Some who read this blog are struggling, perhaps to the point of wondering if they actually are "in Christ," that is, spiritually united to Him. Scripture tells us to examine ourselves, whether or not we're "in the faith." This format is certainly not the best approach for helping you grasp the realities of life in Christ. But not everyone can be approached face to face. So I thought I'd try to share some of the things the Ladies' Bible study has been studying from the book of Matthew. [If you're a woman who is struggling and you live in my area, please, please ... join us every other Monday night. These very issues are being covered!]
The best place to start is where Jesus started in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Let's get a little background behind these three chapters. Matthew's purpose in writing the gospel is to present the King and His kingdom to the nation Israel, in fulfillment of OT prophecy. (Mt.21:5) At the end of Chapter 4, Matthew gives an overview of Jesus' message and His approach to ministry. [From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt.4:17); And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Mt.4:23)] The kingdom of heaven, i.e. an earthly kingdom ruled over by God Himself (Zech.14:9), was "at hand" because its King was in their presence! His miraculous healing of all types of afflictions was in fulfillment of OT prophecy concerning the Messiah, God the Father's "Anointed One," signs meant to verify His message and His person. (Isa.35:5; John 14:11)
In Chapters 5-7, Jesus gives the first of five discourses found in this gospel. Though specifically addressing His disciples (Mt.5:1-2), we find the crowds had eventually surrounded them and are intently eavesdropping on His teaching (Mt.7:28-29). Those verses also explain WHY the multitudes are so "amazed" at His teaching. [The Greek word translated "amazed" means to have the wind knocked out of you!] He spoke in His own authority! They had never heard anything like it! Unlike the OT prophets who prefaced their teaching with "thus says the LORD" or the Jewish religious leaders who constantly quoted key teachers, "according to Shammai," "according to Hillel," Jesus says, "But I say to you" and "Truly I say to you". The Greek construction doubles the pronoun for emphasis, "But I, I say to you..." He speaks as the very author of the Law!
At the beginning of the discourse (Mt.5:3-12), He describes the Kingdom citizen and pronounces God's favor upon him ("blessed"). He then attaches future promises. But you'll also notice the first & last Beatitude (Mt.5:3,10) are in the present tense. This passage has the sense of "now/not yet" that we often see in Scripture. Being a citizen of the kingdom starts now, but is ultimately, completely fulfilled at a time in the future.
Jesus bases each beatitude on an OT psalm or prophecy. He starts out with the foundation of kingdom citizenship in Mt.5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." and then builds upon that, block by block, one Beatitude at a time. This first Beatitude ... being "poor in spirit," is foundational to entering the kingdom. It's what turns you towards the "the narrow way." Two different Greek words are used for "poor" in the NT. The one used here means "absolutely destitute." It's also used of the poor man Lazarus in Jesus' story of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk.16:20-31). Here, it describes the individual who understands his own spiritual bankruptcy, the one who comes to realize he has absolutely nothing to offer a perfectly holy God, the one who has a clear understanding that even his best deeds are "as filthy rags" before a holy God (Isa.64:6) because they spring from a self-promoting heart, not a God-honoring one. That person is the one who is "poor in spirit."
The person who is "poor in spirit" is the one who "mourns" over his sin against a God of infinite worthiness, a Being who deserves His creation's obedience and honor. (Mt.5:4) And the one who is "poor in spirit" and who "mourns" over his sin is the only one able to be "meek/gentle," i.e. humbly obedient to God. In Mt.11:29, Jesus equates being meek/gentle with being "humble in heart." Meekness/gentleness is "a Holy Spirit empowered attitude, a humility of mind towards God whereby we willingly accept His dealings with us as good and loving and do not dispute or resist His will."
In turn, one who is "poor in spirit," who "mourns" over his sin, who is "meek/gentle/humbly obedient to God" is the one who has a hunger and thirst for God's righteousness in their own life (Mt.5:6). The Greek word translated "hunger" is the same word used of Jesus after he had fasted 40 days in the Wilderness of Judea prior to His temptation by Satan. It's having that depth of hunger for God's righteousness in your life!
In these opening verses of His discourse, Jesus teaches that the basis for entrance into the kingdom is a clear recognition and confession of your own spiritual bankruptcy before a holy God. It means having a deep sorrow over your sin against Him, having an attitude of humble obedience to God in your inner man and a ravaging hunger and thirst to have His righteousness in your own life. That's exactly what we should use to evaluate our own hearts, our own attitudes towards God. That's the point where it all begins...
[If you'd like to think about these things further, I highly recommend listening to the four sermons on Mt.5:3-6 given by Pastor Brian Sayers, Christ Community Church in Plainfield, NH: "Misery Is the Key to Happiness" (Mt.5:3), "Sorrow Is the Key to Comfort (Mt.5:4), "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth" (Mt.5:5) and "Are You Hungry for Holiness? - Part 2 (Mt.5:6). I'd be happy to burn these onto a CD for you, if you'd prefer. Just ask.]
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