Christian Character.

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12.

Verse 1. And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

Verse 2. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Verse 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Verse 5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Verse 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Verse 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Verse 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Verse 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Verse 10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 11. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Verse 12. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

         

          We are going to look at the “EIGHTFOLD” character of a Christian, and the EIGHT fold blessings attached to that character. The Beatitudes have been called many things, but one title stands out, “the foundation principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.” None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ the Lord.

          Blessings come from God daily: Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” For whom the great High Priest blesses, are blessed indeed! Blessing and laying on of hands, the fathers blessing to the eldest son, the Father’s blessing to His children, the Lord wants to bless His people.

The “Beatitudes,” set forth the characteristics of the heirs of the Kingdom. There is a heavenly side and an earthly side to the Kingdom, and it is only for those who are “poor in spirit,” those who humble themselves on account of their sin, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, who, through the new birth, receive the Kingdom of Heaven.

1st Description and Blessing: Verse Three.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Blessed” or happy.

          Are they that see their want, and hunger and thirst after Jesus their Redeemer, for the kingdom of heaven is for them. Happy, are those; the Psalmist says: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful” Psalm 1:1.

“The Poor.”

          Not the poor in purse, the kingdom of heaven cannot be said to belong to them; but such that are poor in a spiritual sense. For all mankind are spiritually poor; and in such a condition, and cannot help themselves.

          The greater part of mankind are not aware of their condition; but think themselves rich, and increased with goods: but, there are some who are aware of it, who see their poverty and want, and mourn over it, and acknowledge, that all they have, or hope to have, is own to the free grace of God.

         

“Poor in spirit.”

The “humble,” are those who are deeply convinced of their own sinfulness in the Lord’s sight. They are not “rich and increased with goods;” and do not fancy they “need nothing;” like the Revelation church. But, they regard themselves as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

“For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

          The poor in spirit not only shall have - but they already have - the Kingdom. The poor in spirit are rich in the knowledge of God, while others walk in darkness, without light. Men who know their spiritual poverty are the only ones who by faith, can lay hold of the true riches of grace.

2nd Description and Blessing: Verse Four.

“Blessed are those who mourn. For they shall be comforted.”

Genesis 12:2 “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.”

             

“Those who mourn.” “Mourning.”

It is that feeling which is squeezed from men under pressure of the ills of life? Or the sorrow on account of committed sins.

It is the poverty of spirit that says, “I am undone.” These people are more concerned about sin than about anything on else; the remembrance of it is grievous to them; the burden of it is intolerable. Blessed are such!

Psalm 51:17 says: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise.” Maybe we need a bit more brokenness before a Holy God. But, one day they shall weep no more; “for they shall be comforted.”

          For sin, their own sins; is a continual to us; because we are committed to a God of love, grace, mercy and holiness, and sin grieves the Holy Spirit, and brings dishonour to the Gospel of Christ.

“For they shall be comforted.”

          The mourners shall be “comforted.” Even now they get “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Sowing in tears, they reap even here in joy. Here in this life, by the God of all comfort, by Christ the comforter; by the Spirit of God, whose work and office it is to comfort us in times of need.

          But the days of our mourning shall soon be ended, and then God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes”

3rd Description and Blessing: Verse Five.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

“Blessed are the meek.”

          The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; yet are silent, or return a soft answer; who, in their patience, keep possession of their own souls. These meek ones are happy, even in this world.

The Lord calls those “blessed” who are meek. He means those who are of a patient and of a content spirit. They that are willing to put up with little honour here below; they can bear injuries without anger; and they are not ready to take offence.

          They are ready in every good work, to speak evil of no man. Jesus said in, Matthew 11:29 “For I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Meekness, or humility, is very valuable and praiseworthy. Here meekness is to be considered, as a Christian grace, a fruit of the Spirit of God.

“For they shall inherit the earth.”

A. “Inherit.” 

          The word “inherit” implies membership of God’s family. When they delight themselves in the Lord, He gives them the desires of their heart; when they commit their ways to Him.

All things, in short, are theirs, of those rights which belong to them as the children of God. God shall supply all our needs, when we seek first the Kingdom of God.

B. “The Earth.”

          The word “earth and land,” is the same in both Hebrew and Greek, so that prophecies in the Old Testament about the land may be fulfilled in the “new earth.”

The “new earth,” which will be after this “old” is burnt up; in which only such persons as are here described shall dwell; and inherit it, by virtue of being heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

4th Description and Blessing: Verse Six.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.”

   

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

          The Lord Jesus calls those “blessed” who hunger and thirst after righteousness. He means those who desire above all things to be entirely conformed to the mind and will of God. Those that have the appetites of the new life. As hunger and thirst are the keenest of our appetites, “Taste and see” says the Psalmist. Of God’s perfect will and purpose for our lives.

“For they shall be filled.”

          The word here used denotes the fullest satisfaction “completely satisfied.” “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in You” Psalm 17:15. They shall be satisfied, they shall never seek for any other righteousness, in the sight of God; for this righteousness is full, perfect, complete, and entirely whole.

5th Description and Blessing: Verse Seven.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

“Blessed are the merciful.”

          Who show mercy to men, to those that are poor, distressed, and miserable, in their outward circumstances; and inward sin, we need to show mercy to the souls of men. To show mercy is desirable by God; it is what He requires, and it is desirable of a child of God.

“For they shall obtain mercy.”

We have been shown mercy from God, through Christ Jesus; which is free, abundant, and eternal. Men are said to obtain mercy, when they are regenerated, and called by grace. Which merciful persons may expect to find and obtain, at the throne of grace, to help them in time of need; and who shall not only obtain mercy of God in this life, but in the world to come.

6th Description and Blessing: Verse Eight.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart.”

          The pure in heart are happy. For they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. “Create in me such a clean heart, O God” Psalm 51:10.

None but the pure are capable of seeing God. The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin. Though they have sin dwelling in them, are justified from all sin, by the righteousness of Christ, and are “clean through the word.” And happy are they!

“For they shall see God.”

          In this life, enjoying communion with Him, both in private and public, in the home and in the House of God; where they often behold His beauty, see His power and His glory, and taste, and know that He is good and gracious. Where they shall see God in Christ, with the eyes of their understanding; for Christ is God. Taste and see that God is good, God is good, and all the time God is good!

          Oh! To see, walk and talk with God like Adam did in the Garden of Eden.

7th Description and Blessing: Verse Nine.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

The first followers of Christ, were called Christians – Christ-I-am. The Disciples of Christ where so much like Christ in their walk and talk, that people said, “You are like Christ, Christians.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

          The peace-makers are happy. They love, and desire, and delight in peace; and study to be quiet.

They keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. Not between God and man, for no man can make his own peace with God; nor can any mere creature, angels, or men, make it for him; Christ, in this sense, is the only peace maker.

          “Peace, peace!' When there is no peace” Jeremiah 8:11. Between men and men. To live peaceably with all men, and with one another. Making peace between their fellow creatures and fellow Christians. This is a true gift and calling, to be a peace maker. Now of such persons it is said, that;

“For they shall be called sons of God.”

          That is, they are the children of God by adopting grace, which is made manifest in their rebirth; and that is evidenced by the fruits of it, which is formed in them by the Spirit of God; and so are truly sons of peace.

          Man again in the image of God, once lost by sin, yet renewed by grace.

8th Description and Blessing: Verses Ten and Eleven and Twelve.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

          There is nothing in our sufferings that can gain any merit from God; but God will provide that those who lose out for Him, though life itself shall not lose out by Him in the end. Jesus was killed as a criminal at Calvary, and He was the holy God without sin, men will not think any more highly of us that follow Him.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted.”

          Not for any crimes they have done, or for unrighteousness and iniquity, as murderers, thieves, and evildoers, but:

“For righteousness' sake.”

          On account of their righteous life and godly conversation, which brings upon them the hatred of evil men of this world: for saints, by living righteously, separate themselves from them? By “righteousness” may be meant, a righteous cause, the cause of Christ and His Gospel.

They are persecuted for preaching, maintaining, or embracing, the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ.

“For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

          The same blessedness is predicated of these as of the poor in spirit, in verse 3. A China pastor said after years in prison, said in interview, “I never thought I was worthy to suffer for His Name.”

“Blessed are you when they revile you.”

          These words are particularly directed to the Disciples of old, all died in a cruel way by the hands of men for Christ’s sake, and are designed to inform them, that they should not be exempted from reproach and persecution, but to endure for Christ's sake. Even today, thousands are dying for Christ.

“And persecute you.”

          From place to place, by all means, beatings, imprisonment, etc.

“And say all kinds of evil against you for My sake.”

          The worst things they could think of and invent, they were “falsely” laid; there was not a word of truth in them. But all were the wicked lies of men, invented on purpose to bring them and Christianity into disgrace: for His name's sake.

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.”

          Because of the honour put upon them, the glory they bring to Christ and His cause, by cheerfully suffering for it.

“For great is your reward in heaven.”      

          Saints must not expect their reward here, but hereafter, when God himself will be their reward; He will be all in all.

“For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

          As Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others; which shows, what should befall them was no new and strange thing, but what had been the destiny of the most well-known servants of God in former ages.

Conclusion:

Now you should know:

The kind of people Christians should be?

The character to which Christians should aim at?

The outward walk and inward spirit which becomes a follower of Christ the Lord?

          By living the “EIGHTFOLD” character of a Christian. For none will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ the Lord.

          “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” Numbers 6:24-26.