Blessed The teaching of Jesus, in Matthew 5:1-10, helps us learn more about who God is and invites us into a blessed interaction with God.
Jesus is teaching that God’s blessing invites us into relationship with him and his kingdom. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. … God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” – Matthew 5:3, 10 NLT
“This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10 NCV
“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” – 1 John 4:9 Legacy
The Christian story provides us with such a set of lenses, not to look at, but to look through.” – Lesslie Newbigin Waking up to our place in God’s story.
God’s story line tells us 4 things:
1. What God wants for us (Creation)
2. What happened to us and what went wrong with the world (Fall)
3. What God has done in Jesus Christ to put things right (Redemption)
4. How history will turn out in the end as a result (Restoration)
– Timothy Keller Good News of Jesus Christ: What God has done and will yet do.
Repeat Matthew 5:3, 10 Kingdom – reign “kingdominion” Timeline graphic NT: “kingdom of God”
“Kingdom of God” – God’s sovereign reign and rule. Teaching of Jesus in Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 10, 19, 6:33, Mark 1:15, Luke 6:20. Its fullness is in the future, Luke 13:29, 22:18, yet it has also come in Jesus Himself, Luke 10:9, 17:21. Jesus is sovereign ruler, Ephesians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 15:24. – Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms Donald K. McKim
“I am so tired of waiting, Aren’t you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cut the world in two – And see what worms are eating At the rind.” – Langston Hughes “Tired”
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17 NCV
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:9-13
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 ESV
What do we learn?
1. The teaching of Jesus is helpful for our understanding and perspective of our natural world and the Kingdom of God.
2. Jesus teaches that we’re invited to receive salvation and participate in the Kingdom of God. In this way we can participate in the positive redemptive changes God is making here and now. Matthew 5:1-12 NLT
3. The Kingdom of God is most valuable.
4. God blesses His people.
5. God is aware of our heart condition.
6. God responds to our heart condition.
What should we do?
1. Pray, asking God to help us learn more from the teaching of Jesus.
2. Identify our questions and what we are learning from the teaching of Jesus.
3. Share this journey with our church family.