Come to Him (Matthew 5:1-6)
Rev. David French
01/29/23 

The Beatitudes are perhaps some of the best-known words from the gospel of Matthew, and yet, they are also some of most often misunderstood words in that gospel. Many hear these words as exhortations or commands, that is, if you’re poor in spirit, then you’ll inherit the kingdom kind of thinking. Some hear in these words virtues to be sought after, which again, does nothing more than turn them into law. It’s’ almost like we hear the word attitude in Beatitudes and, of course, think it’s all about us. This morning I would like to challenge that idea.

In general, they’re structured with the first four beatitudes looking at the Christians relationship with God. The next three at the Christian’s relationships with others. The last two look at how Christians are often treated by others. And finally, verse twelve is the grand conclusion, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven 
.” 

This morning we consider the first section of our lesson that is our relationship with God. First, let’s think about to whom these words are spoken. Notice how in verse one we read, “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.” But then we hear it was “His disciples came to him and began to teach them.”

The crowds were there and at least curious about Jesus, but it was His disciples, believers from that crowd, who sat with Him as He taught. In fact, one of the consistent things about Matthew’s gospel is that the crowds never believe. It is to His disciples that Jesus preached this sermon; heard by the others, to be sure, but preached to those like you and me. Those who already know and believe God’s promise, those who have already received the gift of faith and eternal life.

And so, it is in that light we begin by first looking at the word blessed. What exactly does that mean? Is this blessedness something to come based on fulfilling these conditions or is this blessedness something we already have and Christ is now teaching what it means for you and me to be His blessed disciple? As you might imagine, the way we answer that question is really important. It’s the difference between hearing these words as laws that accuse and condemn, or as gospel that comforts and saves.

In the Greek language, three words translate into English as blessed. Eulogetos which is used only of God. An example would be St. Paul writing “blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s an act of worship and praise. The second word is eulogemenos which is used of specific blessings given to man by God as in: He has blessed you with wisdom and understanding. The third word, the one used in our lesson for today, is makarios which is only used of those who are living in God’s grace, that is, those who have repented and believe God’s word of forgiveness. In our lesson these are the ones who come to Jesus to be taught. 

And so, we come to the first of the beatitudes, that is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” So, who are the poor in spirit? Are you? Are they marginal Christians who need to “shape up” so Jesus gives them or us a few pointers? We find Jesus answering that question in Matthew 11:5. Responding to a question from the disciples of John the Baptist about who He was, He says, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the makarios the poor.”

The poor, it turns out, are all who have come to believe that we cannot save ourselves. We simply cannot afford the price demanded by God as the payment for our sin. Remember, we all begin life conceived in sin, and so, are born spiritually dead. It’s only those who have seen themselves in the mirror of the law that understand how unable to pay, how poor in spirit, we really are.

So how then, if we can’t afford it, how does the kingdom become ours? The kingdom is ours because the blessed disciple, that is you and all who hold to the word of God alone, are saved through faith and not by works. God’s kingdom is not a reward, it’s a gift. We find in these words not a challenge, but a beautiful source of comfort. In the light of His gospel, we can understand these words are saying - The repentant who live in God’s grace are those for whom the gates of heaven have been open.

Next, we find, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Who is it that mourns? Again, the blessed, those who know the love of Christ in their lives are the ones who mourn. And why do they mourn? They mourn for the same reasons you do. This is not a mourning of despair, but the mourning that comes with seeing things as they really are, both in the world and in our own lives. 

As we look at the world we live in, we see the effects of sin all around us. We see the sickness and disease. We see how people hurt one another and lie to each other. We see how many have rejected the love of God in Christ, and it breaks our hearts. And so, we mourn because we know the consequences of that rejection, that people who Christ died for will be lost forever. We see how Christ continues to be rejected and ridiculed up to this very day. Certainly, no Christian feels good about what we see in the world, not to mention what you and I both know is in our hearts.

So, how are we who see and know these things comforted? My friends, if we mourn because of the effects of sin in this world, how much more we should be comforted as we confess that Christ has taken away the sin of the world! And are we not comforted as we hold to the promise that we are never alone, that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ? What comfort can be found in the communion of saints, and what greater comfort can God offer you than the assurance that you are forgiven, and so will one day be lifted out of this muck and mire and be seated with Him in heaven?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Again, we know that we hunger and thirst for things outside of ourselves, that is food and drink. We are taught not to look inward for our righteousness, but to look outside ourselves, that is, to Christ and His cross and empty tomb. Our satisfaction, that feeling of being full if you will, comes not from what we eat, but from what God with His Word and sacraments feeds us. 

As Paul writes to the Philippians, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11). And so again, we see that we come to Jesus not to be blessed, but because we are blessed. Blessed that we might be a blessing to others.

 In His name, Amen.