This week’s Wednesday Word is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Matthew 5’s Beatitudes given on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
Matthew 4.23, “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”
This is the setting for the Sermon on the Mount where we see the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom. Through chapters 1-4, Matthew presents Jesus to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s messianic prophecies and expectation. In Matthew 5-7 he presents the teachings of Jesus concerning the kingdom and in Matthew 8-9 we see the miracles of Jesus are presented. All of these things transpire in order to show that Jesus has come as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets (Matthew 5.17, 7.12).
The Beatitudes: Matthew 5.1-16. This section of Scripture has often been distorted and misunderstood by many people. Lutherans typically have seen this passage as presenting the law, which leads to grace. Liberals and pacifists have used this discourse in order to highlight the ethics of Jesus, and by this promote their particular agendas. Other figures that push for a strong classic dispensational understanding see this as the Jews rejection, which opens the door to the Gentiles and the church age. And finally, individuals have sought to reduce the relevance of this message by saying these teachings are only applicable prior to the cross. In light of these numerous misunderstandings, it becomes essential that we seek to rightly understand exactly what Jesus is teaching.
In the Beatitudes of Matthew 5, and Luke 6, we see Jesus drawing from the Old Testament prophesies of Isaiah 61, where Isaiah points to the blessings found in the suffering servant messiah. In this Jesus continues to show himself as the messiah anticipated in the Old Testament and the one who will have the Spirit. These blessings referred to in these verses highlight the gifting and promises of God and announce that anyone who is to inhabit this kingdom must be like Christ. Also from this passage it becomes clear that the condition of our spirit and our identity is our primary issue. Therefore, if we are identified with this kingdom we mourn knowing our desperate state, we are meek before both God and man knowing we are to inherit the new creation, we hunger and thirst desiring and pursuing righteousness (Psalm 42), we flee from hypocrisy seeking to be pure in heart and we are peacemakers as we deal with sin through the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 61). These traits are characteristic for those who are to be members of the kingdom of Christ. Jesus then tells us that if these things are true of us then we shall face persecution, just as the prophets did, and just as Christ would face. Through these provocative statements what is most shocking to his audience is that Jesus is identifying himself as an equal with God and that their kingdom is one in the same.
These statements provide great challenges that can only be understood by those who know the king. The religious leaders show this as they failed to understand what Jesus was saying. This then prompts us to ask ourselves the question: are we growing in these things, are we becoming more of this picture? Do we delight to be identified with this king and this kingdom? If yes, then these are the ones that Jesus pronounces as blessed. May we then seek to portray this image and this kingdom!
~ MES