Attitudes to Be ~ Matthew 5
“And He opened His mouth and taught them…” Matthew 5:2
No Biblical verse cuts through the noise of this world quite like James 1:22. And within it the half-brother of Jesus speaks of the great difference in knowing what the Word of God says, and actually doing what God says you should do. Yes, you can know all about the Bible, even being a Bible trivia master, yet still be living a life that is destitute of the abundant joy Jesus promises all of His disciples in John 10:10. Yes, I dare say, even as many individuals that tell me how difficult the Bible is to understand, it is indeed much more difficult to do what it says.
My 5-year, one chapter a day Bible study plan finds me, after 4 years studying through the Old Testament, finally cracking open the book of Matthew. And here I will be in the 27 New Testament books for the next year. And what a continued revelation it is to see how infinitely and intricately intertwined the two testaments are. As I reach chapter 5 of Matthew, we find Jesus settling in to preach His first sermon. And what a sermon it is. And since the sermon begins with the 8 beatitudes, I feel they should be allowed some page time. And also, since many of them are greatly misunderstood today, this page time will attempt to bring them into our modern nomenclature and thus make them more applicable to our lives. That is, to make them not just for the hearing, but for the doing. Even that word beatitude can be simplified from its original Greek ‘makarios’ which describes a state of spiritual prosperity, divine favor, and deep soul-joy given by God contrasted with temporary worldly happiness. But in favor of simple word play, consider each of these 8 beatitudes from Jesus Christ as simply something you should be striving to make a permanent part of your attitude today. Consider them, as our title states, beatitudes that are ‘attitudes you should be.’
1) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3. Consider that word poor as really, really poor….more like totally and thoroughly bankrupt. Not even having two pennies to rub together. This is a bankrupt human spirit that has absolutely nothing of value to offer God. This is someone being brutally open and honest with God about the fact that they are spiritually and morally bankrupt today because of their sin. For those that can reach this level of honesty before God, He promises them they will inherit a share of His home, heaven.
2) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4. This ‘attitude to be’ is one of the most greatly misunderstood. We mainly use the word mourn today to describe processing the loss of a dear loved one. But Jesus here, building upon the first ‘attitude to be’, is describing how we should react to our spiritually bankrupt status mentioned in the first beatitude. We should truly mourn the sin in our lives that causes us to be spiritually bankrupt, in the lives of others that causes them the same, and in our world at large that causes the world to spin in darkness. And as we greatly mourn over the death all sin brings, God promises that He will comfort us.
3) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5. Another under-utilized, misunderstood modern word, meek. Meek does not mean weak; it means power brought under control or individual strength utilized with tremendous control. Jesus is saying in this ‘attitude to be’ that we need to harness and focus the strength He has blessed us with. This speaks of great self-control over the power of your pride, ego, intellect, and believed capabilities. And for those that can approach this level of Godly meekness, they will inherit much in God’s created world.
4) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6. How much do you truly love it when good is done to you? I bet a lot. How much do you love doing good to others, even your enemies…especially when it costs you something to do that good? Probably less, yes? This ‘attitude to be’ speaks of you loving and desiring knowing and doing good as much as you desire a long, cool draw of water on your dry tongue. Jesus is telling us here that we should have hunger pangs and great thirst for His right ways. And if you reject evil, flee from the devil, and hunger for doing the right ways of God, He will fill you with satisfaction as if you had just feasted.
5) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7. There is one way to get mercy according to Jesus Christ…give it first. Being merciful (not giving others what you feel they deserve) is the way in which you shall receive mercy from God and others. ‘Be this attitude’ in your life and stand in awe as your extended mercy returns to you multiplied by the very hand of God.
6) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. Purity of heart is the foundational element that allows you to see God, hear God, pray to God, and better understand His Word. Is your heart pure white today or tainted with the blackness of sin? You cannot fake this ‘attitude to be’, but praise be to God, if your heart is not pure today, God is in the business of changing hearts. And what a promise…pure hearts are promised to see God manifested in their lives.
7) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9. Notice carefully here it says peacemakers not peacekeepers. The first is active and the second is passive. And also note here that peacemaking not only involves two or more other people, but ourselves. This verse speak directly to us personally making peace in our own lives, when we either sin against others, or others sin against us. Make a halo of peace around where you walk and you will be called a son or daughter of God as you walk in God’s character of valuing peace.
8) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12. If you were ‘being the first 7 attitudes’ you would be a pretty awesome person, yes? Considering this, surely no one in this world would or could find fault with you, falsely accuse you, revile you, or attack you, yes? Think again. The world persecuted, reviled, and hung Jesus on a cross for being the perfect Son of God…and the same world will persecute His disciples for attempting to be what Jesus was. But when we endure these attacks with joy, knowing it is the cost of following Christ, He promises us adoption and ownership in His home…heaven. What a promise.
Would you like to have a husband or wife that does all 8 of these with joy to the Lord? Well, be a wife or husband that does them with joy first. Would you like to have a boss or employee that does all 8 of these to the glory of the Lord? Well, be a boss or employee that does them well first. Would you like to see the person in the pew next to you on Sunday being and doing each of these patiently and diligently for the Lord. Then you be that person next Sunday first, and let others look over at you. Would you like to have a neighbor that is full of mercy and is always willing to make peace? Ok, you be that neighbor first to all the neighbors that God places around you today. Folks, the Christian walk starts with the person you see in your mirror each morning. Be these attitudes, claim the Godly promises attached to each, and then watch the world around you change…as you change first.
Blessings ~ Dan
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17
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