The Beatitudes; Introduction

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: (2.) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," Matthew 5:1 – 2

As we take the next few weeks to look at the Beatitudes let us remember who it was that delivered this sermon, it was Jesus Christ. As people look at the Beatitudes it sort of looking at the Ten Commandments “I will pick and choose which ones I will obey and which ones I will turn my head the other way on” but beloved it simply should not be that way; just as the Ten Commandments are God’s Holy Law so is the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ. This was the very first sermon ever delivered in the very first church. If you will read the entire twelfth chapter of 1st Corinthians you will find the order of the first church and all churches that followed. We find in 1 Corinthians 12:28 it states "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers…” Now to find this church read Matthew chapters 3 – 4 first you will find John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness and baptizing those whom had been saved. Now one may ask who was John baptizing if the church had not began yet but I say it had; John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ preparing the way for Christ Jesus in preparing the assembling of the first church in Jerusalem. The first church was organized by God in calling John the Baptist to preach and baptize, however the first church was assembled on the mountain top. Next we see John the Baptist baptize Jesus Christ, then we see Jesus tempted of Satan, then we see Jesus began to build the church as He walks through the towns and villages calling out people to follow Him. First, the Apostles, secondly teachers, and then followers. God setting those in the church as it had pleased Him. As all those who had been gathered by Jesus and baptized by John went to the mountain and then to the top of the mountain sit by as the first church service began with Jesus Christ delivering the first sermon and His sermon topic was “The Beatitudes” as we know them (not that this was actually His message title). This would have to be known as the greatest sermon ever delivered because it was the sermon of the Son of God. Now Jesus preached many sermons while He was on earth but this one had special meaning because by this time the church had officially been assembled and the first sermon delivered and what a sermon it was “Blessed are”. Blessed are you whom God has elected to be saved, blessed are you that are church members, blessed are you who are knowledgeable, blessed are you who are followers of Gods holy word and etc, etc, etc. The word “blessed” means – fortunate but it also means happy – we sometimes make the meaning happy and bypassing the fortunate part but while we are happy in spirit if we follow the beatitudes we are also fortunate that we have the ability to follow them. Fortunate that we are saved and are Gods children.

As we take a closer look at the “Beatitudes” for the next several weeks let us remember they are for us and our benefit. These are Gods law just as the Ten Commandments are and are to be followed the same. Please heed them and place them as part of your life and you will be happy and blessed in your life. The Ten Commandments shows us our sins but the Beatitudes shows us how to be happy in Jesus Christ. "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven...” Matthew 5:12