Principles of the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 4:23 – 5:1-16

After traveling throughout Galilee, Jesus was teaching and healing the sick.  The word got out about the exploits of Jesus and a large crowd began to follow Him.  Jesus saw the crowd and went up into a mountain, his disciple followed him and He then began to teach them the Beatitudes.  We call this incident “The Sermon on the Mount”.  The word beatitude means a condition or statement of blessedness.  The beatitude has two main parts: the identification of the blessed, and the condition assuring blessedness.  Beatitudes present a new set of Christian ideals, Kingdom principles. Principles are rules or codes of conduct. The Kingdom has set rules.

The word blessed means to be fully satisfied, not according to life’s circumstances but according to the spirit of life (Christ) that lives in you. This same word often translates as happy but happy denotes circumstance, luck and our own abilities.  We can only be happy because of favorable circumstances, life is good; but blessedness is the satisfaction that comes from Christ being in control, whether good or bad time. If being blessed means satisfaction, then the opposite of blessed is misery, pain and sadness.  As we review each of the beatitudes we will see how blessedness is ongoing depending on our fulfillment of the condition set forth.

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Poor in spirit are those who totally depend on God, spiritually needy.  If God does not do it then it will not get done attitude.  In order for us to inherit the kingdom of heaven Christ must rule and reign in our hearts.  That is, Christ as the King has full authority to tell us what to do, when to do it and how high to jump. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule”, Matthew 5:3 MSG.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Those who mourn are grieving, experiencing sorrow for their sins and the sins of others.  We mourn for the world, yet we have a comforter, the Holy Spirit. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you”, Matthew 5:4 MSG.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Meek is to be gentle and kind.  Meekness is a form of self-control.  This world is full of adversity and hardship, and a sweet spirit can navigate you through it all.  We should always stand before the Lord willing and ready to obey his every command.  Obedience, submission and meekness are not principles that the world likes.  However, for the Christian meekness brings peace in a world full of turmoil.  Thereby, we inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  We sometimes make righteousness to be some out of reach characteristic.  Righteousness simply means the right way, God’s way of operating.  When we thirst and hunger for righteousness, we have a desire to experience God’s will for our lives, and experience His expectation for us.  When we thirst and hunger for God, He will not let us starve, He will fill us.  ““You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat”, Matthew 5:6 MSG
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power; compassion, pity, or benevolence defines mercy.  To show mercy is an outward expression of Christian character.  To show mercy is to give to people that which they have no right.  Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve (eternal life), but mercy is God not giving us what we deserve (death).  “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” Matthew 5:7 MSG
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Free from all selfishness describes the pure in heart.  Selfishness is not a one-time accomplishment.  We are constantly in a battle to maintain a clean heart.  Personal gain is at the heart of the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.  The pure in heart only wants God to be glorified. As we walk in the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, and fulfill the conditions of blessedness we will indeed see God.  “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world”, Matthew 5:8 MSG
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. First we must be filled with peace before being a peacemaker.  A peacemaker is one who has received peace with God (spiritual peace), Romans 5:1; then peace of God (emotional peace), Philippians 4:6-7; finally peace with each other (relational peace) Matthew 5:9.  Peacemakers bring peace to friends and others.  Receiving peace with God places us in the family of God, thus called the children of God.  “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family”, Matthew 5:9 MSG
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  This beatitude seems to reflect on the saints of old.  The apostles suffered martyrdom.  Acts 8:1, Paul suffered great persecution as part of the church.  Jesus warns us in John 15:20-21, the servant is not greater than his lord. If he was persecuted then we shall be persecuted as well.  1 Peter 4:16, tells us if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God. “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom”, Matthew 5:10 MSG 
9. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.  Matthew 5:11-12 MSG

This is by no means an exhaustive treatment of the beatitudes.  I pray this attempt gives some insight into what God requires of us.  The King expects us to abide by these kingdom principles, these rules of conduct that govern the His kingdom.

There is a message to the overcomer,

Pastor Rosita