God’s Mission in Matthew

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

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. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-11 (NIV)

Beatitudes

Beatitudes

These are some of the most famous and quotable verses in the Bible.

Beatitudes

These are some of the most famous and quotable verses in the Bible.

Yet, frequently one finds them used to advance political and other agendas with little reference to their original meaning.

Beatitudes

Yet, the beatitudes when taken together present a consistent picture of a person who seeks to do God’s will.

Beatitudes

Yet, the beatitudes when taken together present a consistent picture of a person who seeks to do God’s will.

That person is Jesus and he calls us to participate in the Kingdom with him.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



Poor in spirit = giving up all hope that your righteousness will save you.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.


This is frequently used when people finds themselves in distress.


This is frequently used when people finds themselves in distress.

However, in context it means something different.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.




The poor in spirit have given up all hope of their righteousness saving them, those who mourn grieve their

own sin.




own sin.

Personal = grieve the sin I commit.




own sin.

Personal = grieve the sin I commit.

Corporate = grieve the sin that engulfs human existence.



Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.





Meek = gentle, but also obedient





Meek = gentle, but also obedient

Hunger and thirst for righteousness = those who are desperate to see the Lord’s will done.

The picture presented in the first four beatitudes is one of a person passionately committed to doing God’s will and seeing

God’s will extend over all the earth.

The picture presented in the first four beatitudes is one of a person passionately committed to doing God’s will and seeing

God’s will extend over all the earth.

Yet, history is full of those who had such zeal and brought the name of the Lord into disrepute.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.


Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.



Pure in heart = those whose motives and tactics match their convictions.



Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.




A movement can exist without a God, but it must have a devil.

Todd Gitlin




Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all

kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way

they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes mirror God’s own dealings with others.

The Beatitudes mirror God’s own dealings with others.

Isaiah 19 (NIV)

An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them. "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian— brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists . . .

. . .The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry. The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither, also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more . . .

The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings"? Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt. The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.

In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.“

Isaiah 19:1-3, 5-7, 11-13, 18-25 (NIV)

The Beatitudes give the picture of a person who is passionate about seeing the Lord’s will done.


Oftentimes the evil done in this world is done by individuals.


Oftentimes the evil done in this world is done by individuals.

Yet, the person who works for righteousness also desires the salvation of even those who do evil.

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God’s Mission in Matthew

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