The Beatitudes

Class 2

February 28

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.     Major questions and interpretive issues

a.      What did Jesus not say? Why is it important to keep in mind those things he left our when we contemplate those things that he said?

                                                              i.      Lewis quote – page 9

                                                            ii.      Are we ‘happy’ if we live out these Beatitudes?

                                                          iii.      What about the “Be Happy Attitudes”?

1.     Can we ‘Name it & Claim it’? Why not? Where does this modern  Positive Confession movement or Word-Faith movement breakdown?

2.     How do we quietly allow this kind of theology in to our own life?

a.      “As long as there are tests there will be ‘prayer in school’”

b.     The ‘Jesus is Santa Claus syndrome’

3.     “Positive Confession leaders have a wrong view of faith: Instead of trust in God as its object, it is a metaphysical force they trust. They have a wrong view of God: He is not sufficient in Himself, but can only do what He does by using this universal faith-force in obedience to certain cosmic laws. They have a wrong view of man: He is a little god in God's class who has the same powers as God and can use the same force of faith by obedience to the same laws that God also must obey. They also have a wrong view of redemption and the cross of Christ.” (http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/posit.htm

4.     Happiness is ultimately a subjective state – who decides if we are happy? What is it that makes us happy?

Blessedness is objective – it is a grace bestowed upon us by our Creator.

b.     Keep them within the context of the larger whole

                                                              i.      Matthew does not include the ‘Woes”

                                                            ii.      Each Beatitude is in some sense dependent upon the others – the ‘stair step’ – pp 17

1.     “These are not eight separate and distinct groups of disciples [described in the passages], some who are meek while others are merciful and yet others and called upon to endure persecution. They are rather eight qualities of the same group who at one and the same time are meek and merciful, poor in spirit and pure in heart, mourning and hungry, peacemakers and persecuted” (Stott)

                                                          iii.      The larger whole includes Jesus and all of his teachings – we can see Jesus in the Beatitudes.

3.     How can the authority of Jesus (through his teaching in the Beatitudes) help us to change our life and the lives of others?

a.      Pp 23 – story of Ulysses – “we must play more beautiful music than that of the Sirens”.

b.     Have we been a little more Christ-like today than we were yesterday? – Philippians 2:5-9

4.     What does it mean to be “Blessed”?

a.      Is it fun?

b.     Howell tells us “blessedness” is something we receive externally – from beyond ourselves. (pp 29)

                                                              i.      Brunner’s two halves:

1.     God helps those who need help (poor, meek, mourn, hunger)

2.     God helps those who help others (merciful, peaceful)

c.     God can best help those who understand they cannot help themselves.

What is it God really wants us to have? Riches and worldly happiness or eternal life found only in Him?

5.     There is no single paragraph of the Sermon on the Mount in which the contrast between Christian and non-Christian standards is not drawn” (John Stott).

a.      How do we apply all that we learn and read in the Beatitudes to our life?

b.     How do they (should they) make us different?

c.     Are we?!

Next time - Chapters 5 & 6

6.     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