Synoptic Gospel Project

GENERAL TOPIC: SERMON ON THE MOUNTIAN SIDE (BEAUTITUDES)

TEXTS: Matthews 5:1-8

LESSON 1: BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

Text: Matt. 5:3

I INTRODUCTION:

It is observed in scriptures that God uses the natural to explain the spiritual so that we can use the natural to understand the spiritual in theory and practice. The beatitudes concerning the Christian attitudes toward God and his word are clearly indicated in spiritual sense. To understand this phrase “blessed are the poor in,” one needs to look literally at the natural occurrences in scriptures with respect to how God dealt with the children of Israel with reference to poverty and how Jesus presents this message in Matthew 5 allegorically to teach spiritual truth.

II Implications for providing for the poor:

A Children of Israel are asked to leave the left grains for the poor.

Leviticus 19:9-11
1. Deuteronomy 15:11

B Providing for the poor is the way of defending their rights.

Psalm 82:3-4

C Providing for the poor is the way of honoring God.

Proverbs 14:31
Matthew 25:37]
Luke 12:33
Luke 14:12-14

D Providing for the poor is lending to the Lord.

Proverbs 19:17
Proverbs 21:13
Proverbs 22:2
Matthew 25:37-40

E Providing for the poor is the way of justice.

1 Proverbs 29:7

2 Job 30:25

3 Jeremiah 22:16

4 Zechariah 7:10

F Providing for the poor is storing things for you in heaven.

Luke 12:33
1. Mark 10:21

III Implications for spiritual poverty: Spiritual poverty entails feeling inadequacy with respect to Godly living and desiring to live for God’s glory.

A The result of the desire for Godly living

1 James 2:5

2 Matthew 5:3

3 Proverbs 19:1

B God came for the poor in Spirit.

1 Isaiah 61:1

2 Luke 4:18-20

C God became poor so that the poor can be rich.

1 2 Corinthians 8:9

2 Philippians 2:5-7

3 Isaiah 11:1

4 Luke 9:58

5 Matt. 6:20

6 Romans 8:17

7 Col. 1:16

8 Mark 2:16-17

IV Our response to spiritual poverty

A Seeking God’s kingdom

1 Matt. 6:33

2 Matt. 11:12

3 I Corinthians 13:3

V CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION:

A Spiritual poverty is actualized when one desires inadequacy regarding Godly living and makes a move to thirst for God’s righteousness in fulfilling kingdom mandates in a realistic spiritual discipline and ministry.

LESSON 2: BLESSED ARE THE MOURNERS

Text: Matt. 5:4

I INTRODUCTION:

Mourning is an indication of realization regarding our imperfections and sad state of our spiritual existence before God and the desire to correct these spiritual handicaps. This kind of mourning leads to repentance. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:10). We are comforted by putting Jehovah God first in our lives and doing His Will to the best of our abilities.

I Implication for mourning in scriptures

A Mourning brings healing emotionally.

B Mourning brings healing spiritually.

C God forbid the Israelites to mourn for certain people.

D Mourning is an indication of repentance.

E Mourning leads to worshipping God

Job 1:20
Ezra 9:5

F Mourning is an indication of danger

Esther 6:12
2 Chronicles 35:25

II The consequences of mourning:

A Mourning leads to repentance

B Mourning leads to spiritual fulfillment.

Matt. 5:4
Job 1:20
Ezra 9:5

III CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION:

A Mourning is an indication of repentance before God and the desire to be fulfilled spiritually and emotionally in the Christian journey. Our inability to mourn by remorse is a sign of spiritual handicap and spiritual malnutrition.

LESSON 3: BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Text: Matt. 5:5

I INTRODUCTION

It is not common to see people even in Christendom to be meek. It takes the Spirit of God to bring people in state of being meek. Meekness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that every believer should have. To be meek is to be quiet, gentle, submissive, obedient, yielding, unresisting, or humble. Someone who is meek is easily imposed on. Naturally, no one wants to be imposed on. Every human being has the tendency of resisting; consequently, he or she will not allow imposition as the result of the ego.

SCRIPTURAL IMPLICATION FOR MEEKNESS
To speak evil of no one (Titus 3:2)
Taking the yoke upon oneself ( Matt. 11:29)
To be teachable (Psalm 25:9)
To have a quiet spirit (I Pet. 3:4)
To be peaceful ( Psalm 37:11)
To have the fear of God (I Pet. 3:15)
To have wisdom (James 3:13)
To have the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
To bless your enemies (Romans 12:14)
To be like Moses (Num. 12:3)
To lay apart all fitness (James 1:21)
To be graceful (I Thess. 1:1-10)
To be spiritual (Gal. 6:1)
It overshadows the law of God (Gal. 5:23)
To be forbearance (Col. 3:13)
To be lowly in heart (Ephesians 4:2)
To eschew evil (I Pet. 3:11)
To have patient (James 1:4)
To cherish (I Thess. 2:7)
To care (I Pet. 5:7)
To be subject (I Pet. 2:18-23)
To be gentle (James 3:17)
To consider the week (I Thess. 5:14)
To love God (II Cor. 13:11)
To have peace with one another (Mark 10:50)
To have no strive (Gen.13:8)
To allow vengeance for the Lord (Exodus 14:14)
To allow the lord’s will done (Exodus 16:8)
To be self-sacrificial (Proverb 17:1)

III CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION

Meekness is the fruit of the Spirit we need to exhibit God’s kind of character as we live in this sinful and perverted generation. We as believers can not live, act, and respond to outside influences as the world does. We are required by ethics and values system to behave differently that is in conformity with Christian standard.

LESSON 4: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGAR FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Text: Matt. 5:6

I INTRODUCTION

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled. To hunger and to thirst for righteousness is to strive to please God. God is righteous in all he does and he wants to share this attribute with us. The scriptures listed below talk about God’s righteousness which is inferred to us as believers.

II SCRIPTURE FOR IMPLICATIONS

1 Job 37:23

The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.

2 Psalm 9:8

He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.

3 Psalm 33:5

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

4 Psalm 35:28

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

5 Psalm 36:6

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

6 Psalm 71:2

Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.

7 Psalm 71:15-17

My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

8 Psalm 71:19

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?

9 Psalm 103:6

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

10 Psalm 119:142

Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.

11 Isaiah 5:16

But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.

12 Isaiah 28:16-17

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

13 Isaiah 42:5-7

This is what God the LORD says- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

14 Isaiah 51:4-6

Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

III CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION

Righteousness is one of the attributes of God he shares with his creation; therefore, it is not obtained by merit, but it is obtained through the grace of God. God wants us to thirst and hunger for righteousness; as the result, we will be filled. No one who comes to Christ with the desire to grow in grace and righteousness will remain the same person in deeds and characters. God is there to perfect us based on obedience to him. We must deny ourselves and allow God’s will to be done.

LESSON 5: BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

Text: Matt.5:7

I INTRODUCTION

Mercy is the act of showing compassion, forbearance, tolerance, generosity, tenderheartedness, graciousness etc. God is the merciful God and he wants to show mercy as well to others in need. God blesses those who show mercy. It is the covenantal promise we see here in scriptures.

II SCRIPTURAL IMPLICATION FOR MERCY

1 1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

2 Psalm 145:9

The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.

3 Matthew 5:35-40

Or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or’ No, no’; and anything beyond these is of evil. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.” And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

4 2 Samuel 24:14

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

5 James 2:12-13

So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

6 Exodus 34:6-7

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth; who keeps loving-kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

7 Ephesians 2:4

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

8 Psalm 86:5

For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving-kindness to all who call upon Thee.

9 Titus 3:5

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

10 Luke 6:36

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

I pray these Bible Verses about mercy were helpful to you today.

III CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION

We need to show mercy to those who wrong us since we all are subject to doing wrong. God is the one who forgives us of our sins; likewise, we need to forgive those who wrong us. It takes the heart of mercy to forgive others who wrong us in realistic situation.

LESSON 6: BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

Text: Matt.5:8

I INTRODUCTION

Purity is the nature of being holy in all that one does. When one speaks of purity and the Bible’s stance, people will immediately jump to the issue of sexual purity. This makes sense; however, in the light of culture of sex that we live in, the Bible verses about purity make it clear that true purity goes above every aspect of one’s life. Purity is not just a matter of abstaining, but it is the matter of the heart, of motives, and love for God.

II SCRIPTURAL IMPLICATION FOR PURITY

for they 1 Psalm 24:3-5

Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who do not put their trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.

2 Psalm 51:9-11

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

3 Proverbs 16:2

People may think all their ways are pure, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

4 Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, will see God.

5 Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.

6 Philippians 2:14-16

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.1

7 Timothy 1:5

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

8 Timothy 2:22-23

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

9 James 3:17

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

1 John 3:2-3

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

III CONCLUSION/THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION

Purity is the root of holiness. It is purity which gives birth to holiness. In the absence of purity, there will be no holiness. Purity is the same as holiness; however, the degree of their applications matters. Without purity, there will be no holiness. Moral purity entails being holy, righteous, and full of justice. To be pure is to be holy, righteous, and fair in all that you do.

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