How to understand the sermon on the mount

What's.the.Kingdom.All.About?...
Mt..5:1-2:..KW—07.25.10.#1.in.a.series.
Intro:...
A...It.comprehends.Matthew.chapters.5.through.7..
......1...It.is.the.best.known.sermon.of.all.time..
......2...It.is.also.quite.possibly.the.least.understood.sermon.of.all.time.....
............a...Despite.its.antiquity,.the.Sermon.on.the.Mount.is.as.relevant.and.applicable.to.modern.life.as.it.was.when..
..................it.was.first.delivered..(Some.people.don't.consider.the.Scriptures.to.be.relevant)....
............b...Illust:..He.stood.in.the.midst.of.the.Golden.Corral.restaurant—with.Thousand.Island.salad.dressing.dripping.
..................from.his.hair,.his.glasses,.his.face,.and.his.new.suit.and.shoes...A.waitress.was.carrying.a.2-gallon.container.of.
..................Thousand.Island...She.paused.for.just.a.second.as.she.came.through.the.swinging.doors.of.the.kitchen...The.
..................doors.knocked.her.forward.and.she.accidently.launched.the.entire.contents.of.her.container.on.to.a.man.
..................enjoying.Sunday.afternoon.dinner.following.worship...The.patron.went.ballistic...He.started.shouting.and..
..................cursing.embarrassed.waitress..."This.is.a.BRAND.NEW.suit.and.it.cost.me.$300!"..His.wife.also.chimed.in,..
.................."You've.ruined.my.husband's.$300.suit;.this.is.the.first.time.he's.had.a.chance.to.wear.it."..Both.demanded.to.
..................see.the.manager...The.shaken.waitress.went.to.find.the.manager...When.the.manager.arrived.at.the.scene,.he..
..................humbly.apologized.and.offered.to.have.the.suit.sent.to.the.dry.cleaners...The.newly."baptized".patron.
..................shouted,."No,.I.don't.want.my.suit.cleaned!..I.want.a.brand.new.suit.and.I.demand.a.check.for.$300.right.here..
..................and.now!".he.howled...The.manager.went.back.to.his.office,.wrote.out.a.check.and.handled.it.to.the.furious.
..................man...Both.he.and.his.wife,.still.boiling,.stormed.out.of.the.Golden.Corral..
..................1)..Observations:...
...........................It.would.be.disappointing.to.see.a.new.suit.ruined.by.Thousand.Island.dressing,.and.it.would.certainly.be.
...........................embarrassing.to.have.more.salad.dressing.on.me.than.on.my.salad,.but.there's.probably.a.more.effective.
...........................way.of.dealing.with.my.frustration.that.standing.up.in.Golden.Corral.and.shouting.obscenities.......
...........................But.Jesus.calls.us.to.be.transformed—to.be.different.from.the.rest.of.the.world...(And.that's.what.TSOTM.
...........................is.all.about;.it's.about.an.internal,.spiritual.reprogramming)....
..................2)..It.is.not.the."cotton-candy,"."everybody.feel.good".sort.of.preaching.that.is.often.espoused.today..
...........................On.the.contrary,.it.is.in-depth.material.that.will.challenge.your.life.and.thinking..
...........................The.emphasis.of.this.message.was.radically.different.from.the.common.understanding.of.the.OT;....
...........................Christ's.message.struck.violently.against.the.Jewish.traditions.of.His.day...Illust:..If.I.pour.water.into.a.
...........................bucket,.I.should.not.be.surprised.when.water.comes.out...(If.I.have.anger.in.my.heart,.I.shouldn't.be.
...........................surprised.when.anger.comes.out,.etc.)....
B...The.setting:.
......1...John.the.Immerser.(e.g.,.the.Lord's.road-construction.engineer).had.been.preparing.the.way.for.Jesus...cf.,.Mt..
...........3:1-3.
...........a..."Repent,.for.the.kingdom.of.heaven.is.at.hand."..v..2,.cf.,.4:17,.23.
.......................1)..Repentance.is.a.change.of.mind.that.results.in.a.change.of.life...cf.,.2.Cor..7:10;.Mt.12:41;.Jonah.3:10.
.......................2)..It.is.not.simply.sorrow.alone....
...........b...If.something.is."at.hand,".then.you.know.it.will.come.about.soon...Ex:..Hurricane.
................1)..Many.of.our.religious.friends.teach.that.the.kingdom.has.not.yet.been.established..
................2).."And.He.said.to.them,.'Assuredly,.I.say.to.you.that.there.are.some.standing.here.who.will.not.taste.death.
......................till.they.see.the.kingdom.of.God.present.with.power."..Mk..9:1;.cf.,.Mt..16:18-19.
......2...Great.multitudes.were.following.Jesus..."Then.His.fame.went.throughout.all.Syria;.and.they.brought.to.Him.all.
...........sick.people.who.were.afflicted.with.various.diseases.and.torments,.and.those.who.were.demon-possessed,.
...........epileptics,.and.paralytics;.and.He.healed.them...And.great.multitudes.followed.Him…"..Mt..4:24-25a.
...........a...This.was.early.in.Jesus'.ministry.and.prior.to.the.time.of.organized.opposition.against.Him..
...........b...He.ascended.a.mountain..."And.seeing.the.multitudes,.He.went.up.on.a.mountain…"..Mt..5:1a.
...................Tradition.suggests.this.was.the.natural.amphitheater.known.as.the."Horns.of.Hattin,".near.Capernaum..
...................It.was.located.west.of.the.Sea.of.Galilee,.about.1,000.feet.above.sea.level..
.
I...What.was.the.CONTEXT.of.the.sermon?...
.
.....A...Political.
.
...........1...Most.Jews.of.Jesus'.day.expected.the.Messiah.to.be,.first.of.all,.a.military.and.political.leader.who.would..
................deliver.them.from.the.yoke.of.Roman.tyranny.and.establish.a.prosperous.Jewish.kingdom.that.would.lead.the.
................world..
................a...After.Jesus.miraculously.fed.the.multitude.on.the.far.side.of.Galilee,.the.people.tried.to."take.Him.by.
.....................force.to.make.Him.a.king…"..cf.,.Jn..6:15.
................b...Pilate.asked.Jesus,."Are.you.the.King.of.the.Jews?"..cf.,.Jn..18:36.
...........2...But.the.thrust.of.TSOTM.is.that.the.message.and.work.of.the.King.Jesus.are.internal.not.external,.and.spiritual.
................and.moral.rather.than.physical.and.political..
.
.....B...Religious.
.
...........1...Jesus.lived.in.a.highly.complex.religious.society,.one.that.included.four.professional.religionists:..the.
................Pharisees,.the.Sadducees,.the.Essenes,.and.the.Zealots..
...........2...Notes:.
................a...The.Pharisees.believed.that.right.religion.consisted.in.divine.laws.and.religious.tradition...(Their.primary.
.....................concern.was.for.fastidious.observance.of.every.minute.detail.of.the.traditions.handed.down.by.the.various.
.....................rabbis.over.the.centuries)..
................b...The.Sadducees.were.the.religious.liberals.who.discounted.most.things.supernatural.and.who.modified.both.
.....................Scripture.and.tradition.to.fee.their.own.religious.philosophy..
................c...The.Essenes.believed.that.right.religion.meant.separation.from.the.rest.of.society...(The.led.austere.lives.in.
......................remote.edges.of.the.Dead.Sea)..
................d...The.Zealots.were.fanatical.nationalists.who.that.the.right.religion.centered.on.radical.political.activism....
.....................(They.looked.down.on.fellow.Jews.who.refused.to.take.up.arms.against.Rome)..
......................1)..The.Pharisees.said,."Go.back",.the.Sadducees.said,."Go.forward",.the.Essenes.said,."Go.away,".and.the.
............................Zealots.said,."Go.against."..(The.Pharisees.were.conservative.traditionalists,.the.Sadducees.were.the.
............................liberals,.the.Essenes.were.separatists,.and.the.Zealots.were.activists)..
......................2)..But.Jesus'.say.was.not.any.of.these..
...............................To.the.Pharisees.He.said.that.true.spirituality.is.internal,.not.external..
...............................To.the.Sadducees.He.said.that.true.spirituality.is.God's.way,.not.man's.way..
...............................To.the.Essenes.He.said.that.true.spirituality.is.a.matter.of.the.heart,.not.the.body..
...............................To.the.Zealots.He.said.that.true.spirituality.is.a.matter.of.worship,.not.revolution..
.
II...What.was.the.THEME.of.the.sermon?.
.
.....A...One.phrase.is.used.repeatedly.throughout.the.sermon:.
.
...........1..."The.kingdom.of.heaven…"..Mt..5:3,.10,.19,.20;.6:10,.33;.7:21.
...........2...What.was.it.that.John.and.Jesus.were.preaching.prior.to.this.occasion…?..(The.kingdom)..
.
.....B...The.theme.of.TSOTM.is:.."The.Gospel.of.the.Kingdom.of.Heaven.".
.
...........1...If.you.are.a.member.of.the.Lord's.church,.you.are.a.member.of.this.kingdom.on.earth..
.
................a...The.term."kingdom".refers.to.the.abstract.idea.of.rule.or.dominion,.not.some.geographical.area.surrounded.
......................by.physical.boundaries..
................b...Thus.the."kingdom.of.heaven".is.wherever.the.God.of.heaven.is.allowed.to.rule.in.the.hearts.of.men..
......................1)..It.is.not.physical.in.nature..."Jesus.answered,.'My.kingdom.is.not.of.this.world...If.My.kingdom.
............................were.of.this.world,.My.servants.would.fight,.so.that.I.should.not.be.delivered.to.the.Jews;.but.now.My.
............................kingdom.is.not.from.here."..Jn..18:36.
......................2)..It.is.spiritual..."For.the.kingdom.of.God.is.not.food.and.drink,.but.righteousness.and.peace.and.joy.in.the.
............................Holy.Spirit."..Rom..14:17.
......................3)..It.has.reference.to.those.today.in.the.church...cf.,.Col..1:13.
...........2...Jesus'.sermon.addresses.how.each.of.us.are.to.LIVE.in.this.kingdom...Ex:..How.do.we.react.when.folks.spill..
................Thousand.Island.salad.dressing.on.our.new.clothes?...
.
III...What.are.the.DIVISIONS.of.the.sermon?.
.
.......A...The.CITIZENS.of.the.kingdom..
.
.............1...Their.character.and.blessedness...5:3-12.
.............2...Their.relation.to.the.world...5:13-16.
.
.......B...The.RIGHTEOUSNESS.of.the.kingdom..
.
............1...In.contrast.to.the.traditional.interpretations.of.the.Law.of.Moses...5:17-48.
............2...With.respect.to.man's.relation.to.God...6:1-33.
............3...With.respect.to.man's.relation.to.man...7:1-12.
.
.......C...The.EXHORTATION.to.enter.the.kingdom....
.
............1...The.beginning.of.the.way...7:13-14.
............2...The.progress.along.the.way...7:15-20.
............3...The.end.of.the.way...7:21-27.
.................a...Sayers.as.opposed.to.doers...21-23.
.................b...Hearers.as.opposed.to.doers...24-27.
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Concl:.
A...Illust:..A.person.may.play.Beethoven's.Moonlight.Sonata.accurately.and.without.a.single.mistake—yet.not.really.
......play.what.the.composer.had.in.mind...Even.though.the.notes.are.played.correctly,.they.do.not.produce.the.Sonata..
......The.pianist.may.mechanically.strike.the.right.notes.at.the.right.time,.yet.miss.the.essence,.the.soul,.of.the.
......composition...He.may.not.at.all.express.what.Beethoven.meant.to.be.expressed...The.true.musician.must.play.the.
......right.notes.at.the.right.time...He.is.not.exempt.from.the.rules.and.principles.of.music...But.accurate.playing.is.not.
......what.makes.him.a.great.musician...It.is.his.expression.of.what.lies.behind.the.notes.that.enthralls.the.listeners...In.
......the.same.way,.faithful.Christians.are.concerned.about.the.letter.of.God's.Word;.but.beyond.that.they.are.also.
......concerned.about.the.spirit,.the.deeper.will.and.purpose.that.lie.behind.the.letter...That.concern.reveals.an.obedient.
......heart.filled.with.the.desire.to.glorify.the.Lord..
......1...If.we.claim.to.follow.the.spirit.without.obeying.the.letter.then.we.are.lying..
......2...If.we.follow.the.letter.without.following.the.spirit.then.we.are.being.hypocritical..
B...Jesus.wants.us.follow.to.follow.the.letter.of.His.Word.in.the.right.spirit....
C...Are.you.a.loyal.subject.of.the.King.of.kings?.
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Have.You.Filed.For.Bankruptcy?.
Mt..5:3:..KW—08.01.10.#2.in.a.series.
Intro:.
A...Two.thousand.years.ago,.a.lowly,.Galilean.carpenter.continued.His.father's.(Joseph's).business..
......1...This.was.the.second.year.of.His."business"....
......2...The.primary."tool".this.carpenter.employed.was.not.a.hammer.nor.a.saw—but.truth....
...........a...Jesus.had.already.endured.two.previous."altercations".with.His.perennial.antagonists—the.Pharisees....
...........b...Now.in.Mt..5,.this.carpenter.begins.to.work.not.with.wood,.but.with.hearts..
B...TSOTM.does.not.say,."Live.like.this.and.you.will.be.a.Christian,".rather.it.says,."Because.you.are.a.Christian,.live.like.
......this…"..(It.shows.how.we.ought.to.live)..
......1...We.do.not.study.this.sermon.because.it.makes.us.feel.good;.the.Pharisees.certainly.didn't.feel.good.after.it.
...........a...If.you.claim.that.it.makes.you.feel.good,.then.either.you.have.not.read.it,.or.you.don't.understand.it..
...........b...Jesus'.message.condemns.us.for.falling.short.and.drives.us.to.Calvary's.cross....
......2...If.you.want.to.be.blessed,.then.study.TSOTM..
...........a...There.is.a.tendency.today.to.wrest.various.verses.from.this.sermon.from.its.context,.to.misapply.them,.and.
................therefore.miss.the.blessing...Ex:.
. .....Some.think.turning.the.other.check.means.it.is.okay.for.somebody.to.beat.you.up...cf.,.5:39. .
. .....Some.think.if.you.own.a.department.store.and.a.thief.steals.one.of.your.coats,.that.you.ought.to.stop.him.
. .....and.offer.him.one.of.your.overcoats.as.well...cf.,.5:40.
. .....Some.think.it's.acceptable.to.call.other.people.any.name.under.the.sun—except.a.fool...cf.,.5:22.
. .....Some.think.it's.acceptable.to."affirm".something,.but.it's.not.okay.to."swear".something,.even.though.the..
. .....terms.mean.the.same.thing...cf.,.5:33-37.
. .....Some.misquote.and.misapply,."Judge.not,.that.you.be.not.judged,".and.think.that.any.judgment.of.any.sort.
....................is.wrong...cf.,.7:1.
...........b...Properly.understood,.this.sermon.shows.the.way.of.blessing.for.a.Christian..
. .....We.do.not.find.our.happiness.in.the.same.way.the.world.does..
....................Our.standards.are.markedly.different.from.those.of.the.world..."Let.us.hear.the.conclusion.of.the.whole.
....................matter:..Fear.God.and.keep.His.commandments,.for.this.is.the.whole.duty.of.man...For.God.will.bring.every.
....................work.into.judgment,.including.every.secret.thing,.whether.it.is.good.or.whether.it.is.evil."..Eccl..12:13-14.
C...The.sermon.begins.with.a.series.of.Beatitudes.which.describe.the.character.of.the.citizens.of.the.kingdom..
......1...Each.Beatitude.begins.with.the.word."blessed".(Gr..µ......s)....
............a...The.word.refers.to.a.state.of.consummate.bliss..
............b...Vs:.
....................Happiness.depends.upon.external.circumstances.while.joy.does.not..."Rejoice.in.the.Lord.always...Again.I.will.
....................say,.rejoice!"..Phil..4:4.
...................."Therefore.you.now.have.sorrow;.but.I.will.see.you.again.and.your.heart.will.rejoice,.and.your.joy.no.one.
....................will.take.from.you."..Jn..16:22.
......2...They.are.paradoxical—assaults.on.conventional.wisdom.because.they.reverse.the.world's.view...(And.yet.
...........experientially.Christians.have.found.them.to.be.true)..
D...Mt..5:1-3.
.
I...An.IRONY—joy.is.found.in.poverty..
.
.....A...From.our.vantage.point,.this.sounds.ridiculous.because.we.tend.to.equate.poverty.with.unhappiness..
.
1. What.do.we.typically.think.of.when.we.use.the.words."poor".and."poverty"?.
.
...........2...I.think.of.the.lack.of.life's.necessities.and.the.sorrow.and.fear.that.accompanies.not.being.able.to.pay.the..
................bills..
.
.....B...But.notice.that.Jesus.did.not.say,."Blessed.are.the.poor.in.the.pocketbook…".
.
II...A.MISCONCEPTION—poverty.is.a.spiritual.value..
.
......A...Our.Catholic.friends.are.fond.of.teaching.that.in.order.to.be.a.truly.spiritual.person,.one.must.embrace.a.life.of.
............physical.want.and.destitution..
.
............1...I.have.not.been.able.to.find.in.Scripture.where.God.favors.the.poor.over.the.wealthy...Ex:..Job,.Abraham.
.................(A.person's.financial.acumen.is.not.indicative.of.their.standing.before.God)..
............2...The.Bible.does.not.condemn.money,.but.the.love.of.money..."For.the.love.of.money.is.a.root.of.all.kinds.of..
..................evil,.for.which.some.have.strayed.from.the.faith.in.their.greediness,.and.pierced.themselves.through.with.
..................many.sorrows."..1.Tim..6:10.
.
.......B...Both.riches.and.poverty.have.certain.inherent.dangers..
.
.............1..."But.those.who.desire.to.be.rich.fall.into.temptation.and.a.snare,.and.into.many.foolish.and.harmful.lusts.
...................which.drown.men.in.destruction.and.perdition."..1.Tim..6:9.
.............2..."Remove.falsehood.and.lies.far.from.me;.give.me.neither.poverty.nor.riches—feed.me.with.the.food.You.
...................prescribe.for.me;.lest.I.be.full.and.deny.You,.and.say,.'Who.is.the.LORD?'.or.lest.I.be.poor.and.steal,.and.
...................profane.the.name.of.my.God."..Prov..30:8-9.
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III...A.CLARIFICATION—Jesus.was.not.addressing.financial.values.in.this.context..
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.......A...The.key.word.in.the.verse.is."spirit.".
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.............1...We.can.understand.the.Lord's.meaning.if.we.substitute.the.word."ego".for.the.word."spirit.".
...................a...Ego.means.self.and.to.be.rich.in.ego/self.is.to.have.too.much...cf.,.Lk..18:9-12;.Dan..4:27,.30..Illust:..A.
.........................recent.news.release.told.of.a.Charlotte,.North.Carolina.woman.who.set.a.world.record.while.playing.a.
.........................convenience.store.video..game...After.standing.in.front.of.the.game.for.fourteen.hours.and.scoring.an.
.........................unprecedented.7.½.million.points.on.the.game.called."Tapper,".the.woman.was.pleased.to.see.a.TV.
.........................crew.arriving.to.record.her.efforts.for.posterity...She.continued.to.play.while.the.crew,.alerted.by.her.
.........................finance,.prepared.to.shoot...Suddenly.the.video.screen.went.blank!..While.setting.up.their.lights,.one.
.........................member.of.the.camera.team.had.accidently.unplugged.the.video.game.outlet—thus.bringing.her.bid.for.
.........................10.million.points.to.an.end...The.effort.to.publicize.her.achievement.became.the.agent.of.her.failure..
...................b...We.all.know.people.who.are.rich.in.ego.and.we.do.not.typically.like.them.because.they.are.haughty.and.
........................conceited..
.............2...What.are.some.of.the.characteristics.of.a.person.who.is.rich.in.ego?.
...................a...He.acts.as.if.he.knows.everything.and.is.always.right..
. ....b...He.is.emotionally.defensive.when.someone.disagrees.with.him.in.the.realm.of.opinion..
. ....c...He.tends.to.be.self-satisfied.and.self-sufficient..
. ....d...He.tends.to.emphasize.heritage.and.family..
...................e...He.tends.to.flaunt.his.abilities,.intellect,.and.accomplishments..
. ......
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..................f...He.seeks.position,.power,.and.influence...Illust:..In.the.summer.of.1986,.two.ships.collided.in.the.Black.
........................Sea.off.the.coast.of.Russia...Hundreds.of.passengers.died.as.they.were.hurled.into.the.icy.waters.below..
........................News.of.the.disaster.was.further.darkened.when.an.investigation.revealed.the.cause.of.the.accident...It.
........................wasn't.a.technology.problem.like.radar.malfunction—or.even.thick.fog...The.cause.was.pride.and..
........................stubbornness...Each.captain.was.aware.of.the.other.ship's.presence.nearby,.booth.could.have.steered.
........................clear,.but.neither.was.willing.to.give.way.to.the.other...By.the.time.they.came.to.their.senses,.it.was.too.
........................late..."A.man's.pride.will.bring.him.low,.but.the.humble.in.spirit.will.retain.honor."..Prov..29:23.
........................1)..You.may.be.thinking,."But.Mike,.what's.really.wrong.with.being.rich.in.ego?".
........................2)..Answers:..Rom..12:3.
.. ..................Pride.hinders.your.fellowship.with.God..
. . ....Pride.leads.to.broken.relationships.with.others..
.................................Pride.blocks.God's.blessings.and.can.cause.you.to.lose.your.eternal.reward..
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.......B...God.is.interested.in.a.person.who.has.filed.for."spiritual.bankruptcy.".
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.............1...Before.a.man.can.rise.before.God,.he.must.fall.to.himself.".
...................a..."For.thus.says.the.High.and.Lofty.One.Who.inhabits.eternity,.whose.name.is.Holy:..'I.dwell.in.the.high.and.
........................holy.place,.with.him.who.has.a.contrite.and.humble.spirit,.to.revive.the.spirit.of.the.humble,.and.to.revive.
........................the.heart.of.the.contrite.ones."..Isa..57:15.
....................b...Thus.says.the.LORD:..'Heaven.is.My.throne,.and.earth.is.My.footstool...Where.is.the.house.that.you.will.
..........................build.Me?..And.where.is.the.place.of.My.rest?..For.all.those.things.My.hand.has.made,.and.all.those.
..........................things.exist,'.says.the.LORD...'But.on.this.one.will.I.look:..On.him.who.is..poor.and.of.a.contrite.spirit,.and.
..........................who.trembles.at.My.word.'..Isa..66:1-2.
.............2...Paul.was.a.man.of.great.power.and.education,.but.after.meeting.the.Lord,.all.of.that.became.loss.to.him..
..................
5
."Circumcised.the.eighth.day,.of.the.stock.of.Israel,.of.the.tribe.of.Benjamin,.a.Hebrew.of.the.Hebrews;.
..................concerning.the.law,.a.Pharisee;.
6
.concerning.zeal,.persecuting.the.church;.concerning.the.righteousness.
..................which.is.in.the.law,.blameless...
7
.But.what.things.were.gain.to.me,.these.I.have.counted.loss.for.Christ..
8
.Yet.
..................indeed.I.also.count.all.things.loss.for.the.excellence.of.the.knowledge.of.Christ.Jesus.my.Lord,.for.whom.I.
..................have.suffered.the.loss.of.all.things,.and.count.them.as.rubbish,.that.I.may.gain.Christ."..Phil..3:5-8.
...................a...Being.poor.in.ego.doesn't.mean.the.suppression.of.your.personality,.nor.being.ashamed.of.your.
.........................personal.abilities,.or.the.things.you.have.worked.for..
...................b...A.person.who.is.poor.in.ego:.
............................Experiences.a.deep.sense.of.need.and.recognizes.all.that.he.has.comes.from.God..
............................Is.keenly.aware.of.his.own.insufficiencies....
.
Concl:.
A...The.kingdom.of.God.is.not.open.to.the.self-righteous.and.self-assured,.but.to.the.supplicant.sinner.who.comes.
......seeking.God.out.of.a.sense.of.his.own.emptiness..
B...Illust:..The.late.A..T..Robertson.once.wrote.an.article.about.Diotrephes.(3.Jn..9).for.a.religious.publication...He.
......renamed.him,.updated.his.story.using.present.day.terms,.and.labeled.him.the."church.boss."..Dr..Robertson.reported.
......later.that.twenty.deacons.had.cancelled.their.subscriptions.because.they.thought.the.article.was.a.personal.attack.
......on.them..
......1...Are.you.rich.or.poor—in.ego?.
......2...Do.you.need.to.humble.yourself.in.obedience.today?..
.
.
.
A...The.world.and.Jesus.view.sorrow.from.opposite.ends.of.the.spectrum..
......1...The.world.says.sorrow.is.something.to.be.avoided....
......2...The.Lord,.by.contrast,.teaches.that.sorrow.and.mourning.is.something.to.be.embraced..
B...I.find.it.highly.significant.that.the.OT.depicts.Jesus.as."a.Man.of.sorrows.and.acquainted.with.grief…".
.....1...There.is.no.passage.in.the.Bible.that.ever.tells.us.that.Jesus.laughed—although.we.know.He.did..
.....2...But.we.do.read.explicitly.of.where.He.mourned.and.grieved..
..........Ex:.
............."Jesus.wept."..Jn..11:35.
............."Now.as.He.drew.near,.He.saw.the.city.and.wept.over.it."..Lk..19:41.
............."Who,.in.the.days.of.His.flesh,.when.he.had.offered.up.prayers.and.supplications,.with.vehement.cries.and.
.............tears.to.Him.who.was.able.to.save.Him.from.death,.and.was.heard.because.of.His.godly.fear."..Heb..5:7.
C...Last.Lord's.Day.we.talked.about.Mt..5:3.the.fact.that.the.individual.who.applies.for.spiritual.bankruptcy.will.find.
......joy.in.his.dependency.upon.God..
D..."Blessed.are.those.who.mourn,.for.they.shall.be.comforted."..Mt..5:4.
......1...This.contains.yet.another.paradox—a.statement.that.appears.contradictory,.but.which.is.true..
......2...What.could.be.more.contradictory.than.the.idea.that.the.path.to.joy.is.sadness?.
.
I...God.has.created.us.with.the.capacity.to.mourn.and.grieve.
.
.....A...You.were.designed.with.tear.ducts.in.the.corner.of.your.eyes.for.a.reason..
.
...........1...Tears.open.up.not.just.a.physical.valve,.but.an.emotional.one..
.................a...When.we.don't.periodically.open.up.the.faucet,.pressure.builds.and.inevitably.damages.the.entire.
.......................system..
.................b..."Let.all.bitterness,.wrath,.anger,.clamor,.and.evil.speaking.be.put.away.from.you,.with.all.malice.".
.......................Eph..4:23.
...........2...Sorrow.provides.a.way.for.healing—just.as.washing.out.a.wound.helps.prevent.infection.".."Sorrow.is.
................better.than.laughter,.for.by.a.sad.countenance.the.heart.is.made.better."..Eccl..7:3.
.
.....B...Some.brethren.mistakenly.teach.that.overt.expressions.of.sorrow.are.indicative.of.spiritual.and.emotional.
...........weakness..
.
..........1...Sorrow.is.appropriate.on.certain.occasions:.
.................."So.Sarah.died.in.Kirjath.Arba.(that.is,.Hebron).in.the.land.of.Canaan,.and.Abraham.came.to.mourn.for.
..................Sarah.and.to.weep.for.her."..Gen...23:2.
..................Acts.20:31,.38.
..........2...Illust:..It.was.one.of.those.Barbara.Walters.Specials...This.particular.program.featured.Norman.Schwarzkopf.
...............--one.time.commander.of.Operation.Desert.Storm.in.the.Persian.Gulf...During.the.interview,.when.asked.about.
...............the.war.and.especially.the.cost.in.terms.of.human.life.incurred.during.the.war,.the.general.began.to.cry...Not.
...............surprisingly,.Walters.rather.bluntly.inquired,."General,.aren't.you.afraid.to.cry?"..To.which.the.general.replied,.
..............."Barbara,.I'm.afraid.of.a.man.who.can't.cry.".
.
II...Sometimes.we.are.laughing.when.we.ought.to.be.mourning.
.
......A...The.world.has.such.a.distain.for.sorrow.that.it.goes.to.the.opposite.extreme.in.an.effort.to.avoid.it..
.
............1...A.lot.of.people.pursue.entertainment,.pleasure,.and.amusement.in.an.attempt.to.make.life.one.big.party..
.................a...Sometimes.they.laugh.when.there.is.no.reason.to.laugh..
. ..b...Sometimes.they.laugh.when.they.ought.to.be.weeping..
............2...Folks.can.overdose.on.prescription.medication....
..................a..."A.merry.heart.does.good.like.medicine…"..Prov..17:22a.
..................b...One.element.of.Christianity.is.knowing.when.to.laugh.and.when.to.cry..."Rejoice.with.those.who.rejoice,.
........................and.weep.with.those.who.weep."..Rom..12:15.
.
......B...When.Jesus.said,."Blessed.are.they.that.mourn,".He.was.talking.about.godly.sorrow.over.sin..
.
............1...Verses:.
...................."For.godly.sorrow.produces.repentance.to.salvation…"..2.Cor..7:10a.
...................."Rivers.of.water.run.down.from.my.eyes,.because.men.do.not.keep.Your.law."..Psm..119:136.
...................."Oh,.that.my.head.were.waters,.and.my.eyes.a.fountain.of.tears,.that.I.might.weep.day.and.night.for.the.
....................slain.of.the.daughter.of.my.people."..Jer..9:1.
...........2...Of.the.nine.Greek.words.used.in.the.NT.for.sorrow,.the.one.used.in.Mt..5:4.(mourn,.......).is.the.
................strongest..
................a...It.refers.to.the.deepest,.most.heart-felt.grief.and.was.generally.used.for.grieving.over.the.death.of.a.loved.
......................one...(MacArthur,."Happy.Are.the.Sad,".Mt..1-7,.157)..
................b..."Draw.near.to.God.and.He.will.draw.near.to.you...Cleanse.your.hands,.you.sinners;.and.purify.your.hearts,.
.....................you.double-minded...Lament.and.mourn.and.weep!..Let.your.laughter.be.turned.to.mourning.and.your.joy.
.....................to.gloom...Humble.yourselves.in.the.sight.of.the.Lord,.and.He.will.lift.you.up."..Jas..4:8-10.
.....................1)..Sometimes.we.are.laughing.when.we.ought.to.be.mourning.and.crying..
.....................2)..Ex:.
. ...............When.we.laugh.at.the.world's.crude.and.immoral.jokes.even.though.we.do.not.retell.them..
. ...............When.we.are.entertained.by.sin.depicted.in.the.media.even.though.we.don't.indulge.in.it.ourselves..
.. ...............When.we.smile.at.ungodly.talk,.even.though.we.do.not.repeat.it..
. ...............When.we.joke.about.divorce,.make.light.of.brutality,.and.are.intrigued.by.immorality..
. ...............When.we.come.to.the.table.(e.g.,.funeral).of.the.Lord.and.we.talk.to.our.neighbor,.play.with.children,.
..............................pass.notes,.and.engage.our.minds.in.the.upcoming.affairs.of.the.day..
. ...............When.we.silently.rejoice.at.the.misfortune.of.our.enemies..
. ...............When.we.ignore.a.brother.or.sister,.refuse.to.shake.their.hand.and.have.a.friendly.conversation.with.
..............................them,.but.then.act.like.everything.is.fine....
. ...............When.we.ignore.the.Lord's.invitation.following.the.sermon.when.we.know.our.lives.are.not.in.harmony.
..............................with.His.will,.and.then.immediately.engage.in.happy.conversation.with.our.friends.following.the.
..............................closing.prayer....
.
III...Blessedness.does.not.come.in.the.act.of.mourning.itself.
.
........A...Jesus.did.not.mean,."Blessed.are.the.glum.and.grim,.cheerless.Christians.".
.
..............1...One.famous.preacher.remarked.that.he.knew.some.preachers.who.appeared.to.have.their.neckties.twisted.
....................around.their.souls..
..............2...Robert.Louis.Stevenson.once.wrote.in.his.diary,."I.have.been.to.church.today.and.am.not.depressed.".
.
........B...Those.who.mourn.are.joyous.because.they.have.had.their.sins.forgiven!.."Blessed.is.he.whose.transgression.is.
.............forgiven,.whose.sin.is.covered."..Psm..32:1.
.
..............1...Mourning.and.contrition.over.sin.brings.about.forgiveness,.and.forgiveness.brings.joy....
..............2...Remember.the.family.of.the.prodigal."began.to.be.merry".when.he.returned.home...cf.,.Lk..15:24,.32.
.
Concl:.
A...The.world.says.that.favorable.things.bring.happiness,.while.unfavorable.things.bring.unhappiness..
B...Jesus.said.it.is.actually.the.other.way.around....
C...The.one.who.weeps.over.his.own.sin.and.what.it.ultimately.did.to.Christ.will.enjoy.bliss..
D...Do.you.feel.like.crying?.