Sermon Notes
- _______________ for Kingdom Christians (v. 3-9)
- Posture: recognize our desperate _______________ (v. 3-5)
- Centerpiece: desire_______________ (v. 6)
- Action: we live a_______________ life (v. 7-9)
- _______________ of being a Kingdom Christian (v. 10-12)
Going Deeper
- Read Matthew 5:1-2 (this is the setting of the Sermon on the Mount) v. 1a: Jesus “saw the crowds…”
This implies that he saw the crowds and sought to get away from them. This would be a time of teaching to his closest disciples. v. 1b the mountain is more of a hill the disciples would have sat down in the slope in perfect position to hear everything Jesus said (amphitheater effect). v. 1c Jesus sat down-we think of this as a passive position unless we are in a courtroom and the Judge sits down with a gavel in hand. In Jewish culture sitting is a position of authority. Jesus is 30 years old – the age
of authority. He is acting as a Rabbi. He is going to make authoritative statements about the Law. - Dan Doriani says, “The Beatitudes are steeped in the OT. Some psalms begin, “Blessed is the man who . . .” (Psalm 1:1; 112:1), or, “Blessed is the one whose . . .” (Ps. 32:1; cf. Ps. 41:1). Each beatitude has ties to OT themes. The blessing on the poor and comfort for mourners (Matt. 5:3–4) comes from Isaiah 61:1–2. Psalm 37:11 declares that ‘the meek shall inherit the land,’ and Psalm 24:3–5 blesses the pure in heart.
- Read Psalm 73:25-26. How is this a posture of poor in spirit? Dan Doriani says: “The West typically admires self-reliance and confidence in the face of obstacles. True disciples, by contrast, know their spiritual weakness.”
- Read Luke 18:9-14. Who is poor in spirit? Who went home justified.
- Read Psalm 119:136; James 4:8-9. Do you mourn over your sin? Why or why not? How do these verses encourage us to mourn over sin?
- One author says meekness is the opposite of boldness (2 Cor. 10:1), quarrelsomeness (2 Tim. 2:24–25), and jealousy and selfish ambition (James 3:13–14; cf. 1:19–21; 1 Pet. 3:15–16). We grow in humility when we think of ourselves with sober judgment (read Romans 12:3).
- Read Matt. 5:6. Do you hunger and thirst for doing God’s will? What is God calling you to do today? What will you do about it?
- Read Matt. 5:7. Now read Matt. 18:21-35. How did the King show mercy? How did the servant NOT show mercy to his fellow servant?
- Read Matt. 5:8. The pure do good not for a reward but because theylove beauty and holiness (see Ps. 96:4–9; 1 Pet. 3:3–5). How do you need to grow in purity? What will you do to grow?
- Read Matt. 5:9. God’s Word urges people to negotiate peace, pursue it, make it, and live in it (see 2 Samuel 3; Ps. 34:14; Prov. 15:1; Rom. 12:18; 1 Cor. 7:15; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:11). Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6), creates peace between God and man (Ps. 34:11–20; Luke 2:14; 7:50; 24:36; John 14:27; Eph. 2:11–19) (Dan Doriani).
- Why are those who are persecuted because of righteousness blessed (Matt. 5:10)? Read 1 Peter 4:12-14. How should we respond when we are ridiculed for the name of Christ?
- Consider how Jesus exemplifies the Beatitudes:
- Jesus was poor in spirit, though he was fully God.
- Jesus mourned over the sins of His people-he wept over Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
- Jesus was meek and humble.
- Jesus in the wilderness hungered not for bread but for righteousness. His food was to do His Father’s will. It was always on his mind.
- There was no one more merciful than Jesus. He told the woman caught in prostitution, “Go and sin no more.”
- Jesus was pure – his heart, mind, words and actions were right.
- Jesus came not only to make peace, but to be our peace (Eph. 2:14).
- Jesus was reviled, persecuted, beaten, whipped, tortured, and killed on a cross – even though he had never sinned! Take a moment to thank Jesus for all he has done for you!
- How are the Beatitudes counter-cultural? Which of the Beatitudes are challenging for you? Ask the Lord to help you grow in these qualities.
