Matthew 5:1-17 ~ He sat down

Matthew 5:1-17

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.


2 And he opened his mouth and taught 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 meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

~  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

~  "Blessed are the merciful, for 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 are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~  "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.


12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.



13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.






17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus sits to talk and is comfortable with all the difficulties of life any child of His would have.

Jesus is telling us in the Beatitudes - Life is a Difficult. All the people of Hebrews 11 found life to be difficult.

Jesus is right on target. Working His way forward right on His Plan. His ministry was short and He needed to stay on the message He is delivering. Bam. Jesus is telling it how it is.

And I will tell you something very real about America.
We love to have everything spiffy.
We are not depressed, we are 'Fine! How are you?'
We are not, across America, to mourn the dead.
The funeral ends the mourning. Death might just be a little contagious.
I actually had Maxine's three year, 40 hours a week caregiver refuse to go to her dying bed in the hospital because she, at age 50, decided hospitals and funerals might be contagious. She said you live longer if you avoid these. If she is right, a lot of us are in trouble!

We like peacemakers.
But we like some fake nicey. Which doesn't hold up, by the way. There is a balance and the balance is the truth needs to be in there in peace.

Meek - we like the expected behaviors. But humor is ok.

Merciful - is a tad out of date. This generation more than other's firmly believe the elbows out, shine group is going to win.

Pure in heart. God says our outlook on life explains our darkness and our light. When we accuse others, that finger is saying we understand that behavior.

Peacemakers and persecuted for righteousness' sake is a little bit on the same actual side.
This isn't so posh - you don't want to get near difficulty - it might be harmful. Which is funny because the people who got out of their way to express Mercy actually get real approval. From others. Bullies might get initial nods, the reality - the foundation is sand. Surprisingly, this is true.

Rejoice at the Words of Jesus, because - We all clearly need a Savior.

The Beatitudes
sound like something like a dessert and you'd want seconds.
Instead, Jesus is telling us life is work in all aspects!


If you look into the revealing of Hearts you find Beatitudes Jesus gave mean something very deep and Personal to the people attending Church. Most Church goers are 50 and older. Because there is an answer to - life. And in the Words of Scripture we begin to see the eternal truth and comfort.

What is your typical Church goer going to see in the Beatitudes? We could list the fruit of the Spirit - but what you get is fortitude.

Poor in Spirit?
What is more discouraging than an Adult Children in a variety of aspects - employment, love, marriage, a better job. Substances. We want more for our children than for ourselves many times.
Going to Church to lift up to God - that loved one.

Mourning?
The job providing an income and not a life. The desire to be a worthy person of God and not seeing other than His Grace for that to happen. That the job is more fun than the family. And God is going to find comfort. Sometimes just seeing others doing ok at Church. Sometimes seeing another season of life that has joy. Or a season of life being accomplished that we fear.

The Meek -
are learning from God, know a new Heaven and a new earth are possible with endurance and a positive attitude. The meek believe in the Favor of God is coming. Being nourished knowing God rewards the faithful. Knowing God is going to be there in the path and waiting on His timing. The Children of God are providing for elderly parents. Giving up their time - going to comfort the love, as life changes! They are encountering being the new last layer and thinking about what gave their life deeper significance.

Believing God is hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Because in our later decades we decide, "We lived a life worth living." Or waste of time. To know God provides the fuel knowing we are still making a life worth living at all stages.

Blessed are the Merciful -
I know a man at Church who goes deliberately to greet others with great warmth. He Believes Jesus Christ is LOVE. And when he is merciful - the people smile with great warmth. They are encouraged the Body of Christ is good. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
I love a lady at my Church who Rocks on in Jesus. She brought her husband to the faith by... being nicey? Nope. She had marriage counseling with a Priest who shook the foundations and her husband came away saying, "Jesus!" Her husband gives up his vacation to do his work at Church. He is a Light of Christ - the way he greets people Sincerely. And her child and grandchildren - loved on and loved on and loved on - until they cannot wait to fall into the Doors of Open Church!

Now the other part of the Church Family is usually the family with Children. This younger family is specifically looking for this - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The people with small children want to show a framework of life (Law where the blessings are) and the mercy of Jesus to pick up where mankind is fallen. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The beatitudes builds the Church. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Jesus, You stayed on topic. Your ministry was short. Your Words accurate and truthful. Even as You sat to talk to Your people, You were making a way to the Cross. Jesus could have chosen all things and instead He chose to serve us. Saving us to become His. This is work. And worth all of life - to know Jesus. Draw us near to you, O Lord. We need You, Jesus, far more than we are needed. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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