The Blessings
1 – The Poor in Spirit
A. THE “BLESSINGS,” OR “BEATITUDES,” ARE WELL KNOWN.
1. There are 8 or 9 depending on how vs. 10 & 11 are viewed.
2. Blessings are pronounced on men for character traits.
B. BOTH THE BLESSINGS AND THE TRAITS ARE COMPOSITES.
C. IN DISCUSSING THE BEATITUDES, ONE PART OFTEN NEGLECTED IS THE
REWARDS OR BLESSINGS THEMSELVES.
D. SERMON’S THEME (5:20).
1. Traits contrast with the character of Jewish leaders.
2. Blessings they held as exclusively theirs.
3. Most are paradoxes.
E. OUR DESIRE IS NOT TO BE EXHAUSTIVE.
A. SPIRITUALLY HUMBLE – REALIZING SMALLNESS (Psa. 144:3-4).
1. Consider man’s place in the cosmos.
2. Consider man’s effect on his environment (Ecc. 1).
B. A TRAIT NECESSARY FOR MEMBERS OF THE BODY (Matt. 18:1-4).
1. Beware! the temptation to over-inflate (Rom. 12:3; Matt. 3:9).
2. Dare we compare ourselves to others? (2 Cor. 10:12).
3. Jesus is the standard (John 12:48; Acts 17:30-31). How do we compare now?
4. How important are we? (1 Cor. 12:21-22; Phil. 2:1-4). Put the other first.
5. Lowliness springing out of that Love (Eph. 4:1-3).
C. WE ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD.
1. Man has nowhere to brag (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; 1 Cor. 10:12; 1:21; 3:18).
2. All are sinners (Rom. 3:9, 23).
D. CONTRAST WITH THE PHARISEES (Luke 18:9-14; 23:1-7).
A. CONCEPTS OF THE KINGDOM.
1. Jewish concept was fleshly, vague, divided.
a. Disposition toward Jesus (John 6:15; Matt. 21:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:22).
b. The disciples (Matt. 18:1; 20:21).
c. After the resurrection (Acts 1:6).
2. The distinction between the kingdom and heaven not made. There is a connection.
a. Those going to heaven will be those in his kingdom.
b. In places, the eternal reward is referred to as the kingdom
(Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:10-11).
c. The people in the church promised an inheritance or entrance into the kingdom
(Matt. 5:10, 12).
B. KINGDOM PROPHECIES:
1. Dan. 2:44-45. A kingdom – in the days of those kings.
2. 2 Sam. 7:12-13. Descendent of David – rule forever.
3. Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-7; 11:1-10; Zech. 6:12-13. Expectations high!
4. Mal. 3:1. The messenger.
C. THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM.
1. The preaching of John (Matt. 11:10; 3:1-3).
2. The preaching of Jesus ( Mark 1:14-15).
3. What should this lead the Jews to expect?
D. JESUS TEACHES ON THE KINGDOM.
1. It’s nature.
a. John 18:36. Not of this world. “What does this mean?”
b. Luke 17:20-21. No war or revolution, no physical boundaries.
c. Matt. 20:20-21, 26-28. Backwards hierarchy.
2. It’s coming
a. Mark 9:1. Some who stand by, never taste of death, come with Power.
b. Acts 1:4-8. From Jerusalem, promise of the Father, Holy Spirit.
No specific date, BUT …
Receive power, Holy Spirit, my witnesses
Acts 2:1-4, 32
E. POST PENTECOST.
1. Christ’s rule.
a. Application of David’s prophecy (Acts 2:29-31).
b. Chronology of Rule (Beginning - Acts 2:32-36; end - 1 Cor. 15:20-26).
2. Col. 1:13. Out of darkness into what?
3. Rev. 1:9. Partakers with John.
F. FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY – THE CHURCH!
A. ONE MUST BE POOR IN SPIRIT, OR HUMBLE, TO ENTER THE KINGDOM.
B. HUMILITY LEADS ONE TO SUBMISSION TO THE KING.
C. WHAT DOES THE KING DESIRE OF ME?