The Beatitudes and The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV- UK
Jesus calls his first disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
This Father’s Day I would like to just focus on vs 21 &22 for a minute. Now if I was Zebedee and my sons were at work with me preparing the nets, probably fixing them and getting the boat ready to go fishing and someone called them and off they went, I would be quite indignant about it! I would say something like “There is a time for work and there is a time to play!” “John and James it’s time to take on some responsibility in the family and you can go when the work is finished”! “How will you get anywhere in life if you have no sense of duty and just ‘run’ off like that?” I don’t know what this generation is coming to! ”When I was young………..!”
And if they had listened to me we might not have had the Books of John, Revelation and so much more! Now you have an insight why I am not Australian Dad of the year! But you know what, I think we are in pretty good hands with next generation! I see so much talent, so much care for those that have less than they have and I see a deep love for the Lord in many. But these verses highlight another issue, and that is there is always another viewpoint. The one of possibly what Zebedee thought and other what his sons thought! ( By the way there are two James’ in the Bible, James the Great (Son of Zebedee) and James the Just (brother of Jesus))
Very shortly after this Jesus preaches another sermon in Chapter 5 which we know so well, called the Beatitudes, that I want to have a look at from an alternate view point. I would like to look at it in the parallel light of the Lord’s Prayer. For many years I’ve thought about this, as I’m sure you have and many others, but today I would like to pull it all together.
Matthew 4:25-5:2
25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The way we are going to look at it is by looking at the verse in The Beatitudes and then looking at the corresponding verse of The Lord’s prayer, all in exactly the same order. And then seeing what light the Lord’s Prayer shines on the Beatitudes. Beatitude simply means the ultimate blessedness. In other words, we are talking here about spiritual matters throughout this message, not some physical condition.
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13..........................The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.........Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Do you know what the Psalmist says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart”:. Do you ever think we can say to our Father, “hallowed be thy name” if we don’t realise how impoverished we are? In Corinthians we read “My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in your weakness”.
And if you have doubts as to whether you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, then remember this, the only common experience that you are conscious of, is the experience of a sense of absolute unworthiness! It’s not whether you have spoken in tongues or not, or any other physical manifestation, it’s about the sense of the greatness of God and your unworthiness. That’s when you lift up the name of the Father and say “hallowed be thy name, I have nothing, and I am nothing without you”. “Whom do I have in heaven and in earth but you…” And you become part of the family of God. “In my Father’s house there are many mansions and I go there to prepare a place for you”. Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven!
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13...............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
your kingdom come, .............Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Revelation 21:1-5 New International Version – UK A new heaven and a new earth
21 Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death”[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’
5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven- literally. Right now, we mourn for what we see, the evil, the depravity, the way people mock God and have no fear. The wars and atrocities, the leaving of babies alone to die on a table up to 22 weeks old in multiple abortions in our so-called civilised nation and around the world. It’s heart breaking, but we look to a Kingdom to come where every tear will be wiped, where there won’t be any mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away- your Kingdom come!
For in this world there is much darkness, but for us believers there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel- we have a hope that is steadfast and certain and has gone through the curtain……
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13..............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ..............Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Spiritual meekness is different to what this world thinks it is. It is not weakness, but spiritually it’s strength under control under God’s authority. Spiritually its being submissive to the Father. It is not allowing your will or anyone else’s will to dominate except God’s- and that takes strength! It’s becoming more like Jesus, remember Jesus’s prayer;
Luke 22:42 42 ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done’
You know I am often reminded of the story of David and Shimei and it’s a perfect example of meekness and is such a life lesson for me
Samuel 16:5-13 Shimei Curses David
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”
Now that’s meekness- strength under control under God’s authority
And so one day the meek – you- literally will inherit the earth as we see in Revelations and elsewhere. But right now, we need to submit to the will of our Father.
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13..............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
Give us today our daily bread...............Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
And so, this spiritual bread is what satisfies this hunger for righteousness. And it begins in the word of God- our daily manna!
Matthew 6:31-34 NIV - UK
31 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Are you worried or concerned about the future then try and remember part of that that poem I shared the other day…
Once twas busy planning, now tis trustful prayer
Once twas anxious caring, now He has the care!
Our Father still provides our daily manna, and those that hunger for it will be filled!
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13..............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. (ISV)..............Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
Matthew 9:13 NIV - UK
13 But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
When we realise, we are sinners saved by the grace of God and when you are filled with the Holy Spirit then the love of God overflows, so that all you can be, is merciful! It just happens when you realise that you too are a sinner, no better than anyone else, and we all make mistakes, say the wrong things, do the wrong things, then the love of God empowers us to forgive just as we have been forgiven- and we show mercy!
Giving mercy comes as an overflow, when we realise and learn the extent of God’s mercy to us
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13..............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
And lead us not into temptation,................Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
A pure heart is a soft heart and if there is anything that hardens the heart it is sin.
Matthew 13:15 NIV - UK
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
The message is clear, be alert, we’re in a conflict zone. Keep your eyes and ears open and when the Tempter comes, move to higher ground. And in doing so you will keep your heart soft
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13.............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
but deliver us from the evil one..............Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
I don’t want to say much more about this at this point in time, but we know where the trouble in this world comes from ….
Ephesians 6:12 NIV - UK
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We are not children of darkness, but children of light.
The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13.............The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen..............Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Know this- you will be ostracized, persecuted, and some may even be killed for speaking up and doing what is right in the eyes of God
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
16 [But] we do not lose heart. ….. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
And what is eternal is the kingdom and the power and the glory of God, for ever and ever. Amen.
May the Lord open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see and experience the grace of Jesus, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit so that we can live this Sermon of the Beatitudes in a very real and practical way. Amen
The Beatitudes Matt 5:1-10// The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6:9-13
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven............................“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.............................................your kingdom come,
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth........................................................your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.......Give us today our daily bread.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy..............................................and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us (ISV)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God........................................................and lead us not into temptation,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God...........................but deliver us from the evil one
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..................for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.