4-26-26 THE BEATITUDES OR SERMON ON THE MOUNT by Sharon Asp
MATTHEW 5:1-12
I want to start with something funny. An eight year old boy was doing
a homework assignment to “explain God”. He said , “one of God’s
main jobs is making people so there will be enough people to take
care of things here on earth. He doesn’t make grownups, just
babies. I think, because they are smaller and easier to make. That
way He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to
walk and talk, He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.
THE BEATITUDES OR
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He
climbed a hillside. Those who were His disciples, the committed,
climbed with Him, arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and began
to teach them, saying,
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you. There is more of God and His rule.
2. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. You’re
blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the one most dear to you.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. You’re
blessed when you’re content with just who you are-no more-no
less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of
everything that can’t be bought.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be filled. You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a
good appetite for God. He’s food and drink and the best meal
you’ve ever ate.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. You’re
blessed when you care. At the moment of being “careful”, you
find yourselves being cared for.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. You’re
blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and heartput
right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
7. Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called the
children of God. You’re blessed when you can show people
how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you
discover who you really are and you’re placed in God’s family.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You’re
blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
9. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Not only
that-count yourselves blessed every time people put you down
or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What
it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are
uncomfortable.
10. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the propjets who
were before you. You can be glad when that happens-give a
cheer even! For they don’t like it, I do. And all heaven applauds.
And know that you are in good company. My prophets and
witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble ..
From the lofty pulpit of a mountain contains the
laws of His kingdom. After over 2000 years this
sermon on the mount has lost none of its majesty or
power. The teachings of this sermon overtops all the
man teachings. The world has not yet caught up with
its simplest ideals and requirements. Many a person
who is not a Christian claims that the sermon on the
mount is his religion. How little he understands the
depths of its meaning. It is important that we do not
simply praise this rule as a wonderful theory but that
we actually practice it in our own lives.
If we let this rule operate in our own lives,
it will change all of our personal relations, heal our
social wounds, solve every dispute between
nations, yes, set the whole world in order. The root
of this law is kindness. It is true, if human society
would have its standard as theirs, the world would
be set in order. One day filled with it would be
heaven.
Love would reighn instead of
lawlessness ..
AMEN