BEATITUDES SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5:3-12

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BEATITUDESSERMON ON THE MOUNTMatthew 53-12
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• Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the
  kingdom of heaven.
• Having no money is not an automatic in to
  heaven
• Being rich is not an automatic ticket to hell
• He wants us to see all forms of poverty and
  helplessness as a symbol of our total dependence
  before God.
• We are all in absolute poverty before God

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• Blessed are they who mourn for they will be
  comforted.
• If God is our total concern
• Our heart must weep for the insults thrown into
  Gods face by injustice in the world.
• Those who mourn over the evils that beset us all
  because of sin.

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• Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the
  land.
• The biblical meaning of meek is unassuming and
  tolerant.
• Matthew 1220
• The meek can restrain their anger they can be
  tolerant.
• They are not lordly, overbearing or haughty.
• They are not wimps, or spiritless or overly
  submissive.
• Yet they will go the extra mile, turn the other
  cheek
• The meek are gentle but firm of faith, peaceable
  but uncompromising.

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• Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for
  righteousness for they will be satisfied.
• If you are poor in spirit
• --in touch with your inner poverty and
  finiteness--you need something to fill you.
• You are hungry for the food of God!
• You want justice,
• a good relationship with God,
• you want Gods will to be done for all.
• This justice is that for which we hunger and this
  spiritual hunger is as all consuming as the need
  for material food.

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• Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown
  mercy.
• If God cleanses our hearts
• we must then know what it means to feel mercy.
• Forgiving others should be no big deal if we have
  tasted Gods love and forgiveness.
• If we can rise above our own pain and go into the
  suffering heart of another
• --even someone who continues to hurt us
• we know the compassion of the Father.
• We enter into the compassion of Jesus, who could
  say,
• Father, forgive them, they know not what they
  do
• (Luke 2334)

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• Blessed are the clean of heart for they will see
  God.
• We have all known people who leave a pleasant
  atmosphere behind them and others a trail of
  depressing cynicism.
• A clean person is open to God--ready to be filled
  with Gods presence!
• The clean of heart without reserve express the
  purity of their heart.
• It includes the idea of single-heartedness and
  purity of intention of motivation unclouded by
  selfish aims.
• Clean of heart refers to the purity and
  integrity of the whole person.

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• Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be
  called children of God.
• Jesus didnt leave us a formula for making peace.
• Peacemaking comes more easily for the poor in
  spirit--who can see the beauty of
  reconciliation--than for the proud-hearted, who
  only see the need to avenge their hurts.
• When Jesus greeted others with Shalom!
• He meant total well-being.
• Its not just health of body, but health of mind
  and heart.
• All who seek healing as a way of life are
  dispensers of Shalom.

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• Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake
  of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of
  heaven.
• Blessed are you when they insult you and
  persecute you and utter every kind of evil
  against you falsely because of me.
• Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great
  in heaven.
• Jesus said the result of his coming would not be
  peace, but division, even within families
• Courageous people of all ages suffer ridicule
  simply for being chaste or standing up for
  justice and equality and the values of Christ
  many in the world do not accept
• Congratulations!
• You Are Blessed.

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LOVE IN ACTIONTHECORPORAL SPIRITUALWORKS OF
MERCY
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CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

• Feed the hungry
• - We are called not only to feed but to
  contribute in formation of legislation to prevent
  hunger in the world
• Give drink to the thirsty - We are called to give
  water but also to actively protect the worlds
  water supply and prevent waste
• Clothe the naked
• -The poor are increasing in number. We are
  called not only to lift them up but to control
  our own debt.
• Shelter the homeless
• - Assist in finding homes for all who are
  without by shaping the social policies of our
  nation and the world.

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CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

• Visit the sick
• - Visit the sick but step beyond the visit to
  protect the terminally ill and the defenseless.
• Visit the imprisoned
• - Ransom the captive not simply those imprisoned
  due to crime but the victims of age, handicap,
  latch-key and unemployment.
• Bury the dead
• - Show true Christian community in not only
  attending funerals but in helping the living to
  mourn. Aid in decreasing the cost of burial.

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SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

• Instruct the Ignorant
• - Become a teacher, instruct others in
  spirituality and craft
• Counsel the Doubtful
• - Bear witness to confidence in Christ
  throughout your day-to-day life
• Admonish the Sinner
• - We have a social responsibility to reject and
  name sin
• Bear wrongs patiently
• - Suffering has potential for spiritual growth
  bear it with patience and dignity

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SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

• Forgive offenses
• - Healing travels astride forgiveness. One can
  not occur without the other
• Comfort the Afflicted
• -We must walk with others in their pain giving
  hope through our presence
• Pray for the living and the Dead
• - We must daily lift up to God the needs and
  concerns of others