THE BEATITUDES

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL-MATTHEW 5:7

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
MATTHEW 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Psalms 18:25, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;”
Proverbs 11:17a, “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul:”

Introduction:

“These verses, like the stairs of Solomon’s Temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are mounting up a step higher. ‘Blessed are the merciful…’ There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live.” Thomas Watson wrote that in 1660.

Mercy is seen as the “duty” of a Christian in the beginning of the text and in the end it is seen as a reward. The Hebrew word for “godly” signifies “merciful;” the godlier, the more merciful. However, the Lord puts a great difference between the merciful and the unmerciful.

I. JUST AS THE MERCIFUL MAN IS BLESSED, THE UNMERCIFUL MAN IS CURSED

A. Why, what is his crime? “He remembered NOT to show mercy,” Psalm 109:16, “Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.”

B. Look at the vile of plagues of God that are poured out on the unmerciful, Psalm 109:17, “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.”

C. The blessing of the God crown and encompass the merciful man, 2 Samuel 22:26, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.”

1. His children are blessed, Psalm 37:26, “He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

2. The Lord will deliver him from trouble, Psalm 41:1, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”

II. A CONTRAST BETWEEN LOVE AND MERCY

1. Love is like a friend that visits those who are well.

2. Mercy respects those that are miserable.

a. Mercy is like a physician who visits only those who are sick, Matthew 9:12, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”

b. Love acts more out of affection.

c. Mercy acts out of a principle of conscience.

d. Mercy lends its help to another.

e. Love gives its heart to another.

3. Both agree that they are ready to do good.

B. Mercy springs from a work of grace in the heart contrary to the natural man.

1. The natural man is unmerciful, Romans 1:31, “Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”

a. Foolish – “without understanding.” Romans 3:11, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

b. Faithless – “covenant breakers” 2 Timothy 3:3, “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.”

c. No love of kindred – “without natural affections” Matthew 10:21, “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.”

d. Unforgiving – “implacable” Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

e. Pitiless – “unmerciful” Psalm 78:37-39, “For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

2. The unmerciful man is compared to an adamant stone, Zechariah 7:12, “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.”

3. They which commit such things are worthy of death, Romans 1:32, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

C. The change that grace has made, Colossians 3:12, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

“When the sun shines the ice melts. When the Sun of righteousness once shines with beams of grace upon the soul, then it melts in mercy and tenderness. You must first be a new man before a merciful man.” –Thomas Watson

III. THE REWARDS OF EXTENDING MERCY TO OTHERS.

B. He is blessed in his name, Psalm 112:6, “Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”

C. He shall abound in much, Proverbs 11:25, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

D. His posterity shall be blessed, Psalm 37:26, “He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

E. He is blessed in his business, Deuteronomy 15:10, “Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.”

F. God always pays us back, Proverbs 19:17, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

CONCLUSION

There is much more to this study and I challenge you to search the Scriptures for the rewards of helping others. Our lives are made much more enjoyable when we extend a helping hand to someone in difficulty.

A. The merciful are blessed in his person, Psalm 41:1, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”A. Love is more extensive.Psalm 109:6-9, “Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. 7-When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. 8-Let his days be few; and let another take his office. 9-Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.”

SPIRITUAL HUNGER SHALL BE SATISFIED-MATTHEW 5:6

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
SPIRITUAL HUNGER SHALL BE SATISFIED
MATTHEW 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Introduction:


This is the second part of the text and it deals with the promise that God has made to His people regarding spiritual hunger. Here God gives His word: “they shall be filled.” The Lord has not bids us to seek Him in vain, Isaiah 45:19, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” He has promised a blessing:

1. He promised to fill us with Good Things, Luke 1:53a, “3He hath filled the hungry with good things;” Revelation 7:15-17.

2. He will satisfy our souls, Psalm 107:9, “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

1) The world is fading, not filling, Isaiah 28:1, “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!”

2) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, Proverbs 14:14a, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.”

3) The hungry soul will be filled with God’s goodness, Jeremiah 31:14, “And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.”

The psalmist said in Psalm 63:5, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:”

I. GOD WILL FILL THE HUNGRY SOUL

A. The Lord is a fountain of life, Psalm 36:9a, “For with thee is the fountain of life.”

1. Cisterns may be empty or broken as are people, Jeremiah 2:13, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

2. The fullness of God’s fountain is constant, even infinite.

a. The fullness of man is mutable; it ebbs and changes.

b. God is a constant fullness, Psalm 102:27, “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”

B. The Lord’s Fullness is overflowing and ever-flowing.

1. In His presence is fullness of joy, Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

2. Of His fullness we have received grace, if we know Him, John 1:16, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

3. In the love of Christ we are “filled with all the fulness of God,” Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

II. WHY GOD FILLS THE HUNGRY SOUL

A. Because of His tender compassion, Matthew 15:32, “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”

1. The father had compassion on the Prodigal son when he came to himself, Luke 15:17, “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

2. The Lord invites man to come and satisfy his need, Isaiah 55:1, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

3. The Lord knows that we have this need, Matthew 6:21-32, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

B. God will fill the hungry because of the sweet relationship He has with his children.

1. The hungry soul is very satisfied with God’s mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

2. The hungry soul is most likely to praise the Lord even for the bitter things, Proverbs 27:7, “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

3. The soul that is hungry for correction will praise the Lord, Hebrews 12:7, 10, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

III. HOW GOD FILLS THE HUNGRY SOUL

A. God fills the hungry soul with His grace.

1. We are justified by His grace, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

2. We are built up spiritually by His grace, Acts 20:32, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

3. We are redeemed through the riches of His grace, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

B. God fills the hungry soul with peace.

1. The God of hope has filled us with peace, Romans 15:13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

2. God gave Israel honey from the rock [ Deuteronomy 32:13, “He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;”] and that Rock is Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

3. God has given peace to the spiritually minded, Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

C. God fills the hungry soul with BLISS, Psalm 17:15, As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Philippians 3:21, “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Conclusion

What an encouragement this is to hunger after righteousness. God charges us to fill the hungry, Isaiah 5810-11, “And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

Now is our opportunity to do just that by reaching out to our neighbors, friends and relatives with the truth from God’s Word. The challenge is has been made, but few have taken it seriously.

BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL HUNGER-MATTHEW 5:6

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL HUNGER
MATTHEW 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Introduction:
This is the fourth step of blessedness. This falls into two parts: First, there is a duty implied here: To hunger after righteousness. Secondly, there is a promise added: “for they shall be filled.”
Just what is meant by hunger? Isaiah says it is a desire, Isaiah 26:9, “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”
Where does this desire come from? It comes from a sense of want of righteousness. Every believer should have this if he has submitted himself to the Lord for whatever God might want him to do.
I. HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. The hunger and thirst for righteousness.
1. Hunger and thirst proceed from life, 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
a. It shows the character of a godly man; he hungers and thirst after spiritual things, Isaiah 26:9, “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”
b. It shows the disposition of the believer, Psalm 42:2, “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
1) In the Word preached, Psalm 42:1-2, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 119:20, “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
2) In prayer, Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
3) In study of the Word, Psalm 119:11, 18, 33,“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 18Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.”
4) In the preaching of the Word by the believer, Psalm 119:27, “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”
2. The appetite comes from God just as the food does, 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
a. The heart is inclined, Psalm 119:36-37, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”
b. He is not ashamed, Psalm 119:46-47, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”
B. The righteousness itself.
1. This is IMPUTED righteousness, Romans 4:3, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
a. This righteousness belongs to the LORD, Jeremiah 23:6b, “And this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
b. By virtue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned, Numbers 23:21, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”
2. This is PERFECT righteousness, Colossians 2:10, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
a. We are complete in Him, Colossians 3:11, “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
b. Because of His power and authority as the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
C. Reproof for those who do not hunger after righteousness.
1. They are full of their own righteousness, Romans10:3, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
2. They have judged themselves unworthy, Acts 13:46, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
3. They refuse to consent to wholesome words, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
a. The plainest truth has its beauty, Ezekiel 33:32, “And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.”
b. But they do not hear them, Luke 16:31, “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK-MATTHEW 5:5

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK
MATTHEW 5:5
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Introduction:
Definition: Meek = Patient and mild; not inclined to anger or resentment.
In the Old Testament, Moses, in an attitude of meekness, yet maintaining strength of leadership, was ready to accept personal injury without resentment or recrimination.
The high place given to meekness in the list of human virtues is due to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. Regarding meekness we see the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer as not only curious, but versatile. He makes his heart meek, pure, peaceable, etc. The Holy Spirit adorns “the hidden man of the heart” with a multiplicity of graces.
The proposition here is that meek persons are blessed persons.
I. MEEKNESS TOWARDS GOD AND MAN
A. Meekness toward God.
1. Submission to God’s will, 1 Samuel 3:18, “And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.”
2. Flexibility to God’s Word.
a. Regarding the sinner, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
b. Regarding the Believer, James 1:21, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
B. Meekness toward man.
1. Meekness is a grace to modify our passion (feelings, emotions), Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23-Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
2. “Meekness sits as moderator in the soul, quieting and giving check to its distempered motions.”
3. Meekness consist of three things:
a. The bearing of injuries.
b. The forgiving of injuries.
c. The recompensing of good for evil, Romans 12:19-20, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
COMMENTARY: “Coals of fire”
“The Scriptures have much to say about forgiving our enemies. Paul says that if we give food and drink to our enemies, “we shall be heaping coals of fire on their heads.” To us this doesn’t sound like forgiveness, but like taking vengeance. In the Bible lands almost everything is carried on the head – water jars, baskets of fruit, vegetables, fish or any other article. Those carrying the burden rarely touch it with the hands, and they walk through crowded streets and lanes with perfect ease.
In many homes the only fire they have is kept in a brazier which they use for simple cooking as well as for warmth. They plan to always keep it burning. If it should go out, some member of the family will take the brazier to a neighbor’s house to borrow fire. Then she will lift the brazier to her head and start for home. If her neighbor is a generous woman, she will heap the brazier full of coals. To feed an enemy and give him drink was like heaping the empty brazier with live coals, –which meant food, warmth, and almost life itself to the person or home needing it and was the symbol of finest generosity.” –Barbara M. Bowen, Strange Scriptures that Perplex the Western Mind.
II. MEEKNESS IN THE BEARING OF INJURIES.
Psalm 38:12-13, “They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13-But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.”
A. Meekness is contrary to hastiness of spirit, Ecclessiastes 7:9, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27-Neither give place to the devil.”
1. Christ was meek, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
2. Yet Jesus was zealous, John 2:14-15, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15-And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;”
B. Meekness is contrary to malice.
1. Malice is a picture of the devil, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
2. Malice is mental murder, 1 John 3:15, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
3. Meekness is opposed to revenge and Scripture forbids it, Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
C. Meekness is contrary to evil speaking, Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
1. The tongue is a fire, James 3:6, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
2. We are commanded to control our tongue, Psalm 34:13-14, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14-Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
III. MEEKNESS IN THE FORGIVING OF INJURIES
A. When you pray, forgive, Mark 11:25-26, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26-But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
1. There should be forgiveness among brethren, Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
2. An unforgiving spirit is contrary to meekness and makes our forgiveness impossible, Mark 11:26, “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
B. Forgiveness must be…
1. Real, God does not make a show of forgiveness and then keeps our sins by Him, Jeremiah 31:34, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
2. Complete, Psalm 103:3, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
3. Often. Just as God forgives us often, we must do the same for others, Matthew 18:21, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22-Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
IV. EXAMPLES OF MEEKNESS.
A. The example of Jesus Christ, Matthew 21:5, “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”
1. Jesus was the pattern of meekness, 1 Peter 2:23, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
2. Jesus calls for men to learn of Him, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
B. What is said of meekness.
1. Meekness is an ornament of “great price” in the Believer, 1 Peter 3:4, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
2. What the Psalmist says of PRAISE, the same will be said of meekness, Psalm 33:1, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”
C. Paul admonishes us to put on meekness, Colossians 3:12, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
CONCLUSION
Meekness argues for a noble and excellent spirit. A meek man is a man who has victory over himself. “Strength of passion argues weakness of judgment, but the meek man who is able to conquer his fury, is the most powerful and victorious.” –Thomas Watson
Meekness shows the character of the true believer. He that is of a meek spirit cannot be easily provoked, 1 Corinthians 13:5, “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;” Our love for the Lord this grace in our life for His glory.

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN-MATTHEW 5:4

Art Davison THE BEATITUDES 0 Comment
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN
MATTHEW 5:4
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Introduction:


This is not a carnal mourning as in the loss of a loved one or a friend, but rather, a spiritual mourning. This is mourning over what sin has done and is doing in our lives and the lives of others about us.

Sin is a plague and we need to wash away the spot it leaves with the tears of repentance. We are talking about Christians that have fallen into sin and seemingly don’t know what to do about it. “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?” Ananias was asked by Peter in Acts 5:3. Satan is always looking for opportunity to foul up the lives of God’s people and many times he does his work with great success.

That gives occasion for some gospel mourning as taught here in this passage of Scripture. Let’s examine what Jesus means when He says to “mourn.”

I. MOURNING BECAUSE OF SIN.

A. Our sin, Ezekiel 7:16, “But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.”

1. The necessity of confessing our sin daily to the Lord, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2. The necessity of having communion with our Savior on a regular basis.

a. Breaking the yoke of relationships with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

b. Applying the remedy of the Word of God to our sin problems brings us back into fellowship with the Lord restoring communion, 1 John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7-But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

B. The pollution of sin causes the wrong kind of mourning.
1. Mourning because there is no blessing in unpardoned sin, Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

2. Mourning that is deceitful. Saul looked like a mourner.

a. He was sometimes among the prophets, 1 Samuel 10:12, “And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?”

b. He seemed to be among the penitents, 1 Samuel 15:24, “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”

c. Saul did not really have shame for his disobedience, but he did seek honor, 1 Samuel 15:30, “Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.”

d. Ezra expressed real shame and repentance for the sins of Israel, Ezra 9:6, “And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.”

3. Mourning that is forced by God’s judgments as in the case of Cain, is not gospel mourning, Genesis 4:13, “And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

a. His punishment troubled him more than his sin.

b. To mourn for fear of hell is like a thief that weeps for the penalty rather than the offence.

c. “The tears of the wicked are forced by the fire of affliction.” Thomas Watson.

II. THE RIGHT G0SPEL MOURNING.

A. Gospel mourning is free and spontaneous as in the case of Mary Magdalene, Luke 7:37-38, “And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38-And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

B. Gospel mourning is spiritual.

1. We mourn for sin more than for suffering.

a. David cried out, Psalm 51:2-3, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3-For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

b. The Prodigal son, Luke 15:18-19, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19-And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

2. Sin is an act of hostility and enmity against God.

a. Sin not only make us unlike God, but contrary to God, Leviticus 26:40, “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;”

b. Sin insults and resists the Holy Spirit, Acts 7:51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

1) Sin is contrary to God’s nature.

2) Sin is contrary to God’s will.

3) Sin does all it can to spite God. The Hebrew word for “sin” means “rebellion.”

4) The sinner fights against God, Acts 5:39, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

3. Sin is the highest ingratitude. Thomas Watson said that it is “a kicking against the breasts of mercy. God sent His Son to redeem us, His Spirit to comfort us. We sin against the blood of Christ, the grace of the Spirit and shall we not mourn?” Zechariah 13:6, “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”

a. Ingratitude stains our sins indelibly “crimson,” Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

b. Only the blood of Jesus Christ is capable of washing that sin away, Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

CONCLUSION

Luke 6:21b says, “Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.” God would have all men to repent of their sins, Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” You see, repentance is not just for the lost, but also for the believer who has offended his heavenly Father.

The believer should be mourning for his sin on a daily basis, confessing it to his Lord that he might be cleansed, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”