Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes
1 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.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What if Jesus Sermon on the Mount started like this?...The poor in spirit will not find the kingdom of heaven...Those who mourn will not be comforted...The meek will not inherit the earth...Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, will not be filled or blessed...The merciful will not be shown mercy...The pure in heart, will not see God...The peacemakers will not be called children of God...Those who are persecuted because of righteousness will not see the kingdom of heaven...When people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me they will get nothing...Rejoice and be glad, because if you support Me but there will be no reward in heaven...
This is not our God...Because He would not change the Sermon on the Mount...God is looking for those in need....God is looking for those who need forgiven...God is LOVE...
If the Sermon on the Mount began like this and those who are poor in spirit, hungry, those who mourn are the last to be looked after by God, then we would have a completely different picture and idea of God...God would be different for us and what we think of Him, there would be this different version of God and how we see Him...
This is what makes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount so great a Sermon...God puts that last first and the first last...God looks after the poor and needy, and those who need help...It is in those places you find God...God is helping those who need help...God goes to those places where He is needed...