THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

My Brothers & Sisters

Today, I share with you an excerpt from a Bible commentary by Keith Thomas on The Beatitudes. Thomas wrote:



“We come now to the greatest sermon spoken by the greatest teacher who has ever lived, the Lord Jesus. Saint Augustine (354-430) first named this discourse the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon stretches over three chapters of Matthew's Gospel, but what we read is likely a reduction of the original address which Jesus gave from the mount.

In today's study, we will focus on the first part of the sermon called the Beatitudes. Many people picture Jesus speaking to a crowd from a mountain slope, but Jesus likely delivered this message from a hillside to the north of the Sea of Galilee, a site I have visited many times in Israel.  Jesus was able to cast His voice to many below Him on the hill. Commentators of the Scriptures call this first part of His sermon the "beautiful attitudes," for they show us the character of the true believer in Christ.

Like many preachers today that begin with a Scripture passage, Jesus starts with a vision statement or a manifesto declaring His intentions or course of action on earth. The rest of the sermon goes into more detail, building upon His opening remarks and focusing our attention on each one of these “beautiful attitudes" by which we are encouraged to live. The first four Beatitudes concentrate on our relationship to God, while the second four concentrate our attention on our relationship with others.  Each attitude builds on the one before, with the first and the last speaking of the reward, i.e., "the kingdom of heaven" (vs. 3 and 10).

All of the eight Beatitudes start with the word “blessed,” i.e., with the Greek word, Makarios, often translated into English as "Happy," but the Greek word means to be spiritually approved by God.  He who God blesses has obtained the favour of God! Yes, he is a happy man, but he is only happy because the approval of God rests upon him. Blessed is also a statement that can be translated as congratulations, but why are we congratulated? If you are in Christ Jesus, you have been chosen and called out by God because no one enters the Kingdom of God without an invitation by the King of Kings (Matthew 11:27).  One never comes into the kingdom of God by one’s intellect or some other merit, but each of us, as believers in Christ, is sovereignly called and invited by God's love and grace (Romans 8:29-30).

The Lord Jesus has given us an example in this sermon of how we should seek to live out our lives.  He has given us His “recipe for Life.” It can be confusing because it goes against the way of this world.  But that is the point.  In these Beatitudes, we find His attitudes for living.  He also offers us His help at all times through the power of His spirit, not only to will but also to do His will (Philippians 2:13).  He will be quick to come to our aid when we ask for His help to demonstrate these attitudes in our life.

Prayer

Lord, soften my heart to be aware of my need for You.  Make my heart tender so that I will be able to hear your voice. Thank you, for you have walked this road ahead of me and walk with me. You have promised never to leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Your ways are higher than our ways.  Your words show us the way to life.  Amen.

Reflection

Which of these character qualities or attitudes do you find to be the most challenging to demonstrate in your own life?”

Think of these things and have a blessed week.

Patrick +