“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29
As we close our short study on the Beatitudes we want to review
several lessons that they teach us. The Lord’s words amazed His listeners. The words of the Lord are shocking. What the people heard from Jesus was revolutionary to what they had been taught. This shows us that Judaism had tuned into a religion of pride and works – the same religion that God rejected from Cain. But the Lord was not teaching something new. He was teaching what God intended His people to be like all along – an image of Him to the world they lived in. The problem was that the people could not live this life in their own strength which is why they started giving God good works rather than live a life driven by His love.
The Lord stated He is God In the Beatitudes the Lord made it clear early on that He is the Messiah. He is the one who is to be followed. In verse 11 the Lord states “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” Because He is the Messiah, He knows what is required to enter says His Kingdom.
The Lord taught with authority The Lord did not quote other scribes or rabbis to prove His points. He spoke as one having the right to state how people should live and act. He was the moral authority. This authority was what was attacked by the scribes and pharisees throughout the Lord’s ministry. They questioned His right to tell them how they ought to live. In essence the pharisees would not relinquish their authority to determine how they ought to please God to God Himself.
Christ’s kingdom is now The Lord makes it clear that the physical millennial kingdom will be inhabited by those who have the kingdom of God in their hearts. The kingdom of God is first a heart transformation before it is a physical rule over the whole earth.
Blessedness is opposite of being cursed The Lord repeatedly stresses the blessing that comes to those whose heart is right
toward God. Blessedness does not primarily mean happiness as much as it is the opposite of cursed. Those who are blessed receive God’s favor (for their sins are forgiven), not his wrath (for their refusal to accept the one way into His kingdom).Early in His first recorded sermon the Lord makes it clear there are only two paths and two destinations in this life and in eternity beyond. Every person is on one of those two paths. Christ, like Joshua, said – “I set before you blessing and cursing.”
Many came for their own interests not to hear how to please God Luke 6 also describes the sermon on the mount. Luke tells us Jesus went up on a mountain the night before to be by Himself and to pray to the Father (Luke 6:12). The next morning, Jesus came down the mountain (Matthew 5:1; Luke 6:17) where He met a great crowd of people. The crowd desired to touch Him and many succeeded. Those who were able to do so were healed instantly as His power flowed from Him to them. This shows us the desire of the crowd. Many came to Jesus for their own benefit, to gain something. Likely there were a few who came to see and hear Jesus’ teaching but not many. We see how people approach God’s truth today. Many come to churches today to be seen or for business contacts. Many do not come to hear God’s truth but if their ears are open and they listen, they should be stunned for His message has not changed. There are still only two groups – the blessed and the cursed. There is still only one way to approach God and to enter His kingdom. Christ still speaks with authority which one must accept or reject. Many came wanting physical healing; Christ offers healing of the soul instead for that is the more serious and eternal sickness.