Sermon Cloud

Sermon on the Mount the Lord is describing the inner character of genuine repentance; and the picture He paints is of one who stands in absolute contrast to the spirit and philosophy of the world.

It makes no sense to an unregenerate world that has no “no fear of God before their eyes”. It goes against every natural (fallen) inclination of their heart and mind. The character displayed here is to the world the height of foolishness.

Man always tends towards thess things that exalt man: self-confidence, self-assertiveness, self-will, self-love, self-glory.

But the character of those in the kingdom, who are truly blessed of God, who are in a right relationship with Him turns all of the world’s thinking, under the influence of the evil one, upside down.

 Matthew 5:3-12.

The Kingdom of heaven is so foreign to man because they are so utterly and uncompromisingly God-centered; it begins and ends with the exaltation and glory of God and the right response of humility, brokenness, meekness, suffering.

“If you and I are not, in this primary sense, problems and enigmas to the non-Christians around us, then this tells us a great deal about our profession of the Christian faith.”

The character presented here is and unbroken chain; it is a unit; they are not qualities that a person picks and choses from, but flow in logical sequence.

So, the first mark of those in the Kingdom is poverty of spirit is to have a self awareness of spiritual bankruptcy and destitution before a holy God - to say, “nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Your cross I cling.” It is to come to God claiming no merits, but bowing before Him as a spiritual beggar holding empty hands to receive His grace.

To be truly poor in spirit, is not just intellectual knowledge but is one who mourns, grieves over sin; hates the sin that so robs God of glory and destroys men, but mostly mourns and grieves over the sin that remains in your own heart. Meekness is the character produced by the spiritual mourners.

This is not second level Christianity, nor is it instructions on how to enter the kingdom, but is the mark of those who have have been born again, and truly responded to the command of repentance. Those who are truly in the Kingdom of Heaven. Genuine believers.

(1) Linked to election

Col. 3:12 - “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”

(2) Linked to regeneration

Titus 3:2 - “to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” Because it is the fruit of one who has experienced “the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit”

Trans: Meekness, then, is the product of genuine salvation; it flows from a person’s view of themselves in relation to God and His saving work.

(1) It is not:

(a) Natural Temperament,

It is not simply being nice, as D.A. Carson said,

“Some people are just naturally nice and easy-going; but then again, so are some dogs. Meekness goes much deeper.”

Paul says specifically that it is a product of the Holy Spirit in the life of one who is submitted to Him:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

(b) Moral or spiritual weakness/spinelessness

Moses - Num. 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very humble, more that any many that was on the face of the earth” though he was anything but a push over;

This is the same man that when God’s glory was being attacked through the rebellion of the people with the golden calf, he threw down the stone tablets, crushed the idol, called the nation to account and repentance, and ordered a sentence that resulted in the slaying of three thousand men (Ex. 32:26-28).

Trans: So, if it isn’t natural temperament, or weakness, or timidity, or moral spinelessness, what it is it?

Power under control. It is spiritual strength mixed with deep inner humility and brokenness. Fruit of poverty of spirit; of mourning over sin.

It expresses itself in primarily two ways:

(1) Humble submission to the Divine will.

Doesn’t grumble or complain at God’s providence; or question God’s wisdom and providence.

(a) Yields to God’s divine plan: Joseph (Gen. 50:20 “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result to preserve many people alive”) (CF. JOB).

(b) Accepts God’s Discipline: David 2 Sam. 16:5-14 “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head.’ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamin? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him. Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day”)

Ps. 51 “justified when You judge”

(c) Submits to God’s humbling providence: Paul (2 Cor. 12:7 “there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from exalting myself … I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong”)

Trans: One who walks before God with a real sense of lowliness & trust. A trueness of God’s glory, holiness, righteousness, wisdom, love, grace and submits fully and willingly to His will in life.

(2) Humility toward men.

“A true view of oneself, expressing itself in attitude and conduct with respect to others.” (MLJ). It inwardly and outwardly responds to others with the same self-perception that I confess with my mouth - desperate spiritual beggar, who grieves over my own sin.

“The man who is truly meek is the one who is amazed that God and man can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.” (MLJ).

It is the one that most feels like getting punched in the spiritual stomach and having the spiritual wind knocked out of us.

The first two focus on our attitude toward God - this adds our attitude with respect to others. It is relatively easy for to admit one’s sinfulness before God, it is harder to admit it (genuinely) before others, and even harder when confronted by others with one’s own sin! “The truest test of a servant is how he acts when he is treated like one.”

It is relatively easy to come from a position of superiority and be humble toward another; it is quite another story to be treated as it you the lowly servant you profess to be. One has to with the outward act of humility; one has to do with how I actually think of myself. “He that is down need fear no fall” (J. Bunyon).

-Paul

2 Cor. 10:1 - “Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-- I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!” (10:10 “For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible’”).

-The most perfect example of meekness the world has ever seen, is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Life perfectly submitted to the will of the Father:

John 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”

Matt. 26:39 “And He wen a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Phil. 2:8 “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”

Perfect meekness and humility toward men:

11:29 “Come to all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am *gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

21:5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your King is coming to you, *Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"

This portrait of Christ, predicted by Zech. 9:9, stood (and stands) opposed to all that the Jews expected in their Messiah, which is why the statement in 5:5 would have been just as shocking. They were looking for a warrior conquer, Almighty political leader, who would overwhelm and throw off all Roman oppression.

Instead, He came in humility, peacefulness, and gentleness. For this reason He was (and is) “To the Jews, a stumbling block.”

This same quality of heart is mirrored in Peter’s words, “Reviled He did not revile in return, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:24-25).

Matt. 26:59-68 “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

The Warrior will come (Rev. 19:11-19 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems … He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word o God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. Form His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords.”),

But first the Lamb led to slaughter (Is. 53:7 “like a lamb that is led to slaughter, like a sheep silent before its shearers, He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away.”)

Jesus was not weak, but meek. He was power under control; yielded to the will of the Father. God is willing and will execute His wrath, but His heart rejoices not in destruction (though glorified in it), but in mercy, kindness, gentleness, love.

How does this show toward others?

It should flavor the way we interact with one another.

Eph. 4:2 - “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

It should flavor the way we witness of Christ:

2 Tim. 2:25 - “ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

1 Peter 3:15 - “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with *gentleness and fear”

It should mark the way we deal with sin in others:

Gal. 6:1 - “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

“You who are spiritual” is him who is “filled with the Spirit” a fruit of which is humble gentleness.

Edwards resolution #8 “Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and to let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.”

It involves quietness. A loud, boisterous, overbearing person is displaying a lack of this quality. An illustration is in Peter’s instruction to wives:

1 Pet. 3:4 “Your adornment must not be merely external - braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a *gentle and quiet spirit, which precious in the sight of God”

Responds with submission to the Word of God.

James 1:21 - “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in *humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

“It refers to a meek and humble readiness to be taught by the Word of God without flaring up against the teacher.”

The proud heart will take the challenges given and immediately start defending or justifying self, or pointing out and looking for faults in the speaker. The humble heart, the meek heart, will immediately turn to itself and consider how it may be guilty of those very sins; who will in fact see that very sin in themselves first and seek to confess and change by God’s grace and power.

In other words, it is one who does not seek their own agenda, is not focused on self, overly sensitive to the opinions of others, and always trying to protect self, reputation, defend rights - because it sees nothing in self worth defending.

Trans: Only the one who has first come to see their own poverty of spirit before holy God; who mourns over their sin; who has experienced the new birth; can know this meekness. But how is it that the Lord can call this person “blessed?”

“Because they shall inherit the earth” -

“they” -those whose character is marked by meekness; are “blessed … because they shall inherit the earth” - An absolutely spell-binding truth. First I want you to notice a couple of things:

(1) A settled decision based on the already past event of Divine accomplishment, namely the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(2) It is future, but because it is settled it can be spoken of as the present possession of God’s people:

1 Cor. 3:21-23 “So, then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul, or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.”

Now, to the Jews the idea of inheritance was strong and well established.

(1) God is the inheritance of His people: Ps. 16:5 - “the LORD is the portion of my inheritance”

(2) God’s people are His inheritance: Ps. 78:71 “Israel His inheritance,” therefore He will never forsake them (Ps. 94:14 “The Lord will not abandon His people, He will not forsake His inheritance”).

The idea of inheritance was connected to the promise of land:

(1) The promise of inheritance was given to Israel, and it is yet to be fully realized.

*Ps. 37:11 relates the inheritance of the meek (remnant; God’s people a opposed to the wicked/proud) will inherit the land.

Note: David is writing this after the conquest of Joshua. So, it was still a hope for the people of a time that would come in the future.

Ezek. 36:22-38, looks forward to this day, a day when God’s people would experience the new birth, and then be brought by God in to the land that was promised, “Thus says the LORD God, ‘On the day that I cleanse you form all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt .. They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’”

(2) The ultimate promise is in the promised inheritance that comes through the Messiah and the kingdom, who inherits not only the land, but the entire earth.

Ps. 2:8 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son Today I have begotten You. Ask of me , and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”

Dan. 7:14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the people, nations, and men of every language might serve him.”

The promise of the land included and includes the land inheritance of the 12 tribes of Israel, but ultimately looked passed that to the ultimate fulfillment to be realized in the new heavens and the new earth (i.e. “the world”).

(1) As believers in Christ, we become partakers of His inheritance by virtue of being in Him.

Rom. 4:13 “the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith”

Gal. 3:29 “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”

If I belong to Christ, I own everything with Christ. What does Christ own? Everything. The earth now, but the earth that is to come.

Heb. 1:2 (cf. 6:12, 17; 11:7; 12:25-29) “In these last days has spoken to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Christ created the world, through His atoning work on the cross inherited the world, and as those who are united to Him by faith, we share in that same inheritance. .

Rom. 8:16-25 really becomes key, - “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him…”

(2) The NT picks up and expands the concept of inheritance

Eph. 1:18 “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”

Heb. 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, went out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit eternal salvation”

Heb. 6:12 “[be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises”

1 Pet. 1:4 “a living hope through the resurrection of jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade way, reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

But ultimately this is an inheritance that includes the new heavens and the new earth.

Not some imaginary state of consciousness, or mindless entrance into a mystical union with nothingness. It is a real, physical, created, eternal earth with real physical people, a physical universe, an eternal physical existence.

God’s intentions for His creation has always included the physical world.

(1) When it was completed He pronounced it “very good” & man was given dominion.

(2) However, when man fell, sin entered the world and the original plan has never been fully realized.

(3) God did not abandon the physical creation, but set in motion a plan to redeem it and give it to a redeemed humanity

(4) This is ultimately realized and accomplished through believer’s union with the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Whose redemption ultimately redeemed both creation and a chosen people from the corruption of sin and will establish it in the eternal and perfect union.

This is the stunning affirmation of the resurrection. Jesus Christ was not raised a spirit being without a corporeal body, but with flesh and blood, which He still possesses (Acts 1; 1 John).

Flesh is not evil as the gnostics taught, but was a part of God’s good creation. The physical universe and our physical bodies do not need to be eliminated because of the curse of sin, only redeemed.

This present earth groans under the weight of the corruption of men (Rom. 8:32 [cf. Gen. 3 “curse the ground”; and Gen. 6 flood]), will be destroyed (2 Pet. 3; Rev. 20), and then recreated as the eternal habitation of redeemed humanity (2 Pet. 3; Rev. 20).

The present world is full of sin, decay, pollution, godlessness, and unrighteousness. All of these will be done away in the world to come. It is a place in which Christ and the glory of God light its never ending day; a place wherein only righteousness dwells and the perfect law of love to God and love to neighbor is forever the driving passion in the heart of all its citizens.

APPLICATION:

So, don’t be so consumed with the passing things of this world, which are passing away, when we shall inherit the world to come, which will never pass away and exceed this world in glory and wonder and riches beyond what our minds can fathom.

The problem of the present earth is not over use of resources but sin. It is the spiritual corruption of man not the physical corruption of the earth.

It means that there is a contentment in meekness with all that the Lord provides in the present, whether it much abundance or only what is necessary to live (cf. Phil. 4:11-13; also Prov. 13:25; *Ps. 37:16).

“The humble Christian is far happier in a cottage than the wicked in a palace.” (Pink). It is to have a humble trust in God in whatever our present circumstances.

It means that regardless of the trials and test of faith, the ridicule and persecution, the times of want and pain here in this world the meek live humbly before God, trusting and yielding to His will; and living humbly before men because we have a right view of ourselves & see nothing to defend, or promote; and finds joy in the hope of the eternal world to come, purchased and secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Soon after the American missionary adoring Judson began hi ministry in Burma he was captured by natives, strung up by his thumbs and flung in to a filthy prison,. When asked: ‘And now what of your plans to win the heathen to Christ?’ Judson calmly replied: ‘My future is as bright as the promises of God.’ Every Christian can say the same …”

Do you have this hope? Are you one who will inherit the earth? Are you poor in spirit? Do you mourn over sin? Are you one characterized by and pursues meekness? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness in the inner man?

*Many of His hearers never realized the blessing of the Kingdom, because they never humbled themselves before the King.