Sermon on the Mount

A Series of Sermons from the Mountain Message2013

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…”– This is no mild desire. (Example of Christ in Matthew 4)– The desire is spiritual in nature, not emotional.

• There are those who try to fill the desire with lots of other things. Consider the writer of Ecclesiastes.

– Our desire should be for God and His righteousness.• Psalm 42:1-2• Psalm 63:1• Matthew 4:4• Deuteronomy 32:46-47

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…”– True righteousness is seen from the outside because the

inside has been changed already.– This righteousness displays itself at all times (integrity).– The hunger and thirst is an all-consuming and constant

desire. It is a desire that never stops, but is satisfied with the righteousness that it finds in God.

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the merciful…”– What is mercy? It is derived from two words that mean

“misery” and “heart.” Therefore, it is a suffering in your heart that develops because of the plight, condition or suffering of another.

– We typically think of compassion or charity.– Helping others is not only commendable, but it is a necessary

characteristic for a kingdom citizen.• The Good Samaritan (Luke 11:30-37)• Galatians 6:10

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the merciful…”– Mercy in this passage though has a spiritual context. Our desire

to be merciful is based upon the fact that we have received great mercy.• Psalm 103:8-13• Ephesians 2:1-5• Titus 3:3-5

– We show the same kind of mercy toward others – spiritually – because we can sympathize with them. This sympathy leads us to action, even if the action is not always pleasant or desired.

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the pure in heart…”– Pure: Clean, as if a dirty garment has been washed. It also

means free from impurities or containing nothing inappropriate.

– We must have clean hearts.• Acts 15:9• 1 Timothy 1:5 – “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure

heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”• 2 Timothy 2:22 – “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness,

faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the pure in heart…”– Pure hearts mean pure minds.

• Philippians 4:8• Psalm 101:2-3: “I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come

to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”

– Pure hearts include focused commitment. It is not distracted.• Exodus 20:3• Deuteronomy 6:4-5• James 4:4-8 • Matthew 6:33

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the peacemakers…”– Keeping in mind the spiritual nature of the kingdom and

discussion, these peacemakers are not those persons who are good at arranging truces, compromises or settling disputes.

– Jesus never promised His followers physical peace on earth.• Matthew 10:16-23, 34-39

Kingdom Character:Filling Up

• “Blessed are the peacemakers…”– The peacemakers here are the ones who try to bring peace

with God.• Acts 10:34-36 – “…preaching good news of peace through Jesus

Christ…”• Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we

have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”• Ephesians 2:12-18• Colossians 1:20 – “For in Him all the fulness of God was pleased to

dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

References

Works Cited - References• Adams, W. (2011). The Beattitudes. Bryan: Tops Printing, Inc.• Bell, C. (2004). The Kingdom Handbook.• Chumbley, K. L. (1999). The Gospel of Matthew. Nashville.• Deason, J. (1999). Message of the Mountain.• Earnhart, P. (1999). Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution. Floyd Knobs: Gary

Fisher.• Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1971). Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Grand

Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.• McCord, H. (1956). Happiness Guaranteed. Murfreesboro: Dehoff

Publications.