Happy Are You

Scripture Text
  Old Testament -- Psalms 1:1-6
  New Testament -- Matthew 5:1-12
  Responsive Reading -- Pg. 581 Sixteenth Sunday -- Second reading -- "The House of God"

The Beatitudes with which the Sermon on the mount begins describes the typical citizen of God's kingdom-- that is the "bless ed man".

In pagan Greek, the word here translated "blessed" was used to indicate the highest state of happiness, such as pagan gods were thought to enjoy.  Here in this scripture it is a translation of the Hebrew, meaning "happy"-- "how happy".  We see it used in the Psalm we read this morning, where it said, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." -- "How happy" is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."  I would point out that the word "blessed" when translated from the Hebrew refers only to men and never to God, but when translated from the Greek it refers to God as in the saying "Blessed be the Lord", meaning "let God be worshiped".

When this "blessedness is applied to man there is seldom any clear indication as to it's nature; but it is in a sense a reward for faithfulness, and plainly indicates as pointed out in these Beatitudes that the reward is still in the future.

The world is full of people who are eager for happiness--at least this is what they tell us.  Actually what they are really seeking is pleasure and comfort.  But I ask you this morning what was God's purpose in his creation, did he create us to be comfortable, far from that, I believe he created us to be "good".

This does not mean that we should not be comfortable, but it does indicate to me that goodness is a primary purpose in our lives and that comfort is desirable but secondary.  It is because so many people the world over have placed pleasure and comfort first in their lives, that the happiness as described by the Lord Jesus in this Sermon on the Mount is rejected.

Let us consider these Beatitudes together.  The first Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".  Luke in his account omits the words "in spirit" and says, "Blessed be ye poor."  We cannot evade Luke's short description, "poor".  The poor easily keep compassion, they remember their dependence and so are blessed.  Matthew's addition "in spirit", is needed however for poverty of itself is not blessed.  The word poor takes in all those who would learn, who come like children to the Book of Life.

The promise of this Beatitude is "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  What and where is the kingdom of which they speak.

The Kingdom of God means the rule of God as King, and it may be found wherever God rules as King,  whether in one single human life, or in a community of upright men or, perfectly in heaven.

What Jesus meant by the kingdom of God however, was different from what most Jews of His time meant.  To a serious minded man like John the Baptist the coming of the kingdom was a thing of dread, because all wickedness among Jews as well as Gentiles would be punished.  But Jesus described it not as a threat but as a promise of "Good News".

This Rule of God--the kingdom-- far from being a threat to shrink away from, was great good news, available to all who would receive it here and now; not just a distant hope in a remote future.

We each of us cannot begin to deserve this wonderful gift; we have simply to learn, humbly to accept it and live by it.  "It is your Father's good pleasure", said Jesus, "to give you the kingdom."

Of course man cannot enter into the Kingdom of God and himself remain unchanged.  Those things in his life which proclaimed that Satan ruled there can find no place under God's rule-- such things for instance, as selfishness, greed, and ill-will.  No man can serve both God and Mammon (worldly self-interest).  The gate into heaven is called a narrow gate, because through it we may take only that which comes within God's will for us.

Poverty of spirit therefore is the logical beginning of the road to heaven.

The second Beatitude says--"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

The world says, "Enjoy life while you may!  Fill your days with pleasure and activity, and forget your pain and sorrow.  Eat, drink, and be merry--toss aside your worries!"  God says, "Happy are they that mourn."

The wise men of old said, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." (Eccles. 7:3-4)

The sorrow in view in this beatitude is not the sorrow of bereavement.  This is the sorrow for sin--one's own sin and the sin of others.  This is the sorrow for injustice, for oppression, for unrighteousness.  The Beatitudes tells us that those who experience and feel this sorrow will enjoy the comfort of God.--(Happy are you)  Ephesians 4-24 Tells us we must put of the old man which is corrupt and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The third Beatitude is-- "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

Meekness is often confused with weakness, and the amusingly bewildered "Casper Milquetoast" has become, in the popular mind, the symbol of a weak man.

The meekness in view here however is a comparison of our littleness in the light of God's greatness.  Wycliffe translates this Beatitude as, "Blessed is the mild man." A man who does not swagger or bluster about, but rather is a humble man who is satisfied to inherit a place in the new heaven and new earth, wherin righteousness will dwell.

The fourth Beatitude says to us, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

Let me start to say with that not all hungering and thirsting is blessed.  Some kinds of thirst when satisfied leave us a spiritual hangover.  The hungering and thirsting in view here is the desire for righteousness.  All who earnestly want righteousness have God's promise that he will satisfy them-- completely and permanently.  I would repeat, that this promise of God is for "all" who earnestly want righteousness regardless of the condition of their life at this very moment, if they earnestly seek righteousness God will satisfy them completely and permanently "right Now".

I am reminded this morning of a song we sing often.

The fifth Beatitude is --"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."  Mercy lays claim on each of us whenever and wherever there is suffering.  It pities and helps every creature, not man alone.  It refrains from cruelty and punishment and harshness.

Those whose hearts are open to the needs of others, in Christian love, and whose hands are quick to minister to their fellow-man in trouble, are promised God's mercy.  Permit me to say a quick word in regard to "love for our fellow-man".  In the racial problems that are before us today there seems to be much misunderstanding concerning God's command that we should love our neighbor as ourself.  God tells us to love them he does not say to us that we must "like" what they do--what they stand for-- or the conditions they must live under, but he does say to you and to me if you love them as I command you to you will dis-like the conditions these people have to live with to the point where you will do all you can legally and morally to correct these conditions.  So as I see the problem that is before us today the solution lies between these two words-- "love" and "like" and their real meaning for us.

The sixth Beatitude-- "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

This Beatitude focuses our attention upon the basic difference between the teaching of the "Law" in the Old Testament, and the teachings of Jesus.  The law said, "Thou shalt...and Thou shall not....," but Jesus said, "Blessed are you".

The Law was concerned with outward acts, but Jesus was concerned with inner conditions or the states of the heart.

Let us look at this word heart.  Heart as used in the Bible means the whole personality.  It involves the mind and will, not only the emotions.  The word "pure" translated is "clean".  So if our mind and will are clean we shall see God, this is the promise of the Sixth Beatitude.

The seventh Beatitude is--"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

Jesus doubtless had in mind here those who settle disputes, and so make peace.  We may be sure that he was also thinking of those who preach the Gospel and reconcile others to God.

This Beatitude is placed last because the qualities described in the first Beatitudes are prerequisites of the peacemaker.  It's presence in the list shows the importance Christ placed on the ideals of peace.  The establishing of good will and harmony in home and in church, in the community and in international relations calls for peacemakers.----

                             ----

Men who can organize and carry into practice these ideals which they hold.

To such is given access to the glorious privileges of sonship in the family of God.

One would suppose that such people as we have been thinking of together here, would be popular with their fellow-man, but good character does not necessarily contribute to popularity.

In the Bible, Christians are never promised that they will be popular--they are promised persecution.  Perhaps that is why Jesus, at this early point in His ministry, put in a word of encouragement for his disciples when he spoke to them and said. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Christians bring some persecution upon themselves by their tactlessness or their holier than thou attitudes.

The persecution spoken of here is persecution "for righteousness' sake".  It is suffered "falsely"-- without just cause--and it is suffered for the sake of our Lord.  Believers are to rejoice in such persecution, for they may be sure that a great reward awaits them in glory.  And if you an I can live our lives to be included in this company of people, then we may be truly happy, for we are in the company of a great host of people who received this treatment at the worlds hand, such as Isaiah, Elijah, Amos, and a host of other faithful prophets and witnesses, and the Lord Jesus himself.

                                   Let us pray......

Our dear Heavenly Father---  Father of all creation, whose being is from the beginning of time, speak to us.  Raise us above the storms of our generation and above the barriers with which we seek to surround ourselves.  Fill us with the love and understanding that embraces all people and is not bound by nation, race, or creed.  Forgive us our little goals and narrow visions.  Lead us to dedicate ourselves to the work of thy kingdom.  Make us willing to be disciples of Jesus Christ.  Though our minds cannot fully grasp His Call to us give us the will to follow Him,  accepting Him as the Savior of man and the hope of the world.
Amen......

Now may the Grace of our Lord Jesus, the Love of God, the communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and remain with you always.
                                                     Amen.

Nottingham Methodist July 1962