The Be Attitudes Matthew 5:1-5
Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
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There is something great about having teenagers in the house
They are more independent
You tell them to take a shower as opposed to running a bath
They, for the most part, dress themselves
One area that is not so great is their attitudes
When they were young I couldn’t do anything wrong
They cheered when I got home
Now, I can’t do anything right and they won’t get off the couch to unlock the door when my hands are full
Attitude is important and it’s not by coincidence that Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with the Be Attitudes, or what our attitude should be as a Disciple
This morning we start the study of Jesus’ greatest sermon
It has been said if you took all the good advice for how to live ever uttered by any philosopher or psychiatrist or counselor, took out the foolishness and boiled it all down to the real essentials, you would be left with a poor imitation of this great message by Jesus.
Beatitudes means “The Blessings”
They can also be understood as giving the believer his “be - attitudes” - the attitudes he should “be.”
In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom.
Read Matthew 5:1-6
Read Matthew 5:1-6
Transition:
The thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is internal and not external, spiritual and moral rather than physical and political.
His concern is for what men are, because what they are determines what they do
The Old Testament ends with the warning of a curse; the New Testament begins with the promise of blessing.
The Old Testament law demonstrates man’s need of salvation, and the New Testament message offers the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
There are 50 commands but it isn’t legalistic because it describes life in the Kingdom
Jesus doesn’t simply tell us what to do, He invites us to see the world as He does
Jesus doesn’t simply tell us what to do, He invites us to see the world as He does
The context shows that the sermon is primarily for disciples
A disciple should listen to this sermon and strive to obey him, not to get into the kingdom, but to live faithfully within it
Jesus hits on issues like pride, worry, reputation, wealth, loyalty, and trust
The Lord begins with the offer of blessedness
The beatitudes describe the character of a disciple and the rewards that God promise them
Teaching the Disciples vs. 1-2
Teaching the Disciples vs. 1-2
These beatitudes are for disciples
Jesus beckons us to come live like him
When He sat down: This was the common posture for teaching in that culture.
It was customary for the teacher to sit and the hearers to stand.
If he spoke while standing or walking, what he said was considered to be informal and unofficial
But when he sat down, what he said was authoritative and official
His disciples came to Him: This again probably has in mind a group much larger than the Twelve
This is a message on discipleship
Jesus wanted his followers to know what was expected of a disciple and how they should live
The masses probably filled in behind the disciples and heard the Gospel, but Jesus’ emphasis here was to teach the disciples
One cannot behave like Christ until one becomes like Christ. Those who do not love the King cannot live like the King.
Trying to apply Jesus’ teachings without receiving Him as Lord and Savior is futile
Then He opened His mouth: This means that Jesus used his voice in a strong way to teach this crowd.
He spoke with energy, projecting His thoughts with earnestness.
And taught them, saying: What they heard was a message that has long been recognized as the sum of Jesus’ - or anyone’s - ethical teaching.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us how to live.
Establishing a Foundation vs. 3-5
Establishing a Foundation vs. 3-5
The first three blessings build a foundation for our spiritual life
The first portion of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes, which means “The Blessings”
It can also be understood as giving the believer his “be – attitudes” – the attitudes he should “be.”
In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom.
It’s a name derived from Latin and referring to a state of happiness or bliss.
How could a message as demanding and impossible as the Sermon on the Mount be intended to make people happy?
God desires to save men from their tragic lostness, to give them power to obey His will, and to make them happy.
The fullest meaning of the term, therefore, had to do with an inward contentedness that is not affected by circumstances.
That is the kind of happiness God desires for His children, a state of joy and well-being that does not depend on physical, temporary circumstances
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
vs. 3 Poor in Spirit
vs. 3 Poor in Spirit
To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of oneself
It does not mean to be “poor spirited” and have no backbone at all!
“Poor in spirit” is the opposite of the world’s attitudes of self-praise
It is honesty with ourselves: we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God.
The world says, “Happy are the rich, the noble, the successful, the glamorous, the popular, the famous.”
This beatitude takes the opposite path to happiness
The Beatitudes seem paradoxical.
The conditions and their corresponding blessings do not seem to match
Here is the paradox:
Happy are the humble
Happy are the humble
Poverty and piety were often associated in Judaism;
the term poor could encompass either physical poverty (Lk 6:20), or the faithful dependence on God that it often produced
Matthew makes clear that Jesus is here talking about the condition of the spirit, not of the wallet
True spiritual concern for such people will express itself first of all in providing for their physical needs
But it will only truly work if the spiritual needs are ministered to
To be poor is spirit is to recognize one’s spiritual poverty apart from God.
It is to see oneself as one really is: lost, hopeless, helpless.
Apart from Jesus Christ every person is spiritually destitute, no matter what his education, wealth, social status, accomplishments, or religious knowledge.
The poor in spirit are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and their complete dependence on God.
They perceive that there are no saving resources in themselves and that they can only beg for mercy and grace.
They know they have no spiritual merit, and they know they can earn no spiritual reward.
Their pride is gone, their self-assurance is gone, and they stand empty-handed before God.
vs. 4 Comforted in Mourning
vs. 4 Comforted in Mourning
Mourning is usually associated with bereavement
When I am with someone who has lost a loved one I always quote this verse
It is healthy to mourn
Mourning has a couple of other meanings at this time
It could mean grief over the pain of the oppressed by the Romans or a sorrow over a persons sins
Three areas of mourning
death of a loved one
Being oppressed
Repentance over sins
Since Jesus is talking to his disciples the main area of focus is on our personal sin
There should be an attitude of mourning in us over how sinful we are
Listen to this beatitude in this context
Blessed are those who mourn over their sins for they will be comforted
Sounds paradoxical
The way to happiness is through sadness
We should feel sadness over our sins
We become happy by getting forgiveness
That happiness comes from the comfort of mourning our sins
“Comfort” was one of the blessings promised for the future time when God would restore his mourning people
We find happiness in the comfort that God forgives those who sin and ask for forgiveness
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you aren’t happy it may be that there is some unforgiven sin in your life
Now you can ask to be forgiven and you will be but the happiness may not be evident
That is because you want to have burden of your sin removed but you aren’t burdened over your sin
Do you ever feel broken over the sin in your life?
Do you ever mourn like the tax collector who beat his chest and described himself as a wretched sinner?
This is one of the characteristics of a happy Christian
They are saddened by the sin in their lives
You are not self flagellating, but there is a reality that you struggle and are in constant need of grace
vs. 5 Meek Inherit the Earth
vs. 5 Meek Inherit the Earth
Meekness is one of the most misunderstood character traits
The word meekness translates as gentle in the Greek and had the connotations of being mild or soft
As a human attitude it means being gentle of spirit, meek, submissive, quiet, tenderhearted.
These are some of the least valued character traits
The world wants you to be strong, bold, rebellious, loud
If you want true happiness you need to exhibit meekness
The essential difference between being poor in spirit and being meek, or gentle, may be that poverty in spirit focuses on our sinfulness, whereas meekness focuses on God’s holiness.
The basic attitude of humility underlies both virtues.
When we look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and unworthy we are;
when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how righteous and worthy He is.
We again can see logical sequence and progression in the Beatitudes.
Poverty of spirit (the first) is negative, and results in mourning (the second).
Meekness (the third) is positive, and results in seeking righteousness (the fourth).
Being poor in spirit causes us to turn away from ourselves in mourning, and meekness causes us to turn toward God in seeking His righteousness.
The blessings of the Beatitudes are for those who are realistic about their sinfulness, who are repentant of their sins, and who are responsive to God in His righteousness.
Those who are unblessed, unhappy, and shut out of the kingdom are the proud, the arrogant, the unrepentant—the self-sufficient and self-righteous who see in themselves no unworthiness and feel no need for God’s help and God’s righteousness
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
They shall inherit the earth
What does this phrase mean?
It simply means that God will not forget or forsake those who are meek
Meek people get pushed aside
Meek people get forgotten because they don’t make any noise
Jesus says that God will remember them on His day of judgment
They will not get the short end of the deal
Who Are You Going to Be? vs. 6-9
Who Are You Going to Be? vs. 6-9
Now we start to build on the strong foundation
These ask the question, “Who are you going to be?”
vs. 6 Be Hungry
Jewish people understood that God would also satisfy his people’s needs in the future kingdom, as he had supplied for them in the exodus when he first redeemed them
Here is the paradox
Happy are the Hungry
Happy are the Hungry
This beatitude speaks of strong desire, of driving pursuit, of a passionate force inside the soul.
It has to do with ambition—ambition of the right sort—whose object is to honor, obey, and glorify God by partaking of His righteousness.
This holy ambition is in great contrast to the common ambitions of men to gratify their own lusts, accomplish their own goals, and satisfy their own egos
Jesus declares that the deepest desire of every person ought to be to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
That is the Spirit-prompted desire that will lead a person to salvation and keep him strong and faithful once he is in the kingdom.
It is also the only ambition that, when fulfilled, brings enduring happiness.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
vs. 7 Be Merciful
Here is the paradox
Happy are the Merciful
Happy are the Merciful
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
vs. 8 Be Holy
Here is the paradox
Happy are the Holy
Happy are the Holy
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
vs. 9 Be a Peacemaker
Here is the paradox
Happy are the Peacemakers
Happy are the Peacemakers
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Happy are the Harassed vs. 10-12
Happy are the Harassed vs. 10-12
Rejoice in rejection
Most Jewish people did not believe that prophets still existed in the Old Testament sense, so Jesus’ comparing his followers to the prophets indicated that they would have an extraordinary mission.
Here is the final paradox
Happy are the Harassed
Happy are the Harassed
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.