SERMON REVISITED 1
What wisdom is found in Jesus' or Jehoshua's Sermon on the Mount! Let's take a closer look at the Nine Happinesses, to see how we can benefit from his wise counsel.

Sermon on the Mount Revisited 1

1. (a) What do we find in God's word that stirs your heart? (b) What are we going to examine, and why?

1. How marvelous a gift we have in God's word the Bible. (2Timo 3:16,17) Along with all the insight into God's personality and His purposes that we are likely enthralled by, and the magnificent wisdom of God that helps guide our footsteps each day, we also find many promises of Jehovoe God that give, not only confident hope for the future, but can also bring us peace amidst adversity or troubled times even now, or really help us find joy and satisfaction in our life as we look forward to an eternal peaceful future. (Daniel 12:4; Prove 1:2,5; Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 40:8; Acts 4:23-30; Psalm 37:11,37) Let's take a look at some of these promises of Jehovoe that He wants us to take personally. As His word promises, He is the One who "opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing." (Psalm 145:16).
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2. (a) What group of people was Jesus primarily interested in gathering as he began his ministry? (b) But what other group of Christians can the Sermon on the Mount also be equally applied to?

2. Let's continue by taking a look at the opening promises in the Sermon on the Mount, as found in Matthew 5-7. There are nine of these, often called the "Nine Happinesses" or the "Beatitudes," typically referring to finding the hope of eternal life, as God's Son began his quest to find those desiring to rule together as kings and help restore the earth to the Paradise condition God originally intended for mankind (Luke 22:28-30; Revel 5:9,10; Isaiah 45:17,18). For more detail on the two hopes mentioned in God's word, heavenly and earthly, see the article "Finding Truth" (2018) elsewhere on this website. All of these promises, however, can also be applied in another sense to those wanting to live under God's rulership as righteous inhabitants of the earthly new world of peace and happiness. Take Matthew 5:5 for instance: It refers to mild-tempered ones as those that will "inherit the earth." This can apply to both those selected to rule as kings inheriting the earth as their domain to rule over, as well as those inheriting the earth to live within its domain.
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3. (a) What need do we all have beyond certain physical and material things, including what matters of importance? (b) What do you appreciate about the way God is feeding us spiritually?

3. (1) "Happy are those mindful of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs to them." Have you been mindful of the vital need we all have for more than just food, clothing, shelter, and other physical and material things? Yes, we have a spiritual need, including the quest for abundant knowledge, emotional well-being, and a genuine understanding of how to have a close, trusting relationship with family members, our holy God Jehovoe, as well as with other upright humans, and a desire to assist others of mankind to learn the same (John 17:3; 1Cori 2:14; Prove 1:7-9; 2:1-5; Galat 5:22-23; 2Cori 5:11-21). What a treasure to realize this need and how to satisfy it, through God's word the Holy Bible and His arrangements for feeding us "spiritual" food each day (Hebre 10:24-25; Matth 4:4; Psalm 1:1-3; Luke 12:42)!
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4. (a) How is it that many mourn upon learning of the true faith, and why may this be appropriate? (b) However, how are those who mourn in such a way eventually comforted? 

4. (2) "Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted." Many have not truly realized their spiritual need, or how to satisfy it, for much of their life, and upon coming to this realization are many times initially overcome with grief or sadness at what they've been missing or even how they may have been hurting others by their lack of spiritual qualities or values. (James 4:8-10). However, HAPPY they will become, because they WILL be comforted by God and His word because of their repentant heart condition, desirous of turning around and from now on appreciating spiritual things as the precious vital link to close relationships with Jehovoe God, "the Lord and His Christ" and other humans (Mark 14:72; 1Cori 15:5; John 21:15-18; Revel 11:15)!
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5. (a) What is true Christian mildness, and why is it a valuable quality to acquire? (b) What qualities must accompany mildness for it to be more useful in God's eyes? (c) How could one speak graciously, without having true Christian mildness?  

5. (3) "Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth." Being truly mild-tempered, or gently mild-mannered, can be an especially endearing quality for true Christians, one that, when properly motivated, may become an important part of the "new personality" that Christians are to "put on" as attire, even helping to preserve spirituality (Colos 3:9,10; Prove 15:1). This quality is a gentleness that pervades practically everything we do, not just when becoming upset for some reason (James 3:13). To be useful, this quality must be preceded by acquiring holiness or purity before God, and be accompanied by the recognition of the love that God has for humans in general and for us individually. Colossians 3:12 shows this, in saying: "Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience." Without such, the quality could be feigned as righteousness, but hiding corruption within, as Proverbs 26:24-26 shows: "24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, But inside he harbors deceit. 25 Although he speaks graciously, do not trust him, For there are seven detestable things in his heart. 26 Though his hatred is concealed by deceit, His evil will be exposed in the congregation." True mild-mannered ones are happy because they "inherit the earth," either as humble kings over it, or as submissive ones privileged to live in peaceful paradise conditions upon it.
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6. (a) What is the difference between hungering and thirsting for righteousness? (b) How is it that hungering and thirsting ones will be satisfied?

6. (4) "Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled." This goes beyond being aware of our spiritual need. A person longing for righteousness now truly desires to know and live by what is right in God's eyes. Thirsting for it helps one to see the blessings of pursuing a right course in life, why it's so beneficial, which prepares the soil of the heart, while hungering adds more deeply and strongly the knowledge and understanding of how to live by God's right standards or ways, truly growing righteousness in the heart. Such ones will be filled and find happiness, as they look to Jehovoe for this wonderful insight from His word and means of spiritual instruction. As Revelation 7:16-17 shows, "They will hunger no more, nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them, nor any scorching heat, because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes." Isaiah 49:10 links very similar language with God's quality of compassionate mercy, also abundantly exuding from the Lamb. When longing for God, such extended mercy motivates many to gratefully yearn to please Him, as He wipes away any tears of sorrow over past error and turmoil (Isaiah 55:7; Hebre 4:16).
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7. (a) How is it that many do not appreciate spiritual things as they should? (b) What illustration did Jesus give to teach a lesson on mercy? (c) How can having a merciful spirit promote loyalty and obedience to God?

7. (5) "Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy." Once again we're reminded that many have not been made aware of the importance of spiritual things or the valuable insight provided by God's word the Bible. As God's word shows, one opposing God "blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through." (2Cori 4:4). Such ones, upon coming into an accurate knowledge of genuine truth, and repenting of past errors, can be shown mercy, and may thus learn how to be compassionate and merciful themselves, if they weren't already. Acquiring a merciful spirit toward others inspires mercy to be shown them, in harmony with the true love God has and teaches us to have (See Matth 18:23-35). While not condoning any wrong course, as ones learn the way of God's love in harmony with His word and wisdom, God is willing to show them mercy for past error in His love, moving ones out of appreciation to happily learn to trust and obey Him implicitly (Psalm 103:13; Galat 6:16; Prove 3:5,6; 1John 5:3).
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8. (a) In what sense might humans be able to "see God?" (b) Long after hearing about God, how did Job, and how might we, come to "see God?"

8. (6) "Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God." Of course, for those selected in Jesus' day to be reigning kings in the heavens, the privilege of seeing God is understandable for them. But is it possible for humans to "see God?" In what sense? Upon understanding more deeply God's incredible power and wisdom, the patriarch Job declared "My ears have heard about you, But now I do see you with my eyes." Moving him to say afterward "That is why I take back what I said, And I repent in dust and ashes.” As you come to understand God's great love and compassion, you will likely long for purity of heart, to be clean in His eyes, holy along with His holy people heavenly and earthly, as He declares "you must be holy, because I am holy." (1Peter 1:16). Then able to appreciate and comprehend more fully God's incredible wisdom, power, justice, and love, you will thus be happily seeing God with your eyes of faith, like the faithful man Job.
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9. (a) What is the difference between a peacemaker and a peaceful person? (b) Why might loyalty and other virtues be important for one making peace?  

9. (7) "Happy are the peacemakers, since they will be called sons of God." Being a true peacemaker can involve several more important virtues than being a peaceful person. The peaceful person may keep to himself and not try to get in the way of others. While perhaps noble to an extent, a true peacemaker goes out of his way to restore peace where it was lacking, either between himself and someone else, or perhaps between two or more others. Such a person needs to have qualities such as humility, graciousness, mild gentleness, and patience, or godly loyalty, especially if the quest for peace involves challenges, extending the time it takes to resolve the issue(s). (Colos 3:12; Luke 2:14; 2Timo 2:22; James 3:17) In Hebrews 12:11 righteousness is referred to as "peaceable fruit." Peaceable ones generally have learned a great deal about God's own personality and right ways, and have learned to apply them in his or her own life and dealings with others; thus such ones will in time, depending on their hope, happily be declared "sons of God." (Romans 8:21; 8:15,16; Revel 20:4-6)
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10. (a) How can one be happy having been "persecuted for righteousness' sake?" (b) What further blessings can result from enduring such tests?

10. (8) "Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, since the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs to them." Is this an oxymoron? How could one be happy, having been persecuted by others? Being persecuted for the sake of righteousness means one or more has taken a stand for what is right, keeping loyal integrity to God, and thus are showing others what is involved in pleasing God and enduring in a righteous course, in spite of pressure to do otherwise, to give in. Jehovah's reward belongs to loyal integrity-keepers. The Kingdom of the Heavens belongs to such ones, so having endured faithfully such tests, one's Christian endurance is strengthened, and he or she can happily continue and look forward to promised blessings, including the time when such tests will be greatly reduced if not eliminated.
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11. (a) How is it that the time of the happiness experienced differs from that of the previous verse? (b) Why can one be happy even when being persecuted in this way? (c) How can dealing properly during such persecution yield some good? (d) What have some enemies claimed, but how have many proven otherwise?

11. (9) “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you." Similar to the last verse, but instead of being happy "having been" persecuted, one more advanced in loving loyalty to God can become happy even "when" being persecuted, reproached, and spoken against lyingly with every sort of wicked thing. This is because the faithful prophets of God in the past were treated in the same way, and received divine protection and guidance, having His smile of approval, maintaining a good relationship with Jehovah, bringing them true satisfaction and peace despite opposition. (1Kings 18:38-40; 19:1-21) God's Son teaches us to "return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men." True Christian love includes loving even "enemies," hoping even for their repentance if possible. Such love and mildness being demonstrated even while being reproached or persecuted may yield some good in time. Former persecutors have become loyal servants of the true God. Those who have opposed God are at times listening to reason. Thus, the reward of God's blessings are many for ones properly maintaining integrity to God during such opposition, while they aim to "rejoice and be overjoyed" at the happiness God experiences over their loyalty to Him. As Proverbs 27:11 explains, "Be wise my son and make my heart rejoice, so that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me." Still, we look forward to times of peace, without opposition, while we read concerning Jehovah, at Psalm 145:16, "You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."
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12. How do these promises of happiness contribute to our hope of endless life in peace?

12. Thus, the opening promises of happiness in the Sermon on the Mount open our eyes to several vital aspects of how to love and worship God properly. Various qualities of the heart are highlighted, along with related attitudes and habits. The Sermon opened with the importance of being aware of our spiritual need and of being truly repentant over past wrongs in life. Our mildness, love of righteousness, and compassion for people are vital to our truly loving God and others. Seeking reasonable purity of heart and peaceableness add greatly to our spiritual depth. Growing in integrity, as we endure trials faithfully, endears us to our God, Jehovah, as we bring Him delight by our loyalty to Him, always living in accord with His guidance in true faith. This leads to blessings from God, as we believe "that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking Him." (Hebre 11:6). Truly his reward of endless life in true peace and happiness is worth every effort to obtain!

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