Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:05.360
Five. Will be looking at the
first three verses of Matthew Chapter Five.
2
00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:10.310
I'll read through the first twelve.
Listen, for this is the word of
3
00:00:10.349 --> 00:00:15.750
the Lord. Seeing the crowds,
he went up on the mountain. When
4
00:00:15.750 --> 00:00:20.269
he sat down, his disciples came
to him and he opened his mouth and
5
00:00:21.070 --> 00:00:26.620
he taught them, saying blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is
6
00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:32.219
the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are
those who mourn, for they shall be
7
00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:38.890
comforted. Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed
8
00:00:38.929 --> 00:00:44.049
are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
9
00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:49.770
Blessed are the Merciful, for they
shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure
10
00:00:49.969 --> 00:00:54.439
in heart, for they shall see
God. Blessed are the Peacemakers, for
11
00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:00.119
they shall be called Sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for
12
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:06.109
Righteousness Sake, for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when
13
00:01:06.189 --> 00:01:10.909
others revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely
14
00:01:11.069 --> 00:01:15.670
on my account. Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward is Great in
15
00:01:15.829 --> 00:01:21.019
heaven, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you. That's by
16
00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:23.140
the reading of God's word me.
He blessed to us. Please be seated.
17
00:01:33.689 --> 00:01:38.530
This morning we hear some famous words, famous words from one of Jesus
18
00:01:38.810 --> 00:01:48.560
most famous sermons. These words open
Jesus's famous sermon on the Mount, this
19
00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:53.359
sermon that contains the next that's that's
found in the next few chapters of Matthew's
20
00:01:53.560 --> 00:02:00.879
Gospel, contains some of Jesus's most
well known instructions. It contains lessons that
21
00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.629
we've all probably grown up with,
whether you grew up in a church or
22
00:02:05.670 --> 00:02:13.150
not. Here's where Jesus says that
we are to love our enemies. Here
23
00:02:13.270 --> 00:02:16.180
is where Jesus tells us to turn
the other cheek, to judge, not
24
00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:20.900
lest you be judged, to do
unto others, as you'd have them do,
25
00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:28.460
untoto, you and the moral absolutes
Jesus will describe in this sermon are
26
00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:34.770
alarming. Many of Jesus's statements in
the sermon are truly shocking. I mean,
27
00:02:34.810 --> 00:02:38.050
there's a reason his sermon on the
mount is so memorable and has a
28
00:02:38.090 --> 00:02:45.000
lot to do with just how surprising
a lot of it is. But even
29
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:53.000
if Jesus's moral teachings are shocking and
surprising. At least they're still rather straightforward.
30
00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:58.520
I mean, it may have been
surprising the first time you heard Jesus
31
00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:04.310
call you to love your enemies,
but it wasn't exactly confusing. You weren't
32
00:03:04.310 --> 00:03:10.669
wondering what he means. They're so
what about these beatitudes? What about these
33
00:03:10.789 --> 00:03:17.500
opening string of blessings? Blessed?
Are the poor in spirit? Blessed?
34
00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:24.500
ARE THOSE WHO mourn blessed? Are
Blessed? Are we can easily follow along
35
00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:30.409
and when Jesus teaching us about what
is right and what is wrong. But
36
00:03:30.490 --> 00:03:36.930
I found it harder to grasp what
is going on with these blessings. I
37
00:03:37.050 --> 00:03:38.650
have to confess, as a young
Christian, I didn't know what this meant.
38
00:03:38.689 --> 00:03:43.599
Am I supposed to be meek?
I thought I was supposed to be
39
00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:47.960
courageous. Am I supposed to want
to inherit the earth? Shouldn't it be
40
00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:55.710
better to desire heaven? I think
what we see here is there's a there's
41
00:03:55.710 --> 00:04:01.789
a poetic character that these blessings take. I mean there's balance to these words,
42
00:04:01.789 --> 00:04:06.069
their symmetry, there's simplicity to what
Jesus is saying. I mean there's
43
00:04:06.069 --> 00:04:11.979
structure, obviously, to these opening
words, but there's not a lot of
44
00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:16.860
explanation. So what's going on with
these beatitudes? What's happening here in these
45
00:04:17.339 --> 00:04:25.610
blessings? It's easy to find many
interpretations. It's easy to to find many,
46
00:04:25.850 --> 00:04:30.009
many pitfalls as well, especially when
it comes to what to do with
47
00:04:30.089 --> 00:04:36.170
them, how to apply them.
One of the most common opinions is to
48
00:04:36.209 --> 00:04:42.639
view these blessings simply as commands.
I mean, obviously, when when Jesus
49
00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:45.519
says blessed are the poor in spirit, then there's a part of us that
50
00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.959
instinctively wants to reread these words as
if they say, if you want to
51
00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:58.029
be blessed, therefore you must be
poor in spirit. It's very easy for
52
00:04:58.069 --> 00:05:02.110
us to read conditions into these blessings. That's one way to solve the question
53
00:05:02.230 --> 00:05:06.980
of what do I do with these
words? But they're not really there,
54
00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:18.220
are they? Another interpretation I've heard
is to break down or to break apart
55
00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:21.769
these blessings to sort of ask the
question, well, which are you?
56
00:05:23.370 --> 00:05:28.370
Are you more poor in spirit?
Are You more meek? I haven't googled
57
00:05:28.410 --> 00:05:31.689
it, but I'm sure there's an
online quiz you can take that will classify
58
00:05:31.850 --> 00:05:41.079
you. Maybe you're more of a
peacemaker, maybe your mourning. But when
59
00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:46.720
we categorize these blessings, when we
split apart these blessings, we when we
60
00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:49.350
part them out as maybe you're here
or there, we then fail to see
61
00:05:49.389 --> 00:05:55.790
the unity that Jesus is drawing all
these things together. He's not dividing them
62
00:05:55.829 --> 00:06:01.829
out among our various people of various
statuses. Well then, what is Jesus
63
00:06:02.430 --> 00:06:06.459
doing here? If he's not giving
commands, what's he what's he giving if
64
00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:12.139
he's not breaking up these blessings?
What is it that is holding them all
65
00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:16.379
together? We're going to answer that
question in a couple of ways. First,
66
00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:21.009
I want to start with the opening
couple verses. Before verse three,
67
00:06:21.410 --> 00:06:27.050
we hear Jesus that he's seeing the
crowds and he went up the mountain and
68
00:06:28.050 --> 00:06:31.170
when he sat down, his disciples
came to him and he opened his mouth
69
00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:39.120
and he taught them. So Jesus
going up to a mountain where he then
70
00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:44.160
sits down, he opens his mouth
and he teaches. He opens his mouth
71
00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.509
on the top of a mountain to
teach them what it means to be blessed
72
00:06:47.709 --> 00:06:55.829
before God. Does that sound at
all familiar. Can you think of any
73
00:06:55.870 --> 00:07:01.019
other leader in Israel's history who likewise
has sended a mountain in order to deliver
74
00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:08.740
God's Word to God's people? It's
very easy to see a parallel with Moses
75
00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:14.860
here. In fact, Jesus sermon
on the Mount will likewise remind us and
76
00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:19.889
comment on the Ten Commandments which Moses
himself received and delivered to God's people.
77
00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:28.689
And this isn't the first time in
Matthew's Gospel that Jesus's life has reflected the
78
00:07:28.810 --> 00:07:33.480
life of Moses. Both Jesus and
Moses, when they were infants, their
79
00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:40.160
lives were threatened by a tyrannical king. Both Jesus and Moses had to flee,
80
00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:45.110
while other infants in their town were
put to death. Both Jesus and
81
00:07:45.189 --> 00:07:48.470
Moses lived in exile for a time
where the king, while the king lived
82
00:07:48.509 --> 00:07:54.389
who sought their life. And the
similarities don't end there. When when Jesus
83
00:07:54.389 --> 00:07:59.819
was baptized, it recalled various imagery
of Moses and Israel's passing through the Red
84
00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:05.740
Sea, an event which the Apostle
Paul calls a baptism as well. After
85
00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:09.300
his baptism, Jesus went into the
wilderness where he was tested like Moses,
86
00:08:09.379 --> 00:08:15.209
like Israel, and as Moses ascended
Synai to receive the law of God,
87
00:08:16.449 --> 00:08:22.769
how Jesus ascends another mountain in order
to speak God's Word to God's people.
88
00:08:24.850 --> 00:08:31.480
And yet the similarities we see are
given to highlight their differences. The point
89
00:08:31.559 --> 00:08:35.240
is not to view Jesus is just
another Moses or a new Moses, but
90
00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:43.149
as the fulfillment of what Moses himself
was looking forward to. Back in Deuteronomy,
91
00:08:43.149 --> 00:08:46.269
Chapter Eighteen, the Lord told Moses
that I will raise up for them
92
00:08:46.350 --> 00:08:50.269
a prophet like you from among their
brothers, and I will put my words
93
00:08:50.029 --> 00:08:54.980
in his mouth and he shall speak
to them. All that I command him.
94
00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:01.059
What we see in Christ is one
like Moses, but one greater,
95
00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:07.500
one, so much greater than Moses. I mean Moses ascended Mount Sinai in
96
00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:13.090
order to first receive God's word before
he could then speak to God's people.
97
00:09:13.649 --> 00:09:22.450
What does Jesus do? He goes
up, opens his mouth and speaks on
98
00:09:22.529 --> 00:09:26.720
Mount Sinai. Moses had to go
up alone, and if any other person
99
00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:31.080
or animal came too close to the
mountain, it was to be stoned.
100
00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.120
At that mountain, the people stood
in fear before the holiness of their God.
101
00:09:37.830 --> 00:09:43.710
The crowd was told to stay back, to stay away. But what
102
00:09:43.789 --> 00:09:50.230
does Jesus do? He goes up
the mountain and he brings he brings his
103
00:09:50.350 --> 00:09:54.620
disciples, he brings the crowds with
him. This mountain is not a place
104
00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:01.100
of terror, it's a place of
peace. And though Jesus will preach the
105
00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:09.370
law with all its perfections, it's
not in the context of judgment but of
106
00:10:09.490 --> 00:10:16.370
grace. For Moses would also speak
to God's people of blessings, but he
107
00:10:16.409 --> 00:10:20.970
would also speak to them of curses. And for Moses, the blessings and
108
00:10:20.049 --> 00:10:24.799
the curses come after the reading of
the law, as we hear in Deuteronomy
109
00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:30.360
seven. You shall therefore be careful
to do the commandments and the statutes and
110
00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:35.279
the rules that I command you today. And because you listen to these rules
111
00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.149
and kept them and do them,
the Lord Will God, your God,
112
00:10:37.190 --> 00:10:43.070
will keep you, will keep with
you the Covenant and steadfast love he swore
113
00:10:43.110 --> 00:10:48.629
to your father's he will love you, bless you and multiply you. I
114
00:10:48.750 --> 00:10:52.820
mean, this makes sense, doesn't
it? Of course God should bless perfect
115
00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:58.980
obedience, shouldn't he? Isn't this
what his own righteous justice would require?
116
00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:05.490
And yet the problem is none of
us are righteous, and the history of
117
00:11:05.610 --> 00:11:13.250
Israel showed they deserved God's curse,
not his blessing, because the law given
118
00:11:13.289 --> 00:11:16.450
by Moses does not give us a
process for saving ourselves. Rather, it
119
00:11:16.690 --> 00:11:24.559
shows to us our inability. Law
reminds us that we are not under God's
120
00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.480
blessing, but because of our sin, we deserve his justice, we deserve
121
00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:35.389
his curse. And yet what is
the first word out of Jesus's mouth?
122
00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:46.340
The first word out of Jesus's mouth
is a word of blessing. May I'll
123
00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:50.379
admit, as a young Christian reading
my Bible, I was continually confused by
124
00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:56.980
what Jesus was saying here. So
I'm happy to share, after years of
125
00:11:56.100 --> 00:12:03.570
study, after seminary education, sorry, after what all the training right that
126
00:12:03.730 --> 00:12:09.929
we receive has taught me. And
if you don't remember anything else about this
127
00:12:09.049 --> 00:12:13.570
sermon, I want you to remember
this. I'll say it twice. Even
128
00:12:15.250 --> 00:12:24.080
when Jesus announces these blessings, here's
what Jesus is doing. Jesus is blessing.
129
00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:35.509
When Jesus announces these blessings, Jesus
is blessing. I don't know why
130
00:12:35.509 --> 00:12:41.429
that took me so long. To
See, and it's a blessing that's not
131
00:12:41.509 --> 00:12:46.500
held out to you in the future
to one day, hopefully grasp and receive.
132
00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:54.379
The blessing is for you to day. As we see, then,
133
00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:58.460
that Jesus is more than just a
prophet speaking God's word to his people.
134
00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:03.210
He is the Prophet who speaks not
just God's word but with God's own authority.
135
00:13:03.769 --> 00:13:11.490
This is the final prophet who is
also the king, the perfect king,
136
00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:18.600
the perfect king who embodies the perfect
wisdom of the Lord. I think
137
00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:24.559
there's a reference to salt, to
proverbs thirty one here and in proverbs thirty
138
00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.549
one, and King Lemuel is given
this wisdom, saying first of all,
139
00:13:28.590 --> 00:13:33.230
it's not for Kings, Oh Lemuel, it's not for kings to drink wine,
140
00:13:33.830 --> 00:13:35.909
for rulers to take strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what's been
141
00:13:37.350 --> 00:13:41.340
decreed and pervert the rights of all
the afflicted. Starts with saying what kings
142
00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:45.820
are not to do. They're not
to act out of selfish greed drinking strong
143
00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:48.980
wine. They're not to open their
mouths for that sort of thing. Rather,
144
00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:56.450
later in proverbs thirty one, open
your mouth for the mute, for
145
00:13:56.529 --> 00:14:01.490
the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously defend
146
00:14:01.529 --> 00:14:07.610
the rights of the poor and the
needy. Jesus goes up to this mountain
147
00:14:07.649 --> 00:14:13.159
to open his mouth, to judge
on behalf of the poor and the needy
148
00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:20.159
and to bless them. The day
has finally arrived that the Prophet Isaiah looks
149
00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:24.000
forward to, and Isaiah Sixty one, the spirit of the Lord God is
150
00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.909
upon me, because the Lord has
appointed me to bring good news to the
151
00:14:26.990 --> 00:14:31.230
poor. He has sent me to
bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim
152
00:14:31.269 --> 00:14:35.909
liberty to the captives and the opening
of prison to those who are bound,
153
00:14:35.870 --> 00:14:41.299
to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor, to comfort all who mourn.
154
00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:48.659
This is how Jesus will later verify
to John the Baptist that he is indeed
155
00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:54.450
the Promised Messiah, because these things
are being fulfilled through his men, stry.
156
00:14:54.769 --> 00:15:00.409
Good news is being proclaimed to the
poor, captives are being set free,
157
00:15:00.730 --> 00:15:05.570
those who mourn are being comforted.
We hear that from these very words
158
00:15:07.049 --> 00:15:11.480
of blessing this morning. We're just
going to look at verse three. Blessed
159
00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:18.919
are the poor in spirit, for
there's is the Kingdom of Heaven. Now
160
00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.309
Jesus has been announcing the good news
of the Kingdom of Heaven throughout his ministry.
161
00:15:24.350 --> 00:15:31.389
He's already declared repent. The Kingdom
of Heaven is at hand and he
162
00:15:31.470 --> 00:15:37.139
can declare that as the king of
that kingdom, and as the king of
163
00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:43.860
that kingdom, he is now dispensing, handing out the blessings of his kingdom.
164
00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:48.460
He says blessed are the poor in
spirit, for the Kingdom of Heaven
165
00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:56.490
belongs to them. I don't want
you to miss how shocking these words are.
166
00:15:58.370 --> 00:16:04.559
Blessed are the poor. Is there
a time when you looked at someone
167
00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:12.799
in absolute poverty and said, boy, they sure look blessed? I mean,
168
00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:17.759
to our ears it almost sounds sarcastic
and almost sounds uncaring. What do
169
00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:22.389
you mean? The poor are blessed? They can't put food on the table.
170
00:16:22.110 --> 00:16:29.789
You're telling me their blessed. That's
astonishing. But Jesus says blessed are
171
00:16:29.830 --> 00:16:33.580
the poor in spirit. So what
does it mean to be poor in spirit?
172
00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:40.059
What is it the categorizes the poor? Those who are in poverty have
173
00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:45.899
have nothing to offer. Those who
are destitute are without the ability to purchase
174
00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:52.809
things for themselves. And truly this
is the spiritual condition of everyone before our
175
00:16:52.850 --> 00:16:57.250
holy God. The Perfect Law of
our God reveals our sin, it reveals
176
00:16:57.409 --> 00:17:03.640
our inability to earn or to achieve
any sort of gain or blessing from our
177
00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:12.000
Lord. And yet here Jesus declares
the poor in spirit to be blessed because
178
00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:21.950
to them belongs the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus announcing the blessings of the kingdom
179
00:17:22.349 --> 00:17:27.670
as they are being spread out to
those who cannot earn them. The poor
180
00:17:27.750 --> 00:17:34.660
in spirit have nothing to offer.
And yet what did they gain? Everything.
181
00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:41.779
Isn't this what the Gospel declares to
us in Romans Five, for when
182
00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:48.609
we were still weak, at the
right time, Christ died for the ungodly,
183
00:17:48.809 --> 00:17:52.609
for one will scarcely die for a
righteous person, though perhaps for a
184
00:17:52.650 --> 00:17:55.930
good person one would dare even to
die. But God shows his love to
185
00:17:56.009 --> 00:18:00.920
us and that, while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
186
00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:07.359
And yet there's more here to being
poor. There's more here to being poor
187
00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:15.190
in spirit. This condition does not
just describe our spiritual state before the Lord
188
00:18:17.390 --> 00:18:22.430
on another level and also describes our
condition in this world. Again and again,
189
00:18:22.910 --> 00:18:32.140
these beatitudes or these blessings of Jesus
will describe and will confront us with
190
00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:34.579
our position and place, not just
as those before God, but before others
191
00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:40.460
in the world. So what does
it mean to be poor in spirit before
192
00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:45.650
our neighbors and before the world?
Christ isn't making the point that it's more
193
00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:51.450
virtuous to be physically poor. Rather, he's describing how the world sees us.
194
00:18:52.809 --> 00:18:57.839
He's describing how the world treats us. The spiritual life that we're given
195
00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:04.640
in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like
poverty to the world. What does the
196
00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:11.230
world do to their poor? It
looks down on them, pities them,
197
00:19:11.990 --> 00:19:17.069
the poorer helpless before their neighbors,
the poorer subject to all kinds of abuse
198
00:19:17.230 --> 00:19:23.339
and neglect. For to be poor
in spirit does didn't reflect your bank account.
199
00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:27.259
Just look at how often David is
crying out in the psalms, acknowledging
200
00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:32.980
that he has nothing. To be
poor in spirit is to be treated by
201
00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:40.289
the world as those who are despised, to be looked down upon because our
202
00:19:40.369 --> 00:19:45.970
investment is not in the things of
this world. We look poor in the
203
00:19:45.049 --> 00:19:49.609
eyes of the world, and it
is, Paul tells us, an effusions
204
00:19:49.690 --> 00:19:53.839
one. Blessed be the God and
father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
205
00:19:53.880 --> 00:20:02.359
has blessed us in Christ with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. And
206
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.400
yet to the world it looks like
foolishness, to the world that only cares
207
00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:15.470
for itself, spiritual blessings look like
a bad investment, and it isn't this
208
00:20:15.549 --> 00:20:21.430
exactly what Christ himself faced, though, having a right to the very riches
209
00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:26.140
and blessings of Heaven, Christ laid
those down to share in the sufferings,
210
00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:33.059
to share in the afflictions of the
poor in spirit, as Paul says in
211
00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:37.650
Second Corinthians ate. For you know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
212
00:20:37.049 --> 00:20:41.410
that though he was rich, yet
for our sake he became poor so that
213
00:20:41.490 --> 00:20:48.210
by his poverty we might become rich. Christ was despised, Christ was hated,
214
00:20:48.289 --> 00:20:53.799
not because of his financial situation,
but because he was dismissed as worthless.
215
00:20:55.160 --> 00:21:03.279
He was unwelcome because he possessed nothing
that this world truly values. He
216
00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:07.549
was afflicted, he was oppressed all
the way to the cross, to the
217
00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:12.470
same cross, which is foolishness to
the world, which is yet the very
218
00:21:12.509 --> 00:21:18.500
wisdom and power of God for your
salvation. There Christ paid the penalty our
219
00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:25.700
sin deserved and in the Empty Tomb. Christ proved victorious over the sin and
220
00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:30.339
death that defines so much of this
world. And if we are looking to
221
00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:34.089
Christ by faith, if we are
placing our trust in him, then we've
222
00:21:34.130 --> 00:21:44.170
been united to him, both in
his suffering and in his resurrection, as
223
00:21:44.210 --> 00:21:47.599
Paul says, and Second Corinthians,
for though our outer nature is wasting away,
224
00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:52.279
our inner nature is being renewed day
by day. And so on the
225
00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:56.960
top of this mountain, Christ is
not handing out conditions that must be met,
226
00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:04.309
he's distributing his promises that, though
there is nothing we can do to
227
00:22:04.349 --> 00:22:11.349
become wealthy, in the Kingdom of
Heaven, Christ bestows His blessing on the
228
00:22:11.470 --> 00:22:15.390
poor in spirit, on those who
mourn, on those who are meek,
229
00:22:15.630 --> 00:22:22.900
on those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Chris rice, blessings are unconditional
230
00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:30.450
and though they speak of unseen and
eternal things, that is how Jesus says
231
00:22:30.490 --> 00:22:37.170
this. Doesn't say the poor in
spirit will be blessed one day when they
232
00:22:37.250 --> 00:22:42.970
inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Now
what he says now, the fullness of
233
00:22:44.130 --> 00:22:48.079
the Kingdom of Heaven is indeed future, but the blessing that Jesus is giving
234
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:56.960
is here. The blessing is now
blessed are the poor in spirit, because
235
00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:02.309
the blessings of Christ are for today. And so in Christ we are poor,
236
00:23:02.430 --> 00:23:03.990
we are weak, we are foolish
in the eyes of the world,
237
00:23:06.390 --> 00:23:11.910
and yet we are already blessed by
Christ, not because of what we will
238
00:23:11.950 --> 00:23:17.500
one day possess, but because of
what you already possess here and now,
239
00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:23.380
for you've been given Christ himself and
because Christ himself has claimed you. You
240
00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:33.170
who are poor in spirit. Christ
purchased you with his own blood. You,
241
00:23:33.210 --> 00:23:36.049
who are despised in the eyes of
the world, you who are looked
242
00:23:36.089 --> 00:23:40.490
down upon by a world too caught
up in its own fleeting desires, which
243
00:23:40.569 --> 00:23:48.359
never satisfy, know that this world
is not your home. You belong to
244
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.359
your savior, all the while suffering
the slings and arrows of a world that
245
00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:59.630
is fading away, as Paul says
in Colossians three. If, then,
246
00:23:59.670 --> 00:24:03.190
you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above where Christ
247
00:24:03.309 --> 00:24:07.549
is ceded at the right hand of
God. Set your minds on things that
248
00:24:07.630 --> 00:24:11.940
are above, not on things that
are on earth, for you have died
249
00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:19.220
and your life is hidden with Christ
in God. So just as they look
250
00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:23.690
down on Christ. Just as they
despised him and rejected him, the world
251
00:24:23.730 --> 00:24:29.369
will do the same to you.
And Yet, knowing what an honor it
252
00:24:29.569 --> 00:24:36.410
is to be labeled poor in spirit
along with our savior, the world doesn't
253
00:24:36.410 --> 00:24:41.720
value the blessings that Christ gives through
his kingdom. And yet what greater honor
254
00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:47.400
is there and to claim this title
of poor in Spirit along with Christ,
255
00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:53.630
from Christ's hands, to receive the
very blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven which
256
00:24:53.670 --> 00:25:00.789
are yours now to live as citizens
of that great and eternal and perfect city.
257
00:25:00.829 --> 00:25:04.869
All the While we see a world
struggling, a world failing, a
258
00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:11.740
world which needs to hear the same
message of blessing. Blessed are the poor
259
00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:18.940
in spirit, for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven. Amen, let's pray.
260
-->
