THE BEATITUDES ~ Matthew 5:7-12

 THE BEATITUDES ~ Matthew 5:7-12

 

THE MERCIFUL…

‘Blessed are THE MERCIFUL: for they shall obtain mercy.’

Mercy is forgiveness extended that is undeserved.

Encyclopedia Brittanica defines it this way:  Kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly.

It’s easy to want people to forgive you/to show mercy to you, but it’s more difficult to show mercy and give forgiveness to others, especially if they are not sorry nor are they asking for forgiveness.

However, Jesus taught in Matthew 6:14-15…

“…if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: BUT if ye FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Trespasses means (G3900) side-slip (slip-ups) whether an unintentional error or a willful transgression ….whether it was an accident, maybe they don’t even know they caused you hurt, or maybe they did and did it on purpose for whatever reason…. we still must forgive them and show them mercy so that God will forgive and show us mercy.

I know a mother whose son was killed by a man who was being pursued in a high-speed police chase.  That man’s car hit the young man’s car as he was trying to evade the police and killed him.  The man spent time in jail. Rather than becoming angry and bitter at that man, the mother forgave him.  She even wrote to him and visited him in prison often. 

To this day, she still has contact with the man who was responsible for the death of her son. She extended mercy and had compassion on him.  She even calls him her son. That is tough to do as a mother, but she found the strength to do it with the help of Jesus.

David was being pursued by Saul without just cause.  Jealousy was driving Saul to hate and want to kill David.  One day, Saul came to the cave where David was hiding, not knowing David was just a few feet away. David could have easily killed Saul that day.  His men believed God had delivered Saul into his hands.

David did not kill Saul, but he quietly cut off a piece of his clothing. David wasn’t getting even, but perhaps he was sending a warning message to Saul? Cutting his garment seems like such a small thing when he could have taken his life instead. 

He was showing mercy whereas Saul was not. BUT, as soon as David did that, his heart smote him.  He felt such conviction that he had dared to do anything against God’s anointed leader.  David immediately repented.  (1 Samuel 24)

Even if someone has maliciously and purposely done something to cause you harm, we are to forgive. 

Forgiveness is not putting your stamp of approval on their actions. 

Forgiveness is not saying you are ok with what that person did.

Forgiving someone does not mean that you need to go hang out with and be around them on a regular basis.  You can keep your distance – sometimes that is needed for a person’s safety. 

Forgiveness means that you no longer feel bitterness or anger or ill-will toward that person.

In Acts 7, Stephen forgave those who were taking his life.  As he was dying, he asked the Lord not to charge them with this sin. I really believe his mercy and forgiveness even at the point of death touched the heart of Saul (later called Paul) and stayed on his mind.  We never know who we may touch and affect by extending undeserved mercy to someone who deserves it least.

‘Blessed are THE MERCIFUL: for they shall obtain mercy.’

 

THE PURE IN HEART….

‘Blessed are the PURE IN HEART, for they shall see God.’

Pure means:

1.      free of any contamination.

2.     clean and not harmful in any way.

This follows hand in hand with the teaching of being merciful and extending forgiveness.

Those who have a pure heart are clean (pure) in their feelings and their thoughts.  They do not speak evil about others.  They do not think wrong thoughts about others. They do not harbor ill feelings or unforgiveness toward others.  The pure in heart extend mercy toward others.  Their heart is pure and clean in the sight of God.

It’s not easy to have a pure heart. 
Life can be tough. 
Situations and even people can make your heart become calloused.  

It takes work and spiritual discipline to obtain and maintain a pure heart.

To maintain a pure heart, you have to fight against allowing negative thoughts and feelings to take root in your heart and mind.  

To maintain a pure heart, don’t allow anyone to gossip, talk bad about, or sow discord about someone else in your ears.

To maintain a pure heart, when thoughts or feelings arise, cast them down and immediately pray – pray for that person and pray for yourself to love them as Christ loves them.

A pure heart is also one that is not lifted in pride, vanity, or self-love.

A pure heart is kind, loving, and charitable – not for what they will gain but for what they will give to others.

A pure heart worships God for what they can GIVE TO HIM, not what they can get from Him.  (notice how many ‘worship’ songs are about what God will do for us or what we expect Him to do for us instead of just extolling Him for who He is.) 

Everything God does for us is an added bonus; it’s undeserved.  He already shed His blood – which was undeserved mercy BECAUSE of His great love toward us.  We owe Him everything - He owes us nothing!  Our worship to Him should be with pure motives and a pure heart.

The pure in heart are focused on one single thing – that is on doing God’s will and being pleasing to Him.  Those who are pure in heart are focused on keeping their heart, mind, and life pure and free from sin.

It’s those that are pure in heart that will see God.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’

 

THE PEACEMAKERS…

‘Blessed are THE PEACEMAKERS: for they shall be called the children of God.’

I found it interesting that this word only appears once in the entire Bible and that is here in Matthew 5:9.

Bickering, fighting, arguing, backtalking, etc are not characteristics of a peacemaker, nor does it come from God.

A peacemaker will try to avoid quarrels and arguments.

A peacemaker will try to bring peaceful solution in a situation. 

A peacemaker will usually talk calmly in an attempt to pour water instead of gas on an already volatile argument.

Being a peacemaker requires a lot of self-control.  It requires maintaining a pure heart.  A peacemaker has a heart that extends mercy and forgiveness.  You see how many of Jesus’ teachings on the beatitudes seem to flow together and be connected?

This isn’t easy but: in an argument, ask yourself how Jesus would respond?  Would He say that?  Would He do that?  Or would He walk away as He did when they tried to throw Him off a cliff?

Just to clarify: Being a peacemaker does not mean you do not stand firm for Truth. Being a peacemaker does not mean you stay silent concerning what the Scriptures say we must do in order to be saved so as to avoid conflict.

People’s eternity depends on us to reach them with the Gospel.  Sometimes this will make someone mad because many want to go to heaven, but do not want to live for God. They want to live a life of sin then expect to enter in.   

A lady we witnessed to could see she was not winning as we presented Scripture after Scripture to her.  She tried to distract the conversation by asking how we felt about various topics. We kept bringing the conversation back around to salvation.

She then tried to deflect us by saying she lost a friend because she became angry with them over Scripture discussion.  We did not let that deter us.  We stayed calm and responded that we were not trying to make her angry.  We were only showing her what JESUS said, taught, and what the Scriptures said.  She calmed down and listened after that.

Yes, some people will become angry, but we are each responsible and commissioned by God to spread the Gospel. You can present the Gospel with boldness while standing firmly and still be a peacemaker. 

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’

 

PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE….

‘Blessed are they who are PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

The Apostles and early Christians were hated, beat up, stoned, tortured and killed for believing in and preaching about Jesus.

There are many in other countries who still endure and are subjected to torture and threats of death if they do not deny Jesus.

They are violently assaulted as they are urged to say they do not serve or love Jesus.  However, Jesus said if we deny Him, He will deny knowing us (Mt 10:33) – that means we will not make it to heaven.  So, they endure the persecution and torture even unto death.

We are so blessed to have the freedom to worship here in the U.S. yet so many take it for granted.  Thankfully, we do not know that kind of persecution.

There are underground churches in China where the people sit on their hands to keep for clapping or making noise so as not to be caught.  They wish they could freely come to Church and worship – the freedom that so many here in the U.S. do not take advantage of.  

‘Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

Jesus continued…

‘Blessed are ye, when men (people) shall REVILE (criticize/insult you), and PERSECUTE you (are hostile toward you), and shall SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY for My sake.’

People can be mean. People can be hateful – sometimes it’s from jealousy – sometimes it’s because the life you live will bring conviction on them for the sin they are committing – oft times it’s because the Holy Ghost in you stirs up the devil within them. 

People will criticize and insult you for living for Jesus – live for Jesus anyway!

People will be hostile toward you for being a Christian – be Christ-like anyway!

People will talk bad about you and even lie about you – show them the love of Jesus and keep letting your Light shine anyway!

Jesus and the early Christians endured way worse than what we go through now. 

The movies like to portray Jesus as a happy, upbeat man whom crowds flocked to follow.  Yet, Scripture reveals that Jesus was despised and rejected of men.  He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3 mentions twice that He was despised. He said we hid our faces from Him and did not esteem Him.

Jesus knew what it felt like to be reviled and to have all manner of evil said against Him falsely. 

Jesus warned in Matthew 10:22, “ye shall be HATED of all men for My Name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

He warned again in Matthew 24:9, “then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake.”

Jesus taught in Luke 6:22, “BLESSED are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.”

You are blessed when you are persecuted for the name and cause of Jesus Christ!

Jesus said in John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, THEREFORE the world hateth you.”

Those of this world will hate you the more like Jesus you become.

Walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, love like Jesus regardless of what others may say or do toward you.

 ‘Blessed are ye, when men (people) shall revile (criticize/insult you), and persecute you (are hostile toward you), and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake.’

REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD….

Jesus said the oddest thing to the human ears after hearing about persecution and hateful treatment.  He said, ‘Rejoice and be EXCEEDING glad…’

REJOICE means to be CHEEFUL. (Strong’s G5463)

Jesus said we should be CHEERFUL when someone is hateful or hostile toward us?

Not only did He say to Rejoice (be happy), but He also said to Be EXCEEDING glad?

Exceeding Glad in the Strong’s Concordance means, “Jump for Joy.” (G21)

It doesn’t make sense when you are being persecuted, treated with hostility, and hated for believing in Jesus.  But Jesus gave the greatest comfort when He concluded, “GREAT is your reward in Heaven!”

So, when you are persecuted (attacked, suffer torture, and treated hatefully) for righteousness sake – rejoice and be exceeding glad!

When you are reviled (criticized and insulted) for the cause of Christ – rejoice and be exceeding glad!

When your name is slandered and people say all manner of evil against you falsely for Christ’s name sake – rejoice and be exceeding glad!

‘REJOICE, and BE EXCEEDING GLAD: for GREAT is your reward in heaven…..’