By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Could you expound more on each of the Beatitudes?
Answer: Sure,
I touched briefly on the Beatitudes in Question #176, I had said that the Beatitudes were for the very PURPOSE to teach a PRACTICAL APPLICATION of truth.
Each of the Beatitudes start with the word Blessed and it simply means Happy, so here they are.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is in reference to salvation, UNTIL a person realizes their need of Jesus Christ as their saviour through the understanding that their is nothing they can do or offer to God (Poor in Spirit) to obtain eternal life but to simply Just Believe and Trust him alone as the one who paid completely all of their sins.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
A good cross reference to this is 1 Thessalonians 4:13 which states…
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Even though believers do sorrow over the death of a fellow believer or saved loved one they are comforted by the guarantee from the Word of God that THEY WILL see that believer or loved one again.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
In scripture the believer is referred to as a sheep, consider John 10:3 and 14…
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Sheep in the animal world are VERY MEEK (unresisting to the Shepherd) therefore each and evey believer SHOULD BE Submissive, Yielding and Obediant to the Lord for they have the promise from scripture that THEY WILL live on this earth during during the One Thousand year reign of Christ.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
This is another reference to salvation, consider John 4:14 and 6:35…
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.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Those that are Thirsty, and Hungry to know THE TRUTH of the Gospel and the Word of God the Lord WILL GET the truth to them so they can Believe and Shall be FILLED (baptized and sealed) BY the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Consider Hebrews 4:14 – 16
Hebrews 4:14 – 16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (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.
As believers we are to seek the Throne of God in prayer during times of need that we might WHAT?, obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
ONLY THOSE who have trusted in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ alone are called PURE (Gr. Katharog = Clean Spiritually, Righteous) and are the ONLY ONES who will see their Saviour.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
This is a reference to witnessing. Each and every believer has the privledge and responsibility of sharing the Gospel and when they do if the person that they are sharing the Gospel with Believes on the Lord Jesus Christ they have Brought Peace between them and the Lord.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is a reference to Martyrdom or dieing for ones faith, Consider Acts 6:8 – 7:60, Stephen was killed (Martyred) for preaching Christ crucified and resurrected.
All the Disciples except one, The Apostle John, met similar fates, This is how we know the Bible is true, BECAUSE people are not willing to die for a know outright lie.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Verses 11 & 12 are in reference to Rewards, the stronger that we stand firm for the truth of God’s Word the more rewards we will have in heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
In Conclusion:
Just as the the lost self righteous people and religious people hated Christ they will also hate us BECAUSE OF our stand for Christ.
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.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH