Jan 4, 2005                     The Word of God Works

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Jesus had just chosen his disciples, and they had already seen him do great miracles among the hurting people. But now he wanted to sit them down and teach them. And as he was teaching, a great multitude, hungry, came, as well, and listened. Jesus knew his disciples needed to get these words in their hearts, have these things working in their lives for them to be able to carry on his work after he was gone. As must we. Jesus is sitting before a multitude of people.  Some of them, he knew, most of them, would turn on him, and be part of the crowd that yelled “crucify him” in a short while. He looked at these people with compassion, longing for them to accept the love and protection he so wanted to give. That would open their hearts to him. He is looking down on his people, who are being oppressed by the Romans. He is talking to a nation that does not have sovereign control of themselves, but are ruled by a foreign people. They are poor, for the most part. Only the religious crowd, and the those who have compromised and made friendly with their oppressors are financially well off, for the most part. Sure, there were exceptions, but few and far between. The qualities that the Lord is talking about in these scriptures, are things that the Lord values in a person. He knows these things build character, or maintain it. They are the qualities that are so like himself. He understands and is touched by the feelings of their infirmities and weaknesses. That's why he left the glory of heaven, and took on lowly flesh, and became a man. So he could be fair, and experience what we do. He is so just he would never ask us to do something he had not done, and was not willing to strengthen us so we could do it. He is. He will. He is so fair, so just, so loving.

 

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The poor in spirit are not just necessarily financially poor. But those who are oppressed, afflicted, in trials, discouraged, weak. As it is used in Is. 58, that is what it means. They have hope in the Lord. In the original language the word “poor” means afflicted, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor, distressed, lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches.

Blessed are they for they shall be royalty, in God’s family, in his kingdom. For eternity. Happy, with God, in heaven. Where God is that is heaven. And that word “blessed” that means: supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off: - blessed, happy. No wonder Jesus said cast all your cares on me. No wonder he said Come all that labor and are heavy laden. He can handle it, we can’t. What a Savior that wants us to walk with him as he carries the load.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that mourn? What does it mean to mourn? In the original language, this means to grieve, to wail, whether it's feeling grief, deep inside, or publicly grieving. To express grief or sorrow, weeping, audibly, sobs, or sighs, or inward, silent grief. To lament.

This brings to mind the scripture in Eze_9:4.

Eze 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Eze 9:5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Eze 9:6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Abraham told the Lord he knew he wouldn't slay the righteous with the wicked. God knows the people who love righteousness and hate sin. He has a special care, I think, for those who live in a corrupt society and hate the corruption, recognizing it for what it is, and love instead his commandments and his righteousness, knowing how much better things would be if everyone else did, too.

Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

Mal 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

In Mal_3:13-17, is another example of the Lord knowing he has a righteous people who hate sin in the midst of a wicked, perverse generation. And speaking of that, what does he expect his people to be in the midst of such? That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Phil. 2:15) We can’t do this without the power of God to help us.

So those who mourn, they shall be comforted. In the Greek, that word means "to call near, to invite, beseech, call for, desire, give exhortation, entreat, pray. Consolation." So when the Lord comforts his people, he calls them near, invites them into his presence where he can exhort, encourage, and console them. Wow, what a thought. Oh, thank you Jesus!!!

 

Blessed are the meek. What does it mean to be meek? Strong's Greek Dictionary says it means, mild, humble. Meek means a calm temper of mind that is not easily provoked. Lowly. Generally associated with some form of oppression. It also means gentleness, forbearance under injuries and provocations. Meekness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Gal_5:23) It was like Jesus. (Mat_11:29)2Co_10:1;

In scripture, meekness is also used of the humble, and poor and contrite. They have many precious promises. God hears their cry, when they are oppressed. (Psa_9:12, Psa_9:18) the promise of extra grace for them (Pro_3:34) They shall be fed and satisfied (Psa_22:26 ) they shall have Divine guidance (Psa_25:9) inherit the land (Psa_37:11) be upheld by God (Psa_147:6) be beautified with salvation (Psa_149:4) . They shall increase their joy in the Lord (Isa_29:19). Surely in the face of so many great promises to the meek, in believing, they should be encouraged. For meekness is looked on as weakness, with contempt, by the world. It's always misjudged. There is a difference between meekness and cowardice. Meekness, by its own definition implies strength. It takes strength to not retaliate in kind to unkind things done to you. Or said to you.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 

To hunger, is crave something, pine after it, be famished for. Be hungry. To desire the emptiness be filled. To desire with great eagerness; to long for.

To thirst, an eager desire for relief from dryness, drought, for lack of drink. Vehement desire for something.

Righteousness: Purity of heart and life, conformity of heart and life to Divine Law. Since the scripture tells us our righteousness is as filthy rags, the Lord must be referring to his own righteousness. He will fill us with himself, his life, his righteousness is our covering.

Scriptures ref. to: Deu_6:25, Jer_33:16, Rom_3:22, Rom_10:4, 1Co_1:30, Phi_1:11, Phi_3:9, Gal_2:21, 2Pe_1:1. We surely don't want to be found in our own righteousness, as Paul told the Philippians, but in His. By faith. We have to believe that we are what the Word of God says we are-the righteousness of Christ is ours only by faith. The promises of God are only conditional on our believing them and receiving them and allowing God's word to work it's power in us. Mix what you read with faith. Read God's Promise, believe it, say this is mine, no matter what the enemy says.

Blessed are the merciful. (Matt 5:7)

Merciful: having or exercising mercy, compassionate, ready to pity offenders and forgive them, unwilling to punish for injuries, as God is. Unwilling to cause or return pain for pain. Or harm someone-especially the vulnerable.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

What is the pure in heart? Clean, clear, free from mixture, or moral defilement. Without spot, not sullied or tarnished, not corrupt. Holy. Separated from anything foreign. Free from guilt, innocent. Chaste; free from anything improper, unconnected with anything else.

From reading the definition, it sounds like a perfect description of Jesus. And that is what his Bride is to be. Free from attachment to the world. Free from double mindedness. Nothing of the world's spirit or desires mixed in. No stain of sin, or corruption. Not connected to anything of this world. (Col_3:1-3) 1Jo_3:3. The word of the Lord is pure. (Psa_12:6) Psa_24:4; Phi_4:8; 1Ti_5:22; Tit_1:15; Heb_10:22; Jam_1:27; Jam_3:17; 1Pe_1:22; Rev_22:1. That last one. That pure river of water of life. Could that be the word of God issuing forth out of his mouth? The Scripture says in Eph_5:26 we are washed by the water of the word. Surely, there is a river of life there. But could it also mean the pure word of God coming from God, to his redeemed? In heaven. As he begins to open their understanding, fill them with knowledge that their flesh and bone could not have contained. Oh, the wonder of it all. Only his word and Spirit in us, through faith and obedience, will purify us. We can't do it ourselves, but we can yield ourselves to Him, and let him do what he was sent by the Lord to do. Oh, welcome, Beloved Holy Ghost. Rule and reign in this vessel for his glory. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. (Isa_52:11) Our part is to present ourselves as Rom_12:1 says. And follow Rom_12:2 not to conform ourselves to this world. But present ourselves to the Lord, open his Word, let him take us through that precious Book, shining the light in our hearts, exposing any and everything unlike himself, and casting it out as he did the money changers and them that sold doves in the temple. To guard ourselves from evil, to not partake of the sins of this world, nor their idolatry. Oh, for the power of the Holy Ghost to do this. Flesh in its own strength cannot do this. He has been promised to us. God has freely given us all things that pertain to godliness and life. Hos_14:4; Rom_3:24; Rom_8:32; 1Co_2:12; Rev_21:6; Rev_22:17.

He loves us freely, he gives us all things we need, and the Holy Spirit to teach us what we have received of God, that we know what we have, and he offers the water of life, freely. That's his word. And it only brings life when you understand it. And obey it! And trust it!! Oh, I love the Word of God, it is complete and total perfection!!!!!!!!!!!!! And ours. Oh, Lord, I hunger, and thirst for your righteousness. For the water of life, for deeper waters.