beatitudes, 4,5,6 .

Opening Prayer                                                                                                      Pg.1
Holy God, our Father, teach us again on this night. We ask that you bring to us the great truths in these the beatitudes as taught by Jesus. Just as Jesus taught his disciples, we pray that you through your Holy Spirit will teach us how to live as Disciples of Christ.  We also come in the joy of being in your service, of spending time in Your word, learning in fellowship among like followers of Your Son Jesus. Be with those of our group who cannot be here today, we pray you will share our blessing with them. Be with those of us who are suffering illness and those who care for them. Restore their health and bring them back into our midst. And Please God make your presence known throughout the world, and protect those Christians world wide who are being persecuted, and killed for their beliefs We pray that You will rescue them.
In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen  

The Study
This is the continuation of our study of the beatitudes as given to us by Jesus in his sermon on the mount. The three beatitudes we are studying here are certainly qualities that we desire to have as Christians, and a higher goal cannot be desired than to be equal to the descriptions given in these qualities.

Righteousness, mercy, and a pure heart are of necessity three of the spiritual qualities that are required to obtain the stated blessings promised in the beatitudes. One cannot have even one of these promised blessings unless that person strives to make all of them a part of the life one lives.

The desire for righteousness is a God given desire to “do the right thing”. To live our lives in response to the will of God. To humbly worship God in every phase of this life, in anticipation of the blessing of having that desire filled as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The quality of mercy is another God given trait of human interaction that comes into focus where there is a need for human care and compassion. It is the desire to treat others as we would like to be treated, fairly and rightly, and to help in any way possible to alleviate any injustice we encounter, and thus to inherit the blessing of mercy as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ.

A pure heart is a quality with which one overcomes all of the ills and temptations that beset any and all. It is a desire to become a follower of Jesus. Just as Jesus refused to be tempted by Satan in the wilderness, so to do we refute Satan in the name of Jesus, with a pure heart. This is a quality that is God given, and must be constantly in the forefront of our every thought word and deed. A pure heart  will see God, as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ.








                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                               Pg.2

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

The concept of Righteousness is not seeking self-righteousness, but it is the righteousness that comes from God. A desire to “do the right thing” as God would have it. It is to depend, not on our own will-power to achieve it but upon God.
In Jesus’ time, He makes a startling statement. “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, You will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” That pretty much eliminates most of the worlds population. How can one attain a righteousness, which even Pharisees failed to achieve? What kind of righteousness is Jesus talking about? As we Study the life and times of Jesus we realize that The Righteousness of God is available through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him, and repent of their sins. Jesus said in John 7:37: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” Our spirit needs daily replenishment.  Only God can quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger for righteousness. What do you desire most? That desire will drive your “Hunger and thirst". It speaks of a deep need and a driving passion. This "righteousness" refers to the Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness.

Q.1 Does the world today exhibit a hunger and thirst for righteousness?                                                                                                             Q.2 Does the Church today exhibit a hunger and thirst for righteousness?                                                                                                          
Q.3 Are Christians justified in wanting to spread the righteousness of Christ as a virtue?                                               Q.4 By the grace of God, Jesus Christ removes the condemnation pronounced on the sinner,
      by His life death and resurrection, Thus making us Righteous in the eyes of God.
     There is one condition that the sinner must meet. What is it?
Q.5 Only a relationship with the living Lord can satisfy—but even that satisfaction leaves us hungry for more.” Why are we not satisfied in this life?
Q.6 In a world of overwhelming choice, how does being in a relationship with God limit our choices?
Q.7 What is the difference between spiritual hunger and thirst, and the hunger and thirst of consumerism?
Q.8 Is it our dissatisfaction of our world that draws us toward righteousness?
Q.9 What is meant by the phrase “they will be filled”?
Q.10 What or who leads us to a desire to be filled?

To "be filled" is the satisfaction of the soul's desire. A continuous desire for justice and moral perfection will lead one to a fulfillment of that desire - a transition and conversion to holiness. This is true for all the virtues - if you hunger and thirst for temperance, you will head towards the goal you have in mind. St. Augustine called the Beatitudes the ideal for every Christian life! In his discourse on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, he noted the correspondence of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and their necessity in fulfilling the Beatitudes.
Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who passionately long for the Lord, Jesus Christ, for he will satisfy their souls."



                                                                                                                        Pg.3
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Simply put, we reap what we sow. Those who demonstrate mercy will receive mercy. Likewise, those who receive great mercy will show great mercy. Mercy is the loving disposition towards those who suffer distress. Love, compassion, and forgiveness towards one's neighbor will bring peace in your relationships. As we are merciful to others, so our Heavenly Father will be merciful with us! Jesus reminds us that whatever "you did to the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:31-46)
The Corporal Works of Mercy
1 Feed the Hungry  2 Give drink to the thirsty 3 Clothe the naked 4 Shelter the homeless
5 Comfort the imprisoned 6 Visit the sick 7 Bury the dead
The Spiritual Works of Mercy
1 Admonish sinners  2 Instruct the uninformed 3 Counsel the doubtful 4 Comfort the sorrowful
5 Be patient with those in error  6 Forgive offenses 7 Pray for the living and the dead

Q.1 Would you say the corporate world is merciful?                                                                                                             Q.2 Does the Church today exhibit mercy in the programs, missions and events it provides?                                                                                                          
Q.3 Is mercy a spiritual quality or a corporal quality, and which is more desirable?                                               Q.4 How often do events present themselves, where one might exhibit mercy?
Q. 5 What has one achieved by showing mercy if ones dignity becomes compromised?
Q.6 Does one have to give up dignity and honor to be merciful?
Q.8 What, if anything, is the difference between mercy and tolerance?
Q.9 What good can come of being freed from self-centeredness?
  Q.10 What does the promise of receiving Gods mercy if one is merciful mean to us?

The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed, It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings, But mercy is above this sceptered sway.
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings. It is an attribute to God himself.
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Justice won’t save our souls though and thus we  pray for mercy, and this same prayer teaches us to show mercy to others as well.

Paraphrase: Blessed are those who show mercy through forgiveness, kindness and compassion, for they will receive mercy
                                                                                                                                           





                                                                                                                                         Pg.4
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The only way anyone can see God in this sense and be with Him for eternity is to have established a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).The "pure in heart" are those who have been cleansed from within. This is not talking about outward righteousness seen by men, but inward holiness that only God can see. To be pure of heart means to be free of all selfish intentions and self-seeking desires. Being pure in heart involves having a singleness of heart toward God. A pure heart has no hypocrisy, no guile, no hidden motives. The pure heart is marked by transparency and an uncompromising desire to please God in all things. It is more than an external purity of behavior; it is an internal purity of soul. The only way we can be truly pure in heart is to give our lives to Jesus and ask Him to do the cleansing work. Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” God is the one who makes our hearts pure – by the sacrifice of His Son and through His sanctifying work in our lives
Q.1 What explanation would you give to describe a pure heart?          
Q.2 How would you describe the purity of our world today are there the pure in heart?                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Q.3 How is it possible for one to have a pure heart ?
Q.4 Does the church have a role to play in leading it’s people to be pure in heart?
Q.5 Do we have a reference by which we know the pure in heart ?
Q.6 What is the purpose in having a pure heart?
Q.7 Is a pure heart a gift from God or must one work at becoming pure in heart?
Q.8 Have you a personal memory of one whom you feel has a pure heart?
Q.9 what is the blessing promised to  those with a pure heart?

Psa 24:3  Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?  4  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5  They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.
The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14 that without holiness, no man will see God. Moses (Exodus 33:20), John (1:18), and Paul (1Timothy 6:16) all say that no one can see God here on earth! But Jesus says the pure of heart shall see God!
"Hide not thy face from me," is the same as saying, "Be gracious to me!" This means that seeing the face of God is considered to be a sweet and comforting experience. If God shows his face, we are helped. If he turns his face away, we are dismayed.
So when Jesus promises the reward of "seeing God" there are at least these three things implied: we will be admitted to his presence, not just kept in the waiting room. We will be awestruck with a direct experience of his glory. And we will be helped and comforted by his grace.
And this we will have—in part now, and fully in the age to come—if we are pure in heart.

Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who have been purified from the inside out, being made clean and holy, for they will see God."


Meditation                                                                                                                  Pg.5

Righteousness, mercy, and a pure heart seem to go together, they are, figuratively speaking, rungs in the ladder of the beatitudes. Just as “poor in spirit”, “those who mourn”, and “those who are meek”, start the ladder of our achieving a Godly manner, these three conditions of our spiritual health are a necessary part of our attaining a spirit of Godly conduct which would identify us as followers of  Our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. These qualities give a picture of the character that the beatitudes impart to the true people of God, those who are a part of his kingdom and have the full blessings of the kingdom to look forward to.
Psa 51:7  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Eph 2:4 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins But God . . . made us alive together in Christ”     Rom 5:18  Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.  
Throughout the Scriptures humanity is shown to be in its natural condition, spiritually lacking, devoid of the virtues that Jesus Christ was sent to earth to teach us. In our effort to change this condition, mankind has formed a set of laws and rules, referred to as “the rule of law”. These rules and laws are set out in order to help us in our effort to live peaceably with each other. If we take notice of our world today we cannot help but notice that this rule of law is lacking in certain human character traits. Our study of the Beatitudes is done in the hope that we can better understand and apply the spirit of love, righteousness, caring, kindness, compassion, gentleness, mercy, humility, and a pure heart that Jesus taught in his brief stay on this earth.

Closing Prayer
Father God, We pray your blessing on our fellowship tonight as we leave this place, that you would guide our thoughts, words, and deeds such that each of us will become a blessing to those around us.  Help us as we make our way in this world that we may become more like Jesus in all that we do.  We know that in this life we need your constant attention so that we may grow in our Christian faith.  We ask your blessings now on each of us, and our loved ones and those among us who are sick or disabled, that your Holy Spirit will be with us in all that we do  and give comfort to us in our times of distress.  In the Name of Jesus we pray. AMEN












                                                                                                                                             Pg.6

There are (9) Blessings offered in the beatitudes. Some scholars (most) classify the eighth and ninth as one, therefore counting only eight. However there are actually two more blessings to which Jesus alluded. (1)The offer of a great reward in Heaven. (2) And one additional blessing. It is found in  John 20:29  “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”                                                                                                                                      

The blessings listed:                                                                    
(1) The Poor in Spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2)Those who mourn, they will be comforted. (3) The Meek, they will inherit the earth. (4) Who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled. (5) Merciful, they will be shown mercy. (6) The Pure in Heart. they will see God. (7) The Peacemakers, they will be called children of God. (8)The Persecuted, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (9) Insulted, persecuted, falsely accused, because of Jesus, great is your reward in heaven, (10)blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."


We can summarize the Beatitudes as prescriptive rules, each with its corresponding promised reward, as follows:
What to Be What You Get
Poor in spirit Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the persecuted)
In mourning Comfort
Meek Inherit the Earth
Hungry for Righteousness Righteousness
Merciful Mercy
Pure in heart Sight of God
Peacemaker Called Child of God (by God?)
Persecuted for Righteousness's sake Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the poor in spirit)
Reviled for Jesus's sake Reward in heaven

Jesus has given us the benefit of the wisdom of God in this one phrase;
“It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." I would consider it good Christian Discipleship then, if we take into account that every one of these beatitudes is dependent upon the other for them to be in effect, and not even one of them is of such powerful character as to proffer any of the blessings promised unless all the others are in consideration at the same time.

Introduction to The Beatitudes

Opening Prayer                                                                                             Pg.1      
God of our salvation, Just as we come into your presence in great humility, we also come in the joy of being in your service, of spending time in Your word, learning in fellowship among like followers of Your Son Jesus. We are thankful for your word in our study of the beatitudes as given to us by Jesus. We pray that our fellowship today will bless each one here and give each of us  joy and purpose that we may be useful vessels in your service.  Be with those of our group who cannot be here today, we pray you will share our blessing with them. Be with those of us who are suffering illness and those who care for them. Restore their health and bring them back into our midst. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen    
The Study
This is the 1st in our study of the beatitudes as given to us by Jesus in his sermon on the mount. Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. We will study each beatitude in the order as it is given in Jesus’ teaching. Overall this study gives us some insights as to what the beatitudes meant to the people of Jesus’ day,  and how they now apply to us as followers of Jesus. It is our purpose in this Study of Jesus’ teachings to learn from him how to live the beatitudes as disciples and as Christians, to lead others to him through our applying these principles to our daily lives.
The Location
On a great hill near Capernaum where Jesus sat down in a formal teaching attitude, This would become the most important sermon that will ever be heard, and Jesus was well equipped for the task. A strong voice,  and the location offered a sweeping scenic view of the sea of Galilee, and a place conducive to acoustic clarity because of the great mountain in the background. This was a teaching moment that has not and will never be equaled. It was for all those there, not just his disciples.  The beatitudes open the great sermon given on the mountain in Matthew 5. The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin word beatus which means “blessed.” Some have made a play on the word to call them the “be-attitudes.” The beatitudes show to us the blessings and responsibilities of being a disciple of Jesus. The Greek term means happy or fortunate
Why did Jesus begin his sermon with the Beatitudes?                                                                                 The twelve Apostles being chosen, the Lord wanted to initiate them in the teaching of the New Kingdom. He took them to the mountain of Koroun-Hattin near Capernaum. A great crowd followed Jesus to the top of the mountain.
There he sat in the manner of a teacher among his students, the disciples whom he had just named. Were ready and anxious to be taught. Thus Jesus started with a descriptive exposition of what the qualities are that must be lived in order to obtain the blessings offered to those in God’s world that would aspire to be counted among the blessed.
About Blessed:
The word, means more than ‘happy.’ Happiness may come from earthly things; blessedness comes from God. It is not bestowed arbitrarily; a reason follows each beatitude
Blessed. is translated from the Greek word  makarios (mak-AR-ee-os) which literally means fortunate or well off and is many times translated as happy. Society does not envision happy people as poor, mournful, hungry and thirsty, or meek.
                                                                                                                                          Pg.2      
There are (9) Blessings offered in the beatitudes. Some scholars (most) classify the eighth and ninth as one, therefore counting only eight. However there are actually two more blessings to which Jesus alluded. (1)The offer of a great reward in Heaven. (2) And one additional blessing. It is found in  John 20:29  “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”                                                                                                                                        

The blessings listed:                                                                    
(1) The Poor in Spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2)Those who mourn, they will be comforted. (3) The Meek, they will inherit the earth. (4) Who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled. (5) Merciful, they will be shown mercy. (6) The Pure in Heart. they will see God. (7) The Peacemakers, they will be called children of God. (8)The Persecuted, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (9) Insulted, persecuted, falsely accused, because of Jesus, great is your reward in heaven, (10)blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Introduction to The Beatitudes                                                                        
What does the word Beatitude mean?
beatification, blessedness
happiness, felicity - state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

We can summarize the Beatitudes as prescriptive rules, each with its corresponding promised reward, as follows:
What to Be What You Get
Poor in spirit Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the persecuted)
In mourning Comfort
Meek Inherit the Earth
Hungry for Righteousness Righteousness
Merciful Mercy
Pure in heart Sight of God
Peacemaker Called Child of God (by God?)
Persecuted for Righteousness's sake Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the poor in spirit)
Reviled for Jesus's sake Reward in heaven

Jesus has given us the benefit of the wisdom of God in this one phrase;
“It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." I would consider it good Christian Discipleship then, if we take into account that every one of these beatitudes is dependent upon the other for them to be in effect, and not even one of them is of such powerful character as to proffer any of the blessings promised unless all the others are in consideration at the same time.


                                                                                                                                        Pg.3
In our study of the Beatitudes, we will attempt to gain insight into what these words of Jesus mean and how they apply to our own existence, in the context of our present day. We also hope to achieve a better understanding of what Jesus, was saying to his disciples as he taught these principles.

The message of Jesus is one of righteousness, humility, charity, and brotherly love. He teaches transformation of the inner person. Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life which will ultimately lead to reward. Love becomes the motivation for the Christian. All of the Beatitudes have an eschatological meaning, that is, they promise us salvation - not in this world, but in the next. The Beatitudes initiate one of the main themes of Matthew's Gospel, that the Kingdom so long awaited in the Old Testament is not of this world, but of the next, the Kingdom of Heaven.

While the Beatitudes of Jesus provide a guide to a way of life that promises salvation, they also provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations on this earth.

An early contemplation on the Beatitudes came from St. Gregory of Nyssa, a mystic who lived in Cappadocia in Asia Minor around 380 AD. He described the Beatitudes this way:
"Beatitude is a possession of all things held to be good, from which nothing is absent that a good desire may want. Perhaps the meaning of beatitude may become clearer to us
if it is compared with its opposite. Now the opposite of beatitude is misery.
Misery means being afflicted unwillingly with painful sufferings."
So as we study these Nine Beatitudes, we should keep in the back of our mind, the opposite of each when making application to our day to day existence.

                                  Some typical questions for consideration:

1. How does one know if they are “poor in spirit?” Describe such a person.
2. Describe the different emotions involved in mourning.
3. What images come to your mind when you think of “meekness?”
4. What would be the character qualities of a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
5. What does it mean to be merciful?
6. What comes to your mind when you think of purity?
7. What kind of character is found in a peacemaker?
8. What are some of the persecutions in the world today?
9. What additional suffering is given in the ninth beatitude, and why?



Pro 6:16  There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
Pro 6:17  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
Pro 6:19  a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.