Matthew 5:1-12
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
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.
The Beatitudes
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.
Jesus gives us the Beatitudes...The Beatitudes sum up Jesus' teaching about what it means to live as a child of God’s Kingdom...This Teaching can be found right at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount...Moses taught the people of Israel from the mountain Mount Sinai after he had received the Commandments...And so Jesus would begin His ministry by going up a mountain and He began teaching His disciples and others about what His ministry would look like...Jesus teaches us not to forget to do good and share with the poor and those poor in spirit and the weak...Such a teaching of subversiveness might mean we neglect the importance of doing good and sharing with others who need help...Do we help the meek?...Do we forget about those who are poor in spirit...Think about how easy it can be to get caught up life and our daily routines, and our work...Jesus makes it easy for us to see the oblivious and to be merciful to the needs of others...We from the start of His Teachings, what Jesus tells us is Important to Him...His Beatitude Message is for all of us...
Jesus, in the Beatitudes, teaches us what God's Kingdom is like...“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...