For My Sake (Matthew 5:1-12)
Rev. David French
11/07/21
Have you ever noticed how when things in life are out of focus if you will, problems seem to multiply? Today is one of those days that if a pastor and his hearers arenât careful, things can get out of focus and go off the theological track pretty quickly. I say that because itâs not unusual for the true meaning and joy of All Saintsâ Day to be swallowed up and lost in a flurry of good intentions but bad theology.Â
For instance, with the very best intentions, we can find ourselves focusing on our deceased loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord, which means weâre taking our focus off of Jesus who brought them there. While Iâm sure itâs not meant this way, and itâs almost always after the funeral, but I often hear, âSo-and-so has gone to be with grandma and grandpa, or their husband or wife; and while true, itâs missing the source of true comfort. Sadly, we often end up focusing on our own sentimental wonderings instead of on Jesus who comforts us in all of our sorrows.Â
Consider the words of our Lord from the Beatitudes, and you tell me who these Beatitudes are about. Who they focused on? The popular response is to say, âus!â But, should that be our first response? And notice I didnât say it was wrong to see the Beatitudes as speaking to us and our reality in Christ. They are about us! But, are we the primary focus? Think about it. By a show of hands, who here has fulfilled even one of these Beatitudes as God intended? Look around. Do you see any hands? Did you expect to?
My friends, the Beatitudes are not simply goals for us to strive after in our quest to be a saint. They are not descriptions of what we need to do or attitudes we need to have. That would put the focus of this text on you and me and what we do, and we all know that just isnât how Godâs plan of salvation works. In Godâs plan, all the focus is on Jesus and what Heâs done for us with His life, by His death, and through His resurrection.Â
The Beatitudes are first and foremost about Jesus. These blessed realities can only be understood with a Christ-centered faith, that is, a faith that holds to Christ alone. I mean, who is the One who was truly poor in spirit; that is, who brought nothing to the table except His trust in God above all things? Who is the One who truly mourns over sins; not just the sins that make life rough for us, but all sin; even the sins weâre not sorry for and will do again? Remember our sin cut the heart of Christ so deeply that He was willing to offer His own blood to pay for each and every one of them. Christâs desire is that no one would suffer for their sin. Can you honestly say that?Â
Who is it that has unconditional mercy toward others, who truly hungers and thirsts for righteousness? Is it you? Because I know itâs not me. Isnât it Christ who is being described with these words? Donât the Scriptures, at the end of Jesusâs temptation in the desert, say, âHe was hungryâ? And wasnât this hunger and the thirst He speaks of from the cross endured for you and your eternal salvation?
You see, the Beatitudes really are first about what Christ has earned with His life, and then about the reality of our sainthood, our holiness, and our blessedness in Him. That is, we get credit for what Jesus did at the very moment weâre united with or graphed into or what we more commonly say, baptized into Christ. This is why Jesus says, âBlessed are those who are persecuted for my sake.â That is, people arenât attacked by Satan, the world, and their own flesh for âbeing good.â Satan isnât trying to make sure no good deed goes unpunished. Thatâs manâs idea. Godâs children, His holy ones, are attacked by Satan for one reason ⊠they have a righteousness that is not their own.
As we read in 2 Corinthians 5, âGod made him who had no sin to be sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.â This work of God, known to theologians as our âalien righteousness,â is why God calls His saints âblessed,â and itâs why Satan continues to fight the way he does. But please understand, there is a difference between being attacked by Satan and being corrected or disciplined by God, even though they may feel the same to us. Certainly, there are times when God allows crosses into our lives, but only so that He by His grace might bring us to repentance, and so, be forgiven, a blessing received by faith in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son alone.
This fallen, sinful world and its Evil Prince hate those who truly trust in Christ alone. The truth is, if youâre in Christ, the world will hate you. Satan will target you, and your sinful flesh will relentlessly try to deceive you. My friends, itâs not a matter of if. Itâs not a probability or a possibility or a maybe. Itâs a fact. That is your reality.Â
Being faithful to God while living in this fallen world will mean tears and heartaches and sorrows, which is why God invites us to come to Him in the Divine Service, to hear His Word, to receive forgiveness for our sins, to eat and drink Christâs body and blood for life through forgiveness, and to be strengthened that we might live fearlessly and faithfully the new life we received in our baptism.
And thatâs the truth that needs to be held onto. Itâs only in Christ, by grace through faith, that we are able to live these Beatitudes in our daily lives and vocations, not trying to somehow earn Godâs blessings, but simply living the life Heâs already blessed us with. That is, blessed us with His grace, His mercy, His peace. Being in Christ, by grace, we are able to faithfully bear our crosses, trusting His forgiveness and standing firm as the world crumbles around us.Â
In Christ and because of Christ, we can be poor in spirit, that is, trusting that God is in charge and working all things for our good. In Christ and because of Christ, we can dare to call sin âsinâ and publicly mourn over it, letting the world know the truth of its deadly condition before its Redeemer and Judge. We can dare to be meek and lowly, not seeking vengeance or payback or selfish glory or our own way. We can dare to bite our tongues, turn our cheeks, and quietly suffer persecution, knowing that God is in charge and we are already blessed by Him because we are in Him. We and all who trust His promises are His and nothing or no one can snatch that truth away from us.
So, what are we to do? Be in Godâs Word and partake of His sacraments. Thatâs what all the faithful saints of all times and in all places have always done. No matter whatâs happening in the world, the saints of Christ gather in His house, where He has promised to be, to receive from Him a foretaste of the feast to come; a feast that all the faithful saints who have gone before us are enjoying right now at the heavenly side of the Lordâs Table. A table set with the fullness of His promise and the glory of Christ presence. A table with an earthly side, where we kneel and also receive from Him and for His sake all the mercy and forgiveness that He earned for you, His precious child.
In His name, amen.