Blessed Are You
February 16, 2025. Matt. 5:12-20. Pastor Leslie Nolin
The word, “blessed” is often translated as “happy.” It literally means, divine favour on those displaying a specific character quality.
I would like to concentrate on these attributes of kingdom living. The parallel passage recorded in Matthew 5:3-12 comes from the Sermon on the Mount. This passage in Luke comes from what is referred to as the Sermon on the Plain, verse 17 tells us that when Jesus speaks to the large crowd of his disciples, he is standing on a level place. Jesus has just chosen his 12 disciples (Luke 6:12-16) and is now teaching them, along with the crowd, what it means to be his true followers and the character qualities that demonstrate kingdom citizenship.
It is also important to recognize, this is not just a future tense but also present, He says, “Blessed are you...”, not you will be. The passage from Jeremiah 17:7-8 describes the person whom God's favour rests, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They are like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Our peace and “happiness” is not dependent on our circumstances but on our reliance on being planted in the Lord's favour.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Those who are poor, hungry, weep now, who are hated and rejected for Jesus' sake will know what it means to walk in the kingdom now and be confident of a great reward in heaven. This is not to be confused with works but depending daily on the gift of Jesus' sacrifice.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.” The Greek word for poor, “pto-khos”, literally means to be destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour.
The poor in spirit have no illusions about their ability to provide for themselves. This is not to be confused with self-hatred but a Holy Spirit revealed need to depend on God/Christ alone. 2 Corinthians 7:10; “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
This is nothing to be ashamed of, every person who has lived, with the exception of Jesus, fits into the category as a sinner. We all fail to attain righteousness on our own merits, the difference is where we put our hope.
The self-reliant person or one with self-hatred fails and is in despair because of that failure which brings death. But those who recognize their poverty, depend on the righteousness of Christ alone, have their sins cleansed by acknowledging their sin, confessing their inability and asking for forgiveness, no longer carrying the weight of that sin (Psa. 32:1-4).
David wrote, “Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;...” (Psa. 34: 5-6b). The poor in spirit are planted by a living stream, bearing true fruit of righteousness (see Psalm 1).
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven means salvation, eternal life in heaven after death and eternal quality of life with God before death.
God's Word tells us in Romans 11:35; “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” If the Kingdom dependeds on works, then, God would be obligated to us (Rom. 4:4). But salvation is a gift and is only given to those who humbly ask, literally beg, God for forgiveness.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.”
The Greek word for hunger, “pi-nah'-o”, means to suffer want, to be needy, to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire. What will a starving person do to attain food?
Our society is mostly distant from the basic need of hunger to the point of not knowing where our next meal will come from.
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” (1 Peter 2:2).
When do you appreciate food or a cool drink the most? When is it the most satisfying? Usually when you have been without for a while.
I remember a time after roofing six hours without a break, literally wanting to shove the hose down my throat to satisfy my thirst. We appreciate the life of the Spirit when we fully recognize our hunger and genuine need, we are then satisfied.
Luke 16 gives us the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had plenty, but when he died, he went to hell. He realized too late his need and begged for a drop of water. Lazarus, on the other hand, suffered want but when he died, was carried to Abraham's side.
Hebrews 9:27 tells us that a man is appointed once to die, then face the judgment.
A person must recognize their need in this lifetime because, once a person is dead, the consequences of their decision in this life is eternal.
The person who hungers now will be rewarded. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb.11:6)
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Weeping is a sign of grief, in this case, a sorrow over our sin that leads us to salvation in Christ.
Keith Green wrote a song, “My Eyes Are Dry, My faith is old, My heart is hard, My prayers are cold, And I know how I ought to be, Alive to you and dead to me. But what can be done, For an old heart like mine, Soften it up with oil and wine. The oil is You, Your Spirit of love. Please wash me anew with the wine of your Blood.”
We may grieve for a period over our sinful condition but God can then fill our hearts with genuine joy.
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psa. 30:5)”
“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
Then the passage goes on to say, “Rejoice in that day,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”
1 Peter 4:12-13; “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews explained what many have received by faith in this life but not all were destined for this amount of trial, “There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.
Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, (Hebrews 11:35-39).”
The woes in the latter part of this passage are not a threat.
As Jesus cried over the future destruction of Jerusalem, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matt. 23: 37),” Jesus lamented over those who were self-satisfied and had no need to turn to Him.
If we become rich, let it not be at the expense of others. It is better to be rich in faith.
If we desire to be full, let us be full of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. If we want to be happy, let us have the joy in knowing we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and have eternal life in Him.
Let us not compromise our faith so that all will speak well of us. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52).”
Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, who hunger to honour God, who weep over sin leading to repentance and who truly stand for the principles of God, even in the face of ridicule or loss as a result.
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