“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” Matthew 5
Jesus taught people what God is like and what He looks for in the human beings He made. We do not naturally love Him or want Him, so Jesus speaks to us, so that we can understand where we stand with God.
This passage is an introduction to a large lesson that Jesus taught, which we call, The Sermon on the Mountain (Mount) It was not preached all at the same time, but the Apostle Matthew puts it together as a whole teaching. It all goes together and is a long and deep lesson in the way God wants us to live and how we should be. We are not going to do the whole sermon on the mount, but a small bit, and every week we will look at a small bit of that small bit!! The talks will not be long, but we will learn a lot and remember it in the week ahead.
These beautiful Beatitudes are the introduction to the Sermon on the mountain, so this is an introduction to the introduction….
Matthew starts by setting the scene of where this was happening. Jesus was recognized by the ordinary people as a teacher from God, and they follow Him around to learn from Him. This does not mean that they truly believed in Him, or were real and true disciples. They just liked the idea of Jesus, but didn’t know Him personally.
We can feel we love Jesus and we admire what He says, but we do not belong to Him, because we have never repented, or given ourselves to Him. We like the idea of Jesus- a kind person who will always look after me, but that’s all we want. We do not really want to be like Him, because people would think we are weird. We don’t really want to do what He says, but just want help.
BUT, there is no true happiness, without JESUS….
So these beautiful words are for us. They are to teach us and show us the way to God.
That morning, Jesus goes up the side of the mountain, because there were so many people crowding around. He chose a place on the mountainside and sat down. All teachers in those times, sat down to speak. Everyone could hear, and see Him. He was in the middle of the crowd so that everyone could see and hear. Jesus doesn’t leave people out, but we have to come to hear and listen to Him. They all sit around Him, like a crown..!
What is a Beatitude?
- A Beatitude is a “blessed expression”
- A supreme blessing
- A teaching that brings ultimate blessing
- A great blessing from a godly person- from Christ
These statements are the character of a Christian as well as Gods blessings on His people.
They are BEAUTIFUL….. Let’s read them….
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Nine beautiful Beatitudes….
Lettsom Inn 