Beatitudes

The Sermon on The Sermon on the Mountthe Mount

Matt. 5:1-Matt. 5:1-1212

5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom

of heaven. of heaven. 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be

comforted. comforted. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after

righteousness: for they shall be filled. righteousness: for they shall be filled. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called

the children of God. the children of God. 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for

righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and

persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. you falsely, for my sake.

5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. which were before you.

A study of Christ's A study of Christ's wonderful sermon on the wonderful sermon on the

mount will teach the mount will teach the believer what must be the believer what must be the

characteristics of those characteristics of those whom the Lord calls whom the Lord calls

"Blessed.""Blessed."

With clearness and power, With clearness and power, He spoke the words that He spoke the words that

were to come down to our were to come down to our time as a treasure of time as a treasure of

goodness.goodness.

Here He specified who Here He specified who should be the subjects of should be the subjects of His heavenly kingdom.His heavenly kingdom.

In the Sermon on In the Sermon on the Mountthe Mount

Christ sought to undo the work that Christ sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, had been wrought by false education,

and to give His hearers a right and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His conception of His kingdom and of His

own character. own character.

Yet, He did not make a direct attack Yet, He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. He saw the on the errors of the people. He saw the misery of the world on account of sin, misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a yet He did not present before them a vivid picture of their wretchedness. vivid picture of their wretchedness.

He taught them of something infinitely He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known.better than they had known.

In the Sermon on In the Sermon on the Mountthe Mount

Without combating their ideas of Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, the conditions of entrance therein,

leaving them to draw their own leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. conclusions as to its nature.

The truths He taught, are no less The truths He taught, are no less important to us today, than to the important to us today, than to the multitude that followed Him then. multitude that followed Him then.

We, no less than they, need to learn We, no less than they, need to learn the foundation principles of the the foundation principles of the kingdom of God. {DA 299.3}kingdom of God. {DA 299.3}  

Those who are thus Those who are thus distinguished and blessed, distinguished and blessed, will be a peculiar people, will be a peculiar people,

trading upon the Lord's gifts. trading upon the Lord's gifts.

He speaks of those who shall He speaks of those who shall suffer for His name's sake as suffer for His name's sake as receiving a great reward in receiving a great reward in

the kingdom of heaven.the kingdom of heaven.

Those who will seek by faith, prayer, Those who will seek by faith, prayer, and earnest study of the Scriptures and earnest study of the Scriptures

to obtain the virtues here brought to to obtain the virtues here brought to view, will easily be distinguished view, will easily be distinguished

from those who walk not in the light. from those who walk not in the light.

Those who refuse to follow a Those who refuse to follow a ""Thus Thus saith the Lord"saith the Lord" will have no excuse will have no excuse

to render for their persistent to render for their persistent resistance of the Word of God resistance of the Word of God

(Letter 258, 1907). {5BC 1083.10}(Letter 258, 1907). {5BC 1083.10}

BlessedBlessedSpiritual DefinitionSpiritual Definition  

holy, holy,

sacred, sacred,

sanctified, sanctified,

hallowed, hallowed,

consecrated, consecrated,

set apartset apart

BlessedBlessed  Worldly DefinitionWorldly Definition

welcome, welcome,

providential, providential,

lucky, lucky,

fortunate, fortunate,

pleasant, pleasant,

happy happy

BlessedBlessed  

HappyHappy  

Matt. 5:1-Matt. 5:1-22

And seeing the multitudes, he And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples when he was set, his disciples

came unto him: came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,taught them, saying,   

Matt. Matt. 5:35:3

Blessed are the Blessed are the poor in spirit: poor in spirit:

For theirs is the For theirs is the kingdom of kingdom of

heaven.heaven.

Christ's first words Christ's first words to the people on to the people on the mount were the mount were

words of blessing. words of blessing. Happy are they, Happy are they,

who recognize their who recognize their spiritual poverty, spiritual poverty,

and feel their need and feel their need of redemption.of redemption.

Matt. Matt. 5:45:4

Blessed are they Blessed are they that mourn: that mourn:

For they shall For they shall be comforted.be comforted.

By these words Christ does not By these words Christ does not teach that mourning in itself has teach that mourning in itself has power to remove the guilt of sin. power to remove the guilt of sin.

He gives no sanction to pretense He gives no sanction to pretense or to voluntary humility. or to voluntary humility.

The mourning of which He The mourning of which He speaks does not consist in speaks does not consist in melancholy and lamentation. melancholy and lamentation.

While we sorrow on account of While we sorrow on account of sin, we are to rejoice in the sin, we are to rejoice in the precious privilege of being precious privilege of being children of God.children of God.

We often sorrow because our We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. this is not repentance.

Real sorrow for sin is the result Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. of the working of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit reveals the The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the contrition to the foot of the cross.cross.

By every sin Jesus, is By every sin Jesus, is wounded afresh; wounded afresh; And as we look upon Him And as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins we mourn for the sins that have brought that have brought anguish upon Him. anguish upon Him.

Such mourning will lead Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.to the renunciation of sin.

Jer. 3:13, Jer. 3:13, 1212

"Only acknowledge thine "Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast iniquity, that thou hast

transgressed against the transgressed against the Lord thy God;" Lord thy God;"

““And I will not cause And I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, you: for I am merciful,

saith the Lord."saith the Lord."

Isa. 61:3Isa. 61:3"Unto them that mourn "Unto them that mourn

in Zion,"in Zion,"

He has appointed to giveHe has appointed to give

"beauty for ashes, the oil "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the of joy for mourning, the

garment of praise for the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."spirit of heaviness."

Matt. Matt. 5:55:5

Blessed are the Blessed are the meek: meek:

For they shall For they shall inherit the earth.inherit the earth.

The difficulties we have to The difficulties we have to encounter, may be very much encounter, may be very much

lessened by that meekness lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. which hides itself in Christ.

If we possess the humility of If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above our Master, we shall rise above

the slights, the rebuffs, the the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, and they will annoyances, and they will

cease to cast a gloom over the cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. spirit.

The highest evidence of The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-nobility in a Christian is self-

controlcontrol. .

Those who reveal the meek and Those who reveal the meek and lowly spirit of Christ, are lowly spirit of Christ, are

tenderly regarded by God. tenderly regarded by God.

They may be looked upon with They may be looked upon with scorn by the world, but they are scorn by the world, but they are

of great value in His sight. of great value in His sight.

It is not only the wise, the great, It is not only the wise, the great, the beneficent, who will gain a the beneficent, who will gain a

passport to the heavenly courts; passport to the heavenly courts;

It is not only the busy worker, It is not only the busy worker, full of zeal and restless activity.full of zeal and restless activity.

No, it is the poor in spirit, No, it is the poor in spirit, who crave the presence of an who crave the presence of an abiding Christ, the humble in abiding Christ, the humble in

heart, whose highest heart, whose highest ambition is to do God's will. ambition is to do God's will.

They will be among that They will be among that number who have washed number who have washed their robes and made them their robes and made them

white in the blood of the white in the blood of the Lamb.Lamb.

Ps. Ps. 138:6138:6

"Though the Lord "Though the Lord be high, be high,

Yet hath He respect Yet hath He respect unto the lowly."unto the lowly."

Rev. 7:15Rev. 7:15““Therefore are they before the Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: day and night in His temple:

And He that sitteth on the And He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among throne shall dwell among

them.”them.”

Matt. Matt. 5:65:6

Blessed are they which Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst do hunger and thirst after righteousness: after righteousness:

For they shall be filled.For they shall be filled.

The sense of unworthiness will lead The sense of unworthiness will lead the heart to hunger and thirst for the heart to hunger and thirst for

righteousness, and this desire will not righteousness, and this desire will not be disappointed. be disappointed.

Those who make room in their hearts Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus, will realize His love. for Jesus, will realize His love.

All who long to bear the likeness of All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God, shall be the character of God, shall be

satisfied. satisfied.

The Holy Spirit never leaves The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unassisted the soul who is looking

unto Jesus.unto Jesus.

If the eye is kept fixed on If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Christ, the work of the

Spirit does not ceases until Spirit does not ceases until the soul is conformed to the soul is conformed to

His image. His image.

The pure element of love The pure element of love will expand the soul, giving will expand the soul, giving

it a capacity for higher it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased attainments, for increased

knowledge of heavenly knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness.rest short of the fullness.  

Matt. Matt. 5:75:7

Blessed are Blessed are the merciful: the merciful:

For they shall For they shall obtain mercy.obtain mercy.

Matt. 5:8Matt. 5:8

Blessed are the Blessed are the pure in heart: pure in heart:

For they shall For they shall see God.see God.

Every impure thought defiles the Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions tends to obliterate the impressions

of the Holy Spirit. of the Holy Spirit.

It dims the spiritual vision, so that It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. men cannot behold God.

The Lord may, and does, forgive the The Lord may, and does, forgive the repenting sinner; but though repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred. forgiven, the soul is marred.

All impurity of speech or of thought All impurity of speech or of thought must be shunned by him who would must be shunned by him who would have clear discernment of spiritual have clear discernment of spiritual

truth.truth.

But the words of Christ But the words of Christ cover more than freedom cover more than freedom from sensual impurity, from sensual impurity,

more than freedom from more than freedom from that ceremonial defilement. that ceremonial defilement.

Selfishness prevents us Selfishness prevents us from beholding God. from beholding God.

The self-seeking spirit The self-seeking spirit judges of God as altogether judges of God as altogether

such a one as itself. such a one as itself.

Until we have renounced Until we have renounced this, we cannot understand this, we cannot understand

Him who is love. Him who is love.

Only the unselfish heart, Only the unselfish heart, the humble and trustful the humble and trustful spirit, shall see God as spirit, shall see God as

"merciful and gracious, "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and long-suffering, and

abundant in goodness and abundant in goodness and truth." Ex. 34:6.truth." Ex. 34:6.

Matt. Matt. 5:95:9

Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakers: peacemakers:

For they shall be called For they shall be called the children of God.the children of God.

The peace of Christ is The peace of Christ is born of truth. born of truth.

It is harmony with God.It is harmony with God.

The world is at enmity The world is at enmity with the law of God; with the law of God; Sinners are at enmity Sinners are at enmity

with their Maker; with their Maker; And as a result they are And as a result they are

at enmity with one at enmity with one another.another.

Men cannot manufacture Men cannot manufacture peace. peace.

Human plans for the Human plans for the purification and uplifting purification and uplifting

of individuals, of individuals, Or of society, Or of society,

Will fail of producing Will fail of producing peace, because they do peace, because they do

not reach the heart.not reach the heart.

The only power that The only power that can create or can create or

perpetuate true peace perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ. is the grace of Christ.

When this is implanted When this is implanted in the heart, it will in the heart, it will

cast out the evil cast out the evil passions that cause passions that cause

strife and dissension.strife and dissension.

Ps. Ps. 119:165119:165

The psalmist declares, The psalmist declares,

"Great peace have "Great peace have they which love Thy they which love Thy

law: and nothing shall law: and nothing shall offend them."offend them."

Matt. 5:9-Matt. 5:9-1212

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the righteousness' sake: for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven. kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all and persecute you, and shall say all

manner of evil against you falsely, for My manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted your reward in heaven: for so persecuted

they the prophets which were before you."they the prophets which were before you."

The world loves sin, and hates The world loves sin, and hates righteousness, and this was the righteousness, and this was the cause of its hostility to Jesus. cause of its hostility to Jesus.

All who refuse His infinite love, will All who refuse His infinite love, will find Christianity a disturbing find Christianity a disturbing

element. element.

The light of Christ sweeps away the The light of Christ sweeps away the darkness that covers their sins, and darkness that covers their sins, and

the need of reform is made the need of reform is made manifest. manifest.

While those who yield to the While those who yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit begin influence of the Holy Spirit begin

war with themselves, and those who war with themselves, and those who cling to sin, war against the truth cling to sin, war against the truth

and its representatives.and its representatives.

Thus strife is created, and Christ's Thus strife is created, and Christ's followers are accused as troublers followers are accused as troublers

of the people. of the people.

Not with sorrow, but with rejoicing, Not with sorrow, but with rejoicing, should they meet persecution. should they meet persecution.

Each fiery trial is God's agent for Each fiery trial is God's agent for their refining. Each is fitting them their refining. Each is fitting them for their work as colaborers with for their work as colaborers with

Him. Him.

Each conflict has its place in the Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and great battle for righteousness, and

each will add to the joy of their each will add to the joy of their final triumph.final triumph.

Happy Are Happy Are TheyThey

That are poor in spiritThat are poor in spirit

That mourn That mourn

That are meekThat are meek

Which do hunger and thirst after Which do hunger and thirst after righteousnessrighteousness

That are mercifulThat are merciful

That are pure in heartThat are pure in heart

That are the peacemakersThat are the peacemakers

Which are persecuted for righteousness' Which are persecuted for righteousness' sake and have all manner of evil spoken sake and have all manner of evil spoken

against you falselyagainst you falsely

Happy Are Happy Are TheyThey

That love the That love the Lord as He Lord as He loves youloves you

ConditionallyConditionally