Introduction: What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?
Matthew Chapter 5 is an amazing chapter. And this is something many people miss. I’ve been around groups of people, churches, in the past couple of years that I shouldn’t have been around. Thank God we made it back to Kentucky where a good pastor was waiting for us. And I want you to hear this today.
This is what we want to be like here. What you hear Jesus say is what we want to be like here at this church. It’s not what some nasty man says. It’s what Jesus says. If you take what I have to say today and apply this in your life, this will change everything for you. I promise you that.
We live in a world that defines blessing by wealth, money, fame, fortune, comfort, and status. But Jesus turns the world’s definition upside down. In the sermon on the mount, that’s what you’ll hear today, Jesus gives us the truth about what it really means to live a blessed life.
Matthew 5:1-2
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Multitudes are following Jesus. He’s getting set to speak. This is Jesus. The Son of God and God in the flesh is about to speak. So, it’s time to have ears to hear. He’s about to open his mouth to teach on that mountain. He’s a teacher. A good teacher is very important.
Jesus isn’t just going to give us good advice here. He is going to describe the very heart, right here, the very heart of a true disciple. You need to take all of this and put it in your heart today. And stick to these things. And don’t ever let someone take these things away as I did over the past couple of years.
We’re going to see eight marks of a follower of Jesus Christ. We need to hit these marks.
1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit – Humility Before God
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The poor in spirit. Recognize that you need God. He’s not optional. You’re done if he’s optional. Your heart won’t beat the next heartbeat if he’s optional. You need him. This past Thursday, on the way to the ER, I thought something bad was about to happen. I needed him.
Poor in spirit is knowing we are weak and he is strong. When I could barely walk over the past several days, it’s humbling. Poor in spirit. It’s admitting that you need God in everything.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Poor and contrite spirit. Contrite means worn, bruised, broken hearted. Deeply afflicted with grief and sorrow for sinning against God. Humble. I want to show you an example.
Luke 18:9-11
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke 18:12-14
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Never exalt yourself. Let’s always humble ourselves. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of God.”
2. Blessed Are They That Mourn – Grieving Over Sin
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
We mourn over losses. Mourn means to have grief or sorrow. To grieve. Weeping. Audible sounds. Sobs. Sighs. Or inward silent grief.
When we lose someone, we cry. We mourn. We lost something great to us.
Our sin grieves God. When we sin, we should mourn over that sin because it hurts God who made us and loves us. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin. We should mourn when we hurt him. We should feel what God feels when we sin. It hurts him. We don’t want to hurt God.
When we sin, people lose. Sin leads to death. So we need to realize that it’s not okay to sin. When we do sin, it’s not okay. We need to mourn when we sin. When wickedness was all over the earth before the flood, God was grieved at his heart. Grieved means pained, afflicted, suffering sorrow. It hurt.
Luke 22:61-62
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
He was sorry for what he did. He failed. He denied Jesus whom he loved. He said that he would never deny Jesus. We can say that all we want. We fail. Peter failed. Peter wept bitterly. We need to weep bitterly over the sin in our life.
Take a look out in this world. When I see a murder in this area, I think about the people, the families, the children, the dad, the mom. It hurts. Sin leads to this. Sin should break your heart. You need to hate sin. Reject sin in your life. After Peter wept bitterly, Jesus showed up later and comforted him. Jesus restored him.
Sin. Weep. Mourn over that sin. God gives you grace. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
3. Blessed Are the Meek – Strength Under Control
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
What does it mean to be meek? Blessed are the meek. Meek means a mild temper. Soft. Gentle. Not easily provoked or irritated. Given to forbearance under injuries. Restraint. Humble and submissive to God’s will. Not proud or arrogant.
Meekness is not weakness. It’s power under control. It’s choosing submission to God instead of asserting your own way.
Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
An abundance of peace is a great thing. I want to give you an example of meekness in the Bible.
Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
God values meekness. He’s looking for meekness. He chose Moses as his leader. Moses led millions through the tough wilderness. Constant complaining. Moses endured those things. He responded mostly with patience, prayer, and humility. He made some mistakes but he was meek.
Even when Aaron and Miriam, his brother and sister, opposed him, he was quiet. God defended Moses himself. Moses had the authority. He could have been a tyrant. He could have tried to crush people. But he didn’t. He had mercy on people. He loved his people. He stood up for his people even when they were against him. That’s tough to do. Meekness.
Choose peace and trust God. Don’t ever go for your own personal gain as this world teaches you. Put yourself on the line for others. Have strength under control.
Jesus is meek and lowly the Bible says.
4. Blessed Are They Who Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness – A Holy Appetite
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Think about this. You need to be hungry to do good. You need to be thirsty to do good. You need to cleave to the good or stick to the good. That’s God. We must stick to his ways.
Let’s stick together, become great friends, live out this life together, have people who care for you, do good together, do God’s work together, have the best family that you could ever find on this earth, and one day we will meet again in heaven. And it will be a family reunion.
For example, I couldn’t move much this week. Might be the sickest as I’ve been. On the way to the ER, I screamed out in pain over and over again. And I was trying not to.
I didn’t remember but my Mom told my wife the only time I ever did that was in the hospital after I had been rushed by an ambulance after getting hit in the temple with a baseball during high school batting practice that I was throwing.
Sixteen years old. Cracked my skull. Didn’t knock me out. Coach made me continue to practice. I finished the practice. Started bleeding internally. My mom was worried. I was 16. I wasn’t. But I screamed out in pain at the hospital while trying to sleep. Probably should have been dead. But the bleeding stopped by the next morning or they were about to operate.
My Dad and Mom were there for me just like this week. I needed help. Many of you were there for me this week. And I thank you all. That’s a family. That’s what we do. Stick with us. Let’s do good together.
My wife was there for me this week. She took care of me all week. She saw me get mad because I couldn’t move myself. She saw tears because I couldn’t move myself. She heard me when I thought I was in big trouble.
Now think about this. Let’s say I was a man who just wanted to go around and be with all kinds of different women. Would I have my wife? No. Would I have someone that would care for me like that? No. Men, women. If you want someone like that, you need to make the commitment. Both sides. You need to be married. You follow what that says right there.
Hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Without my wife, I would probably already be dead. She saved my life at a restaurant once. She did.
When you do things God’s way, that’s what you get. You will be filled. God will fill your life with people who deeply care for you and deeply love you. I would die for my wife in a heartbeat. We are one.
The woman at the well, in John Chapter 4, came to get physical water, but her soul was thirsty. Jesus offered her living water, and her thirst was forever quenched. I want you to remember this. Have an appetite for the things of God. You will be filled with the righteousness of God.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
5. Blessed Are the Merciful – Forgiveness in Action
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
This is so important. If God had no mercy on me, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. He is merciful. People out there mock him over and over again. And yet he gives them time. Few come around. Most don’t. But the few are worth it.
What is mercy? Have you ever played the game mercy? You can learn what it means really fast. I use to play it when I was a kid and teenager. I won some. I lost some. I learned to yell out mercy when I needed it. When you’re hurting, in pain, you need mercy. Lord, have mercy on me. Please, Lord, have mercy on me. I need your help.
Mercy means to show compassion and forgiveness even when it’s not deserved. A man is out laying on the side of the street drunken and hurting. You look at him and say, “Shouldn’t have been drinking.” And you leave him laying there on the side of the street. No mercy. Not good.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Later, do you know what he did? He could have slaughtered them. He could have gotten revenge on them. But thank God for his people who have mercy. Joseph trusted God’s plan, forgave his brothers, wept with them, and took care of them. He saw God’s bigger plan and chose mercy over revenge.
Hey, let things go. Forgive others. Have mercy on others. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall see mercy.”
6. Blessed Are the Pure in Heart – A Clean Heart Sees God Clearly
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Pure in heart. What does this mean? Have a saved heart and soul within you. Forgiven of all sin through the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. Have a heart of sincerity, integrity, and be single minded towards God. Don’t try to play both sides where you’re half in on God and half in this world.
Pure in heart. Hey, it’s a great thing. Do your best. Be sincere to others. Don’t hurt others through sin. Be what you appear to be. Appear to be good and actually be good at all times. Don’t be different when you leave here. Don’t get on Facebook and post nasty things after you leave here.
Psalm 24:3-4
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Be pure in heart when no one else around you is doing good. Continue to do good and don’t stop.
Daniel lived in a very corrupted place. Even in that corrupt culture, Daniel lived a pure life. God gave him visions, wisdom, and favor because his heart was clean, pure, and loyal to God and his ways.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
7. Blessed Are the Peacemakers – Bridge Builders for God
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Peacemakers avoid conflict if at all possible. They also restore relationships. I know many people who come here now have restored relationships in their life. And it’s a great thing.
When we go out and preach the Gospel, peace is being made. We bring the Gospel of peace. We don’t want people going to hell. We don’t want fighting. We don’t want sin. We don’t want killing. We don’t want death. We don’t want horrible things. We want peace.
The Gospel has brought all of us together in peace. But one day the greatest day of peace you’ll ever see is when you get to meet everyone in heaven. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see.
When king David was enraged and ready to kill a man, a lady by the name of Abigail calmed the situation. She used her wisdom and especially her humility to calm king David. She saved lives and honored God by being a peacemaker.
This city needs more peacemakers and less peace breakers. More bridge builders and less fire starters. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
8. Blessed Are the Persecuted – Faith That Stands Firm
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Standing for truth will bring opposition. When you do right, you will get opposed. People will come up against you. But the reward is great.
“Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Stephen, in Acts Chapter 7, stood up and preached the Gospel boldly. They stoned him to death. You have to be ready in your life for people to laugh at you, mock you, make fun of you, and worse because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
But remember, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Why? For theirs is the kingdom of God. Hey, what do you have? The kingdom of God. Whose got anything better than that? No one. So persecute all you want.
Conclusion: The Blessed Life Is the Christlike Life
The eight attributes Jesus wants us to have: 1) Poor in spirit. 2) Mourn. 3) Meek. 4) Hunger and thirst after righteousness. 5) Merciful. 6) Pure in heart. 7) Peacemakers. 8) Persecuted for righteousness.
Each of these attributes paints a picture of what Jesus values—not what the world admires, but what heaven rewards.
These are not personality traits; they are spiritual attributes shaped by the Holy Spirit. The Beatitudes aren’t a checklist but a character sketch of a true follower of Christ.
Romans 8:29 tells us “To be conformed to the image of his Son.”
Ask God to grow these traits in you. Humble your heart. Mourn over sin. Embrace meekness. Hunger for righteousness. Show mercy. Purify your heart. Make peace. Stand strong in trials. This is the life Jesus blesses. This is the life He calls us to live.
Let’s pray.
Leave a Reply