KINGDOM QUALITIES

When we receive salvation from the Lord,
there are some qualities He expects to see in us
(qualities that we should expect of ourselves).

Question:
What qualities does God want me to cultivate?

People have 2 lifestyles to choose:
Secular or Biblical.

Question:
What are some examples of a “secular” lifestyle?
    – Selfishness.
    – Greed.
    – Troublemakers.
    – Anger.
    – Jealousy and envy.
    – Hurried.
    – Worried.
    – Sinfulness.
    – Negativism.
    – Critical spirit.
    – Out of control.

Question:
What are some examples of a “biblical” lifestyle?
    – Patience.
    – Calmness.
    – Peacemaker.
    – Humility.
    – Trustworthiness.
    – Non-judgmental.
    – Encouragement.
    – Selfless (concern for others).

Jesus had been preaching,
“Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
(Matthew 4:17)

He called four of His disciples.
(Matthew 4:18-22)

News spread about Him and crowds flocked to Jesus.
(Mathew 4:23-25)

MATTHEW 5

VERSES 1-2:
Question:
Was Jesus teaching His disciples (believers),
the crowd (believers and non-believers), or both?
Note:
    The word “them” doesn’t clearly indicate
     if the multitudes were present.
Note:
    In the following verses, there isn’t a call for repentance
     (so more than likely He was teaching believers).

VERSES 3-6:
“blessed”
    – Secular Greek meaning of the word
       was “happy” or “fortunate”.
    – Biblical Greek meaning was “approved by God”.

Note:
    Popular belief:
         – Jesus was not describing emotions that disciples feel.
         – He was describing the kind of people
            who have the qualities which are approved by God.
         – Those with these qualities find joy
            in knowing they have God’s approval.
         – The central issue:
                How God evaluates us; not how we feel.

Each quality is followed by the word “for”…
then the blessing that goes with that quality.
Note:
1st & 8th :
     “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (present tense).
2nd – 7th:
    the blessings are future tense.

Question:
What is the message to us?
    – When our hearts and lifestyles are approved by God,
       we can experience a little bit of heaven here on Earth?

“poor”
    – Used to describe the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:20).

    – A person who was destitute and dependent
       on others for the bare necessities of life.

    – Some believed that (1) wealth meant favor
       and (2) poverty meant God’s judgment.

    – Others believed: the rich were sinful;
       the poor were blessed.
       Note:
           Jesus had more in common with this view
            (Matthew 19:23-24).

Question:
Wonder which groups of people had each view?

“poor in spirit”
    – Those who see their spiritual life as destitute and needy.
    – They see themselves as spiritually poor,
       and their only hope is to trust the mercy of God.

“mourn”
    – Could mean anyone who mourns the losses in life.
    – Probably means those who are upset with their own sin
       and the sin of the world (and the destiny of sinners).
       (James 4:8-10)
    Note:
        Jesus gave a warning to pleasure seekers
         who were unconcerned about sin (Luke 6:25).

“they shall be comforted” (Revelation 21:4)
Question:
Do you think He meant believers
would also be comforted while on Earth?

“meek” (gentle, humble)
    – The secular world can’t understand,
       because they believe:
           – Aggressive go-getters claim the earth as their own.
           – The strong dominate the weak.

           – The “meek” are not “weak”.
                  – It means they have strength under control.
                  – Gentleness is a choice
                      (as opposed to a natural reaction).
                  – Jesus was meek, but He was not weak. (Matthew 11:29)

“inherit the earth”
    – As children of God, we are heirs
       of the One who owns all things (Luke 15:31).

“hunger and thirst after righteousness”
Question:
What is the focus of a starving person?
    – Food.

Question:
What is the focus of a thirsty person?
    – Water.

Note:
    This shows how strong our desire for righteousness
    should be (similar to Matthew 6:33).

“righteousness”
    – In the Bible, righteousness refers to:
           – “justification” (being declared right with God
               through a faith in Jesus Christ).

           – “sanctification” (being transformed into
               the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit).

           – “glorification” (being like Christ in the resurrection).

           Note:
               All of these are by the grace and power of God
                and not the result of human merit.

“they shall be filled”
    – A picture of a great feast may be
       the image Jesus had in mind. (Matthew 22:2-14)

VERSES 7-10:
“merciful”
    – Biblical concept has 2 main categories:
          1. Forgiveness for the guilty
               (especially for those who have hurt you).

          2. Kindness and compassion shown to the needy.
    Note:
        God is the model for showing mercy
         (Exodus 34:6-7, James 5:11).
             – Since He showed us mercy,
                we are to show mercy to others.
                (including those who hurt us
                (Matthew 18:21-35)),
               and we are to help the needy
               (Luke 10:30-37).

Note:
Being merciful is the opposite of being judgmental.
    – Jesus taught we will be judged
       by the way we judge others (Matthew 7:1-2).

“pure in heart”
    – Could mean 1 of 2 things:
           1. Devotion to God that leads to a pure and holy life.
           2. Total sincerity in our devotion to God.

Note:
    “pure in heart” probably means sincerity, honesty,
     no deceitfulness, no hidden agendas
     (what you see is what you get).

“they shall see God”
    – A special awareness of God,
       even while we are here on Earth.
   Note:
       The ultimate reward is in the future
        when we see the Lord in all His glory.

“peacemakers”
    – Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker;
       through Him we find peace with God
       and with other believers.

Note:
    Christians are “ambassadors for Christ”
    (2 Corinthians 5:20).
        – We are to call sinners to peace with God.
        – We are to promote peace among believers.
        – We should pray for and promote peace
           in all relationships.

“shall be called the children of God”
Question:
Why?
    – Because we are doing the work of the Father.

“are persecuted for righteousness sake”
    – Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution
       for being faithful to Him (John 15:20, 16:33).

    – He emphasized the difference in being punished
       for doing wrong, and being persecuted for
       righteousness sake (1 Peter 2:12, 3:17, 4:15).
   Question:
   What are some ways believers are persecuted today?

The world’s beatitudes:
1. Blessed are the rich and famous,
     or they shall be recognized as important.
2. Blessed are people who party,
     for they will enjoy life to the fullest.
3. Blessed are the aggressive,
     for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who do their own thing,
     for they will find fulfillment.
5. Blessed are those who take care of number one,
     for they don’t need to worry about anyone else.
6. Blessed are the wheelers and dealers,
     for they are winners in this dog-eat-dog world.
7. Blessed are people who don’t get involved
     in other people’s problems, for they will
     avoid getting caught in the middle.
8. Blessed are those who don’t rock the boat,
     for everyone will like them.

VERSES 11-12:
Looks like Jesus wanted to
be sure His disciples were prepared for persecution.
Question:
Why would He want to prepare them?
    – So they wouldn’t be surprised or discouraged?

Jesus mentioned 3 forms of persecution
(2 of them were what people say):
    1. “revile” (insult).
             – (Mark 15:32) Jesus was reviled at the cross.
             – (Hebrews 10:33) Describes how Christians were reviled.
             – (Hebrews 13:13) We are to follow Christ.

    2. “persecute” (to pursue or persecute).
             – Includes many forms
                (including imprisonment and death).

    3. Slander (saying harmful lies about someone).
         Note:
             1st century pagans slandered Christians
              with lies and rumors.
              Believers were accused of:
                  – Sedition
                      (the official crime for which
                       they crucified Jesus).
                  – Immorality
                      (based on the “love feasts” of the believers).
                  – Cannibalism
                      (based on what Jesus said when
                       establishing the Lord’s Supper).

    – Peter may have had the slanderers in mind
       when he wrote this. (1 Peter 2:12)

Note:
     Jesus said believers would be persecuted
      because they were identified with Him.
           – The world hated Him; it would hate His followers.

           – He warned of a time when killing believers
              would be considered a service to God (John 16:2).

Jesus gave 2 reasons for rejoicing in persecution:
    1. The greatness of the rewards to be received in heaven.
    2. Sharing the same experience as the prophets.

Summary:
    – God blesses and approves of those
       who are persecuted for His sake.
    – Persecution can be acts of violence,
       or words of insult and slander.
    – Christians can rejoice when persecuted because:
    – Their reward in heaven will be great.
    – They stand in a long line of persecuted
       believers throughout history.

VERSES 13-16:
Salt and lamps were indispensable items
in every 1st century household.
Salt:
    – More valuable than it is today.
    – More than flavoring;
       it was a preservative for foods (before refrigeration).
    – Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt.
    – The Latin word for salt is “salaria”
       (from this we get the word “salary”).

    Jesus meant the earth is perishing and needs
     the power of God to preserve it from total corruption.
         – The lives of Christians
            are like salt to the corruption on earth.
         – Salt without its saltiness:
               A picture of a Christian who is good for nothing
                except for covering a path (in essence, ineffective).

Lamps:
    – Outside they used torches;
       inside they used lamps.
    – The light we provide is a reflection of His light.
       (John 8:12)

Candle:
    – Refers to Christians who hide their beliefs
       (due to timidity or embarrassment).
       Note:
           These are also ineffective Christians.
       Note:
           Christians are to let their lives be seen by others;
            others should know we are believers by the way
            they see us live and respond to life’s situations.

Note:
    There are 2 types of “living believers”:
        1. Those who live in such a way that others
             will praise them for their Christianity.

        2. Those who want others to see their
              relationship with God and recognize His glory
              (God receives the acknowledgement and praise).

Salt must come into contact with the earth;
light must be seen by people in the world.
    – Christ calls us to be “in” the world,
       but not “of” the world.
       Question:
       What does that mean to you?

Summary:
    – Christians are preserving agents
       in a world that is corrupt and perishing.

    – Christians are lights that reflect
       the Light of Jesus in a dark world.

    – As Christians, we have responsibilities (on a daily basis).