Matthew 5:1-12
Kingdom Attitudes, Kingdom Life (Together)
Matthew 5:1-12
- Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Before contemplating each beatitude on its own, what do you observe from this teaching as a unit?
Matthew 5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Discuss the blessings for the person who pursues (obeys?) Jesus’ teaching. Why, then, is it so difficult to live with these “attitudes?”
- Take time to contemplate each of the eight Beatitudes. Which ones are the most attractive to you, or that you so wish was true of you? Which are the most difficult?
- Why are these blessings delivered and received as a package deal? How can we help one another in the pursuit of these spiritual commitments?
Extra Notes
John Stott The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, though aguably it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed.
Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
John Stott It is plain from the context that those here promised comfort are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their innocence, their righteousness, their self-respect. It is not the sorrow of bereavement, to which Christ refers, but the sorrow of repentance.
Miles Stanford, from Principles of Spiritual Growth To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself.
Psalm 37:11 The meek shall inherit the land.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Colossians 1:19 For in him (Jesus) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
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