Blessed are Those with Beautiful Attitudes

Intro: I gave a sermon a few weeks ago titled “The Beatitudes are not Platitudes” and today we’re going to continue through the remainder of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 that I did not cover. 

But first I would like to summarize the Beatitudes we already covered for those of you that did not hear the sermon, and to remind the rest of us how important all of the Beatitudes are.

A true blessing is very special.  When you receive a blessing, you are blessed.

What is the biblical meaning of the word “bless?” We ask God to bless our meals, our Sabbath service, bible studies and children, and much, much more.

Bibletools.org posts the following definition from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

1. (barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament, and is used in different relations.

(1) It is first met in Genesis 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon the earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is the bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance (where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual, or both.

Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Genesis 2:3 the King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it." Here the good consists in the setting apart and consecrating of that day for His use

It’s important for us to reflect on the Beatitudes in Scripture.  We need to make sure they do not become “platitudes” in our minds rather than Beatitudes.

The Meriam-Webster online Dictionary defines “platitude” as follows:

1. The quality or state of being dull or insipid.
2. The banal, trite, or stale remark.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beatitudes/

Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Beatitudes

Beatitudes

(Lat. beatitudo). Condition or statement of blessedness. In the Latin of the Vulgate, beatus, the word for blessed, happy, or fortunate, begins certain verses such as Psalm 1:1: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked." Old Testament beatitudes begin with the Hebrew word asre and the New Testament beatitudes with the Greek word makarios [makavrio"], (meaning “supremely blessed”). They are used of people, not of God. Old Testament beatitudes, found most frequently in the psalms (e.g., 2:12 ; 32:2 ; 40:4 ; 41:1 ; 65:4 ; 106:3 ; 112:1 ; Proverbs 8:32.)

(Psa 2:12)  Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

(Psa 32:2)  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

(Psa 41:1)  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

(Psa 65:4)  Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.

(Psa 106:3)  Blessed are those who keep justice (Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary of doing good!), And he who does righteousness at all times!

(Psa 112:1)  Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

(Pro 8:32)  "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.

These blessings come from God for certain actions and behaviors.  God also blesses those with Godly attitudes.

The plural proper noun, the Beatitudes, is the common designation for Matthew 5:3-10. Luke's parallel ( 6:20b-26 ), with four statements of blessedness and four maledictions, is called the Beatitudes and Woes. Statements of blessing are also found in Matthew 13:16; John 20:29; and Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.

SPS: Blessed are those with Beautiful Attitudes (Also sermon title)

Matthew 5:1-12 is a section of Scripture known as the Beatitudes at the beginning of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

According to the New King James Version Study Bible, (p. 1936), the Beatitudes “…are not given as the way of salvation for the lost, but as the way of life for the true children of the kingdom.”

David Palmer, a Pastor of the UCG Vancouver, and Vancouver Island congregations, and a member of the UCG Canada National Council, states in an online article titled “Lessons From the Beatitudes” posted by UCG dated April 2, 2008, that the Beatitudes are “Sometimes referred to as the ‘beautiful attitudes,’ and they offer a study of the qualities and characteristics the ‘blessed of God’ must develop.”

According to the N.K.J.V. Study Bible, there are three elements to the Beatitudes:

1. The pronouncement of blessing (God’s favor),
2. A quality of [Christian] life,
3. And a reason why the recipient should be considered blessed.

The first element is in the word blessed, the second element shows the kind of person that will inherit the kingdom of God, and the third element gives some aspect of the coming kingdom of God.

God’s blessing, or favor is certainly something worth seeking, right? 

I will quickly summarize the Beatitudes we covered in the last sermon titled “The Beatitudes are not Platitudes” and then move into the remaining Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

1.  (Mat 5:3)  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The blessed of God have a broken heart and a contrite spirit – a proper repentant attitude.

1. (Mat 5:4)  Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

The blessed of God humble themselves in the presence of God and sorrow at the plight of the world.

1. (Mat 5:5)  Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

The blessed of God are meek and not weak in godly character.  They are those that rule over their spirit with self-control from the holy spirit, and put others before themselves.

1. (Mat 5:6)  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

The blessed of God hunger for the bread of life, and drink of the Holy Spirit

1. (Mat 5:7)  Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

The blessed of God forgive remembering God’s mercy endures forever, and we want to be forgiven (bear in mind the lesson of the parable about the “unforgiving servant” in Matthew 18:21-35).

1. (Mat 5:8)  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

“Pure” G2513, katharos, meaning clean, clear, H1305 (bar – also meaning clean, clear). Titus 1:15 (Undefiled), Ps 51:10 (Create in me a clean heart…), Ps 15:2 (He…speaks the truth in his heart), Pro 30:5 (Every word of God is pure), Ps 24:4 (Who may ascend to his holy place? Clean hands [action], pure heart [attitude]). 1Tim 1:5 (Purpose…love from a pure heart), 3:9 (holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience), 2Tim 2:22 (…call on the Lord out of a pure heart). Acts 15:8-9 (…purifying their hearts by faith).

1. (Mat 5:9)  Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

NLT – God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

eirēnopoios - i-ray-nop-oy-os' - From G1518 and G4160; pacificatory, that is, (subjectively) peaceable: - peacemaker.

(Heb 12:14)  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

(Mar 9:50)  Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." – (Matthew 5:13)

Colossians 4:6 “Let you speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (see v.5).

Romans 12:17-18 (Do your part), Romans 14:19-20 (Pursue [KJV “follow after”] peace by edifying instead of tearing down [food or meat was inserted by translators, not in original text - ), In an article titled “Does Romans 14 Abolish Laws on Unclean Meats” posted on UCG.org, staff writers state the following:

“Paul’s point is that association of food with idolatrous activity had no bearing on whether the food was inherently suitable or unsuitable for eating. Understood in its context, Romans 14 does not convey permission to ignore the biblical laws as to which meats are clean or unclean.” 

2 Corinthians 13:11…Our God is a God of peace, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13…Be at peace among yourselves.

1. (Mat 5:10)  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:17…Our light affliction is but for a moment (compared to eternal weight of glory), Matthew 5:12…rejoice, for great is our reward in heaven, Romans 8:18…our sufferings are not worthy to be compared, Matthew 19:29…suffering for the His name’s sake shall receive a hundred fold blessing, I Peter 3:14…Be not afraid, James 1:12…receive the crown of life, Isaiah 8:12…don’t be troubled, 1 Peter 1:6-8…tested for a little while, 1 Peter 1:10-11…that glories that follow, 1 Peter 4:12-14…If you are reproached (disapproval) for the name of Christ, blessed are you

1. (Mat 5:11)  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
2. (Mat 5:12)  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:22…blessed when they exclude you for the Son of Man’s sake, 1 Peter 4:14…on your part He is glorified, Luke 6:23…leap for joy! [ Example Acts 5:41], 2 Chronicles 36:16, Nehemiah 9:26 (people don’t like being told they need to repent and obey God, and sometimes just our example of obeying God will offend them), Matthew 23:37…human nature to refuse to admit what’s good for mankind!, Acts 7:52…people actually kill and persecute those preaching the gospel – the coming of the Just One, James 5:10…the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord are an example to us of suffering and patience, 1 Thessalonians 2:15 and Hebrews 11:35-38…the world was and is not worth of those persecuted for His name’s sake,.

Conclusion:

1. (Mat 5:8)  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

The blessed of God have an undefiled heart, pure and clean without hypocrisy.

1. (Mat 5:9)  Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

We must pursue peace among ourselves as well as with those in the world.We must do our part.

1. (Mat 5:10)  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Our affliction is but for a moment compared to the promised glory of eternal life with God.
2. (Mat 5:11-12)  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. (Mat 5:12)  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You will be blessed if you follow and keep these wonderful teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Father, and have the same attitudes, the beautiful attitudes known as the Beatitudes.

The blessed of God (Revelation 19:9…called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, 20:6…holy are those who have part in the first resurrection, 22:14…those who do His commandments have the right to the Tree of Life).  Live God’s way in your heart, and your actions will be godly.  Have these Godly attitudes of the beatitudes, and the beatitudes will bring you joy and eternal life!

REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN, FOR SO THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU.