265 – The Apparent Condition of the Blessed

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY V LESSON # 65

SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(THE APPARENT CONDITION OF THE BLESSED)

INTRODUCTION:

1. The sermon of Matthew 5-7

(the sermon on the mount) is Christ’s first recorded teaching. (Note: Mat. 4:17

)
2. This is the first in a series of expository messages on this sermon.
3. Matthew 5:1

, Matthew 7:29

and Matthew 8:1

explain why it is called the sermon on the mount.
4. In this passage are some of the most fundamental truths in Scripture.
5. Yet some disregard, ignore, or even relegate them to another age or people.
6. They are for us and they are precious, so let us take the necessary time to consider them carefully.

I. THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THIS TEACHING WENT (MAT. 5:2 )

1. It has been said these are Old Testament, legal, or “kingdom” truths.
2. These people are His disciples, though in a different circumstance than we are and thus, it is not applicable.
3. I, tenaciously, hold these to be church truths, as applicable now as then.
4. The apparent state of these people is described in verses 3 through 11.
5. They were considered the rabble of their day, below the educated and cultured.

II. THE TRUE CONDITION OF THIS PEOPLE (BLESSED)

1. This word has various Greek origins, but this one, (ma kar i os) is what we want to consider.
2. The word is translated also happy or happier. It carries this thought.
3. It means a state over which one may rejoice. Notice the text Mat. 5:12

.
4. This is not seen, or naturally perceivable, only faith can lay hold on it.

III. THE PRESENT AND VISIBLE STATE OF THESE PEOPLE

1. Poor in spirit – (no kingdom, name, rank or status on this earth)
2. They that morn – (heavy hearted, oppressed, no one to care)
3. The meek – (stripped of all self-esteem, or pride, effortlessly humble)
4. They who hunger and thirst for righteousness – (not the pharisaic proudly humble)
5. Merciful – (compassionate, who cannot walk roughshod even over the wicked)
6. Pure in heart – (not sinless, but not pretentious, they desire purity.)
7. Peacemakers – (not pacifists, but they who desire to live peaceably with all men)
8. Persecuted for righteousness’ sake – (Men have persecuted righteousness in every age.)
9. Reviled and spoken evil of – (Do we, in faith, suffer slander for Christ’s sake?)
10. This sea of poor miserable people understood this, as we do not, for they were experiencing it.

III: They needed no dictionaries or concordances to understand what He spoke of.

IV. THE LORD’S EXHORTATION TO THEM (REJOICE) (MAT. 5:12 )

1. Not in what you embrace, but in what you envision.
2. Not in what you see, but what your Lord says.
3. Not in present recourse, but in future reward.
4. What does it take to make you feel blessed (happy)?

Berean Baptist Church