The Beatitudes | The Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on The Mount: “Life in the Kingdom of Jesus”
Matthew 4:12-17, 5:1-12
v.12 “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He withdrew to Galilee.
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in CAPERNAUM, which was by the lake in the area of ZEBULUN and NAPHTALI, to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.”
v.25 “LARGE CROWDS came to Him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan, and they followed Him.”
WHAT have you heard?
v.17 “REPENT, for the KINGDOM of HEAVEN has come NEAR.”
The most incredible thing about this brand new Kingdom is that EVERYBODY is invited to participate in it.
What does it actually look like to LIVE under King Jesus’ REIGN?
“BLESSED are….Literally: ‘HAPPY’ ‘FORTUNATE’ ‘CONGRATULATIONS’
Not a list of VIRTUES.
v.3 “Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
v.4 “Blessed are those who MOURN for they will be comforted.”
v.5 “Blessed are the MEEK for they will inherit the earth.”
Not a list of COMMANDS.
Not a list of TIMELESS TRUTHS
The Beatitudes are a picture of what the GOSPEL does as it moves through our world.
Jesus Kingdom is both a PRESENT reality as well as a FUTURE hope.
We live with BLESSING for TODAY and HOPE for TOMORROW.
In Scripture, ashes are used as a symbol and reminder of two things:
1. REPENTING from a life of SIN.
2. The MORTALITY of life in this WORLD.