The second and final part of a study of the beatitudes

1. The beatitudes - 2
Laindon Bible Class – 29th May 2019

2. This ‘blessedness’ is a scriptural principle
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The foundation
of God’s
promises
(Genesis 12
etc)
In God’s
dealings with
Israel
(Deuteronomy
28)
In the thoughts
of the Psalmist
(eg Psalm 32)
In the words of
Christ (eg
Matthew 24:46)
In the ‘Sermon
on the Mount’
(Matthew 5:1-
12 & Luke
5:20-26)
Blessing conferred
by God

3. The blessings of Matthew 5
The state The reward
Poor in spirit The kingdom of heaven (God)
Mourn Comforted
Meek Inherit the earth
Hunger and thirst after righteousness Filled
Merciful Obtain mercy
Pure in heart See God
Peacemakers Children of God
Persecuted for righteousness’ sake The kingdom of heaven
Men shall revile you and persecute you Great is you reward in heaven (cf 1 Peter
1:4 & Matthew 16:27)
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4. Additional instruction in Luke 6
• Parallels:
- Blessed be ye poor
- Blessed are ye that hunger now
- Blessed are ye that weep now
- Blessed are ye when men shall hate you
- Rejoice ye in that day
• Opposites:
- Woe unto you that are rich (cf poor)
- Woe unto you that are full (cf hunger and thirst)
-Woe unto you that laugh now (cf weep/mourn)
- Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you (cf revile you)
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5. “Blessed are the meek…”
• What does it mean to be meek? (World view is meek = weak)
• The Greek word is ‘praus’ and does not have a ready equivalent in English
(Strong offers: meek, mild, by implication humble)
• There is a very strong connection with humility eg Colossians 3:12 &
1 Peter 3:4
• Christ himself exhibited this same characteristic eg Matthew 11:29 & 21:5
• Christ provides us with an insight into meekness, see Philippians 2:5-8
• “…for they shall inherit the earth [land],” see Psalm 37:7-11 (we are
waiting: strangers, sojourners, pilgrims on the earth)
• The meekness of Moses, see Numbers 12:3 & Acts 3:22
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6. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst…”
• To hunger and thirst after righteousness means in the Hebrew “to crave”
• Earnestly desiring to manifest the characteristics set out in the beatitudes
see Colossians 1:27-29
• Jesus himself showed this hunger for God’s word in his temptations see
Matthew 4:2-4
• “Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.” see Matthew 19:23-26
• “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek
him: your heart shall live for ever.” Psalm 22:26
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7. “Blessed are the merciful…”
• ‘Merciful’ in the Greek means “concerned about people in their need,
sympathetic, compassionate” (Greek-English Lexicon)
• This displays a key characteristic of God himself see Psalm 103:8, Luke
6:36 & Matthew 5:44-48
• The need to display mercy is repeatedly illustrated in parables eg
Matthew 18:22-25
• Mercy or compassion is not just an emotion but is manifested in action,
see James 2:13-16
• We are all desperately in need of God’s mercy, see Psalm 51:1-2
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8. “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
• What is purity? It is separation from the unclean (especially the lusts of
the flesh), a longstanding scriptural principle, see 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
• The Greek word translated ‘pure’ is ‘katharoi’ meaning clean, without
adulteration; as James puts it (4:8) we must not be double minded
• “For they shall see God” = in what sense?
• The aspiration of the faithful, see Revelation 22:3-4, when Christ returns the
saints will see the full glory of Yahweh revealed in him
• But also purity is required to see Him now, see 1 John 3:6 (sin obscures our view)
• “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall
see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14
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9. “Blessed are the peacemakers…”
• Original Greek ‘eirenopoios’, which adjective only appears once in
scripture and means to bring about peace, that spread peace
• We know that peace only comes with righteousness, see Isaiah 32:17
• And righteousness only comes through Christ and his gospel message, see
Philippians 1:11
• “…they shall be called the children [sons] of God” – Greek means son,
offspring, descendant and can also mean a spiritual son
• This is the wonderful destiny of the faithful, see Luke 20:36
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10. “Blessed are they which are persecuted…”
• There is now a change of direction. We have had seven attributes or
characteristics of those who are blessed in the eyes of God. We now
have two of the blessed consequences of living in that way, which is
contrary to the entire spirit of this present world
• The Greek word ‘dioko’ means to harass or persecute someone, to drive
them out, especially because of their beliefs
• Paul speaks of this conflict between the flesh and the spirit, see Galatians
4:28-29
• “…theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – for the blessed are not of this world
but the world to come, as Jesus said to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this
world…”
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11. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you…”
• The Greek word ‘oneidizo’ means reproach, revile, mock or heap insults
on someone (abuse, discriminate against)
• Parallel in Luke 6:22
• This reproach is really of God if we are acting faithfully, see Romans 15:3
quoting Psalm 69:9
• “…shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” – we must
be ready for persecution and happy when it comes 1 Peter 3:13-16
• “Woe unto you when all men speak well of you” – we must not blend in
with the world, we must stand out, see Luke 16:13 & Matthew 5:16
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12. Some concluding thoughts
• “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:12
• “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13
• “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
Matthew 5:14-15
• “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.” John 14:27
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