Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount by pronouncing a certain kind of person fortunate. We call these pronouncements “Beatitudes,” from the Latin word for happiness or blessedness. Jesus teaches that blessings come with living a life in submission and obedience to God; when God reigns in a person’s heart. The person whom Jesus describes in this passage has a different quality of character and lifestyle than those still "outside the kingdom." When we live a kingdom “beatitudes” lifestyle, others notice and will be drawn to know the King we serve
Blessed
April 28, 2019 • Mark Putman
More from
Sermon on the Mount
Narrow V. Wide Path
July 28, 2019 • Mark Putman
In His closing, Jesus is exhorting the people to enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate. The gate to heaven is narrow in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way. The wide gate, which leads to destruction not life, is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions. Jesus says that the narrow gate will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh, living by faith, and living a lifestyle separate from the world; it requires that we allow God to reign in our hearts allowing us to do His will and not ours
Judging
July 21, 2019 • Mark Rowland
Jesus does not mean that we should never make judgments. Obviously, we make judgments every day. We judge between right and wrong, dangerous choices from safe ones, etc. Jesus is cautioning us not to judge others in a self-righteous, hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of someone when our own sin needs correcting as well. By judging others in an unbiblical and hypocritical way, we pay an enormous price. Ridiculing others exposes us to the righteous judgment of God, and most of us are not really aware that we bring more suffering on ourselves by our complaints against one another. Judging and accusing is what Satan does.
Anxiety
July 14, 2019 • Mark Putman
We all struggle with worry and anxiety—some with more depth of despair than others. The simple truth is the more we worry, the more we worry. Jesus starts addressing this issue by telling us to not let anxiety about food and clothing distract us from more important things in life. We cannot affect anything by worrying, and it does us no good. Jesus recognizes the very real struggle most of us have with anxiety and worry. He not only encourages us not to be anxious, but He gives us an antidote to the worry, stress, and anxiety that we all face: seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.