JSM | Identity .2 | Mourning & Meekness (6/16/2024)

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount | Identity .2 | Mourning & Meekness
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Heb. (נּט רּקהץ מּןביםךשד דּטנרם'דלט)
Gk. (Βψ Ρεω. Νιξηολασ Σψβροωσκψ)

Sermon Series Introduction Above

Live Service:  YouTube@DoveCreekAGTV

Invocation:  The Lord’s Prayer.

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

"(26) Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (27) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Gen 1:26-27 NIV)

"(1) This is the written account of Adam's family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God." (Gen 5:1 NIV)

"(6) "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." (Gen 9:6 NIV)

"(6) You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:" (Psa 8:6 NIV)

"(9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness." (Jas 3:9 NIV)

As we worship our Lord and Father let us invite him to bridle our tongue and empower us to see our fellow man and woman, our neighbor as made in the image of God.  Let us not worship man, but honor man because mankind is an image bearer of the Creator and it’s in God, we find our identity.

The Good Life of God’s Kingdom has come to the least likely People.  

Intro:

We, as in we human beings, we were made “..in His own image.” The image of God.  In Latin Imageo Dei means “Image of God”.  In the Hebrew “in His own image” is a phrase used in Gen. 1:27, pronounced ‘selem’.  In the Greek the word for “the image” is ‘eikon’(ikown) similar in topic to “in His own image”.  Image matters to man and it matters to God.  This Greek pronunciation is peculiar to me because it sounds like the word “Icon” in our English language. Icon as in symbol, picture, idol, image, portrait, likeness, figure, statue, representation or model.  From the beginning of creation, mankind has been an “image bearer” of God, yet we sometimes lose vision of who we are and it’s usually because we’ve stopped pursuing the great I AM.  When we lose sight of who God is, we lose sight of who we are.  Hence, in my opinion today we’re witnessing a great volume of “falling away”.  Falling away as in going astray from that which is of God and for God. 

One of you may think or say that it’s very easy to lose sight of God when he is invisible.  But I believe Paul and John describe well a response to you who might be struggling to “see” God.  In Paul’s letter to the Colossians in verse 15 of chapter 1 he says 

“He [(that is Jesus)] is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of every creature.” (MEV). 

And in John 10:10, John quotes the Good Shepherd; Jesus saying 

“"(10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (Jhn 10:10 ESV)

Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” and he is the perfect representative of God on earth.  Let’s get into Matthew’s description of Kingdom Identity as he heard it from Jesus the Christ during His earthly ministry in the flesh.

 Main Text:  Kingdom Identity Mt. 5:1-16 | The Good Life 5:3-12 | :4-5

After John the Baptist was imprisoned Jesus basically started his public ministry and picked up where John had left off.  Heralding the same great truth that John had been sharing and we see record of this in Mt. 4:17  

"(17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mat 4:17 KJV)  

Sometime later after he had performed many signs, wonders & miracles and selected his disciples…

"(1) Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (2) And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: (3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (5) "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (7) "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (10) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Mat 5:1-12 ESV)

Parallels & Matches:  Luke 6:20-26

"(20) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (21) "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (22) "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! (23) Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (24) "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. (25) "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. (26) "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." (Luk 6:20-26 ESV)

1. Oh How Happy a Heavenly Perspective “Blessed” Literally means “Oh how happy”

According to the late, yet alive Ps. Chuck Smith: 

 “Now Jesus, in the beginning of this message, is describing the people that he is addressing the message to, for he is describing the child of God. Later on [in the case study regarding ‘Enemy Love’ Jesus] says, "that you might be the children of your Father"(Matthew 5:45), and he talks about "your Father". But here is the description, and it is in the form of what are known as beatitudes or the pronounced blessings. Now the word "blessed" literally means "oh, how happy" and because that is the literal meaning of the word "blessed", it seems paradoxical immediately to say, "Oh how happy are the poor in spirit".  ~BLB Ps. Chuck Smith Verse by Verse.

Follow along as I continue to enhance this literal meaning and its paradoxical quality that to some may appear as a contradiction, but it’s more of a paradox.  Chances are they who don’t make time to understand what Jesus is saying here are calling it a contradiction when in fact it’s more of a paradox.  Remind you that they who call this contradicting are NOT following Jesus.  This message is for the children of God; Jesus’ Disciples.   

“Oh how happy are they that mourn…”.  Oh how happy are the meek,  Oh how happy are the merciful…Oh how happy are the pure in heart,  Oh how happy are the peacemakers,  Oh how happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, Oh how happy you are when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” ~Paraphrased Head Sentences of Beatitudes.

It’s like losing to win!  

Tell me, have you ever failed to listen all the way through as someone else is speaking?  It’s like some listening to these nine blessings don’t allow their mind to finish listening to the rest of what Jesus has said here.  They miss the reward because they start thinking about the first part of the sentence and preparing a response before allowing his message to take root.  When we actually hear what’s being shared, we find ourselves astonished just like they were in the culture and era of that day.  Listen ALL the way! Initially each of these “blessings” starts off with a sacrifice or a labor within.  Each beatitude appears to have a struggle within in it.  Further investigation in the definition of "blessed" provides more vivid illustration on "inheritance".  Further report to follow, perhaps.  My point for now is that not easy to do the right thing especially if all you’ve done is the wrong thing (see Yoke of Jesus Mt. 11:30).  Listen ALL the way!

Spending time renouncing pride and not bragging about your accomplished results of hard work is a hard thing to do, especially when the world is merit based.  Most people like to be recognized and there is always room for honor and respect, but some folks struggle to stay motivated if they’re not getting immediate validation.  

It’s hard to be humble if you think you’re the one that did it all yourself.  It’s hard to be humble if you take all the credit for what others helped you do.  Humility is a learned virtue.  Some learn it by being crushed and others choose to adopt the virtue because it’s righteous.  Arrogance is a trap but so is false humility!  False humility is like pretending to be humble.  False humility similarly appears like Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh. Eeyore is generally characterized as a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, anhedonic (inability to feel pleasure), old grey stuffed donkey who is a friend of the title character, Winnie-the-Pooh.  

Instead of accepting compliment.  It’s like a victim role takes over from within.  When you’re being honored by someone, you might tend to downplay their observations and in fact disrespect them and yourself.  It’s important to allow others to honor you.  It’s okay to accept recognition for a job well done on earth, but don’t let your Ego run rampant thinking that this temporary life is only about the here and now.  There is an eternal life ahead too.  

Being humble doesn’t mean you have little regard for yourself.  It’s been said before and I’ll say it again, that being humble isn’t thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.  The virtue of selflessness isn’t selfish like the victim mindset.  Selflessness is the result of a victorious mindset.     

2. Mourning Comfort :4 "Blessed are those who mourn…

Who here loves attending funerals?  Who here likes losing something?  The five stages of grief are:  Shock/Denial, Bartering, Anger, Depression & Acceptance.  

Lamentations authored by the Prophet Jeremiah is an excellent example for us to learn how to lament and practice it, in my opinion.  To lament means to express passionate grief or sorrow.  The Creator led the prophet to lament over his deep sorrow and emotional pain over Jerusalem’s destruction.  Written during 586—585 B.C.

 for they shall be comforted.  In the meaning here there is great comfort from somewhere else.  Not mourning can lead to callousness.  Insensitivity and cruel disregard.  Over compartmentalizing can lead to a buildup of untreated grief that spills over into uncontrollable pain and/or sorrow.  Hence, they that take time to address loss and the pain caused by that loss tend to be comforted and also usually have a healthier balance of emotional life.  

Over compartmentalization and in some cases even stoicism can promote cumulative stress that induces injury and/or illness. I experienced this one year before my Dad, Steven died.  Fortunately, the year leading up to his death and my Grandmother Jackie’s death I had already dealt with some unfinished grieving and I was better prepared, and I was more able to grieve immediately at the time of their passing.  But I still was experiencing major stress that kept me from retaining my job assignment as a Navy Diver, or so that seems to have been a factor.  It was an additional loss in the midst of some personal tragedy, yet I also was being transformed spiritually and the Lord comforted me throughout the entire process.  Luke heard it from Jesus like this In Lk 6:21

 "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”  

Saw dust.  Had I not worked through many of the losses I had compartmentalized and avoided “taking it personal” I wouldn’t have been able to cope very well with my Dad’s death, not to suggest it was easier, but in hindsight, it appears to have been coped with on time instead of late like the other deaths and other losses.  When I got news of my Dad’s passing, I was overcome with a vision and strong desire to clean up saw dust.  It was an absurd desire that caused me to laugh.  In hindsight I credit the Lord with granting me joy in the midst of this great sorrow.  It was strange in various ways and cleaning saw dust for my Dad was a terrible job that I disliked in support of his cabinet work, yet if I could do it again for him today, you know I certainly would, pun intended.  

Ps. Donald C. Stamps puts THOSE WHO MOURN this way in the Full Life Study Bible, 

“To “mourn” is to recognize and feel sorrow over our own weakness in relation to God’s perfect standards and ultimate power (v.6; 6:33).  It also means grieving over the things that grieve God, such as the unfaithfulness, immorality and cruelty that are rampant in the world (see Lk 19:41 Note; Ac 20:19; 2 Pe 2:8, note) When He [Jesus] came near, He beheld the city and wept over it,”~ (MEV) HE BEHELD THE CITY AND WEPT.  Jesus knowing that people and their leaders expect a political Savior and will ultimately reject him as God’s promised Messiah, weeps in pity for the people who will soon suffer terrible judgment.  The word “wept” in Greek means more than shedding tears.  It suggests deep sorrow, the heavy sobbing of a soul in agony.  Jesus, as God, reveals not only his own feelings, but also his Father’s broken heart over the spiritual lostness of the human race and its refusal to turn to God and accept his gift of salvation.) [Sin that grieves God] and those that mourn over sin and its effect on people’s lives—and commit themselves to helping rescue people from evil—are comforted by receiving from God’s “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” [according to Paul in] (Ro. 14:17).

 ~Ps. Donald C. Stamps, Fire Bible Modern English Version

 

A note from Ps. Chuck Smith's Verse by Verse. 

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Oh, how glorious it is when God brings us through the trial, brings us out onto the other side. We come out into the victory and again into the glorious joy of the Lord. We go through the trials of weeping, we go through these experiences of difficulty, and we can't see the hand of God. We don't know the way of the Lord. And we spend the time weeping, in prayer, travail, our soul travailing unto God. All night in travail, but as the morning comes, and God begins to shower forth His love and His plan and His purpose, oh what joy we get when God brings us through that night of hardship. As we have wept and travailed, and then we come out on the victory side and see the glorious victory of the Lord.

~Ps Chuck Smith Commentary BLB Psalm 30:5.  

I think the author left us a figurative pun within this Psalm and Jesus enhances our view within the 2nd beatitude 5:4.  Do you see it?  Morning-Mourning 😀

3. Meek Inheritance New Heaven & Earth :5 "Blessed are the meek, 

Submissiveness is just so very fun!  (Intended Sarcastic Humor) Synonyms for meekness are humility, tameness, quietness, gentleness and fearfulness.  Sounds similar to the ‘poor in spirit’.  Meekness is not weakness!  In fact, meekness is a virtue of strength in some other familiar virtues such as patience, long-suffering, forbearance, resignation, mildness or softness.  

To gain the characteristic of meekness one must become tempered to acquire or form such a blessing and/or happiness in the process of painstakingly waiting or submitting to the Powerful.  Tempering softness into a hardened state/form takes tenacity and determination, in my opinion.  Initially in life it’s much easier to kick and scream for the milk and food that one needs.  If you want to develop meekness, I recommend fishing.  It’s quite a humbling task to catch fish.  Even the greatest of fishers have fishless days in the history.  

I can relate well with what Ps Chuck Smith shared in his verse by verse commentary now available on the Blue Letter Bible.org.  I wonder, can you relate?

“Blessed are the meek (Mat 5:5):

Now that is seeing myself in truth, no longer am I puffed up, no longer am I deceiving myself about myself, and that's an easy thing for people to do. The word meek can probably best be defined by putting a hyphen in the middle of it: me-ek. It is again looking at myself in the light of the Lord and realizing that I am nothing.

Now it is interesting that these are not characteristics that are really admired by the world. The world admires the aggressor. You see, if this were being written by man, the "blesseds" would be given to, completely different kind of attributes with a man. But because Jesus is describing the child of God, he's describing those characteristics that are admirable by heaven.  ~Ps. Chuck Smith

for they shall inherit the earth.  This reward has me wondering.  It’s an earthly inheritance?  Peculiar eh?  Despite this hint of earthly attributes this is actually prophetic.  Jesus is pointing to the New Heaven and New Earth the 16th doctrine in the Assemblies of God (AG) 1916 Statement of Fundamental Truths. 

“In keeping with his [God’s] promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Pe. 3:13; Rev. 21 through 22) ~AG Doctrine 16

What did Ps. Chuck Smith have to say furthermore about this inheritance?  “The meek: they shall inherit the earth (Mat 5:5).

This earth [and its condition] is not the earth that God created. This earth has been spoiled by rebellion against God, but God is going to restore this earth to His original divine intention. Wars are going to cease. Man is going to dwell together in righteousness, in true justice, in peace. And God's kingdom will come to earth and those who are the children of God will inherit the earth. Jesus said, "And I will say to them in that day, come, ye blessed of the Father, inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundations of the earth" (Matthew 25:34). Revelation tells us concerning the body of Christ, "And they shall live and reign with him a thousand years on the earth"(Revelation 20:4,6).

Blessed are the meek: they shall inherit the earth (Mat 5:5)

What a glorious place this earth could be if it weren't for the pollutions that man has brought; if it weren't for the wars, the hatred, the greed but we will see the earth as God intended it. We will inherit the earth as God intended it. Now, these are more or less what we might call negative characteristics.”  ~Ps Chuck Smith

Previously I mentioned to you that the Gospel of Matthew includes 5 discourses attributed to Jesus the Nazarene.  The fifth is regarding the end or rather The Eschatological Discourse: Mt Chapters 24:4–25:46.  

Eschatology is the study related to death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.  Therein, Jesus shares about The Destruction of the Temple Foretold, Troubles and Persecutions, The Great Tribulation, The Coming of the Son of Man, The lesson of the Fig Tree, The Unknown Day and Hour of His return, The Faithful or the Unfaithful, The Parable of the Ten Virgins, The Parable of the Talents and The Judgment of the Nations.  Perhaps we will get the opportunity to examine these more later.  But the point is that the meek of :5 aren’t inheriting the earth as we know it tangibly on hand and foot today, but it is reference to that which is to come.  A place or rather 

“...the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" ~Matthew 25:34(Portion of KJV)

4. Next Week :6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Conclusion: 

 In all of these nine blessings of happiness it seems common thread that there is a reward that involves great delayed gratification.  Yet positional sanctification causes immediate reward, IF you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, IF not he's still available, for now.  How we live as children of God impacts the eternal reward promised by the Holy Father.  All of mankind shall face judgment and, in my opinion,  some will never get to the judgment seat ( See Ps.1:5). 

According to John the author of Revelation in part III of the book, The Lord God and His Christ in the Great Conflict with Satan from the Perspective of the Conflict and the Viewpoint of Heaven there is reference to The Harvest of the Earth and in 14:9-10 John says 

“A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out in full strength into the cup of His anger.  He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (MEV). 

 “The warning is directed to those who have not accepted Christ (v. 14:6) and to Christians who will be tempted to deny their faith in Christ because of intense persecution and the likelihood of being killed for following him.” 

~Donald C. Stamps Commentary Full Life Study Bible.

Exhortation:  

The happiness in heaven will be pale in comparison to the happiness we pursue and experience on earth as we know it.  The poor in spirit, they that mourn, and the meek will have their eternal reward because they are children of God. 

What will be your reward when judgment comes?  Are you submissive as a child?  Are you truly ready to receive the kingdom of God? 

 "(15) Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."" ~Mark 10:15 (NIV) 

  

Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:

Submit yourself to God and allow His grace and mercy to purify your heart.  Take the place of clay that the Potter may remake you.  Be spiritually reborn, transform and start living for eternal life today, that reward which is promised to come.  

At the end of yourself you will be made whole and be prepared to walk with God in a New Heaven and New Earth.  Do you want His grace and mercy?  Do you need help conforming to Jesus Christ the perfect image of God?  Do you want to the fruit of the spirit?  Do you want humble spirit, compassion & gentleness?  

Prayer & song.  

Holy Father in heaven, we offer ourselves to thee, come be with us and do with us as thou wilt.  Take away our difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those we may help of thy power, thy love, and thy way of life.  May we do thy will always. 

Benediction:

Holy Father let us experience the fruits of happiness here on earth as it is practiced in heaven.  Allow us the sensory, the taste and the smell of that which is to come.  Not that we greedily hoard it to ourselves but that it motivates us to love you more and love our neighbor as ourselves.  To you who has provided Jesus Christ to us in the purification for sins, he is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (Heb 1:3 NIV).  To you our great King be greater glory, honor and dominion.  Forever and ever.