blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven blessed are those
who mourn for they will be comforted blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth
that's amazing it's deep isn't it yes so yeshua is saying there that the key to become really
successful is to first be really poor what no not exactly so if i want to be really strong
i should stop exercising all together and become weak like you now i see what you're doing there
what are you talking about i'm not weak no no no no you're not
you're a genius that's what you are wait i just realized you're living in this neighborhood
just so god could promote you to a far better apartment in a better place what
this happens to be a very good neighborhood amen brother not in that sense no you know what
never mind i don't think you really understood what yeshua is saying in that passage god does
promise that he will elevate us but it's not a formula it's all about his grace do you understand
um no no no i no i didn't get it sorry i can explain it again if you want to oh
no need you see if i didn't really get what she said god is gonna make me really understand it
oh wow i don't think you understood anything for what i just said nope but any second now
holding my breath
and that's a great example of why we need to study the bible with a friend
we're going to be starting off our teaching with yeshua's most famous and longest sermon
it's known as the sermon on the mount and it contains the core of his interpretation
of the law and god's principles and how to be a follower of yeshua remember yeshua's
teachings are the lens through which we can see the world and god's commands
we'll be taking this teaching a piece at a time and breaking down some of the key principles
each week and in this episode we'll be talking about blessings the blessings he's talking about
is really an upside down kingdom of what we're used to seeking in our life the bible and most
of life can really only make sense when we get a perspective of god's goals for our life
and an understanding of the kingdom that is coming so let's begin in matthew 5 when yeshua saw the
crowds he went up on the mountain and after he sat down his disciples came to him and yeshua
taught them saying blessed are the poor spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven let's start there
it would seem in today's age those who are humble never get anywhere while the prideful and pushy
succeed and push the humble around but a key point to focus on here is that god's goal for our life
typically isn't the same as ours demanding your way and winning at all costs may gain a
temporary victory but pride has very dangerous results both here and in the life to come
the two concepts seem to contradict each other on one side it says blessed are you if you're humble
and on the other side it talks about being given the kingdom of heaven
but this is not a contradiction it's a beautiful arrangement yeshua's intent is to lead by example
he came down and became the servant of all he served us by being the atonement the sacrifice
that provides for us forgiveness provides us true life he taught that if we wanted to be a part of
a great kingdom that we must humble ourselves it's so opposite of what our society teaches
and glorifies today the creator the god of abraham isaac and jacob showed complete spiritual humility
and was free of all pride when god sent yeshua his only son the ultimate expression of poor in
spirit is when yeshua lay down his life to die for the sins of mankind in the face of
continual rejection and scorn and this promise is likewise beautifully fulfilled on yeshua's return
he will be given rule of the kingdom to reign as king forever from jerusalem so how should i live
this out first be humble trust god to direct your path and give to others don't return insult for
insult and attack for attack but instead like yeshua be patient and return kindness instead
the next verse blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted again it seems
that yeshua wants to challenge common thinking so that we can understand things in god's perspective
looking at king saul and david both kings sinned actually when you compare the two initial sins
it seems like saul's is not such a big deal but remember that god isn't judging just the surface
but the heart of the matter when saul was confronted he tried to save face begging
samuel to come with him so the people would know everything is okay on the other hand
when king david was confronted with sin he went straight to repentance and didn't hide his faults
or seek to make excuses repentance for believers in yeshua isn't a one-time thing but a humble
heart that seeks forgiveness leads to a change in our life and there's no joy like coming clean
with god and feeling the relief of forgiveness don't wait tell god you're sorry confess your
sins and receive forgiveness and joy and peace of being in a healthy growing relationship with god
blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth
it's really important to understand what he means by meek many feel that meek is weak
but meekness is power under control us giving god control over our actions and reactions
another word for meek could be gentle and the truth is it also takes a lot of strength to
react and respond with gentleness when we're being tested god is looking to those who are
fully submitted to his will to inherit the earth which means be a part of god's kingdom on earth
when yeshua returns look at moses in numbers 12 it says he was known as the meekest man on earth
some translations used the word humble but look at what he was able to accomplish because he listened
and submitted to god's voice those who god can trust with power and authority to do his will
and not their own he can entrust for great and important tasks
blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they shall be filled our hunger for god causes us to walk in right standing with him
david wrote in psalm 42 as the deer pants for the water brooks sow my soul pants for you o
god my soul thirsts for god for the living god our thirst for god is a thirst for righteousness
righteousness sees others as god sees them blessing them selflessly as you sure would
on the other hand immorality looks at a human being made in god's image and regards him or her
as something to be used and exploited for personal gratification to hunger for righteousness is to
desire god's will and plan for everything in our life and when you're hungry and thirsty you'll do
whatever it takes to get that hunger and thirst filled and inside of all of us is a spiritual
hunger and thirst that only god can fill sometimes we've tried to fill it with relationships
sex money and respect but even at the top of it all we find ourselves empty with only a bigger
hunger the biggest lie in the world today is if only i had this i'd be happy then i'd have what i
need but the truth is the more we have the more we hunger the desires of the flesh are never filled
the only one that can truly fill that desire is god and as we pursue righteousness we get closer
to his heart and the hunger and the thirst of our hearts is filled up more and more
blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy mercy is giving to others when
there is nothing to gain for oneself for giving others their faults and even forgiving yourself
god expects for us to be merciful with those around us as god has given mercy to us
let's go to a story that yeshua told about how we should forgive others peter came up
to yeshua and asked him lord how often shall i forgive my brother who sins against me
up to seven times yeshua said to him i do not say to you up to seven times but up to
seventy times seven therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle
accounts with his servants when he began to settle the accounts one was brought to him who owed him
ten thousand talents but since he was not able to pay his master ordered that he be sold with his
wife and their children and all that he had and payment be made so the servant fell on his knees
pleading with him saying master have patience with me and i will pay you everything then the master
of that servant was moved with compassion released him and forgave him the dead but that same servant
went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii he laid hands on him
and took him by the throat saying pay me what you owe so his fellow servant fell down at his feet
and entreated him saying have patience with me and i will pay you everything but he would not and he
went and threw him in prison until he should pay the debt so when his fellow servants saw
what took place they were very sorry and went and told their master all that had taken place
then his master after he had summoned him said to him o you wicked servant i forgave you all that
debt because you pleaded with me should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant
even as i had pity on you his master was angry and delivered him to the jailers until he should pay
all his debt so also my heavenly father will do to each of you from your heart you do not forgive
your brother for his trespasses as we've received mercy from god he expects we show the same mercy
to those around us in general yeshua didn't just come to take away our sins alone he wasn't here
to just tell us the right way to go and explaining heavenly mysteries and concepts but he lived out
the life he spoke of he was poor in spirit humbly laying down his life for ours he mourned over his
people and was a man of compassion he was meek he did only what he heard the father say fully
submitting himself to direction from the father he's the only person to ever live a sinless life
and he forgave those who attacked him and forgives us today you might say yeshua wasn't just a man
he was the messiah and i'm not but the word of god says that he was tempted and tried just like us
but without sin through the gospels you see him hungry tired thirsty full of pain
and sorrow the famous scholar john calvin memorably summed it up messiah has put on our
feelings along with our flesh yeshua gave us the target to shoot for with his life unlike many who
spoke of a way and taught of concepts yeshua lived it out and gave us a goal for us all to aim at
that's a ton to cover for this episode make sure you are spending time this week in prayer
and reading the word to learn more be blessed and have a great week