"Blessed are you!"

Matthew 5:1-12
Key Verse 5:11,12

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This passage says that although it is not always easy for one to live as Jesus' disciple, it is in fact the only life which is truly blessed, and blessed thoroughly.

Advanced study: this passage teaches us not only the blessedness of a life as a disciple, but also the life-cycle of a disciple, that is the life that begins with a baby step, and ends with being a mature servant of God like the Apostles who braved even martyrdom.

[The steps [or life cycle] of a disciple are the following: 1) being poor in spirit, meaning recognizing one’s fallen condition, being acutely aware of your necessity for the Savior; 2) mourning [for your sin problems which are too great for you to overcome]; 3) in meekness, learning to be yielded to the saving power of the Savior, instead of trying to solve one's own sin problem on his own; 4) picking up genuine hunger and thirst for true righteousness (i.e., Jesus Christ) in an increasing measure; 5) coming to appreciate God's mercy on him and thereby being able to show mercy on others as well [for it is only after experiencing the grace of our Lord Jesus' sin-forgiving love, that one comes to recognize that all are sinners, and therefore is able to show mercy on others; 6) attaining to purity (spiritual virginity in a sanctified state) of  heart (through the regenerating work of the Spirit); and 7) bearing fruit by positively sharing the gospel (which is what the life as a peacemaker is all about), even braving all kinds of ill treatments from the world.]

In a sense then this passage gives us the full picture of a Pilgrim's Progress. 

1. 	Read vs. 1, 2. This passage distinguishes "the crowds" from "His disciples". In what respect are the disciples different from the crowds (4:19)? Put yourself in the position of the disciples of Jesus' day. In what respect might their lives not have been "glamorous" (10,11; Jn 16:33)? Is it going to be different in our own generation (Mat 10:22; 24:10)? 

** They are called to do the work Jesus has in mind, that is, to fish people out of this world, into His kingdom, fighting the battle against the devil which holds a tight grip on his prey through all kinds of evil esp. pleasure seeking lifestyles. 

** It is not an easy way of life, for it involves constant battles, fighting battle after battle against the enemies of God, enemies inside and enemies outside. 

** No. Jesus is the Son of God who is holy and perfect. Jesus always testifies that the world and what her people do is evil. So following Jesus means being faced with the challenge to die to one's sinful nature, crucify oneself to this sinful world and the world to him, take up the cross [of mission] and follow Jesus. Figuratively speaking this is like a man who decides to join an army going out to fight in a war against a fierce enemy, or it is like a man who makes a decision to climb Mt. Everest. 

This is especially true in this generation because in this generation, as Jesus mentioned, an increasing number of people will lose their faith and choose to live by reason or by sight. And as the power of sin becomes more pervasive the life as a disciple will be found increasingly challenging. You as a committed disciple will increasingly look like an ape with two eyes being viewed as abnormal for his society is filled with one-eyes apes. 

2.	Skim through vs. 3-12. How many times is the word "blessed" repeated? What does "blessed" mean? Why do you think Jesus employed this adjective "repeatedly"? Why is it important for us to know that the life of a disciple is "blessed" one? 

** 9

** It means "perfect happiness". 

** 9 is 3 multiplied by 3. 3 is a perfect number. :-) Jesus used this term repeatedly to help the disciples not be discouraged by all kinds of troubles that lie ahead. 

** It is important for us not to fall victim to the devil's deception on the true nature of the life of a disciple. 

3. 	Read v. 3. What does "poor in spirit" mean (Luke 18:9-14)? Why is this quality important to a disciple? 

** It means to recognize one's helplessly fallen (lost) condition, just like a tax collector who beats his breast even without being able to look up to the heaven in the Lord's temple. 

By the same token one rich in spirit is like a Pharisee who thinks that he is so rich that he does not need the Savior. 

Read Revelation 3:17-18 for an example of Jesus who rebukes a church who is not poor in spirit. 

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

** This is very important because it is the key to seeking the Savior, Jesus Christ. How can you have the hope of being saved when you do not even see the need for a Savior? 

4. 	Read v. 4. The word "mourn" indicates that the disciples' life is not always filled with laughter, but rather on most occasions the opposite might be true (Rm 7:24; Jn 16:20). Yet why does Jesus says that they are blessed (Lk 6:25; Mt 24:50)? 

** Jesus says so because they will be satisfied by finding a solution to the problem they mourn for. 

All problems have solutions. No problems are without solutions. The greatest problem one has is the sin problem. And it is absolutely critical to one's happiness (or the outlook of ultimate happiness) for one to come to the full realization of the full consequences of one's own sin problem. If you realized it, then you have no choice but to utterly despair with your self. [Remember what prompted Mr. Christian in John Bunyun's Pilgrim's Progress to leave the city of destruction and run away from this city to the celestial city.]

5. 	Read v. 5. What does "the meek" mean? In what respect is it not always easy for the meek to make it through in this highly competitive world? Yet, why is it that the meek will inherit the earth (Isa 30:15)?

** The meek means the one who is kind and gentle. 

** This world is called a "dog eat dog world", or "the world where the principle of the survival of the fittest rules." So they say in order to survive you need to assert yourself like wolves with sharp teeth attacking an animal as weak as a lamb. 

** They learn to yield to the Savior who is the most powerful. Jesus is the shepherd who protects his sheep from all kinds of powerful enemies like wolves. Plus, Jesus came to rid the world of God’s enemies and give the perfect world to come to his children. 

6. 	Read vs. 6-8. What does this passage tell us about the good fruit that comes out of the life that follows Jesus? 

** Three kinds of fruits: 1) hunger and thirst for [God's] righteousness [which is found in Jesus Christ]; 2) appreciating God's mercy on himself, and picking up God's mercy on others, for mercy arises in you only when you remember what kind of sinner you are, yet how the Lord God has been merciful to you, and how you are still in need of God's mercy) and 3) pure heart which is tantamount to a “sanctified” heart in Paul's theology.

7. 	Read vs. 9-12. What does it mean to live as a "peacemaker"? How many times is "because of" repeated? What does this phrase suggest to us about the real reason why people end up persecuting or speaking ill of a peacemaker? How did "they" treat "the prophets" of the past? Why does Jesus talk about these prophets? 

** It means the one who gives his life fully to serving the gospel and Jesus, in obedience to Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations. 

** 2

** They love darkness more than light. They do not want to repent of their sinful lifestyle. In order to justify their lifestyle they try to find faults with the gospel worker, and even end up persecuting them. 

** In the same way.

** To encourage the disciples so they would not lose heart. 

	The end.