The Beatitudes
Class 4
March 14
Matthew 5:3-12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
1. Review/questions –
2. Blessed are the Meek
a. Translations
i. New
ii. New Living Translation: 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
iii. New Life Version: Those who have no pride in their hearts are happy, because the earth will be given to them.
iv. New International Life Version: Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.
v. Worldwide English: God makes happy those who quietly trust him and do not try to get their own way. The world will belong to them.
Are we blessed because (if) we are meek we will be rewarded? Or are we blessed because of our meekness in trying to following Christ, the natural result of which is to receive His blessings and ‘reward’?!
b. Leo Durocher (about the NY Giants): “They are nice guys, but nice guys finish last. The meek may inherit the earth, but some strong bully is going to come along and surely take it away from them immediately.”
i. How do we define or describe the word “meek”?
1. Gentle
2. Humble
3. Considerate
4.
5. But the truest meaning of the word is strength under control. Not a wet noodle, not a doormat, but strength under control.
c. ENDURING OFFENSES. Anonymous: A gentle person neither provokes evil nor is provoked by evil. Charges of sin do not prevail against such persons insofar as they are not the cause of sin. The meek one is more content to endure an offense than to commit one. For unless one is unafraid of being offended, one cannot be without sin. For even as weeds are never lacking in a field, provokers are never lacking in the world. Therefore that person is truly gentle who, when he or she has been offended, neither does evil nor even thinks of doing it. (ACCS – Homily on Matthew)
d. Read Psalm 37:1-11
e. So…what does Jesus mean? Was He meek? What is Christian meekness?
i. Moses? Peter (pp 52 – Acts 5:29)?
ii. Howell – pp 48
iii. How do the meek respond in strength? Moses (Number 12:1-12); Gandhi, ML King, thousands of Christian martyrs.
iv. Meekness isn’t vengeful, but uses its strength to do the work of God. It never reacts out of control. It is in control. Meekness is controlled power. Now this is a fruit of the spirit. Paul says in II Timothy 1: “God’s spirit does not make us timid, but his spirit fills us with power and love and self-control.” (John Yates)
v. Meekness is having the strength or ability to act through human power, but choosing to act through God’s grace instead.
vi. Christian meekness is a lack of pride; of a willingness to allow God’s will be done.
vii. Meekness is NOT the opposite of anger; rather it is the opposite of unreasonable anger. Unreasonable emotion allowed to continue through lack of will is sinful.
1. Chrysostom: “He that is anger without cause shall be in danger, but he who is angry with cause shall not be in danger” and “He who is not angry when he has cause to be, sins. For unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices” (Homily 10).
f. And what do the meek receive?
i. The earth – the redeemed
3. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
a. First, Matthew makes clear e is talking about hunger for righteousness, not physical hunger.
b. What do we mean by ‘righteousness’?
i.
ii. Righteousness is in relationship to God. There are three attributes of biblical righteousness:
1. Legal (relationship to God) – this is ‘justification’, ie., do we have a right relationship with God?
2. Moral (relationship to ourselves) – character and conduct which is pleasing to God. Through Jesus we have learned to contrast outward righteousness (Pharisees, for example) and that inward righteousness of character
3. Social (relationship to others) – Justice, liberation from injustice, etc
Howell – pp 58 – “By grace, righteousness has been transformed from something we do to something God gives”.
iii. Luther: “The command to you is not to crawl into a corner or into the desert, but to run out, if that is where you have been, and to offer your hands and your feet and your whole body, and to wager everything you have and can do….what is required is a hunger and thirst or righteousness that can never be curbed or stopped or sated, one that looks for nothing and cares for nothing except the accomplishments and maintenance of the right, despising everything that hinders this end. If you cannot make the world completely pious, then do what you can”
Howell pp 59 – “It is not those that are righteous but those who hunger. It is yearning, not possession”.
c. How, when (or can) we ever be satisfied?! - Howell – pp 60
4. Almighty and most gracious Father, move upon us with your mighty power and grace, so that as we move through this Lenten study each of us may be poor of spirit, always seeking the richness found only in life with you. Open our hearts and minds to the Holy Ghost, that we may learn to take great pride in you, to trust in and depend on you. And finally, prepare us for the coming Easter so that with the risen Christ, we, too, may rise from the ashes to be restored to your eternal kingdom. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost; ever one God, World without end. Amen
