Matthew 5
Matthew 5:1-12 – And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
After Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, He began to preach and say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus taught in the synagogues of Galilee and His fame grew throughout Syria. He healed the sick, diseased, and those possessed with devils. People from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond Jordan followed Him.
As Jesus saw the multitudes, He went up into a mountain and taught His disciples as they came to Him. As He began, He gave nine ‘attributes’ of those that are blessed. In many circles, these nine attributes are commonly referred as the Beatitudes. The word Beatitude is Latin for blessings.
The Beatitudes represent the character traits/behaviors that one attains on earth to enter eternal life (the kingdom of heaven). Each statement represents personal attributes rather than something to be accomplished corporately as a church or group.
Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Some situations have the potential of making you very upset. In those moments, you often have a a few moments to consider whether you’ll defer your anger or not. So before you choose to allow your anger to take over, please consider the follow four thoughts:
1. A person of good discretion (understanding, prudence, insight) will defer their anger. When you feel wronged, anger is one of the emotions that fuel your intentions. You’re upset that we’ve been confronted, embarrassed, treated wrongly, etc. You want to show people you’re not a pushover and you were the wrong person to mess with…
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1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1. There are many compartments in our lives. Many Christians live their lives like train compartments. One compartment may represent their home life; another compartment is for work; and another for church, etc. Each compartment carries its own set of rules, standards, and customs.
In the compartment of our home life (for example), we may act, lead, and love according to our upbringing and our position in the home. Because the home is closed to the outside world (unless you welcome people over), you will often be the most ‘loose’ with your mouth and behavior than in any other compartment.
The work ‘compartment’ encompasses another set of rules, standards, and customs separate from the home compartment. Some work centers encourage (or influence) people to dress, talk, and conduct themselves in a specific manner to be accepted or promoted. There is an unwritten desire or need to become one of the ‘guys or girls’ in the office where they are known by their superiors positively. In many work centers, the goal is to reach the ‘top,’ and many do so without the slightest concern for how they get there. Such strivings may influence or ‘encourage’ people to compromise their moral standards and conduct.
The church ‘compartment’ is fitted with a set of rules, standards, and customs different from the other two. This compartment is filled with outward displays of piety and godliness. Some churches also carry specific (or unwritten) rules for dress or conduct. Additionally, congregations will often worship the Lord in similar fashion (based on their affiliation or cultural background). Their children are well kept and their family is pictured as the Christian model for all, even if this is not true in the home compartment.
2. Only one rule must exist among our life compartments. Our lives may have different compartments of home, work, church, etc., but only one rule must govern them all, to the glory of God. Jesus has given two great commandments that should govern our conduct (Matthew 22:36-40).
As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he stated that whether they ate, drank, or whatever they did, to do it for the glory of God. Some definitions of glory from the translated Greek are magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty; the kingly majesty that belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity.1 In every thing we do and in every situation, God is to be glorified.
3. How to glorify God in each compartment of life.
Some people would ask, ‘how do I glorify God in eating or drinking?’
If we look back on the definition of glory above and consider the things that we eat, drink, and do on a daily basis, consider this:
- Do you eat to where you become gluttonous? Filthy? Pig-like? Do you eat foods that God would not be pleased to see you eat? Do you eat fattening foods that cause you to gain excessive weight, creating numerous health problems? Would this type of eating honor God and your body, where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)?
- For the things you drink, do you become drunk with alcohol (even if it is in your own home)? Do you drink to the point where you would dishonor your own body by consuming liquids that are clearly unhealthy and destroy your body? Would the Lord be pleased and glorified?
- What about your conduct… When working with difficult bosses, do you apply Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38-45? Or do you treat them like the world would treat them, curse at them, and ensure they know you don’t like them? Do you work each task and responsibility to the best of your ability? Do you love others as yourself and give each person the very best of what you have to give?
4. Living for God’s glory is moment-to-moment. Living for God’s glory requires a concentrated effort with each situation and circumstance. It will require some of the following (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Times of prayer and intimacy with the Lord throughout the day
- Bridling the tongue from speaking falsely, course joking, and saying evil things (Proverbs 21:23; Ephesians 4:29, 5:1-4; James 1:26, 3:3-13)
- Meditating on scriptures throughout the day that help us stay focused on the Lord (Psalm 1:1-3)
- Fellowship with like Christians that motivate and encourage you
- Remaining unspotted from the world and its ways (this may require separating yourself from certain events and people) – Psalm 1:1; James 1:27
1 – Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for doxa (Strong’s 1391)”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2012. 26 Jan 2012. http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1391&t=KJV
What is Doctrine?
Doctrine is considered an instruction or teaching that can be learned or developed through experience. Doctrine is associated with a person’s beliefs; the way they ‘see,’ perceive, or relate to the world around them. Each person has a countless number of doctrines on the issues, people, and situations they experience on a daily basis. The number of doctrines a person has is countless and continues to be shaped and expanded throughout a person’s lifetime.
Within Christianity, sound biblical doctrine is based on the biblical teachings, experiences, pastors, ministers, and interactions with fellow brothers and sisters in the local church community. Within the context of this message, doctrine will encompass God’s Word. God’s Word is the foundation of good sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
A disciple is a person that is conformed into the image of Jesus through careful study and obedience to His life example, commands, and guidance through the Spirit.
Jesus outlines what one must do to be a disciple, how a disciple is identified, and how they are to live. Below is a listing of scriptural references that further outline the preceding sentence. Disciples:
1. Are not forced to follow Jesus (John 6:43-71).
2. Are drawn by the Father (John 6:44).
3. Must hate their father, mother, wife, children, and their own life (Matthew 10:32-39; Luke 14:26-33).
John 9:1-5 – And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
When the disciples saw the blind man, they asked Jesus who sinned, the man or his parents that he was born blind. Though neither sinned, his blindness was purposed to manifest the works of God (via Jesus healing him). Jesus said that He MUST work the works of Him that sent Him. He said these must be done while it is day, for when the night comes, no man can work.
Now, as Jesus declared, He is the light of the world. The life that is in Him is the light of men (John 1:4-9) and all that follows Him will not walk in darkness (evil, sin), but will have the light of life – righteousness, salvation, eternal life (John 8:12).
There will come a time when the night will come and no man can work. This refers to a future period in history, and for our own lives, it will come upon our death or the Lord’s return. Therefore, we must redeem our time by making the most of each moment we have:
Matthew 5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When the time for glorifying God comes, some redirect the attention away from God unto themselves. Now, they don’t intentially take away His glory in that manner (some do), but in themselves, they want to be acknowledged for the hard work they accomplish; God using them to bless someone; and to please their own pride/ego.
James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
When trying times (temptations) come, the last emotion or feeling most people have is joy. They want to receive a quick resolution, answer, promise, fulfillment, and closure of their situation. Patience is not an option.
Our society today doesn’t like to wait for a lot of things. Every request today needed to be answered yesterday. There is no time to wait.
Galatians 6:1 – Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
It is no light matter to be called of God to restore people in the faith. Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). It is a humbling sight to witness the return and growth of those that had been overtaken by a fault. However, there are a few things they must consider:
1. They must be spiritual. Paul states makes a distinction for those that are to assist those overtaken in a fault – the spiritual (spirit-filled, spirit-led). The person desiring to assist them cannot be in flesh-filled and flesh-led. If the person trying to restore someone operates in the flesh, the person in the fault will only be further trapped and bound to their sin (and possibly other spirits as well).
2. Those overtaken in sin must be restored in a spirit of meekness. One of the definitions of meekness is the ability to be patient and long suffering. Some folks will not want to ‘do right’ because you said a few words, and busting down the doors of sin in someone’s life is not always a 1,2,3 process. Those that are not meek, patient, or willing to ‘suffer long’ with others will abort the process of restoration before it comes to fruition. In today’s society, many people want to say a few words and if it doesn’t work, they’ll leave them alone because they don’t want to waste their time. But not so for those that are spiritual. Just as the Lord is patient (and gracious and merciful) with us, we should exercise just as much patience toward those we desire to see restored.
3. Consider thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Know your own spiritual/physical/mental/emotional temperament. Stay on your guard to protect you from allowing temptation into your life. There are several things you should consider:
- If you’re not considering your own life, you become tempted to sexual relationship with that individual. The person may seek affirmation (from you) through physical touch.
- You may become angry with something the person says and speak harshly to them. Your words or actions would cut more than heal. This may be especially evident if the person is speaking about a subject that is emotional for you. If you are unable to properly contain your emotions, you want to consider whether you are the proper person they should speak with.
- You must also watch out for pride to rise up in you as you see the manifestation of restoration in the lives of others, something you may desire for your own life. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:15).
- You must protect yourself any spirits you encounter while counseling. You may counsel someone and find the same circumstances manifesting in your life and home within days of the counseling. After counseling sessions, be sure to pray (to bind the spirits), anoint yourself (and home), pray in the Spirit, and remain watchful for anything that could remotely sprout.
As one who restores others, you are in a position of trust to hold the fragile pieces of someone’s life. Consider your temperament at all times so you will not see their weakness as an advantage for you.
Restoration is not on a timetable. Just because one person doesn’t repent in the amount of time you think it should take, it doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. This is why it’s important to be spiritual and meek. You must be willing to go the distance and not become angry or impatient because ‘change’ does not occur by your timetable.
Don’t play around with this!!! You must be on your guard. Remain watchful and consider yourself!
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When tragic situations occur near and far away, we often want to help, but we’re unsure how. Caring for the less fortunate is in line with living as a child of God (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; and James 1:19-27), and we wonder how we can provide the greatest assistance.
1. Pray. There’s never a waking moment that someone in the world is without the need of prayer. Pray without ceasing throughout the day and as often as the situation or person(s) are brought to your remembrance (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. Connect with local organizations. Check the local newspaper, television, or radio stations for support and relief opportunities already taking place. Oftentimes, it’s easier to support organizations with ties already in the affected area than trying to make your own. However, you may discover that new ‘connections’ are needed as you pray and seek the Lord’s guidance.
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