The Beatitudes – Part 2

  1. Happy are the Ones Hungering and Thirsting for the Righteousness, Matthew 5:6
    1. They are characterized as hungering and thirsting
      1. They do not possess righteousness
      2. Hunger and thirst come from lack
        1. After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus was hungry, Matthew 4:2
        2. The disciples become hungry on the Sabbath, Matthew 12:1
        3. Primarily used of the lack of food and water, Revelation 7:16;
      3. Those who came to Christ during His earthly ministry would not hunger or thirst, John 6:35; Romans 12:20
    2. A Christian already possesses a quality of the Righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30
    3. They will be satisfied (used of eating and drinking until one is full)
  2. Happy are the Merciful, Matthew 5:7
    1. “Mercy” is relief from the affects of one’s own sin
    2. An expression of God’s mercy results in salvation, Titus 3:5
      1. God’s show of mercy upon Paul, 1 Timothy 1:13, 16
      2. God’s show of mercy upon the Gentiles, 1 Peter 2:10
      3. God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all, Romans 11:30 – 32
      4. Mercy is not shown to a man on the basis of his desire to receive it, Romans 9:16-18
    3. Mercy and the Christian
      1. Christians receive mercy on the basis of God’s mercy apart from works of righteousness, Titus 3:5
      2. Mercy is upon a Christian who walks by the rule of the New Creation (The Christ), Galatians 6:15, 16
      3. God showed us mercy while we were still dead in our trespasses, Ephesians 2:4, 5
        1. A trespass is within the mind
        2. Sin ultimately results from a trespass
      4. We can draw near to the Throne of Grace where we receive mercy, because Christ is our High Priest, Hebrews 4:16
      5. We were born again because of His mercy, 1 Peter 1:3
      6. Having been shown mercy affects our actions, 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2
    4. Those who are merciful will receive mercy
      1. They will receive it in the future – at the second coming of Christ
      2. They are showing mercy during the tribulation period
      3. Example of the King’s mercy, Matthew 18:23 – 34
    5. Mercy and the Saved Today (Are we shown mercy today with our sins because we show mercy towards others?)
      1. Epaphroditus and Paul, Philippians 2:25-27
      2. Showing mercy is a Spiritual gift, Romans 12:8
      3. Mercy is shown because of Salvation, not for salvation or mercy