CSSA 3-4-331 - JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES

331. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES

(a) The Beatitudes € Portrait of a Saint "He opened his mouth and taught them"

After the wilderness temptation, Jesus returned into Galilee "in the power of the Spirit. . . and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about" (Luke 4:14). Matthew's fourth chapter (vv. 12-25) records an extensive work of preaching in Galilee, where his teaching and miracles of healing attracted "great multitudes" from areas in the north of Galilee and Decapolis, and from as far away as Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. When Jesus saw these multitudes he ascended a mountain and there outlined the moral qualities of those he would approve worthy of his kingdom. Our aim in this lesson is to see the character which we should try to develop.

Matthew 5:1-12

ONE FAR GREATER THAN MOSES.

Jesus and Moses both ascended mountains and delivered God's Laws to His people. But Jesus was the greater. Whereas Moses was a Mediator who "received the law by the disposition of angels" (Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:38, 53), God's communication through Jesus was direct. Jesus "opened his mouth" and God's words came forth (Heb. 1:1-2; Deut. 18:15-19; Acts 3:22-23). Again, whereas Moses' law listed bless ings for the obedient and cursings for the disobedient (Deut. 28), Jesus spoke of blessings only. Some have attributed this to his mildness, but the opposite is true. Whereas the disobedient lived under curse in the Mosaic Constitution, this class will be eliminated by Christ. They are not contemplated. They will be banished at the commencement of his reign (Matt. 7:23).

THE BEATITUDES.

The personality Jesus describes in the Beatitudes (the "blessings" of Matt. 5:3-11) is essentially his own, but others are envisaged, for he speaks of "theirs", "they" and "ye". The characteristics are not meant to be shown one by one in different individuals, but depict a single personality. Moreover, the Sermon bears no relationship to those outside the Hope of Israel. It portrays the moral qualities of a people ALREADY IN covenant relationship with God. But if, in the Beatitudes, Jesus describes the different facets of his character, he also describes the DEVELOPMENT of that character, and from that, the development of any character that would seek to be patterned on his. In each one of the eight Beatitudes, the person of whom he speaks is pronounced "blessed" € or happy € not only because of the pros pect set before him, but also because of the continuing tranquility of mind of those who know and do their Lord's will (cp. Jn. 13:17). Again, in the first and last Beatitudes, it is said of those blessed that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven". This does not mean that they are already in the Kingdom. The present possessive tense is used because the people of God are bound by the covenant to the Kingdom. This class cannot fail to attain it. The Kingdom is said to be "of heaven" because it will be the Kingdom of Him who is enthroned in heaven, and will be governed by His principles.

The eight Beatitudes are as follows: €

1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit € Matt. 5:3 cp. Isa. 66:2. The first essential is poverty of spirit. Such a mind has renounced all that the flesh finds attractive. A choice has to be made to begin with. One cannot travel two roads going in opposite directions. One can not begin to accept the gifts of God until prepared to give up the prizes the world has to offer. One must renounce human wisdom, and "tremble at the Word". But at the end of such "poverty", or
   renunciation of the world and its ways, there are great riches € an eternal abiding place in God's Kingdom.
2. Blessed are They That Mourn € Matt. 5:4; cp. Isa. 61:3. This is the natural outcome of a renounced spirit. In those who have bid "good-bye" to what the world offers to the senses, temporal ambi tion has been resolved. Such people are linked with the Truth. They view the world from God's position, and they lament a socie ty that either has no interest in, or actively opposes the things of Zion. Christ's words are drawn from Isaiah 61:3, where those who
   mourn are said to "mourn in Zion". They mourn the absence of their Lord (Matt. 9:15), and await "the times of refreshing" refer red to in Acts 3:19-21.
3. Blessed are The Meek € Matt. 5:5; cp. Psa. 25:9-14; 37:11. Such are teachable € mouldable in the hand of the Potter. "The meek will he guide in judgment: the meek will he teach his way". To the
   world they are weak and tasteless, but in fact this quality is only to be found in the strongest characters (e.g. Moses € Num. 12:3) and is the hard-earned reward of a purging experience for which courage and self-control are required. They have no confidence in the flesh, but rejoice in the Word and emulate its precepts (Phil.
   3:3).
4. Blessed are They which do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness € Matt. 5:6; cp. Isa. 55:1. Finding life by letting it go is an emptying process. It empties the disciple of the ingredients that give satisfaction to the carnal mind. But life cannot remain empty. A man who is satisfied by the world has no interest in spiritual food. The poor in spirit, meek, etc., are blessed for qualities already possessed, but Christ does not bless "the righteous". Rather he has in mind those who have an unsatisfied longing for righteousness € a longing for the days when God's righteousness will be seen in the earth and, furthermore, a desire that even now, our character and conduct might express God's justice Peter said: "As new born babes desire (or long for) the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). It is in the Word we receive satisfaction of our hunger after righteousness. "I am the bread of life" said Jesus, "He that com-eth unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35; 7:37-38).

5 Blessed are the Merciful € Matt. 5:7; cp. Psa. 18:25. Righteousness represents the sterner element in the ideal character. Rigorous self-discipline can produce a harsh attitude to the failings of others. "Severity" must be balanced with "Goodness" as it is in Yahweh himself (Rom. 11:22; cp. Ex. 34:6-7). Nothing is more inspiring than righteousness matured by sympathy and mercy, "Mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (Jas. 2:13). Whence comes the motive for mercy? The "love of God", once we really come to know its generosity and its outflowing character, creates within us a responsive love € a desire to do something for Him who has done so much for us (cp. Lk. 11:42; 2 Cor. 5:14; Matt. 23:23). Love of God finds expression in love of brethren. We cannot give like God, but we can and must learn to forgive like Him, and be merciful. This quality is found in those obedient to the second great commandment (Matt. 22:39; cp. Jas. 2:8-13).

6.   Blessed are the Pure in Heart € Matt. 5:8; cp. Psa. 24:4-5; 18:26. The character is not yet complete. Attention is now turned from the circumference to the heart. Unless our heart is pure, our lives cannot be, however much actions and words might seem to suggest it is (Tit. 1:15). "Pure" means "unmixed". Gold is only pure when there are no alloys present. Jesus does not have in mind the exclusion of one form of grossness, but all such forms. The heart is not pure if one's own private interests are mixed up with God's. But naturally, the "heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9). How then can it be purified? By the developmental steps of the Beatitudes and by a sincere concen tration on Him who is pure and holy. Only such can "see his face", i.e. find acceptance in His presence and be made "like Him" physically. Note the same thought sequence in 1 Jn. 3:1-3 and Heb. 12:14.

7.   Blessed are the Peacemakers € Matt. 5:9. This quality is a product of the perfect character. Before the disciple can possibly make peace, he must quieten his own restless spirit (cp. Pro. 16:32; 25:28). Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). James repeats the thoughts of Jesus when he says that "Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable". The opposite is true of those who have bitter envying and strife in THEIR
hearts (Jas. 3:14-18). The pure MAKE peace, and are not merely peaceable. They are constructive and bind up that which is wounded (Isa. 58:12). Peace is so difficult to maintain that it is to be "made", "pursued" and eagerly desired (Jas. 3:18; Psa. 34:14; Eph. 4:3). Peacemakers are the "Sons of God". They reflect in degree the quality in which Jesus their elder brother is forever supreme (cp. Eph. 2:4; Rom. 5:1; Isa. 9:6).

8. Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake € Matt. 5:10-12; cp. Isa. 66:5. The character of the Saint is not attractive to the world. Jesus' disciples would fellowship his sufferings and share the impact of hatred and cruelty with him. The measure of their faith would be the measure of their persecution. Suffering would develop trust and strength of character. They, too, would be made "perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10; 5:8-9). Note particularly in v.10 and v.11 that "for righteousness' sake" is equivalent to "for my sake". In Jesus the righteousness of God is declared. In these words he speaks personally: "Blessed are YE". They were the ones who would bear his name to the world and would suffer for it (1 Cor. 4:9-13). Yet their persecutions would align them with Jesus and the prophets. This would give them incentive, for they would be assured of reward in the Kingdom. Rather than be sad, they had cause to leap for joy (cp. Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:13-14; 3:14; Phil 1:29).

LESSONS FOR US:

• The character revealed in the Beatitudes is that of the complete man of God found in the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
• In addition, they describe the process whereby a man grows from stage to stage in seeking to attain Christ's example.
• The steps are: €

1. Renunciation of the world;
2. Mourning for Zion's fulness;
3. Teachableness € a readiness to receive God's Word;
4. A longing for God's ways to be upheld, or vindicated;
5. A readiness to forgive € as sternness must be balanced with kindness;
6. True inward motivation € a heart unalloyed, undivided in its loyalty, into which God is free to enter, and out of which He may be seen;
7. A man, himself mended by exclusion of sin, who seeks to restore, or mend, others;
8. Character, weak and insufficient by the world's standards, but which is its own criticism of the world, and for which one may expect to suffer, as Christ did.

The roots of the Beatitudes are found in the soil of the Old Testa ment. In these brief statements is found the essence of the prophets € the distillation of the Hope of Israel.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

€ Life of Jesus" (M. Purkis)-Book 4, Chapters 9, 10

"The Sermon on the Mount" (J. Luke) - Pages 1-7

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What are the "Beatitudes"? Comment briefly on two of the lessons they have for us.

2. Whose character is described in the Beatitudes? How can we try to attain that same character?
3. How can the deceitful and wicked heart of man (Jer. 17:9) be made "pure"?
4. "They shall see God". What does this mean?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Briefly describe the character of the saint as outlined in the Beatitudes.
2. Explain the terms "blessed", "poor in spirit" and "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".
3. Write an essay on three of the Beatitudes.