The Beatitudes

[traveller]

In another thread someone suggested that we take a look at the beatitudes and do a quick study on them What a great idea! (Sagz, was that you Brother?) Let's look at them one by one.

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven

First, we need to know what it is to be poor in spirit. My thoughts here is that it is the opposite of pride and self-sufficiency. To be poor in spirit is to need and want that which is of the Lord. We have to come to a place where we recognize that it is in no way about us, that we are here for HIS pleasure and HIS honor. We have to come to a place where we know that by ourselves, we are lost. We cannot earn our way to Him, nor can we save ourselves. I think the moment in time when we truly "know" that, that we are poor in spirit. Like the prodigal son, when he realized he could not make it on his own.

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

When he had spent everything. What an amazing and telling phrase. When we expend all our knowledge and all our efforts and all our good works, and then realize it was for nothing, THEN we become wanting. Then we know it's not about us. Once we beome poor in spirit, then we are teachable and moldable and soft. Our hearts then become soft flesh instead of hard stone. Fertile soil.

Your thoughts?

[Guest shadow2b]

[BlindSeeker]

Hello Traveller,

To me, the Be-Attitudes are progressive,

• Mt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  
  
  
  • Lu 18:10 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.
    12 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.
      
      Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
      
      
      
      
      
      • Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
        18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
        19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
        
        
        
        
        • 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
          
          
          
          • 2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
            
            
            I think it is a shame we have done away with sack cloth and ashes . . . but wouldn't the psychologists have a field day with that . . .
            
            
            
            • 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
              
              
              
              • Nu 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
                2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
                3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
                4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
                5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
                
                
                
                
                • 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
                  
                  
                  It makes me think of the first "Step of Acension" Psalm (there are 15 of them, great study . . . )
                  
                  
                  • Ps 120:1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me.
                    

                It is a great psalm for conveying the sinner's necessary start with God, awareness of sin, mourning, calling out to God, hungering for peace and righteousness . . .

                [*] 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

                If we have been satisfied with God's mercy for our heaviness of heart, how can we be anything but merciful to other?

                [*] 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

                And thus we then begin to labor selflessly for others -

                1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

                19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

                20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

                21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

                22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

                23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

                Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

                1Ti 1:5 Now the end [fulfilling] of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

                Oh that we were faithful to fulfill the Law of Christ with faith unfeigned and charity out of a pure heart . . .

                [*] 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

                We so often think of peace between people, but the greatest peacemaker is he that wins souls back to God. To take the precious seeds of the Gospel and to go out into the world sowing them in hopes and "plucking a brand from the fire."

                Ps 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

                But do not think that you can go and snatch souls from the fire without opposition from the adversary . . .

                [*] 10 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.

                But sometimes the best way to be identified with Christ and enjoy true intimate communion with Him is when we, too, are despised and rejected by men.

                Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

                28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

                29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

                30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

                But then again, some times there is just no other way to sow certain areas with the precious seed of the Gospel -

                2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

                4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

                5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

                6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

                7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

                Sorry, Traveller, if I was too long winded here . . . but I love Jesus' sermon on the mount.

                Peace,

                William

[nebula]

I saw a poster:

"Do you practice the BE-ATTITUDES or the ME-ATTITUDES?"

[IslandRose]

Hello Traveller,

To me, the Be-Attitudes are progressive,

• Mt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  
  
  
  • Lu 18:10 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.
    12 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.
      
      
  Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
  
  
  

  This personal revelation of spiritual poverty is where all must begin in order to get right with God.

  Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

  18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

  19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

  Help us to anoint our eyes Lord that we may truly see . . .

  Yes, I agree that they are progressive. My study Bible has them listed as "8 Upward Steps in the Divine Life". And the first step is...Poor in Spirit...Humility.

  We can really get nowhere in our spiritual lives until we realize that we can do nothing in and of ourselves. We must come as little children and raise our arms to our Abba...Daddy..who alone can take us any futher.

  It is the first step. It is also often the hardest to take, and the one easiest to fall off of...

  IR :il:

[Andrew007]

Let's look at them one by one.

So much for that thought.

Excellent post, Blindseeker, as always. God Bless. :t:

[Guest shadow2b]

--But sometimes the best way to be identified with Christ and enjoy true intimate communion with Him is when we, too, are despised and rejected by men

.

ahhhhh.my brother you do present the truth of the gospel we seem to forget in our feeble attempts

-to proclaim the good-news of the gospel....We "think"all should be roses & ice cream-hallelujah,

-glory, praise the LORD & pass the biscuits....TOO often we forget that "with much tribulation we

-enter the kingdom of GOD..

-Acts14.vss.21,22----------

-And when they had preached the gospel to that city,and had taught many,they returned to Lystra,

-and to Iconium,and Antioch,Confirming the souls of the disciples,and exhorting them to continue in

-the faith,and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of GOD.......

-Thank you william for your most eloquent{as usual} presentation of the beatitudes & you have as

-usual hit "the"mark

[sagz4Christ]

In another thread someone suggested that we take a look at the beatitudes and do a quick study on them What a great idea! (Sagz, was that you Brother?) Let's look at them one by one.

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven

First, we need to know what it is to be poor in spirit. My thoughts here is that it is the opposite of pride and self-sufficiency. To be poor in spirit is to need and want that which is of the Lord. We have to come to a place where we recognize that it is in no way about us, that we are here for HIS pleasure and HIS honor. We have to come to a place where we know that by ourselves, we are lost. We cannot earn our way to Him, nor can we save ourselves. I think the moment in time when we truly "know" that, that we are poor in spirit. Like the prodigal son, when he realized he could not make it on his own.

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

When he had spent everything. What an amazing and telling phrase. When we expend all our knowledge and all our efforts and all our good works, and then realize it was for nothing, THEN we become wanting. Then we know it's not about us. Once we beome poor in spirit, then we are teachable and moldable and soft. Our hearts then become soft flesh instead of hard stone. Fertile soil.

Your thoughts?

It was me that brought the suggestion, sister!

I didn't expect it to take off soo quickly though!

I think that these "attitudes" are often quoted but not often meditated on. I believe that in our lives today, we have too many things pulling at our attention and trying to make our lives more and more difficult. These Christian attitudes help to anchor us in the Spirit and help us spriing forward into a more godly life. That is the whole idea of the entire Sermon in Matthew 5-7. It doesn't contain the plan of salvation and it doesn't present the Gospel. It is an "attitude adjustment" that we need to pay attention to in order to be shown the fullness of Christ in our lives.

Let us take the whole of Matthew 5 for instance. There are three questions that Jesus is answering.

1. What does it mean to have Christian character? (vv. 3-12) Be-attitudes

2. What does it mean to make a difference? (vv. 13-16)

3. What does it mean to be godly? (vv. 17-48)

Chapter 6 (hehehehe) talks about the pitfalls of a performanced based (outward) appearance. Jesus, in chapter 6 talks about what it takes to BE good instead of LOOK good. He talks about giving (v.2), praying (vv.5-7) and fasting (vv. 16-18).

Chapter 7 finds Jesus talking about tolerance and commitment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5, verse 3.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for thiers is the kingdom of heaven.

I could not say it any better than Blindseeker did. It is emptiness. It is when we realize we have nothing to offer that Christ gets the most out of us. It is getting rid of our pride. The pride that says "I don't need Him, I am perfectly content where I am."

Christ cannot work with such an attitude, for He did not come to heal the healthy....but the sick!

I would ask you, how content are you without Christ? How healthy are you without your Physician?

Great topic, though it might be best served in the Study Forum, don't you think?

~becoming poor in spirit in Christ

[traveller]

Oh - I didn't even think to put it in the study forum. Perhapes Dr Luke will move it for me.

Great posts! And yes, Brother William, EXACTLY! I too believe it is a progressive heart-state. I think it is a blueprint of dicipleship. It is what God does to our hearts.

And sagz, you are so right. We need to take the time to get alone with God and put the worldly issues aside. We are so busy trying to live that we miss the opportunities to simply be still before the Lord.

William, do not apologize to me for being long-winded. Your post was beautiful.

[tsth]

I was reminded of this post on the Beatitudes this morning while in the Book of Isaiah:

57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

66:2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the Lord. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

In His Love,

Suzanne