Matthew 5:1-10
1 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
because they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle,
because they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
because they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
because they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
because they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
because they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness,
because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
***SAME VERSES IN THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE***
Matthew 5:1-10 (The Message)
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3″You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4″You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5″You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are-no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
6″You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7″You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
8″You’re blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and heart-put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9″You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
10″You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
Related Text:
Genesis 12:1-3
Psalm 1
Psalm 84
Luke 6:17-26
Luke 11:27-28
John 20:24-29
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Hope You Like Pancakes
When you hear someone encourage you to turn your world upside down for Jesus, the ideas and the truth that could serve as your spatula as you prepare to flip the world around you on it’s head can be found in the sermon on the mount. (Matthew 5-7) Just like Paul and Silas in Acts 17, when you take the truth of what Jesus taught and live it and take it to the masses and teach it with reckless abandon, you will be going against what society as a whole believes and/or practices. You will be flipping the world around you (your sphere of influence) upside down. Left will be Right for them, Up will be Down, Black will be White; you will rock their world!
Being gentle in today’s world is not often (if ever) seen as a strength. Makes no sense right? – OR DOES IT??? – Jesus said that a gentle person will be blessed (be happy & joyful) and will inherit the earth. Wow! That’s a huge promise just for being gentle. So what’s with Gentleness anyway? (you mean besides being a part of the Fruit of the Spirit?!?! – Gal 5:22-23)
Aren’t gentle people just quiet all the time, shy around everyone, and weak and puny. Well, we may get that perception from movies, tv and other media and advertising outlets, but it is nowhere near the truth.
The truth is, a gentle person has a proper perspective of himself/herself before God and other people. A gentle person isn’t a symbol of weakness; just the opposite. Gentleness is a sign of strength and security. Gentle people understand that they don’t have to be obnoxious and loud to bring attention to themselves to gain any standing with people around them. They don’t have to bully people, create fear in others around them, be intimidating or be overwhelming to others.
Gentle people are secure in who God created them to be and understand the true greatness of God and therefore don’t seek out attention to puff themselves up. But rather, bring attention to Jesus, who died for the sins of the world. As Christians, we are to love God and love others, not make others fear us or be impressed by us. Strength is not Popularity.
I challenge you to go back up there and re-read Matthew 5:1-10, which is the start of the Sermon on the Mount. Pray first, pray that God will give you His strength, which looks so very different that this world’s perception of strength. Pray that God will begin to change the way you think, just like in Romans 12:1-2. Pray for God to meet you as you read His Word. Now go read the passage one more time.
