Let us prepare to study and learn what God, the Holy Spirit has for us as we study; Matthew chapter 5 thru 7, commonly called the “Sermon on the Mount”. It would be wise to understand that Jesus was just starting his earthly ministry.
In chapter 3 Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. (versus 13- 17) In the gospel of Mark 1:10 we see that the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, came from heaven and desended on Jesus and God spoke and proclaimed that Jesus was his “beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. Then in Matthew 4 the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. Satan “the tempter” tempted Jesus. JESUS rebuked Satan using the word of God. It was then Jesus started his earthly ministry, chapter 4:17. He started recruiting his disciples. He went around Galilee teaching, preaching and healing. The people in great multitudes started followed him. (I want to point out that they were Jewish people, looking for the Messiah.)
That brings us to chapter 5. Here we have the first recorded message of Jesus. Should we not take some time to study what he felt necessary to say, as his first recorded message to the Jewish people and us?
As I read versus 1&2, my minds eye sees Jesus looking at the multitude following him. Jesus being the Son of God was omniscient, all knowing, past, present and future, knew that those that followed him would soon be persecuted. He wanted to teach them principles that they would need to survive the storm that was coming.
Now let us study and apply these principles in our Christian life so that we have a firm foundation (rock) to stand on in the storms of our life.
Beatitudes; those that followed Jesus must have the right attitude. Before we can be ready for the storm coming (or already in) we first must have the right spiritual attitude.
Blessed; (Webster New World Dictionary) 1. holy; sacred. blissful; fortunate
Being Blessed is more than being happy, it is a life style of living holy (I Peter 1: 15,16), set apart, sacred (Romans 12: 1-2)
Next time we will look at what is the life style necessary to survive the storm.
Take it from an old man that has seen stuff.
mrdj620 