THE BEATITUDES:  INTRODUCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

                                                                                                                                                        By W. G. Guy

       After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus began His three and a half year ministry by preaching repentance and the Kingdom of God.
 
Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(Note: Matthew refers to it as the Kingdom of Heaven while Mark, Luke and John call it the Kingdom of God – both terms mean the same.) 

        Jesus preached the Beatitudes; also called “The Sermon On The Mount”, which deals with kingdom thinking and living as one of  God’s children.  Such a way of behavior is not at all the way the people of the world normally think and live.  He begins His sermon with stating nine behaviors that bring the kingdom’s blessings and rewards; these are recorded in Matthew 5:3-11.
  1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit
  2.  Blessed are they that mourn
  3. Blessed are the meek
  4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
  5. Blessed are the merciful 
  6. Blessed are the pure in heart
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers
  8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake
  9. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you 
(Note: in addition to these nine “blessings’, there are also nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.  Then there are nine Fruits of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23.)

      The nine blessings of kingdom living, that Jesus declared, produce the following nine rewards:
  1. Theirs is the kingdom of Heaven: (the eternal dwelling place with Him).
  2. They shall be comforted; (fear, pain and confusion removed).
  3. They shall inherit the earth: (to rule and reign with Jesus).
  4. They shall be filled: (your cup runneth over with life abundantly).
  5. They shall obtain mercy: (God’s Grace - provision and forgiveness).
  6. They shall see God: (having eternal fellowship with Him).
  7. They shall be called the “children of God”: (adopted into His family).
  8. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven: (because that’s where they identify themselves).
  9. They shall be rewarded in heaven: (with crowns of glory as promised).

      Following these nine blessings and rewards, Jesus continues His message on how kingdom living is maintained.  Jesus declares the purpose for these blessings is to have a positive effect and  being a witness to the world as God’s own children – vs 13-16.

     Jesus testifies of His purpose for coming – vs 17-18.
     Standing for justice, righteousness, and forgiveness –vs 19-30.
     Faithfulness or fidelity as opposed to divorce – vs 31-32.
     Being truthful and making an oath – vs 33-37.
     Rationalization and self-justification – vs 38-42.
     Forgiveness and having the God kind of LOVE – vs 43-48.  
     Sharing, caring and giving, not a pretense or for show  – 6:1-4.
     The same applies to prayer which is better done in private –  vs 5-8.
     Jesus gives a pattern ofr model for what to pray for – vs 9-15.
     Fasting, is done privately, as in giving alms and prayer – vs 16-18.
     Seeking things of God’s kingdom, not the things of the world – vs 19-21.
     Avoid worldly distractions, which are the lusts of the eye – vs 22-23.
     Pursue real and eternal wealth – vs 24.
    Trust God to provide as you trust Him and His Word, because He cares for you and knows what you truly need. Vs 25-34.
     Judge righteously (discerning), not condemningly – 7:1-5.
     Be wise in dealing with others – vs 6.
     Look to God through Christ as your source – vs 7-12.
     Walk the proper path to His kingdom; few do so  – vs 13-14.
     Be aware of false preachers and prophets, their lifestyle reveals much – vs 15-20.
     False preachers produce false results that are unacceptable – 21-27.

      Jesus declared that desiring and seeking the kingdom of God in heaven is so important that He gave illustrations of how certain individuals gave all their worldly goods, or money, just to obtain what they considered to be most valuable.

Matthew 13:44-46 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

        Jesus also told the consequences of not being qualified or suitable to enter into the kingdom of God/Heaven.

Matthew 13:47-50 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:  which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,  and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

         What people need to recognize is what kind of thinking and living keeps people from entering into the kingdom of heaven.

Galatians 5:19-21 –  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

       Thus the need to repent of such thinking and living and be redeemed from such by receiving the life that Jesus came to give, being born-again.  Those who depend on the kingdoms of this world are not fit for the kingdom of God and of His Christ.
Note: At the end of Jesus’ ministry, following his resurrection, He went about for forty days teaching people about the kingdom of God – again showing how important this message of the kingdom is.

Acts 1:2-3 – until the day in which he (Jesus) was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:  to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 

       Thus preaching on the kingdom began His ministry and also concluded it:  that is how important the kingdom message is: even still this day, and unto the end.

Matthew 24:14 –  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.