“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (vs9).
God’s children make peace with others. We are not war like and cruel. Rather, we WANT people to know God. Our life is not about ourselves but leading people to the Lord, and this directs our conduct.
Here, in Matt 5, we have God’s people identified:
1. We are poor in spirit, sinners in ourselves, depending on the mercy of God’s grace - “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). We are not seeking merit; we seek God to be propitious to us freely, for we have nothing to give. The sinner isn’t discouraged. His poverty qualifies not excludes him.
2. We have sin, so we mourn - “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4). We have difficulty and we watch people deceive themselves eternally. We live in a world of sin and pain, but God’s people mourn godly sorrow that works repentance not to be repented of. This is the one who’s comforted.
3. The meek are those that wait on God, and we wait on Him to save, doing things His way - “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (vs5). The meek are not able to help anyone, so we obey God, in the hope that He helps whom He will. II Tim 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. (God’s people have FAITH, and that is what is identified here, which is faith in its internal hope and external results.)
4. God’s people hunger and thirst, desiring to do God’s will - “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). We are not left to coldness of heart, but we WANT to obey increasingly. God’s law is in our heart, we have a holy nature, and holiness wants to glorify God for His grace. We are not satisfied, so long as we aren’t perfect in these cursed bodies of death. We need God, and we need to honor God, so we hunger to grow.
5. The merciful are those that have obtained mercy - “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7). God is good to us, so we are good to others. We deal with them by Christ rather than wrath because that’s how we’ve been dealt with. We do unto others as God does unto us.
6. The pure in heart are those that BELIEVE unto the cleansing of the conscience and acceptance with God - “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). We see God gracious because we deal with Him by faith in His Son’s blood, so He REVEALS Himself to us as promised. Having taken away the sin, God REVEALS Himself to believers in saving love (I Tim 1:5). We see His mercy, rather than His wrath only.
God’s people don’t reject the gospel, so we see His beauty, while others who reject Christ see nothing but OFFENSE in His Person. They stumble because He is not who they thought, and rather than believe unto the cleansing of the conscience, they sin unto the destruction of the soul, refusing the blood of Christ (Mark 6:3).
7. The Kingdom belongs to the persecuted, so don’t fear to STAND for God’s grace - “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (vs10-11). Take no retreats, make no friends, and COMPROMISE nothing for anyone.
What is man that we hide God’s glory? In America, all they can do, typically, is get upset, twist their faces, say stuff that reveals them lost, and walk away. In modern America, they don’t even have authority to kill you. Why should we fear, when we are right? We tell the truth, not to be mean, but so that sinners might be saved, seeing God’s UNSEARCHABLE riches in Christ.
We are not mad men, and we are not evil men. We are DOING MEN GOOD by telling the ONLY truth that saves. We preach and practice so men may believe Him for who He is, so they can be saved (Acts 26:18). We do men good, when we live in a way they persecute.
But, be persecuted for WELL-DOING rather than sin (I Pet 4:15-16).
8. All the spokesmen for God have been persecuted – “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”. Don’t be mean or cowardly (Matt 5:12). Lovingly preach God’s grace in Christ UNFOLDING the truth and hoping that God will save, rather than hiding truth to please men.
Preach all that He tells you, all that He makes you live by, proclaim on the house tops, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). He cares for you, and His favor is MORE important than the smiles of men. Don’t be afraid at their faces; fear God whose face makes you smile.
Here, in Matt 5, we have God’s people identified:
1. We are poor in spirit, sinners in ourselves, depending on the mercy of God’s grace - “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). We are not seeking merit; we seek God to be propitious to us freely, for we have nothing to give. The sinner isn’t discouraged. His poverty qualifies not excludes him.
2. We have sin, so we mourn - “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4). We have difficulty and we watch people deceive themselves eternally. We live in a world of sin and pain, but God’s people mourn godly sorrow that works repentance not to be repented of. This is the one who’s comforted.
3. The meek are those that wait on God, and we wait on Him to save, doing things His way - “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (vs5). The meek are not able to help anyone, so we obey God, in the hope that He helps whom He will. II Tim 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. (God’s people have FAITH, and that is what is identified here, which is faith in its internal hope and external results.)
4. God’s people hunger and thirst, desiring to do God’s will - “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). We are not left to coldness of heart, but we WANT to obey increasingly. God’s law is in our heart, we have a holy nature, and holiness wants to glorify God for His grace. We are not satisfied, so long as we aren’t perfect in these cursed bodies of death. We need God, and we need to honor God, so we hunger to grow.
5. The merciful are those that have obtained mercy - “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7). God is good to us, so we are good to others. We deal with them by Christ rather than wrath because that’s how we’ve been dealt with. We do unto others as God does unto us.
6. The pure in heart are those that BELIEVE unto the cleansing of the conscience and acceptance with God - “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). We see God gracious because we deal with Him by faith in His Son’s blood, so He REVEALS Himself to us as promised. Having taken away the sin, God REVEALS Himself to believers in saving love (I Tim 1:5). We see His mercy, rather than His wrath only.
God’s people don’t reject the gospel, so we see His beauty, while others who reject Christ see nothing but OFFENSE in His Person. They stumble because He is not who they thought, and rather than believe unto the cleansing of the conscience, they sin unto the destruction of the soul, refusing the blood of Christ (Mark 6:3).
7. The Kingdom belongs to the persecuted, so don’t fear to STAND for God’s grace - “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (vs10-11). Take no retreats, make no friends, and COMPROMISE nothing for anyone.
What is man that we hide God’s glory? In America, all they can do, typically, is get upset, twist their faces, say stuff that reveals them lost, and walk away. In modern America, they don’t even have authority to kill you. Why should we fear, when we are right? We tell the truth, not to be mean, but so that sinners might be saved, seeing God’s UNSEARCHABLE riches in Christ.
We are not mad men, and we are not evil men. We are DOING MEN GOOD by telling the ONLY truth that saves. We preach and practice so men may believe Him for who He is, so they can be saved (Acts 26:18). We do men good, when we live in a way they persecute.
But, be persecuted for WELL-DOING rather than sin (I Pet 4:15-16).
8. All the spokesmen for God have been persecuted – “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”. Don’t be mean or cowardly (Matt 5:12). Lovingly preach God’s grace in Christ UNFOLDING the truth and hoping that God will save, rather than hiding truth to please men.
Preach all that He tells you, all that He makes you live by, proclaim on the house tops, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). He cares for you, and His favor is MORE important than the smiles of men. Don’t be afraid at their faces; fear God whose face makes you smile.
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