The Blessings Of The Beatitudes (Part 5/9)

The Sermon On The Mount is famously known as Jesus' most well-known sermon. This message comes from Matthew 5:3-11, and within that passage of Scripture are nine blessings from the Lord. Those blessings were made to encourage us as believers, and be the turning point to truly look in God as our hope. Over these next few weeks, we will be taking time to break each of these blessings down, so enjoy!

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Something significant about firsts.

First words.

First steps.

First job.

First love.

The first time or way we engage in something oftentimes sets the understanding or engagement of something (or someone) for the rest of our life. Just ask someone who had a bad “first” meal at a specific kind of restaurant. Not sure how many have returned to those places of business after that initial bad encounter. And let us not even mention how many second dates were never achieved, because of a bad “first” date.

Biblically, this idea is carried throughout our text as well. The Rabbi’s taught that the first time an idea was mentioned it carried the weight or true sense of that thing for the rest of Scripture: they called it the “Law of First Mention.” For example, the first time that love and worship are used is in the context of Genesis 22. Where Abraham is asked to sacrifice something (in this case someone) that he loves. The concept of sacrificing something that you cherish is ingrained in what it means to love and also to worship. This truth is carried for the rest of Scripture. See the first mention of these concepts carries the true meaning and it is the context, usage, atmosphere, etc. of the first mention that gives us this understanding.

Jesus had several similar “firsts.” For me, it feels as if any of Jesus’ firsts become eternally amplified considering He ultimately has truncated time to get done what He needs to. Just three years to get out in adequate fashion all that He was needed and desired to show us about the Father.

Maybe Jesus’ most profound first is His first major teaching: at least in Matthew’s eyes. To give some context Matthew gives us a bit of a birth narrative in chapters 1 - 2. By Chapter 3, Matthew has introduced to us John the Baptist, the one who would prepare the way for Jesus’ public ministry. Chapter 4 (one of my favorites) has Jesus prophetically showing us He is greater than the First Adam (see that first again | Romans 5 and 6)) who can say no to temptation and provide both victory and empathy for us in our temptation (Hebrews 4). Matthew 4 nearly closes out with these deeply powerful words in verse 17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ”

Much is in that simple phrase of Jesus’ message: but here’s the basic thrust that would have made every religious leader of the day angry:

Heaven has come near to all of us.

It’s not far away.

We have done nothing to earn it.

We don’t actually deserve it either.

If we want it, we must admit that we can’t achieve it.

Consequently, we are called to live differently in light of this kingdom.

It is this simple but deeply challenging and profound truth that is woven into every fabric of Jesus’ first public teaching. The Kingdom of Heaven (a term that is exclusive to Matthew) has come to us, all of us, without performance and without prerequisite.

When Jesus says, “The kingdom is at hand …” The question we must ask is whom is he talking to? The text is clear to whom He is focusing: it is Not

Not spiritual elite

Not cultural trend setters

Not rich and powerful

Those whom culture has thrown away.

Those who the religious elite have disregarded.

Those who disqualify themselves.

To them, the Kingdom of Heaven is near. And it makes them happy. Consider that; Jesus’ first big teaching is about being holy. No wait, actually that isn’t it. His first big message is about being happy. It is as if to say My Kingdom is about happiness and joy. These are the realities of why I’ve come. To give you a life of abundance (John 10).

The term that Matthew uses here is the Greek word

“Blessed” | “μακάριος” | is known as the highest type of well-being possible for a human being. It is a term the Greeks used for the blissful existence of their Roman gods.

This is what happens when you enter into His Kingdom that you had no right to be in. Happiness and blissfulness.

The Law of the first mention. First sermon = First message = about happiness.

Selah.

But here’s the deal; it is only found in Him. And it is only accessed by the way He prescribes.

Thus the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 are a description of access to this blissful life. Right in the middle of this journey, once you’ve grieved over your condition, humbled yourself in light of it, and filled yourself with Him, you give mercy to others.

Matthew 5.7 | “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Jesus does a couple of interesting things here; chiefly, you get what you give out. In this run of beatitudes, Jesus has a part "a" and "b" to each. There is a personal reality first and then secondly a result. Meaning you embody the value of the Kingdom, and then there is an embodied result, it's just the embodied value is different from the embodied result.

You mourn | You are comforted

You are pure | You see God

You are meek | You inherit the Kingdom of the Earth

But in this case, there is reality and results are the same:

You are merciful | You get mercy.

Think of that: the more you are merciful the more you get it back. The more you forgive, the more you are forgiven. The more you offer to others a second chance, the more you receive yourself.

Self-evident to this is negative. The less you are the less you receive.

This is a theme throughout all of Scripture: Mercy triumphs over judgment. The less forgiveness we walk in, the less we will give to others. The less we give to others the harder and less fruitful life will be.

Now to finish connect this to Jesus’ premise of happiness. The more you walk in mercy for yourself and others, the greater depths of happiness and bliss you encounter.

Could it be that the reason why we lack happiness, isn’t because of a lack of promotion, ministry acknowledgment, stuff, or relational status, but because of a lack of mercy and forgiveness.

Could this be the moment that our nation, region, church, and personal lives are being called to live a life of mercy?

Could this be the doorway into the happy life we are called to have? Whom are you being called to have mercy for today?

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Announcements:

We are so grateful to THE have Reverend Doctor Joel Solomon join, so thank you so so much! God bless you! Thank you so much for reading this devotional! Here at The Philanthropical Faith, we love staying connected with you! Whether you are a long-time member or a new visitor, we would love to walk alongside you in your faith even better! Feel free to email us at "thephilanthropicalfaith@gmail.com," or chat with us in real-time on the website. You can even find us on our Instagram by searching "The Philanthropical Faith." We cannot wait to see what God does through you as we partner together to bring the world the good news of our Philanthropical Faith.

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