Telic:  I want to challenge the congregation to experience the blessings of the Beautitudes.

 

Introduction: As we venture into the Beatitudes we should see at least three clear perspectives of the teachings of our Lord. First we see the message to the lost that have no concept of God or their own pathetic state. Second we see the message to the religious one who has an awareness of God but only relates from a legalistic level. Thirdly to the believer the one who has a personal relationship with God.

 

Text: Matthew 5:3-12

           

I.          Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (v.3)

A.     Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

B.     Precursor to any blessing is to recognize ones need – then and only then is the blessing truly appreciated.

C.     The poor in spirit – poverty comes in many forms in life.

1.   We can be poor in material possessions.

2.   Poor in relationships – no family or friends.

3.      Poor in judgment or wisdom – rendering us victims instead of victors.

            D   Poor in spirit – being spiritual bankrupt.

1.      The lost posses a void in their soul that only Christ can fill yet many deny their bankrupt state.

2.      The religious rest upon their ceremony but lack spiritual acumen (insight).

3.   For the believer lacking a vibrant relationship with our Lord makes us poor in spirit.

            E.   How to recognize your spiritual state.

1.      The Holy Spirit is instrumental in any recognition.

1 Cor. 2:10; But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2.      Honesty with yourself and God.

Proverbs 20:27; The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

3.      How does your faith hold up when it is tried?

2 Cor. 13:5; Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (worthless)?

4.      Spiritual growth has ceased or become nominal.

Ephes. 4:15; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

1 Peter 2:2; As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2 Peter 3:18; But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 5.      When it comes to the things of God you can take it or leave it.

Rev. 3:16; So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

            F.   Access to the Kingdom of heaven through recognition of ones spiritual poverty.

1.      Its not the healthy that need a physician but the sick – but if you don’t know you are sick.

Mark 2:16-17; And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? ¹⁷When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

2.       Its not those that think themselves spiritual that will inherit the kingdom but the one who honestly appraises his beggarly spiritual state.

        Luke 18:10-14; Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

John 8:33-43; They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? ³⁴Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. ³⁵And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ³⁶If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ³⁷I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. ³⁸I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. ³⁹They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ⁴¹Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. ⁴²Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. ⁴³Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

[1]Someone wrote the godly Macarius of Optino that his spiritual counsel had been helpful.

"This cannot be," Macarius wrote in reply. "Only the mistakes are mine. All good advice is the advice of the Spirit of God; His advice that I happen to have heard rightly and to have passed on without distorting it."

There is an excellent lesson here which we must not allow to go unregarded. It is the sweet humility of the man of God....In this day when shimmering personalities carry on the Lord's work after the methods of the entertainment world, it is refreshing to associate for a moment even in the pages of a book with a sincere and humble man who keeps his own personality out of sight and places the emphasis upon the inner working of God.

 

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord!

Oh, to be lost in Thee!

Oh, that it might be no more I, but

Christ that lives in me! HCL264

            G. Grant us recognition of our poor spiritual state Lord.

 

II.        Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (v.4)

A.     Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   Mourn – grieve, mourn, bewail.

1.   There is such a lack of brokenness in the church today.

Luke 6:25; Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

2.   Where are the broken hearts of the saints that once hungered for God?

Lament. 1:4; The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

Lament. 5:15-16; The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. ¹⁶The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

3.      God forbid we should admit our shallowness.

Rev. 3:17; Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

4.      Even our boredom with the Word, with worship and prayer.

C.  There is a distinct difference between mourning and remorse.

1.   We feel remorse/regret for failing to do something or doing something we shouldn’t have – spurred by our thoughts.

2.   Mourning is from the soul  - a pang to the heart – a deep-rooted grief of the soul – an inner brokenness that only God can mend.

D.     The world is more prone to mourn than the church.

1.   They mourn the catastrophic demise of their business – consider the crash of Wall Street in 1929.

Rev. 18:15; The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Rev. 18:19; And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

      2.   They mourn catastrophic event that destroy property and lives – Murrah bombing, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

3.      They mourn when they suffer lose of their health.

4.      Loss of a loved one.

Genesis 23:2; And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Genesis 37:35; And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

            E.   We have due cause to mourn once we recognize our spiritual poverty.

1.   Mourning prepares the way for the blessings of God.

Deut. 26:14-15; I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. ¹⁵Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

2.   Mourn our shallow prayer life – when was the last time your eyes failed for looking upward – seeking the heart of God.

Isaiah 38:14; Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

3.   Mourn for our iniquity – being intently grieved by our sinfulness.

Ezekiel 7:16; But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

F.   An honest inventory of our spiritual life may cause us to mourn.

James 4:8-10; Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1.      Am I drawing near to God?

2.      Are my hands cleansed of sin?

3.      Is my heart pure?

4.      Am I double minded?

G.     Mourning is proper.

1.   When too much revelry distracts from the eternal reality – it is appointed unto man one to die and after this the judgment.

Eccles. 7:2; It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

2.   Wise men mourn.

Eccles. 7:4; The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

3.   When we fail to look unto our Maker we are called to mourn our arrogance and neglect.

Isaiah 22:11-12; Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him hat fashioned it long ago. ¹²And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

4.   When we are oppressed we should look up with a longing after the Lord.

Isaiah 38:14; Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

5.      Mourn for our iniquities.

Ezekiel 7:16; But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

6.      Mourn the sins and sinners of our society.

1 Cor. 5:2; And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

7.      We should turn to the Lord in brokenness.

Joel 2:12; Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

8.   We should mourn for the one we have pierced.

Zech. 12:10-12; And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. ¹¹In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. ¹²And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

9.      The earth shall mourn at His appearing.

Matthew 24:30;  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

H.     God’s promised comfort.

Isaiah 51:11; Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Isaiah 61:2-3; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; ³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

 

III.       Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (v.5)

A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

B.     Meek – humble, mild, gentle – not to be mistaken for weakness, which it is not.

C.     Demonstrated by Jesus at the time of His judgment and crucifixion.

John 19:8-11; When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; ⁹And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? ¹¹Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

1.   He appears to be weak before Pilate in that He doesn’t defend Himself.

2.   Pilate speaks of his power to crucify Him but Jesus is unwavering.

3.      Jesus has humbled Himself to the will of the Father.

4.   Jesus clarifies to Pilate that He is not in subjection to him but to the Father above.         

B.   Moses was considered meek above all men – no other man had demonstrated such.

Numbers 12:3; (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

D.     He will:

Psalm 25:9; The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

               1.   Guide in judgment – to do what is right.

               2.   Will teach His way.

            E.   God will arise in judgment to save the meek.

                  Psalm 76:9; When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.

         F.   The LORD will lift up the meek.

Psalm 147:6; The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

         G.  He will save the meek.

Psalm 149:4; For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

            H.  He will decide with fairness for the meek.

Isaiah 11:4; But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

         I.    The meek shall increase their joy in the LORD

Isaiah 29:19; The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

         J.    The meek are to receive good tidings – good news – the Gospel

Isaiah 61:1; The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

         K.  The meek shall find security in the LORD and be hid from His judgment

Zeph. 2:3; Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

         L.   Jesus is meek (gentle) and lowly (humble) in heart.

Matthew 11:28-30; Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

               1.   We are to learn of Him.

               2.   We are to come submissive to His teaching – ready to learn – forfeiting preconceived notions.

            M.  He chose a donkey over a white steed on His first arrival – the second will not be so.

Matthew 21:5; Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Rev. 19:11-16; And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

         N.  Meekness is to be  cultivated as a fruit of the Spirit.

                  Galatians 5:23; Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

         O.  The meek will not be high handed but patient and tolerant (with out

         compromise).

               Ephes. 4:2; With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

         P.   We are to clothe ourselves with meekness

Col. 3:12; Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

            Q.  Not to be overbearing in our teaching.

2 Tim. 2:25; In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

         R.   Not to stir up strife but be gentle.

Titus 3:2; To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

         S.   Receive God’s Word in with humble teachable spirit.

James 1:21; Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

         T.   Not lord our spiritual prowess over others.

James 3:13; Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

         U. Be adorned with a meek and quiet spirit.

1 Peter 3:4; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

            V.  Share your testimony with meekness.

1 Peter 3:15; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

            W. for they shall inherit the earth.

                  1.   We shall be taught of the LORD and dwell at ease.

Psalm 25:12-13; What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. ¹³His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

               2.   Those who wait upon the LORD.

Psalm 37:9; For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

               3.   We delight ourselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 37:11; But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

               4.   We shall possess the land forever.

Psalm 37:29; The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

           

IV.       Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (v.6)

            A. Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   which do hunger and thirst.

      1.   To have intense thirst as the hart pants for water.

Psalm 42:1-2; As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. ²My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

2.      True thirst will drive one to seek God early.

Psalm 63:1-2; O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; ²To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

      3.   There is famine of the soul for the Word.

Amos 8:11-13; Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: ¹²And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. ¹³In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

               4.   It’s the hungry that will be filled not those already satisfied.

Luke 1:53; He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

               5.   We are to hunger and thirst after Him.

John 6:27; Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

            C.  Righteousness

      1.   He is the source of our righteousness.

Isaiah 51:1; Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

               2.   His righteousness is our heritage

Isaiah 54:17; No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

               3.   The LORD is our rigtheousness

Jeremiah 23:6; In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

               4.   Seek Him till He rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12; Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

               5.   His righteouness flow like a mighty stream

Amos 5:24; But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

               6.   Righteousness to sought after.

Zeph. 2:3; Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

               7.   Must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 5:20; For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

               8.   To be sought in conjunction with His kingdom.

Matthew 6:33; But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

               9.   Repentance is the way to righteousness.

Matthew 21:32; For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.  

               10. The righteousness of God is revealed through the Gospel.

Romans 1:16-17; For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

               11. Christ is the righteousness of God to all who believe.

Romans 3:21-22; But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

      12. Our faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:5-6; But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ⁶Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

13.  Not to be found in ourselves.

Romans 10:3-6; For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. ⁴For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ⁵For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. ⁶But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

               14. Is attained through an act of the heart.

Romans 10:10; For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

               15. It is the essence of the kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17; For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

               16. Christ made unto us righteousness.

1 Cor. 1:30; But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

      17. Not attained by keeping the law.

Galatians 2:21; I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

18.  We are commanded to be filled with fruits of righteousness

Philip. 1:11; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

      19. Scripture is given for instruction in righteousness.

2 Tim. 3:16; All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

               20. The Lord’s chastening yields righteousness.

Hebrews 12:11; Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

D.  For they shall be filled.

      1.   Our hearts desire should be to behold His face in righteousness.

Psalm 17:15; As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

                  2.   He satisfies the soul.

Psalm 63:4-5; Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. ⁵My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

               3.   Chosen of God to dwell in His presence and be satisfied with His goodness.

Psalm 65:4; Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

                  4.   He satisfies the longing soul.

Psalm 107:9; For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

      5.   He promises to satisfy our thirst.

Isaiah 41:17; When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Isaiah 44:3; For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

               6.   He will comfort the spiritually destitute.

Isaiah 49:9-10; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. ¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

               7.   He offers soul satisfying sustenance.

Isaiah 55:1-3; Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ²Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. ³Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

               8.   The lost shall not be filled but shall suffer sorrow of heart.

Isaiah 65:11-16; But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. ¹²Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. ¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: ¹⁴Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. ¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: ¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

9.      He that drinks of this water shall never thirst.

 John 4:14; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

      10. He is the only bread that can satisfy the soul.

John 6:48-58; I am that bread of life. ⁴⁹Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ⁵²The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? ⁵³Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. ⁵⁸This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

               11. Thirst after Him and be filled.

John 7:37; In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Rev. 7:16; They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

 

V.        Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (v.7)

            A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   The Greek word for merciful used here is only used one other place in the N.T.

Hebrews 2:17; Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

            C.  The word merciful means compasaionate.

eleemon, el-eh-ay'-mone; from Greek 1653 (eleeo); compassionate (actively) :- merciful.

                  1.   To those who are compassionate God will show compassion.

2 Samuel 22:26; With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

               2.   Shown to friends.

Job 6:14; To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

                  3.   Brings words of comfort in time of grief

Job 16:5; But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

                  4.   Concern for the needs of others.

Job 31:16-22; If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; ¹⁷Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; ¹⁸(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) ¹⁹If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; ²⁰If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; ²¹If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: ²²Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

Isaiah 58:7; Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Matthew 25:34-35; Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

James 2:15-16; If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

1 John 3:17; But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

                  5.   Lending our resources. 

                     Psalm 37:26; He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

               6.   The upright are full of compassion.

Psalm 112:4; Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

                  7.   Being merciful is good for the soul – peace of mind.

Proverbs 11:17; The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

               8.   To be shown to our neighbor.

Proverbs 14:21; He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

               9.   Helping the poor is like lending to the LORD.

Proverbs 19:17; He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

                  10. Helping others will lift your spirit.

Isaiah 58:10; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

               11. Required of the LORD – justice, mercy and humility.

Micah 6:8; He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

               12. When someone seeks mercy we are to give it.

Matthew 6:14-15; For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:33-35; Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 Luke 23:39-43; And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

               13. Forgive others in your prayers.

Mark 11:25; And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

               14. Will to love your enemies – don’t expect reciprocity.

Luke 6:35; But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

               15. Have bowels of mercy – a tender heart.

Col. 3:12; Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (pity), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

                  16. Wisdom from the LORD is filled with compassion.

James 3:17; But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

            D.  For they shall obtain mercy

      1.   Mercy reaps mercy

Psalm 18:25; With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright

                  2.   Brings deliverance in time of trouble.

Psalm 41:1-4; Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. ²The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. ³The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. ⁴I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

                  3.   Assures a blessing        

Acts 20:35; I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

               4.   When we are the chiefest of sinners God will reveal His mercy through us.

1 Tim. 1:15-16; This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ¹⁶Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

                  5.   Paul’s mercy repaid by Onesiphorus.

2 Tim. 1:16-18; The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: ¹⁷But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

               6.   Mercy obtained at the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:16; Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

               7.   Mercy instead of judgment for the believer.

James 2:13; For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

               8.   Mercy obtained through Christ.

1 Peter 2:10; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 

VI.       Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (v.8)

            A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   Are the pure in heart:

1.   God tries the heart – are you allowing God to try your heart – to challenge your purity of heart?

1 Chron. 29:17-19; I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. ¹⁸O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: ¹⁹And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

               2.   Who shall abide in His Holy presence? He that speaks truth in his heart – to himself, to God, and to others.

Psalm 15:1-2; Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? ²He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

John 14:23; Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

3.      A pure heart is required to stand in the holy place – that place of intimacy with God.

Psalm 24:3-4; Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? ⁴He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

            4.   God’s desires truth to posses the inner man.

Psalm 51:6; Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

                  5.   The plea of our soul should be for cleansing and restoration of a pure heart.

Psalm 51:9-12; Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

               6.   God sheds His goodness on those with a clean/pure heart.

Psalm 73:1; Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

                  7.   Heart surgery God’s way.

Ezekiel 36:25-27; Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. ²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. ²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

               8.   Guard against religion that only deals with the outer man.

Matthew 23:25-28; Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. ²⁶Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. ²⁷Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ²⁸Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

               9.   Purification comes by faith – that which we cannot accomplish of ourselves Christ has accomplished for us if we will believe and receive it.

Acts 15:9; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10.  Cleansing ourselves by separation from the unclean, that we may experience true sonship with the Father.

2 Cor. 6:17-7:1; Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

^7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephes. 5:3-7; But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; ⁴Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

                  11. Purity of heart, purity of mind and body are critical to our spiritual awareness of God.

Titus 1:15; Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

               12. Let His blood purge you conscience of all defilement.

Hebrews 9:14; How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

               13. Draw near with a true heart and a clear conscience – your sin keeps God just out of reach – it affects your prayer life and fellowship with Him.

Hebrews 10:22; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Peter 3:12; For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

               14. The heart filled with Godly wisdom will be pure, peaceable, gentle, easily intreated, and full of mercy and good fruits.

James 3:17; But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

               15. Drawing near to God requires a single-minded commitment of the soul.

James 4:8; Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

               16. Obedience to the truth will purify the soul.

1 Peter 1:22; Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

            C.  Shall see God.

1.   God is to be experienced personally – face to face, so to speak.

Genesis 32:30; And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

               2.   The pure in heart shall behold Him .

Job 19:26-27; And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ²⁷Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

               3.   Though we may only get glimpse it shall suffice until that day.

1 Cor. 13:12; For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

               4.   Those who walk in holiness (purity of soul) will see Him.

Hebrews 12:14; Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

               5.   We shall see Him as He is – clothed in His righteousness alone.

1 John 3:2-3; Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

VII.     Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (v.9)

            A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   the peacemakers

                  1.   I believe there is a misunderstanding concerning mans ability to bring peace to the earth.

2.      Since I was a child I have heard about scores of peace agreement and accords.

3.   Most of these had little or no affect on the unrest in the world.

Jeremiah 6:14; They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

1 Thes. 5:3; For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

                  4.   Even David attempted to broker peace but only with the threat of God’s wrath if it should be violated.

1 Chron. 12:17; And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

               5.   So what is peace as defined in Scripture?

      a.   Jesus is declared to be the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6; For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

      b.   He declared that He would give us peace.

John 14:27;  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

                     c.   He further declared that in Him we would have peace.

John 16:33; 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.

                     d.   It is only right to conclude that Jesus must be the essence of peace.

6.      Even though Jesus is the Prince of peace He declared He did not come to bring peace to the earth.

Matthew 10:34; Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

7.      Does He contradict the Word? No, because until He came there could be no lasting peace on earth – remember He is the essence of peace.

Luke 2:14; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

8.   Paul said peace was accomplished through the blood of the Christ’s cross.

Col. 1:20-21; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled:

9.   There is engrained in the spirit of man a desire for peace.

Psalm 34:12; What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

               10. Peace is to be desired and prayed for – we know that peace will not come to Jerusalem until His return.

Psalm 122:6-8; Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. ⁷Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. ⁸For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

                  11. Paul when writing to the Romans placed human limitations on the path of peace.

Romans 12:18; If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

                  12. In reality man is prone to seek retribution rather than peace.      

1 Cor. 6:6; But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

               13. Here we get our first glimpse of a true peacemaker – he is one who reconciles men back to God.          

2 Cor. 5:20; Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

               14. So the core of true peace is found in a relationship with God.

2 Cor. 13:11; Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

               15. Peace being a fruit of the Spirit will require spiritual rebirth to experience.

Galatians 5:22; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

16.  It is only attained through faith.

Mark 5:34; And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

                  17. Salvation is the prerequisite to peace.

Luke 7:50; And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

               18. Peace comes to the brethern when they are of one mind or of the same mind.

Philip. 2:1-3; If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, ²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philip. 4:2; I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

               19. Peace comes to them that have placed their trust in Him.

Philip. 4:6-7; Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

               20. Follow peace with them that call on the Lord out of pure heart.

2 Tim. 2:22-24; Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. ²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

               21. Mankind will never find peace until they first find peace with God.

James 3:16-18;  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

                  22. Who are the peacemakers – those that fulfill the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20; And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Luke 24:46-48; And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸And ye are witnesses of these things.

            C.  for they shall be called the children of God.

                  1.   The world believes all are the children of God – Children of God are saved.

Luke 20:36; Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

                  2.   They will posses the Spirit that will affirm their sonship.

Romans 8:16; The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

               3.   They will bear the marks of transformation.

Romans 8:21; Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

               4.   Children but not after the flesh.

Romans 9:8; That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

               5.   They are born of faith in Christ Jesus

                        Galatians 3:26; For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus

6.      They will reflect a change by their walk of love.

Ephes. 5:1-2; Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; ²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

          

VIII.    Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (v.10)

            A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   Persecution is the world’s response to righteousness.

1. It started with the prophets of old.

Matthew 23:30-34; And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. ³¹Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. ³²Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. ³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? ³⁴Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

                  2.   Jesus affirmed we too would be persecuted just as He was.

John 15:20; Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

3.   He gave instruction on dealing with it.

Matthew 10:23; But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

               4.   He detailed some forms persecution would come in.

Luke 21:12; But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

               5.   Mankind will always find a reason to punish those who do what is right.

John 5:14-16; Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. ¹⁵The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. ¹⁶And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

               6.   Just telling of the coming Messiah cost many their lives..

Acts 7:52; Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

               7.   Before his conversion Saul persecuted the followers of Jesus.

Acts 22:4; And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Acts 26:11; And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

1 Cor. 15:9; For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

               8.   Paul labored with his own hands for his needs and was still faulted.

1 Cor. 4:12; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

               9.   Paul learned endure persecution at it’s worst by focusing on the Lord Jesus.

2 Cor. 4:7-10; But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

                  10. Those born of the flesh shall persecute those born of the Spirit.

Galatians 4:29; But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

               11. Even religious persons will not be pacified when it comes to the cross.

Galatians 5:11; And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12; As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

               12. The world despises the godly.

2 Tim. 3:12; Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

               13. The dragon Satan will persecute those who bring forth Christ in their lives.

Rev. 12:13;And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

C.  The flagrant offence we have committed is to seek and live righteously.

            1.   It isn’t the religiously righteous but the spiritually righteous that offend the world.

Matthew 5:20; For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

                  2.   We are to seek the righteousness of God which includes rejecting sin of all forms including sexual perversion, promiscuity, abortion, etc.

Matthew 6:33; But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

                  3.   The Holy Spirit reproves the world of its and their response is to extinguish the Spirit wherever He may be found.

John 16:8; And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

                  4.   People will go to great effort to prevent others from experiencing God’s righteousness through Christ.

Acts 13:4-10; So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. ⁶And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: ⁷Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. ⁹Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, ¹⁰And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

                  5.   There two forms of righteousness – mans definition and true righteousness as defined by God.

Romans 10:3-6; For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. ⁴For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ⁵For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. ⁶But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

                  6.   We dare not compromise by embracing the sinful life style of the world.

2 Cor. 6:14; Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

                  7.   Maintain your righteousness in Christ when provoked.

James 1:20; For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

                  8.   If you are truly suffering for being righteous then don’t fear your persecutors or  let their acitons trouble you.

1 Peter 3:14; But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

                       

IX.       Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (v.11)

            A.  Blessed – possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God.

            B.   We must draw a distinction between the persecution of v.10 compared to v.11.

1.      The persecution of verse 10 was for righteousness’ sake – for doing right.

2.      There are those in any society that deem doing right a good thing even though they don’t know Christ – not realizing their own righteousness is as filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6; But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

3.      The persecution sited in verse 11 is on the other hand is for Christ’s sake because you are identified as a Christian – Christ shines through you.

4.      Setting a righteous example will draw the ire/anger of a perverse society because you present a standard moral or otherwise in opposition to their lifestyle.

5.      When you advocate/promote Christ you now raise a standard out of their reach – they cannot justify themselves when Christ is present – lest they repent.

6.      The presence of Christ in you not only shines light on their sin but also expose them to the reality of their eternal destiny – you must be born again.

7.      Needless to say of the two,  righteousness and Christ the devil’s wrath will come forth with more fury against Christ.

8.      Now Christ in you has struck at the heart of the matter their human pride and self-sufficiency.    

            B.   Men shall revile you.

1.   If they accuse Christ of being Beelzebub how much more shall we that follow be reviled?

Matthew 10:25; It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

               2.   Remember the reviling didn’t stop even after they had Him nailed to

the Cross.

Matthew 27:39; And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

               3.   They called Him a drunk and a glutton because He was in the company of sinners – please note He was neither a drunk nor a glutton – He never compromised His Deity/Godliness.

Luke 7:33-34; For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. ³⁴The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

               4.   The one He restored sight to, was reviled because of his testimony for Christ.

John 9:28; Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

                  5.   When reviled, though fully justified in doing so, He did not respond in like kind.

1 Peter 2:23; Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

C.     When assailed by unfounded/false accusations, happy are ye.

1 Peter 4:14; If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1.   Remember the reproach comes because of the name you bear on your heart.

2.      The reason for your happiness is the spirit of and God rest on you – not mans’ approval but God’s.

3.   They only can speak evil of Him but you glorify Him.

            D. For His sake – because you carry His mark.

                  1.   Persecution will be public and before diginitaries.

Matthew 10:18; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

               2.   This hatred will come from men of all cultures, all races, and all social tiers.

Matthew 10:22; And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

               3.   Forfeiture of the self life is the only means of true retention of life for the

Christian.

Matthew 10:39; He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

               4.   He promises great reward when we forsake all for Him

Matthew 19:29; And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

                  5.   Along with all the rewards He promise us persecution as well.

Mark 10:29-30;And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, ³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

            6.   That persecution will come in differing degrees of intensity up to and including death.

Matthew 24:9; Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

7.   Many will forfeit Christ when persecution comes and recant their faith – this why your personal relationship with Him is so important – He is your rock, your fortress, your strength.

Mark 4:17;And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

               8.   The cost of disavowing Christ will be damnation.

Mark 8:35; For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

               9.   Every form of intimidation will be applied to force you to recant/renounce Jesus as your Lord.

Mark 13:9; But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Luke 21:12; But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

               10. Christianity is not a means to gain notoriety but rather the opposite.

Mark 13:13; And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

                        Luke 21:17; And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake

                  11. You will be called evil for your faith.

Luke 6:22; Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

               12. Remind yourself what Isaiah taught that good would be called evil – don’t

      let that dissuade you from what Jesus calls good and evil.

Isaiah 5:20; Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

               13. Your persecutors will be those who don’t know God.

John 15:21; But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

               14. The will profess to know Him but their actions will betray their heart.

Titus 1:16; They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

                  15. Jesus revealed to Saul at the time of his rebirth the suffering that lay ahead.

Acts 9:16; For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

               16. The Christian holds no more value in society than a lowly sheep ready for slaughter.

Romans 8:36; As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

                  17. Watch that you don’t take on the cloak of honored Christian for compromise lies in its wake.

1 Cor. 4:10; We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

               18. In your persecution Christ in you will be revealed – when the heat is applied only the gold, silver and precious stones will remain – Christ in you the hope glory.

2 Cor. 4:11; For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

               19. Don’t give up, don’t give in and most of all don’t leave your first love.

Rev. 2:2-4; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ⁴Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

 

X.        Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (v.12)

            A. Rather rejoice

1.   Give regard to the value of the reward attained in your suffering.

Luke 6:23; Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

      2.   In your persecution you are in good company – being counted among the great saints that suffered for His name.

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

               3.   When overwhelmed worship the LORD, pray and sing praises.

Acts 16:25; And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

               4.   Remember the benefit your trials will work in you.

Romans 5:3-5; And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

               5.   Your suffering will endure but for a moment but the glory for eternity.

Psalm 30:5; For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

2 Cor. 4:17; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

               6.   Paul asks the church to rejoice in his suffering for you – he bore his afflictions for the benefit of the Church.

Col. 1:24; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

               7.   Learn to count it all joy no matter the form of testing.

James 1:2; My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

               8.   Rejoice because His glory will be revealed in you through your suffering.

Isaiah 48:10; Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

1 Peter 4:13; But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

            B.   Great is your reward.

                  1.   To Abram God said He (God) was thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis 15:1; After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2.      To the Levites He said He was their inheritance.

Joshua 13:14;Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

               3.   We should only look to the Lord for true reward never to the world.

Ruth 2:12; The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

               4.   You will find great reward in the keeping of God’s Word.

Psalm 19:11; Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

               5.   There is a sure reward for the righteous – those living out God’s Word.

Psalm 58:11; So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Proverbs 11:18; The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

                  6.   You will be reward for maintaining a personal relationship with the Lord..

a. Tithing

Matthew 6:1-2; Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. ²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

b.   Praying

Matthew 6:4-5; That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. ⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

c.   Fasting

Matthew 6:16; Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

               7.   You will be rewarded for showing honor and hospitality to the godly.

Matthew 10:41-42; He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴²And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

               8.   Rewarded according to your works.

Matthew 16:27; For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

               9.   Rewarded for loving your enemies.

Luke 6:35; But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

               10. Rewarded for planting (sowing the Word) and watering (nurturing).

1 Cor. 3:8; Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

                  11. Your greatest reward is to gain/know/posses/be possessed by, Christ.  

Philip. 3:7-8; But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

               11. Rewarded for diligently seeking Him.

Hebrews 11:6; But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

               12. Will make all the suffering of persecution worthwhile.

Hebrews 11:26; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

            C.  For so persecuted they the prophets.

                  1.   Understand you are not alone in your afflictions the same are accomplished in fellow believers.

1 Peter 5:8-10; Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. ¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

                  2.   Jezebel persecuted the prophets of her day including Elijah.

1 Kings 18:4; For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

1 Kings 19:2; Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

               3. Micaiah by Jehoshaphat.

1 Kings 22:8; And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

1 Kings 22:26-27; And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; ²⁷And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

               4.   Asa imprisons the seer/prophet

2 Chron. 16:10; Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

               5.   God doesn’t look kindly on those who persecute His people.

2 Chron. 36:16; But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Neh. 9:26; Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

Psalm 105:15; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

               6.   Despite God’s correction they persisted in their persecution.

Jeremiah 2:30; In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

               7.   Jesus prophesied His own persecution, another in a long line of

      persecutions.

Matthew 21:34-38; And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. ³⁵And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. ³⁷But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. ³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

               8.   Religious people will persecute those who challenge their spiritually.

Matthew 23:31-37; Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. ³²Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. ³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

³⁴Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: ³⁵That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. ³⁶Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. ³⁷O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

               9.   They refuse God’s mercy and protection.

Luke 13:34; O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

               10. Just as their fathers they resist the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51; Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

               11. The spirit passes from generation to generation as their evil hearts try to extinguish the light.

1 Thes. 2:15; Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

 

Conclusion: The whole focus of the beatitudes is that Christ might posses us and that we might posses Him, the treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price. Not known to the world but to those who have entered through the narrow gate.