Sermon (Jesus preaching)
on the Mountain
Called the “Beatitudes” “Blessings”– #7-9
Matthew Chapter 5:1-12
Beatitude #7-9
Beatitude #7- “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
A peacemaker is a person who tries to keep the peace.
Peace–free from anger, arguing, fighting,—keeping calm, quiet, content (satisfied), a quiet mind.
A peacemaker tries to help someone who is fighting with someone to be more calm and help them see a way to fix the problem.
A peacemaker is careful about the words he uses to answer when someone yells at him in anger. He does not yell back and say mean things—he tries to calm things and get the other person to calm their mind.
When in a group of people who are arguing—a peacemaker tries to say things in a way that helps the people to come to an agreement.
Or maybe he begin to talk about something else—trying to get them to forget their argument and talk about something else.
A peacemaker may just be quiet and not answer back when someone yells at him or says mean, nasty words to him.
Jesus said: A peacemaker shall be called the child of God.
God wants us to have peace. Peace as in a quiet mind and feelings and peace with other people.
#8 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Persecute—to hurt—to hurt a person’s feelings, to hurt a person’s name by telling people lies about them, to hurt a person’s body, to put a person in jail, to not allow that person to do certain things.
Persecute–is hurting another person because you do not like them—-or you do not like what they believe.
Paul in the Bible persecuted followers of Jesus.
After Jesus went back up into the clouds into heaven—the disciples began teaching and preaching about Jesus.
Paul was a young Jewish man who thought they were wrong to follow Jesus.
At that time, Paul’s name was Saul. He worked with the leaders of the Jewish temple to arrest and put in jail—anyone who preached Jesus’ teachings. He would punish with beatings any one who preached about Jesus.
Then one day as Saul was going to another city—-a bright light shown down from heaven and a voice spoke to Saul out of heaven.
It was the voice of Jesus talking to Saul. He told Saul that he was persecuting Him-Jesus when he was hurting his followers.
After that—Saul changed his name to Paul. He went to a place to study the scriptures and learn more about Jesus—then he began to preach to people about Jesus and that they should follow Jesus.
Jesus was saying in this verse—that people who are persecuted because they follow righteous ways and follow Jesus—-should think of it as a blessing.
That is hard to do. When you are being hurt for what you believe about Jesus—it is hard to think of it as a blessing.
Jesus watches–and he sees those people who have suffered for believing in Him. He will give them blessings and a reward for being true to Him even when other people hurt them for it.
Jesus suffered on the cross for us—to pay our punishment for sin—-we should be willing to suffer for him.
#9 Blessed are ye (you) when men shall revile (say bad things about) you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name’s sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding (very much) glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
These verses are much the same as #8. Jesus is warning them that people will be against them because of their belief in Jesus.
Jesus encourages them to stay true to Him—for they will receive a reward in heaven for suffering for Jesus.
In the United States, we have not had to see much suffering because of our belief in Jesus. But in other countries—people have suffered much. Many have had to hide their Bibles, and be very secret about speaking to others about Jesus.
If they are found out—they will go to jail, or be killed, or suffer in other ways.
Jesus knew this would happen and he encourages all who believe in him— to stay true to Him. He sees what is happening and He will reward them someday.