The King's Expectations

Matthew 5:1-16

Context: Matthew 5:1-16

Memory Verse: Matthew 5:14

Main Idea: The blessings of the King are on the followers who exhibit His character.

FIRST THOUGHTS

     New parents testify to a lifestyle shift that stems from the arrival of a baby in the home. It’s a turning point that requires big changes. Sleep patterns become erratic. Time demands create stress. Financial resources get stretched. A new baby in the home means a change in priorities for everyone living there. One positive change that takes place involves a new love that develops in a parent’s heart. All the adjustments are worth it because the couple desires the best for their child.

What are some other events in life that can create a change in priorities?

     An encounter with Christ is a turning point. It should evoke a willing alteration in priorities for the new believer. A true conversion experience creates change. Jesus clearly identified the characteristics that He expects His followers to exhibit. These character traits are not optional for believers. They are Christ’s expectations for all His followers.

     The passage for this session shows that Jesus’ expectations are not a hardship to be endured. Rather, they define a way of life that results in God’s blessings. Believers can anticipate an exciting journey into Christlike character that causes their lives to be richly blessed.

I. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

Matthew 5:1-16

     Matthew 5–7 comprises what many refer to as the Sermon on the Mount. It is the first of five discourses of Jesus recorded in Matthew. Jesus’ public ministry began in earnest with this discourse. The teachings probably took place on a mountainside somewhere near Capernaum, Jesus’ unofficial headquarters in Galilee. This prominent city on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee provided the setting for a number of events during Jesus’ ministry.

     In the opening verses of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised some blessings for believers when they exhibit His character (5:2-12). These verses are often called the Beatitudes. This literary form can be found in the Old Testament as well (see Pss. 1:1; 32:1-2; Prov. 8:34). A beatitude included a statement of God’s blessing on a person. When someone relates to God as He demands, a blessing ensues. This blessing originates with God and conveys a promised reward from Him.

     Jesus explained the outcome when Christians incorporate the attributes of Christlikeness into their lives (5:13-16). He used two common household items, salt and light, to illustrate the influence Christians exert on the world. A true disciple makes a difference in the world. The character of Christ cannot become who you are without affecting what you do.

II. EXPLORE THE TEXT

A. The new Moses (Matt. 5:1-2)

¹ Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

VERSES 1-2

     Jesus attracted crowds in the early days of His ministry. As crowds gathered, Jesus went up on the mountain, probably in the region around Capernaum. Several important events in Jesus’ life took place on a mountain (see Matt. 4:8; 17:1; 28:16). Ancient people believed they drew closer to God from a high vantage point. In this case, a mountainside provided a natural amphitheater from which Jesus could be heard more clearly.

     The mountain setting evokes a natural comparison between Jesus and Moses. Moses went up on a mountain to meet with God and receive the Ten Commandments. In a sense, Jesus became a new Moses in that He offered a fuller revelation of God’s expectations.

     Jesus sat down in the posture of a Jewish rabbi preparing to instruct his students. His disciples gathered around Him. Jesus invested in a small group of followers to prepare them for a future role in kingdom work. The crowds that had sought Jesus possibly came and listened in as Jesus taught the disciples (see Matt. 7:28), but He focused more on His closest followers.

     Jesus opened his mouth and taught them. He spent His entire ministry training the disciples. In the case of the crowds, some only received bits and pieces of teaching when they came into contact with Jesus. But the disciples’ lives became intertwined with His. They received more intense instruction.

What value do you see in Christians receiving intense, consistent instruction in the Bible and Christian doctrine? In what settings can that kind of teaching take place?

B. the new blessings (Matt. 5:3-12)

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

     The Beatitudes describe the character of a person who welcomes the rule of Christ in his or her heart. The teaching applies to all believers, not simply to a select few.

     The Beatitudes fall into two distinct groups. The first four (vv. 3-6) describe a Christian’s attitude toward God. They reveal that a believer can depend on God in spite of life’s circumstances. The second four Beatitudes (vv. 7-12) portray a Christian’s attitude toward other people. They indicate qualities of life to be evidenced in all relationships. The Beatitudes are not characteristics from which believers pick and choose what suits them. All should be incorporated into the Christian life.

VERSE 3

     In each Beatitude Jesus declared the believer blessed. The word resembles Congratulations! It reflects a form of happiness. We typically think of happiness as an emotional response of satisfaction dependent on the circumstances. Jesus’ idea of “happy” or “blessed” is rooted in the truth that God is at work in us in all circumstances. The blessing of God’s acceptance and presence has nothing to do with our actions but with His grace.

     Jesus pronounced the first blessing on the poor in spirit. His disciples knew poverty when they saw it. The poor existed in large numbers. They possessed few resources to meet life’s basic needs and relied on the generosity of others to survive. To be spiritually poor implies awareness of one’s own spiritual bankruptcy. The spiritually destitute know that trusting in God is their only hope.

     The promised blessing for the poor in spirit is receipt of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew used the terms kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God interchangeably. The Jews sometimes chose the word heaven to signify God, who lives in heaven. A king rules a kingdom. God’s rule can indicate all the universe, since He created it. In this case, however, kingdom means the reign God inaugurates in hearts through faith. Jesus came to establish supremacy in human lives. His reign in their hearts begins when a person receives freely God’s offer of salvation.

VERSE 4

     Jesus blessed those who mourn. The word mourn signified an expression of deep sadness over the dead. In this case Jesus probably referred to grief over sin and its harmful effects. Sin’s hurtful results separate people from God and destroy human relationships. That fact produces a sad world where injustice, conflict, and disappointment dominate many lives.

     At first glance the idea of a happy mourner seems confusing. How can someone be happy and grieve at the same time? The promise that Jesus included with this beatitude explains it. The mourners shall be comforted. How? God’s forgiveness prepares believers to deal with sin’s damage and move past it. The assurance of God’s healing through salvation evokes a settled comfort in the soul.

VERSE 5

     Jesus blessed the meek. Often the concept of gentleness or meekness carries with it the idea of weakness. In this case, gentleness means teachable, humble, and not self-advancing. It is the opposite of pride. A gentle person acknowledges weakness but places trust in God to help him overcome. The gentle are rooted so firmly in a dependence on God that they do not need to exert defensive behavior or pick fights with people to advance their agenda. Gentleness implies complete submission to God’s direction.

     The meek receive the promise that they will inherit the earth. An inheritance indicates things passed from one person to another and affirmed by the legal system. God can also pass things to His people. For instance, the people of Israel inherited the promised land. In Jesus’ day, few people owned land. They resided on land owned by harsh landlords. The earth Jesus said the meek would inherit refers to the new heaven and new earth promised to believers (Rev. 21:1).

VERSE 6

     Jesus blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. No one can ignore the appetites of hunger and thirst. Hunger or thirst may be quenched for a time by eating or drinking, but soon we get hungry or thirsty again.

     Genuine believers desire righteousness. Righteousness can be defined as being right in our hearts and doing right in our actions. Righteousness does not mean perfect. The ultimate goal of righteousness is to think and act like Jesus through assent to God’s will.

     Those who search after righteousness gain the promise of being satisfied. Life circumstances often leave people unfulfilled. Pursuit of a righteous life leads to finding God’s way for your life; therein lies personal fulfillment.

VERSE 7

     The second section of the Beatitudes begins with this verse. These four Beatitudes highlight the Christian’s relationship with others. Jesus blessed the merciful. Mercy defines a primary trait of God. He forgives wrongdoing and shows kindness to the downtrodden. Believers practice mercy in the same manner. Mercy is active in that it does more than feel sorry for someone. The merciful stay sensitive to the disadvantaged and take action to do something about their plight.

     Jesus promised mercy to the merciful. Our willingness to bestow mercy on others brings with it an openness to receive mercy from God. The outcome of God’s forgiveness should be that we become forgivers. God replenishes any mercy we confer on others.

VERSE 8

     Jesus blessed the pure in heart. The Jews believed a person’s intellect, will, attitudes, and emotions resided in the heart. Purity of heart means more than ritual purity. It indicates single-minded devotion to God.

     The pure in heart receive the promise that they shall see God. Kings in ancient times often isolated themselves from the common people. God, however, remains accessible to believers. He welcomes fellowship with those who are pure in heart, drawing them close to experience His presence.

VERSE 9

     Jesus blessed the peacemakers. In our culture, peace means the absence of conflict. Peacemakers seek to build bridges to help resolve conflict. That can be risky. Peacemakers enter the fray to pursue reconciliation. The Hebrew concept of peace went deeper than absence of conflict. It meant a state of well-being based on a right relationship with God that overflowed into right relationships with other people. Jesus provided the best example of peacemaking on the cross. Christian peacemakers advance reconciliation between God and people.

     Jesus promised that peacemakers shall be called sons of God. A son often takes on the personality and character of his father. God actively seeks ceasefire with sinners. We do God’s work when we promote peace on any level. Peacemakers show the world how God works. What higher commendation can a Christian receive than to be deemed a child of God with all its rights and privileges?

VERSES 10-11

     In the final Beatitude Jesus blessed those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Christian principles remain contrary to the world’s thinking. Hostility toward believers often results. When you live for Christ in a sinful world, you can expect that you will encounter the same treatment He received.

     The persecuted righteous gain the promise of the kingdom of heaven. Receiving the kingdom of heaven brackets the Beatitudes (see also v. 3).

     Verses 11-12 further explain the last Beatitude. Christlike people attract insult and criticism. As a believer, you can expect that some people will utter all kinds of evil against you falsely. Jesus got that kind of treatment when His opponents accused Him of taking orders from Beelzebul, the name of a demonic pagan god (see Matt. 12:24). Jesus acknowledged that persecution of this kind happens on my account. We get what Jesus got when we seek to be like Him.

VERSE 12

     In the face of opposition Jesus commanded believers to rejoice and be glad. We can endure present hardship when we know what lies ahead: the hope of a reward … in heaven. Reassurance comes when you consider how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The Old Testament prophets experienced persecution as well. Christians are in good company.

Which of the Beatitudes do you find are the most challenging character traits to practice as a Christian? Why?

C. The New Expectations (Matt. 5:13-16)

¹³ You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

     Jesus used salt and light as illustrations of how believers should live out Jesus’ standards in the world. The world should be a better place because of Christian influence.

VERSE 13

     Jesus commanded Christians to be the salt of the earth. People of the first century used salt for two main purposes: to season and to preserve. Salt enhances food’s flavor just as Christians enhance the lives of those they influence. Salt slows food’s spoilage just as Christians direct people to Jesus, the preserver of life.

     Pure salt, sodium chloride, never loses its effect. Why, then, did Jesus allude to salt that might have lost its taste? The manufacture of salt sometimes allowed the intermingling of impurities. Compromise of salt’s purity diluted its effect. No method existed to return weakened salt to its untainted, most effective state.

     Contaminated salt was no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. Impure salt, having become useless, might be disposed of on the street where foot traffic ground it into the dirt. Jesus used this example to warn believers. A Christian with no influence on the world contradicts the very nature of Christianity.

VERSE 14

     Christians are the light of the world. Light’s purpose is to reveal. Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world (John 8:12). As light, then, Christians extend the work of Christ to turn sinners toward God. Jesus asserted that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Such a city can be seen for miles at night. It stands out in contrast to the darkness. Believers are to live differently so that God’s truth stands out for a lost world to see.

Verses 15-16

     Jesus illustrated the light principle with a lamp. Light loses its purpose if someone puts it under a basket. Failure to positively influence culture for Christ is contrary to the Christian’s purpose. Why have a light if you refuse to use it? Instead, Jesus suggested that a lamp be put on a stand so that it gives light to all in the house. Situate the light in a prominent place where its effect can be maximized. Jesus intended for Christians to engage the culture to advance the Kingdom.

     Jesus issued a command to let your light shine before others. Jesus laid out this demand as a responsibility, not a choice. Two things happen when Christians shine the light of Christ. One, people see your good works. The word good implies “attractive, beautiful.” So good works are actions that shine a positive light on Christ. Good works call attention to the Savior, not to the doer. Two, Christians shine the light of Christ to give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Everything a believer does should highlight the glory of God.

Can you think of a person you know who is salt and light in the world? In what specific ways do they influence the world for Christ?

KEY DOCTRINE

Education

In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

BIBLE SKILL

Use a concordance and/or Bible dictionary (either print or online version) to learn more about a prominent Bible theme.

      Use a concordance to find references in Scripture to “light.” Note instances in which the Bible attributes the origin and source of light to be God or Jesus. Contemplate what Jesus’ claim to be the Light of the world (John 8:12) and His command to Christians to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14) mean for you.