for no more complicated reason than that they are followers of Jesus (John 15:21; Acts 5:41). Even today, those who stand for Jesus and His teachings are hatefully labeled as religious bigots or dismissed as hopelessly naïve.
- Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Jesus has a twofold promise for His persecuted followers. First, they have a great … reward in heaven. This is sometimes called the “great reversal,” that the oppressed righteous in this life will be blessed and honored in the next life (compare Luke 16:19–31).
But there is more at stake than reward in the hereafter. Jesus is ushering in the kingdom of Heaven in His lifetime (Matthew 4:17). Persecuted saints do not simply suffer now for a reward later. Despite real or threatened persecution, the Christ-following life is rich and satisfying, a reward in and of itself (2 Corinthians 6:10; 12:10; Colossians 1:24).
Second, Jesus promises that those who suffer as His disciples join an august group that has gone before: the persecuted … prophets (2 Chronicles 36:16; Matthew 23:31, 37). This is the “cloud of witnesses” spoken of in Hebrews 12:1, the honored body of God’s servants. Standing for righteousness and justice is a prophetic voice not subject to human approval. It is to stand and speak for God himself.
Imprisoned but Free
Palani was known as the village drunk in his Laotian community. But that changed after a visit to his brother, a minister. Desperate because of his alcoholism, Palani allowed his brother to pray for him. According to his testimony, the change in his life was immediate. Palani returned to his village and began to help a local minister preach and distribute Bibles.
Only days after accepting Christ, a village leader told Palani he could no longer talk about God or distribute Bibles. Days later, police came to Palani’s house and arrested him. Having then been shackled, beaten, ruthlessly interrogated, and witnessing fellow prisoners die of malnutrition, Palani surprisingly was released two months later.
Persecuted believers recognize that the freedom Christ gives cannot be taken away. What about you: Are you experiencing freedom in Christ in all circumstances?
—J. E.
Conclusion
- Blessed Attitudes
Taken together, the Beatitudes describe characteristics of people who are earnestly seeking the Lord. Living the God-honoring life can often go unrecognized and unrewarded by society in general, leaving the godly person to wonder, “Is it worth it?” Jesus promises, “Yes, it is worth it!” and gives hope for God’s blessing.
- Prayer
God of blessings, we take comfort in the promises You give to us through the Beatitudes. As these words of encouragement have strengthened the souls of many Christians through the centuries, may they lift our hearts today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
- Thought to Remember
The Christian life is full of blessings we don’t always appreciate.
KID’S CORNER
How Can Disciples Grow Spiritually?
Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Matthew 5:1-12
(Matthew 5:1) When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
Jesus probably taught this sermon with variations many times to thousands of people wherever He traveled, which would help His disciples memorize the message so they could repeat it when they taught and wrote after His death and resurrection. These beatitudes of Jesus (“beatitude” means “a state of utmost bliss”) may reveal the course of spiritual development for every disciple (student) of Jesus Christ as they mature. The Bible calls the process of spiritual development for Christians “sanctification.” The traditional position for teaching in the day of Jesus was sitting.
(Matthew 5:2) He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
The gospel message is not only a few facts or truths about Jesus life, death, and resurrection that one should believe or memorize in order to be saved. The gospel message in the New Testament includes the call to repent, the call to faith in Jesus the Messiah as Lord and Savior, and the call to living daily in relationship with God in the kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible. Jesus expected those who followed Him to learn and apply the truths in the beatitudes so they could enjoy a taste of heaven in this life as well as mature spiritually to become more like Christ morally and spiritually.
(Matthew 5:3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word “blessed” has more recently been translated “happy.” The beginning of spiritual development and growth must include the recognition that one is in need, that one is spiritually poor and not spiritually rich or morally perfect. When we recognize we are morally and spiritually poor, we will feel sorrow for what we have done, which should lead us to repent of our sins. If we believe the good news about Jesus, we will turn to Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, cleanse us from sin, and empower us to live for Him. Turning to Jesus Christ for spiritual direction and a new beginning begins with humility and knowing that we are poor in spirit. By turning from immoral and worldly concerns to spiritual and moral concerns based on Jesus’ teaching, and by believing Jesus’ teaching as our Lord and Savior, we can begin a new life and enjoy an earthly portion of the kingdom of heaven now; for Jesus’ kingdom is not of or from this world but in our midst (see John 18:36).
(Matthew 5:4) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Beginning with the recognition of our spiritual poverty and moral lapses (or moral imperfections, sins, times of disobedience, and rebellion against God) we will naturally mourn for our sins and their consequences in the lives of others as well as ourselves. We will look back and think of the sorrow and heartbreak our sins have brought others. We will regret missed opportunities and how our sins and the sins of others have changed the course of their lives and ours. We may mourn that we are not the type of person we wanted to be spiritually or morally (or could have been). We will mourn because of our former self-centeredness and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us become more Christ-centered. In this beatitude, Jesus promises that even though we mourn because of our sin and selfishness, He will comfort us if we will receive the gifts of grace, forgiveness, and empowerment from Him through the Holy Spirit and seek to grow spiritually in relationship with Him in this life according to the Bible.
(Matthew 5:5) “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
A meek person demonstrates humility and keeps their strength, emotions, and words under control with the Holy Spirit’s help when they are hurt or offended by others. A meek person patiently endures when others sin against them; in part because they know they too have sinned (as in Moses’ and Paul’s cases who were considered meek). Jesus was meek and without sin. Jesus chose not to strike back at His enemies with resentment and the power to destroy them; rather, Jesus endured the cross: see Hebrews 12:2. A meek person will not try to appear before the world as better than others or better than he knows he is. Instead, he will love and serve others and try to respond to others in ways that will help them come to know something about Jesus and the Christian faith. The meek will inherit the earth from our heavenly Father; therefore, they do not grasp for more and more “things” (or recognition or money, etc.) in this life. As Christians, Jesus will work in our lives to help us become more meek.
(Matthew 5:6) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
As we grow spiritually, we will become more meek and we will seek the power and grace of God to live, think, feel, and choose the right things to say and do that honor Christ, rather than live to express our formerly self-centered will. We will want the will of God done by us as well as others, and God wants us to live in righteousness and peace. We will hunger for this positive righteousness in our lives and not just the cleansing from sin that we also hunger to enjoy (and that Jesus promises to give His followers). We also hunger to live in a just, merciful, and righteous world—the kingdom of God now and forever. Someday, Jesus, the King of the universe, will be visible for all to see, and He will make all things right when He comes.
(Matthew 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
As Christians, we have meekly recognized our need to live righteously. We have hungered for righteousness in our own lives. Because Jesus Christ has mercifully forgiven us for our sins and is now helping us live righteously in Him, we show mercy to others. We recognize our continuing need for mercy from our just, merciful, and loving God, and from others too. God knows our need for mercy, because God knows that we have sinned. To act with both justice and mercy toward us, God sent His Son into the world as the perfect sacrifice for our sins (see 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10). We are not yet perfect in all that we say and do; therefore, we know the value of receiving mercy and of extending mercy to others. As we continue to grow spiritually, we cease being judgmental and seek to treat others with mercy. As followers of Jesus, we choose to be merciful toward others, and we pray they will receive mercy from God and seek to truly follow Jesus too.
(Matthew 5:8) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Kierkegaard said that purity of heart is to will one thing—the will of God. As we develop the spiritual traits revealed in Jesus’ beatitudes by following Jesus Christ, we come to seek and desire the will of God in everything that happens and in everything we do. We seek and desire doing the will of God, and we also desire that the perfect will of God be done in our lives and in the lives of all those we know. We trust God perfectly, and we turn our lives and our futures over to Jesus in every detail. We seek a pure heart, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and we also seek to follow and obey Jesus in everything. We want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and this is our prayer. We seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that we will see God someday (see Matthew 6:33).
(Matthew 5:9) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
As we seek and receive both righteousness and purity in our lives as a gift by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we find and enjoy peace with God, peace with other children of God in so far as that rests with us, and peace within ourselves. Without compromising the truth about Jesus and how His followers should live, we can also work toward a measure of peace with our enemies. We cease to be at war with God (which is wanting our will to be done instead of His will be done). We cease to be at war within ourselves (which involves planning to do something wrong while knowing we should obey God). The Spirit of God within us enables us to act as Jesus himself would act in similar circumstances, so we are truly called children of God by our heavenly Father (if not by others). Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family and are rightly called children of God.
(Matthew 5:10) “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When we have grown spiritually, and after Jesus has substantially transformed our lives enough for others to see the difference Jesus makes (and the beginning of this change can sometimes be seen the very day we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior), some will see us as children of God, as sincere Christians, as workers for justice and righteousness according to the commands of God our Father and of Jesus as revealed in the Bible. Some will see us trying to help others come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior too. Some people will see us as seeking and working for righteousness and peace based on the truth, justice, mercy, and love of God in Jesus Christ; therefore, those committed to doing and promoting “this world’s ways” will begin to persecute us. The world does not want to behave according to the will of God. The worldly do not want to obey God’s commandments. In some places they will fight to prevent the mention of God in some public places. They will fight against public prayer or allowing the Bible to be read in many places. They will promote every sin that the Bible rightly condemns; therefore, they will harm others as well as themselves. They will persecute the children of God. Those persecuted for living in righteous ways are living in the kingdom of heaven now, for the kingdom of God is theirs now (even as they suffer persecution) and the kingdom of God is in our midst. Someday, after Jesus Christ visibly returns to Earth, Christians will rule and reign with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God over the entire world.
(Matthew 5:11) “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
The worldly, those of this world, and the devil hate Jesus. The worldly crucified Jesus based on false charges. The world and the devil hate the disciples of Jesus, and they persecuted those who first followed Him—killing many. When the world sees that you are different from the world because you follow Jesus, you will be persecuted on account of Jesus. As you become increasing like Jesus morally and spiritually, even the worldly will begin to see Jesus in you by the way you act and speak; therefore, you will be insulted, persecuted, and lied about because of Jesus in you. How wonderful to grow spiritually to the point that others recognize that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, so much so that the world hates you and wants you silenced—persecution will be painful in this world until Jesus returns or you go to heaven to be with Jesus. By the grace of God, we may say someday, “I am blessed by Jesus, even though some are insulting me, persecuting me, and falsely saying all kinds of evil against me.”
(Matthew 5:12) “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
How amazing to live so close to Jesus moment-by-moment that you automatically and supernaturally respond to persecution, insults, and falsehoods told about you by rejoicing and being glad! At this point in the beatitudes, the true disciples of Jesus Christ have grown spiritually (during the process the Bible calls sanctification) to the point that they can rejoice, even choose to rejoice, even choose to be glad when those of the world and the devil persecute them. Jesus Christ living in the life of Christians gives Christians this victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. The prophets and Jesus were persecuted by the religious leaders and the political leaders of their day. As the Old and New Testaments clearly describe, the greatest persecution for the true followers of Jesus Christ can even come from some in their church and not just from those of the world; but even then, Jesus’ beatitudes encourage us to rejoice and be glad. If we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness or for Jesus’ sake, our reward from God is great, and we will be rewarded by Jesus in the future when He says to us, “Well done good and trustworthy servant” (see Matthew 25:21).
How Can Disciples Grow Spiritually?
Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday, June 30, 2019
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6—NRSV). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6—ESV). “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6—KJV).
In Jesus’ beatitudes, He taught the stages of spiritual growth that His disciples could expect to pass through as they trusted in Him and obeyed His commands. The spiritual development of Jesus’ followers will begin with their humble recognition of their spiritual poverty; they will confess they lack spiritual discernment and strength. Admitting their spiritual need opens the door to living in the kingdom of heaven.
As His disciples continue to follow Him, they will begin to mourn the fact that they are not what God expects them to be or what they want to become; however, with Jesus’ quiet strength and teaching they will be comforted and guided to spiritual maturity. As they draw closer to Jesus, they will become meek from seeing the way Jesus faced His troubles in this world. With Jesus’ help, they will become better able to control themselves when provoked by those who grasp for more and more at their expense. Instead of condemning others, a further sign of His disciples’ spiritual growth is seeing and admitting how far they, along the world, have wandered away from what is good, just, and according to the will of God. They hunger to be right with God; they thirst for righteousness to reign in the world; they trust Jesus’ promise that they will be satisfied with the justice and righteousness He will bring someday. As His disciples turn from their sins, they will be merciful and receive mercy. They will become pure in heart and seek to make peace wherever possible. Though persecuted for righteousness and Jesus’ sake, they will rejoice and be glad, knowing their reward will be great in heaven.
Thinking Further
How Can Disciples Grow Spiritually?
Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Name ____________________________________
- Why do you think Jesus began His beatitudes by saying those who
are poor in spirit are happy or blessed? How might this differ from a
worldly perspective?
- What is the promise in the second beatitude? How might this
promise encourage a follower of Jesus?
- What does the world usually think of a meek person? What does
Jesus think about a meek person? Why do you think there is a
difference in thinking?
- What is the relationship between hungering and thirsting for
righteousness and purity of heart?
- Why are the followers of Jesus persecuted rather than honored by
the world? Why do you think some in the church persecute those in
the church who are truly seeking to follow Jesus?
Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further
- Why do you think Jesus began His beatitudes by saying those who are poor in spirit are happy or blessed? How might this differ from a worldly perspective? Jesus opens His arms to the poor in spirit, and we need to recognize that we are poor in spirit and have the need to go to Jesus for help. Jesus encourages the poor in spirit to come to Him with the promise that by doing so they will be blessed and happy. The worldly perspective encourages people to think more and more about themselves and what they can do and what they should strive to do to achieve worldly goals.
- What is the promise in the second beatitude? How might this promise encourage a follower of Jesus? The second beatitude is “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” When we see ourselves as sinners before God, the God who loves us and His law, the God who is concerned that we have broken His law and who does not want us to suffer the consequences, but sent Jesus to save us, we do mourn that we have abused and rebelled against such a wonderful loving God as we find revealed in the Bible. As a follower of Jesus, we receive His forgiveness and comfort as we seek to faithfully follow Jesus. Jesus respects us as we mourn for what we have done to God and others through our sins, and Jesus will comfort us and sometimes show us how we can make amends to those we have hurt.
- What does the world usually think of a meek person? What does Jesus think about a meek person? Why do you think there is a difference in thinking? The world thinks of a meek person as a weak person. Jesus things of a meek person as a strong person who can control himself when provoked and seek to do as Jesus would do in the situation—even pray for those who are hurting them. The world thinks a person should be strong and self-assertive and concerned about their rights and how to retaliate if they are wronged.
- What is the relationship between hungering and thirsting for righteousness and purity of heart? Believers can hunger and thirst for righteousness within themselves as measured by their conscience and the Bible’s teachings. They can hunger and thirst for righteousness in a world that has gone so terribly wrong. Those who seek purity of heart will always seek to do the will of God as revealed in the Bible and especially in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
- Why are the followers of Jesus persecuted rather than honored by the world? Why do you think some in the church persecute those in the church who are truly seeking to follow Jesus? The world hates Jesus. Those of this world see Jesus living in the life of the true follower of Jesus Christ. The followers of Jesus Christ also use the Bible’s teachings to tell the worldly to repent and believe the good news of Jesus Christ and turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Some in the church are worldly and want to follow 4 whatever the prevailing culture is promoting. They will try to use Jesus as a tool to achieve their worldly goals, and they do not like being told that they are wrong or not Christian.
Word Search
How Can Disciples Grow Spiritually?
Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Name ______________________________________
U R G V P Z T G I D N Q Y N F
D M I Y S I N M P S F V I R G
C E L G R G L E N Z L E P U K
S O T E H X F H R E Y R X O C
P L H U S T Z X Y D V W U M Z
R N O X C K E L Z E L A X H V
I J H B U E E O T O E I E K D
Y E P F T S S P U B X S H H E
I S J U L K O R K S E G T C T
C U O A X O M G E O N R N V R
H S F N R E I N H P D E U K O
P E A C E M A K E R S T S P F
H Z W K L R E G N U H Q O S M
X B M E R C I F U L O Y N U O
S U L Q F K U Q H D C R H Q C
Poor
Heaven
Mourn
Comforted
Meek
Inherit
Hunger
Righteousness
Merciful
Pure
See
Peacemakers
Children
Persecuted
Falsely
How Can Disciples Grow Spiritually?
Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Name ___________________________________
Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.
- Jesus praised confident Christians who knew they were perfect and scorned the poor in spirit who seemed to need God. True or False
- A meek person will normally be known as humble. True or False
- All the great sinners and rebels in the kingdom of heaven hungered and thirsted for righteousness. True or False
- The merciful will do all they can do to help sinners receive the justice they deserve. True or False
- The pure in heart are blessed because they will see God. True or False
- God’s children strive for peace. True or False
- If you say and do what is right, you will never be persecuted. True or False
- If you love and serve Jesus, no one will ever say anything bad about you or tell lies about you—everyone will admire you. True or False
- Those who follow Jesus Christ will be blessed in the kingdom of heaven. True or False
- If you are persecuted on account of Jesus, you can rejoice and be glad knowing your reward is great in heaven. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
10.True
Prayer
God of blessings, we take comfort in the promises You give to us through the Beatitudes. As these words of encouragement have strengthened the souls of many Christians through the centuries, may they lift our hearts today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.