Tuesday, 30 August 2022

Matthew 5:3-9 Summary

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Before we move on to the rest of the Sermon On The Mount, let's take a few moments to review. When translated into English, each of these seven verses start with the word "blessed." The usual word for "blessed" in Hebrew is "Baruch." It connotes a "bent knee" or submission. But the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word, "Makarios" is "Ashrei." "Ashrei" is an exclamation of joy, like our English word "Hooray!" A better translation might be, "Be glad and shriek for joy."

Seven times, Yeshua declares there are certain people (you could be one of them) who will shriek for joy. Why? In each verse these people take on (or reflect) part of God's character, followed by a promised benefit. Let's make a list of the character traits followed by a list of the promised benefits.

Character trait ...

1. Poor in spirit ... those who have emptied themselves of themselves
2. Mourn ... those who loathe their sin
3. Meek ... those who humble themselves and abandon bitterness
4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness ... those who pursue what is right
5. Merciful ... those who have compassion for the downtrodden
6. Pure in heart ... those who are washed clean by the blood
7. Peacemakers ... those who chase after the perfection only found in Yeshua.

Benefit ...

1. Inherit the kingdom of heaven ... we will possess heaven
2. Be comforted ... we will live the stress-free life which is shalom
3. Inherit the earth ... we will possess the earth
4. Be satisfied ... fulfilled so we lack nothing
5. Be shown mercy ... God brings us back to Himself
6. See God ... we spend eternity in His presence
7. Be called sons of God ... we are brought into God's family as children.

Let's give our attention to some subtleties. Heaven represents our spiritual reality while earth represents our physical reality. Notice the spiritual precedes the physical. We were spirit first and our spiritual reality will be our first inheritance.

In between these two inheritances is "comfort." Our natural state (in Adam) is one of tension. There is tension between good an evil, between right and wrong, between love and hate, between God and those who love Him, and the enemies of God (both spiritual and physical). The removal of this tension is comfort. This promised benefit comes to us between our two inheritances.

Of course, once you have inherited heaven and earth, you will be satisfied. This is complete wholeness. Colossians 2:9 For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him, 10a and in Him you have been filled to fullness. In His mercy, God brings us back to Himself, "way more better" than we deserve.

Why? So we can see Him, have fellowship with Him, love Him and spend eternity with Him, as part of His family. The more I write about this, the better it gets. Makes me want to shout, "Ashrei!"