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Introduction What makes you happy? For Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang it's easy - happiness is: o Finding a pencil o Pizza with sausage o Telling the time o Happiness is learning to whistle o Tying your shoe for the very first time o Happiness is anyone and anything at all, that's loved by you. Researchers Joy Windsor and Ann Bowling - who studied "happiness" as it relates to "quality of life" as reported in the Journal of Happiness Studies - found in a study of Britains in 1993 that the top four areas of life that brought happiness were: 1) relationships, 2) money, and 3) health and 4) a social life. Buddha said it this way: "The secret of health for both the mind and the body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, nor to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly." Then there's always JD Salinger - who said: "The most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a sold, and joy is a liquid." Then there's always the saying: Money can't buy you happiness, but it allows you to rent." Our society is focused on happiness - our constitution promises that we can pursue it - and all of our energy is put towards obtaining it. But what is REAL happiness? And how has the key to it? Contrary to what we've heard: ignoring the past won't lead to happiness, a social life won't make you happy, nor will pouring liquid Joy on yourself - and I don't know about you, but finding a pencil doesn't usually make my day. Certainly our society tells us that money IS the way to happiness or a reasonable facsimile thereof - but if we listen to the words of the wisest person who ever lived - Jesus Christ - our ideas about happiness and the way to it - change. We are beginning a section of Scripture known as the Sermon on the Mount - that's because Jesus went up on the side of a mountain and taught. (Overhead) 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: As we saw last week - Jesus' miracles didn't go unnoticed. That's not surprising - something unusual was happening so people rushed to find out about it. It's much the same we see today with TV programs like Survivor. What started as a fairly low profile reality TV series ended up a monster hit and people tuning in and shaping conversations in everyday life. Jesus didn't have a PA system like I am using - so the easiest way for Him to be heard was to use the natural terrain of the sloping hill to carry His voice to many people. Now you'll notice it says "His disciples came to Him" - that leads some to think Jesus was just talking to the 12 that He had chosen. In fact, its most likely He was speaking to the 12, but His words were applicable to everyone there, and everyone here. There are many different interpretations about the section of Scripture from Matthew 5:3-11. It is arguably the most well known section of verses in the entire Bible - and one of the most widely misunderstood. We're going to look at 9 statements Jesus makes - all starting with the same word: blessed. That's why they are called: "The Beatitudes." The word comes from the latin term beatus - or "happy". That's basically the same definition of "blessed" which is from the Greek markarios which means supremely blessed or happy. The world quotes and misquotes the Beatitudes - after all - who wouldn't want to be happy? And yet when we look at Jesus' prescription for happiness - it runs counter to what we find in the world and what we might expect. We're going to look at the list as a whole - and also each section individually. So let's read the whole thing first: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Each statement has two parts - the first talks about a characteristic or character trait - followed by how that trait will result in happiness. The first thing to understand is that this isn't a list you can pick from - "Oh, I think I'll be merciful so I'll receive mercy but I won't be a peacemaker." Jesus means for His people to exhibit ALL of these characteristics. The second thing is that when you look at the list it doesn't appear as if those that exhibit meekness would be likely to inherit the earth - to inherit the earth you've got to conquer it, right? Well - let's understand that "blessed" doesn't mean "happy" in a worldly sense of the 3 P's: prosperity, popularity, and power. Blessed means "singularly favored by God, graciously approved by God." In reality - being like God, being with God is the thing that makes us the most happy. In this world we have lots of substitutes and counterfeits - but deep down the thing that really makes us happy is the thing that makes us like God. Those that are "blessed" receive hope and joy independent of outward circumstances. Peace doesn't mean the absence of conflict - it means calmness in the MIDST of a storm. Vs. 3 Poor In Spirit I used to think this read: "Blessed are poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As if God was kind of a giant Robin Hood - stealing from the rich of this world to give the poor the next. But this isn't what it says - "blessed are the poor IN SPIRIT." As we walk through these - realize that they form a pattern, a pattern of approaching God, being transformed into His image, then shining that image out to a dark world. Poor in spirit means you can't please God on your own. Isaiah the prophet, when he appeared before God's throne said: Isa 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah knew he was poor in spirit - he didn't have what it took to stand before God. The more we realize that the less we rely upon ourselves for our own righteousness or our own direction for life. I would liken this characteristic to Humility. Vs. 4 Blessed are those mourn When we know we don't have it together we must search for someone who does - that's the Lord. If we turn and rely upon Him, then we get to join His kingdom - and have His rightness and His light to guide us. Do you begin to see the pattern here? When we know what we are really like it causes us, like Isaiah, to mourn - "woe is me". I would liken this to repentance. Repentance is changing your mind - turning around. We mourn over the person we are, and we then turn - to God. That is when we receive comfort. It seems odd that those who mourn receive comfort - a lot of times when someone mourns they won't be comforted - but God reaches out as only He can. One day all tears will be wiped away - but for now - well, listen to 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. The word here, comfort - is the Greek word, parakaleo. It means: To call near. When we mourn, whether over sin, or the world, or something that happens - God doesn't just make it all right - what He does is to call us near. I picture Him leaning forward, reaching out His hands and calling gently to us - drawing us close, wrapping His arms around us and holding us while we cry. So when you mourn - reach out, in worship, in prayer, for His comfort. Vs 5 Blessed are the meek Meek isn't what you might first think. Yes it means gentle - Jesus said of Himself "I am gentle and humble in heart," in Matthew 11:29. But there is more to it than that. Vine's Greek Dictionary says this: "It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting." (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) Being meek means an openness, a pliability of soul that allows God full access without question. I once heard meekness described as "bridled strength" like a horse with a bit in its mouth. That does describe part of it - we yield to God's direction and molding in our lives. These God-directed type of people are the ones who will inherit the earth. In the Millennium it is likely that those of us who belong to the Lord will actually direct the affairs of cities here on earth. Vs 6 Blessed are those who hunger Normally, our hunger is after things to satisfy ourselves - more money, more possessions, more power, more fame. God says the way to happiness is hunger for "rightness." It's the next step in this progression - from yielding to God, to wanting with all of your heart to be more like Him. God's character is infectious - once you get a taste of it, you want more and more and more. Vs 7 Blessed are the merciful Now we move away from God centered blessings and move towards others. This also fits right into the progression. As we become more like God we begin to exhibit His character to others. As we have received mercy from God - forgiveness of our sins, we should show that to others as well. The word implies: generosity, forgiveness, and compassion - a desire to remove wrong, and alleviate suffering. The fact that you will receive mercy doesn't mean you'll get it from others - it means that no matter what the world does to you, you will receive mercy from God. Vs 8 Blessed are the pure in heart "Pure" - it's the Greek word katharos. That word has come down to us as catharsis. Catharsis means a purging, or cleansing - katharos then means: pure. This commitment to God, this taking on of His character, then this turning of that character loose on the world creates a single-mindedness - and a purity of heart, motive, and character. God is preparing us for the day when we will see Him face to face - and without purity we cannot see God. Nothing can exist in the presence of God that contains any sin - sin is anything that is not like God. Vs 9 Blessed are the peacemakers Peacemakers means that we take all this - including this "drawing near to God" and we take it to the world - helping others make peace with God through the blood of His Son Jesus. We are called "children of God" because we reflect the Father's character. We will also share in God's kingdom, as "kids of the King." Vs 10 - 12 Blessed are the persecuted Following this road brings with it tremendous rewards, and also great perils. The world will not always react favorably to a person who is like this. John 16:33 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jesus promises us that those that start down this road - with being poor in spirit - will inherit His kingdom, no matter what befalls them along the way. Today we don't worry so much about persecution, but in that day, and in days since, believers in Jesus were executed. But we need not fear or worry - NO MATTER WHAT because our kingdom isn't here - it is in heaven. Lessons Learned 1. Don't fear being strange. In order for us to really live by these principles we must exhibit characteristics that are in many ways opposite to the world around us. That means they world will think we are different, weird, strange. Don't fear this - God is setting us apart as a light on a hill. Deep in their hearts, all men recognize that knowing God is the true way to happiness. 2. Perhaps one of the best ways to understand the Beatitudes is to hear the UnBeatitudes - as written by Bruce Barton: o Wretched are the spiritually self-sufficient, for theirs is the kingdom of hell. o Wretched are those who deny the tragedy of their sinfulness, for they will be troubled. o Wretched are the self-centered, for they will be empty. o Wretched are those who ceaselessly justify themselves, for their efforts will be in vain. o Wretched are the merciless, for no mercy will be shown to them. o Wretched are those with impure hearts, for they will not see God. o Wretched are those who reject peace, for they will earn the title "sons of Satan." o Wretched are the uncommitted for convenience sake, for their destination is hell. |
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