We are to aid others to attain their best outcomes, regardless of how we feel about them. A servant’s heart is the crux of the second aspect of meekness: reticence to assert ourselves for ourselves. But even then, your battle is not with people, but against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12.) Thus the beatitudes are first of all declarations of God’s grace. This view, though widely held, is not universal. Envy, selfishness, hatred, bitterness, greed, pride, etc., also make the heart impure. Commentary on Matthew 5:21-26 (Read Matthew 5:21-26) The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. The first is that an error covered up may be much more difficult to deal with later. Imagine a construction job where a worker makes a mistake with a foundation fitting. / He begins Jesus' ministry with the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), the first of five major teaching sections (see also 10:5 … Those least able to pay, paid the most. You see Him in the trials, you see Him in the blessings, you see Him in the everyday details of life, you see Him in the big situations. But there is much more to having a pure heart. Those who belong to each blessed group experience God’s grace because the kingdom of heaven has come near. The beatitudes, statements of characteristics and blessing, are part of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus spoke and is recorded in Matthew.Each beatitude looks at different circumstances of life and how all Christians are blessed through their faith. “The Beatitudes” (Matthew 5:1-12) Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen] Rev. Jesus elaborates by pointing out that the prophets, who like him announced God’s kingdom, were persecuted. viii. The Theology of Work Bible Commentary is an in-depth Bible study tool put together by a group of biblical scholars, pastors, and workplace Christians to help you discover what the whole Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--says about work. Giving in to things like jealously, arrogance, suspicious thoughts about others, getting offended, selfish ambition, self-indulgence, gossip, etc., leads to unrest for yourself and those you interact with. This edition is a one-volume hardcover version. And this is not a future reality only. If someone makes a mistake in an organization where mercy is not shown, they are likely not to say anything about it, hoping it will not be noticed and they will not be blamed. Do you see how far you are from living the life described in the Bible? Today’s post is adapted from Michael J. Wilkins’s video lectures on Matthew and his commentary on Matthew in the NIV Application Commentary series.. Although the primary purpose of the beatitudes is to declare the blessings given by God’s kingdom, most scholars also regard them as painting a picture of the character of that kingdom. If you are the president of a trade association, and you speak out against an unfair subsidy your members are receiving, don’t expect them to re-elect you. The second beatitude builds on our mental recognition of our poverty of spirit by adding an emotional response of sorrow. This is how Jesus lived, and if we follow His example and also live this way, then we will be heirs together with Him! If you like reading the Theology of Work Bible Commentary free online, you might enjoy it in print! Matthew 5:1-2 - commentary. 11:4-6). Instead, they are a blessing for any who consent to join themselves to God’s kingdom as it “comes near.”. The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 by Thomas Watson. As undeserving recipients of God’s mercy, nothing else would be fitting than that we ourselves show unreserved mercy and compassion for other people. The Beatitudes - He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The third beatitude puzzles many people in the workplace, in part because they don’t understand what it means to be meek. If there is some conscious sin or impurity that clings to you, that you are not willing to overcome, then you cannot see God. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) The Beatitudes are "declarations typically associated with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (5:3-12) and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke (6:20-23). We have to answer the questions, What are these beatitudes? The Beatitudes are a radically bold statement of Jesus’ intent to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, which will bring true peace and freedom for all who dare to follow him as his disciples. Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. INTRODUCTION. There are two versions of the Beatitudes, one from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5:3-12) and one from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 6:20-24). Matthew 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? Through him, our sins are forgiven and we ourselves receive aid by the gift of God’s spirit (1 Corinthians 12). In other cases, leaving the job may not be possible, or it may not be desirable, because by staying a Christian could be an important force for good. Jesus' contribution. Chester Karass, In Business and in Life: You Don't Get What You Deserve, You Get What You Negotiate (Stanford Street Press, 1996). Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Are you broken-hearted over your inadequacy to be genuinely good to others? Jesus is talking about the blessing of being persecuted for doing right. Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. Through these 8 Beatitudes, Jesus teaches of virtues and values in life that will result in blessings and rewards. Conflicts arise whenever people have differences of opinion. Who is likely to be more successful in the long run? Each principle is a key to living a godly life. 5 David E. Garland, Reading Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, Reading the New Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2001), 55. beatitudes in fact resembles the two tablets of the law of Moses, the Ten Later, when Jesus says, “Make disciples of all nations” (Matt. I was enraged, and I called in an artillery strike to get the sniper. Jesus actually taught what is here ascribed to him. When you are poor in spirit, then God can fill you with His riches – the virtues of Christ. it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." When you faithfully overcome all things that are contrary to mercy – suspicion, judgement, hardness, condemnation, malice, etc. It does mean that you long to be like Jesus, the Master, but you see how incapable you are of doing that on your own. When Jesus ascends a mountain and begins to address the crowds (verses 1-2), the reader is expected to make the connection to another teacher (Moses), and another mountain (Sinai). It is easy to fix if it is brought to light and repaired right away. We begin today an eight-week series on the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3–12. We will devote almost a week to each one. In its deepest form, it acknowledges our desperate … Jesus breaks into the public arena proclaiming, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). The second aspect is captured by Psalm 37:1-11a, which begins with, “Do not fret because of the wicked,” and ends with “the meek shall inherit the land.” It means we curb our urge to avenge the wrongs done against us, and instead use whatever power we have to serve others. That is a blessing indeed! A. [1] This word affirms a state of blessing that already exists. Bible Commentary We went back and restructured our business. Christ begins his sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:1, Matthew 5:2.The beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12.The disciples the salt of the earth, and light of the world, Matthew 5:13-16.Christ is not come to destroy, but confirm and fulfill, the Law and the Prophets, Matthew 5:17-19.Of the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 5:20. 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