Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:7-10

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 sons of God. (5:7-9)
Jesus teaches that happy or congratulated are the merciful for they are expressions of Gods
work what God has done in them and for them, He is now doing through them (II Cor 5:20)
They will be shown mercy this is the same principle Jesus teaches about forgiveness: for if
you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (6:14)
As God has forgiven us, showing His mercy and grace, we express this in relationships (work
out your salvation Phil 2:12) the more we express what He has done, the more we continue to
experience what He is doing ; but in refusing to share it, we thwart His work within us (6:15)
Blessed are the pure in heart these words refer not to sinlessness but single-mindedness
The single-minded man who is pure in his love for God would be the opposite of what James
teaches about the double-minded man who doubts and is like a wave of the sea blown and
tossed by the wind . . . he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8)
The corresponding expression of Gods grace for the pure in heart is that he will see God
Not only will the pure he see God eternally (I go to prepare a place for you John 14:3), but he
sees Him working presently in every situation of life ( we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose Rom 8:28)
Happy are the peacemakers just as we are merciful because we have been shown mercy, so we
are peacemakers because we have peace with God: once you were alienated from God and were
enemies . . . now He has reconciled you by Christs physical body through death Col 1:21-22)
Peace is primarily an established fact (we have been justified through faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5:1), and secondarily a state of the mind and heart
resulting from oneness with God rather than alienation (and the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus Phil 4: 7)
Peacemakers will be called sons of God sonship in Jewish thought meant not only natural
descent (blood line), but also a true son displayed the qualities of likeness and obedience
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary who was impregnated by Gods Spirit (Matthew 1:18)
He perfectly displayed Gods likeness: Now He is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15)
And Jesus was obedient to the Father: Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father, I lay
down My life for the sheep . . . I lay down My life of My own accord (John 10:14-18)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. (5:10)
While there are many reasons for persecution through faults of our own, Jesus congratulates
those who are persecuted because of righteousness (as He says in verse 11 because of Me)
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you
suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God (I Peter 2:20)
Gods expression of grace for those who are persecuted for the name of Christ is the same as for
the first beatitude (poor in spirit (verse 3): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
They experience the kingdom now (Luke 17:11) and eternally (John 14:3)