6 May 2014; Mat 5

6 May 2014; Mat 5

The followers that were there at the Mount when Jesus preached are normal ordinary people - fishermen, and those from the country side - probably with the sick and poor.

Jesus opened and tell them that they were blessed.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 ESV)

Jesus knew that these were the people who had few blessings of the world - the way the world measured blessings - material wealth, power or status.

But Jesus is not preaching a new religion - because these cannot be achieved and even if they can do not made them any closer to God.

Instead Jesus say - those who like the tax collector - who was probably rich and has much but when he came to God cried out to God for mercy.

It is therefore those who come to God with spiritual poverty, those who admit they they have nothing in the spirit when it comes to God - Genuine Christian. Those who mourned because they recognized that they are sinners.

In the 3rd beatitudes - those who is meek for they are the ones who inherit the earth.

The world pursue wealth, material needs, power and status in order to be happy. They anchored on these things and derived satisfaction. But the real blessings are those who are welcome into the kingdom of God - not by what you have or by what you have done, but for those who realize that when it comes to God - seek meekness or humility. I am nobody in God sight.

The beatitudes is also about Christian living - as disciples how do we and should approach God.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 ESV)

They shall be comforted because they mourn. No it is not about "they" it is not about we. It is not they shall be comforted - but they are comforted by Jesus when they mourn. They don't get these blessings because of their actions - get comfort because they mourn, but when they mourn, then someone else comfort them. That someone is Jesus.

Those who mourn are those who are sorry about they actions, their sins.

The mark of meekness is the absence of self assertiveness. It consider having less privileges for themselves. They don't asked for special treatment or rights. You learn these as a disciple when you know that having less of these, God can and will provide for these shortfall. There is no need to demand from the world.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:5-6 ESV)

Those who seek righteousness are those who are starving for a better world not those defined by the rich and powerful, but by the fairness of God. They yearn for things to be made right. And again only Jesus can satisfied that. God can made all things new.

The first 4 beatitudes are God directed -  how should we live as Christian disciples and lead our lives with God in the center.

I fall short of these. I direct my own effort and live by what the world can satisfy. I refuse to acknowledge the lack - the lack by world standard. the key is to come to God and acknowledge the poverty I am in spirit, the sins and actions I did and not upholding the status nor the rights.

Lord I come and pray and seek you...