By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sermon Text: Matthew 5:1-11
Sermon Theme
The Beatitudes are one of the most famous passages in Scripture. The word, “blessed,” basically means favored or happy in the spiritual sense of drawing close to God. The Beatitudes do not ultimately define human behavior. They describe God’s coming action. They are a dramatic and imaginative picture of a new world, very different from our world, in which God’s standards will prevail. They are the fulfillment of the prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). In the light of God’s coming kingdom in Jesus Christ, these statements of blessing redefine for us the priorities we should have in life.
Sermon Outline
- Verdict. The impression we should have of the Beatitudes as Jesus begins his sermon on the mount is that they are shocking. We should imagine the disciples and the crowds being completely startled by them. The Beatitudes don’t describe the present world. In fact they are the exact opposite of our world where the rich rule the kingdom, the strong control the earth, the deceitful are filled with abundance and those who mourn often find no comfort (Micah 7:3, Psalm 73:1-14, Psalm 13:1-2). We see a world without mercy (Jeremiah 50:42). The Beatitudes present God’s verdict on this world. They are a picture of the future when God’s kingdom will prevail and his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Beatitudes describe the coming destiny of the world. As such, they are a huge reality check for us.
- Vitality. The Beatitudes confront us with a coming world. While this world does not yet exist it is a certain reality because it is the Kingdom of God. Our choice is simple and direct. We can live comfortably in the world as it presently exists knowing that it will perish completely or we can live in a present tension awaiting God’s world to come (II Peter 3:11-13). The Beatitudes ultimately are a picture of Jesus. They foretell his ministry which will be described through the rest of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus is the one who is poor in sprit, humble (Matthew 21:1-5). He is pure in heart, hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 6:33). He is meek (not weak) (Matthew 11:28-29, cf. Matthew 21:12). Jesus’ view of the Kingdom of God is designed for the despised of this world who believe in him (Matthew 21:28-32). We are called to follow Jesus as Matthew himself personally testifies (Matthew 9:9). This means we are prepared to live not according to the present world but according to God’s coming new age. His kingdom is at hand (Matthew 4:17).
- Vision. The Beatitudes require our imagination. They paint a picture of our future, a future which is already breaking in upon us. The poor in spirit, that is, the humble, the meek and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, will inherit the earth and all its fullness. Those who mourn will be comforted (Revelation 21:4). The humble, the pure in heart and the peacemakers will see God (Psalm 34:6, 37:10-12). The rich and the powerful will be sent away empty handed (Luke 1:52-53). This is a world that can only be seen through faith. Yet this vision helps sustain us in our pilgrimage with the Lord as the vision of the promised land sustained Israel in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).
Questions for Us
- Do we find the Beatitudes shocking? Why do we not always realize how totally they contradict the order of the present world?
- How does the vision of God's coming kingdom in Christ sustain us in our present, where those who mourn are not comforted and the powerful and the violent dominate the world? How does this vision encourage us in times of change and uncertainty?
- What does it mean for us to say that the Beatitudes are really a description of Jesus Christ? How does Christ both motivate and empower us to live out the Beatitudes in our lives?
