THE BEATITUDES

Text: Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction

          1. This is a part of the Sermon on the Mount.

I. Blessed means "happy, cheerful"

          1. Read "happy" instead of blessed to get the meaning

          2. Happy is an attitude we should have

          3. Beatitudes explain "How to be Happy"

          4. Robert Schuller wrote The "Be Happy" Attitudes

II. I want to look closer at three of these Beatitudes.

          1. Each statement is in 2 parts

                    A. The People who are happy

                    B. The Promise for the happy

          2. Verse 8

                    A. Pure in heart

                              1] Pure in mind, thought

                              2] Pure in speech, life

                    B. See God

                              1] God is not visible - Yet

                              2] Can see Him in Heaven

          3. Verse 9

                    A. Peacemakers

                              1] Not troublemakers

                              2] Try to settle arguments

                    B. Sons of God

                              1] Christians are sons of God

                              2] In Heaven

          4. Verse 10

                    A. The persecuted

                              1] Because of their faith in God

                              2] Ridiculed, teased, made fun of

                              3] Even killed - Stephen stoned

                    B. Kingdom of God

                              1] This is the reward of their faith

                              2] Kingdom of heaven = HEAVEN

                              3] Vs. 11 + 12 show this

Conclusion:

1.     Jesus wants us to be happy.  To be happy we must be the people of these Beatitudes.

2.     Then we can have the promises found in the Beatitudes.