Back to Basics
Matthew 5:1-16
Jesus was preaching, teaching, and healing the sick in Galilee and large crowds were coming to hear Him. One day, Jesus and His disciples went up on a hillside near Capernaum where Jesus preached what we know today as “The Sermon on the Mount.” He taught his disciples and followers how to be happy and blessed as they served the Lord.
The Beatitudes are not a multiple choice list of things to do, but are characteristics of a person who has a personal relationship with the Lord. We must incorporate all of them into our lives if we are going to be blessed with God’s love, joy, peace and happiness. As followers of Christ, we are to live in the world but be different from the world. We must be obedient servants of God who are willing to lovingly serve others.
Jesus said that “the poor in spirit” are happy because they belong to the kingdom of heaven, and “those who mourn” will be comforted by the Lord.
The whole world belongs to those who are “meek and lowly.” Today, people interpret “meek” as “weak” or “spineless.” Jesus told His disciples that the “meek” person is one whose trust is in God.
Those who know Jesus will “hunger and thirst for righteousness” and they will be satisfied. A genuine believer has a God-given hunger and thirst to know more about Him. God satisfies this hunger and thirsting of our soul now and throughout eternity.
God blesses those who are merciful and kind. The “pure in heart” are those who have truly been saved and their lives have been transformed by the grace of God. The pure in heart shall see God.
The peacemakers are happy because they are at peace with God and with their fellowman. Jesus clearly indicates that only those who have the life-changing qualities described in the Beatitudes are citizens of His kingdom.
Jesus told His followers that they would be blessed when they were persecuted for righteousness’ sake and that the kingdom of heaven would be theirs. He knew they were going to face persecution because their lives would be in direct contrast to the world. Jesus warned them that men would revile and persecute them and say evil things against them falsely because they were His followers.
This happened during His ministry and we see it happening today. When these things happen, His followers should rejoice and be exceedingly glad because they will be greatly rewarded in heaven. This promise applies to us today.
Christians are to be salt and light in the world darkened by sin. So, let your light shine brightly for our Lord and Savior. He is counting on you and me!
Johnston– Lessons in the BSL series for the fall quarter are being written by Virginia Johnston, a member of First Baptist Church, North Charleston, where her husband Dan is pastor.