The Blessed of the Kingdom
"And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated HIS DISCIPLES came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 5:1-3)
The Sermon on the Mount is considered to be the greatest sermon ever preached by many who have heard, read, and studied this message. Jesus was intentional to share these core teachings in a variety of ways and at different times during His earthly ministry.
The details that are given to us by Matthew set the scene and the heart for this life changing message of "kingdom living" and how all things are divinely ordained by God...
"seeing the multitudes" - This reveals His compassionate heart when He saw the state of the multitudes as weary and scattered sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36).
"on a mountain" - This reveals that God was doing something significantly new as He elevated Himself to be heard and to remind the people of when God spoke to Moses on the mountain and gave him "the pattern shown [to him] on the mountain" (Heb. 8:5).
"He was seated" - This reveals how Christ is the One who accomplishes all things and is forever seated at the right hand of God to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25, 10:12-14).
"His disciples came to Him" - This reveals how we too must intentionally come to Jesus to receive all that He has to give from His living water to His daily bread (Matt. 11:28).
"opened His mouth" - This reveals that the same God who opened the mouths of the prophets of the past is now here as the Word that became flesh to dwell among us that we might behold His glory as One who teaches us by His words and lifestyle (John 1:14).
(This is worth mentioning since just observing Jesus was a teaching in itself.)
When Jesus begins this amazing teaching, He begins with BLESSING because He is restoring mankind to the original purpose God intended for them where He blessed them at the beginning and said, "be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it" (Gen. 1:28). It is interesting to note that the last word of the Old Testament ends with a curse (Mal. 4:6) but the first public teaching of Jesus outside of His calling His own disciples or teaching in His hometown synagogue reveals the blessed of the kingdom.
And this blessing begins in the spirit. This is why Jesus' first teaching was "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We all must humbly see that we are spiritually bankrupt apart from Christ and need His Spirit to awaken our spirit.
In order to enter in and live the life of the kingdom, we must first be born again of the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. We are called to be spiritually minded people in a self-driven and self-exalting world. Those who are the true sons of the kingdom discover that not only is His kingdom not of this world but kingdom living is synonymous with living in the spirit, and not living according to the flesh.
Jesus turns everything upside down in the hearts of those who follow Him, teaching that those who will represent His kingdom will live contrary to this world, shining as light and living as the salt of the earth, in alignment with His principles and priorities.
HEART WORK
As it was said in Acts 17:6, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." What the world calls upside down, Jesus considers to be right side up.
- What is God doing at this present time to get you to think and act differently?
- Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness by the way you prioritize your week and spend your free time?
- Are you ready to fully live in the way of Christ in your sphere of influence today?