The Sunday School Lesson

MATT. 5:1 And seeing the Multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto 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 they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

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

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

HEART OF THE LESSON 1. Teaching the disciples (Matt. 5:1-2). Jesus probably

delivered this message, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum.

As was the practice of rabbis, Jesus sat down, and His disciples gathered around Him, The mention of the multitudes indicates that Jesus was teaching far more than merely the twelve chosen apostles and was motivated to speak by their gathering around Him.

The previous chapter records that Jesus had spoken of the coming kingdom of heaven (Matt. 4:17). Jesus now addressed the question of who would qualify to enter that kingdom.

2. The blessed ones (Matt. 5:3-12). Verses 3 through 11 make up the Beatitudes. Each of these statements begins with the phrase "blessed are" and describes a quality exhibited by God's people.

Jesus began by teaching that the poor in spirit will be blessed. The poor in spirit are those who understand that there is nothing they can do of themselves to be right with God or to please Him. They must depend totally on God Himself. Thus, the kingdom of heaven will be made up of those who arrive there by trusting in God's grace.

Jesus next promised that those who mourn will be comforted, These are the people who grieve over their sins and transgressions against God.

The meek will be blessed because, in their humility, they have a true understanding of their position before God. In their reliance upon Him, they will be rewarded with the future kingdom on earth.

The ones whose spiritual appetites can be satisfied only with true righteousness will be filled with the righteousness imputed by Christ to the believer.

The merciful will be blessed. Those who know God's mercy are likewise ready to show it to others. There is an inherent blessing in sharing this mercy as well as a reward from God.

The pure in heart will be blessed because, being pure, they are worthy to experience God on a personal level. Their purity is the holiness imputed to them in Christ; their sins have been forgiven, making them clean,

The peacemakers are those who have found peace with God by reconciliation through Christ and who introduce this peace to others. They become children of God by imitation of their Father.

Finally, Jesus pronounced a blessing upon those who are persecuted as the result of their righteous stand. Those who follow Christ will face persecution.

3. The role of the righteous (Matt. 5:13-16). Jesus explained to the disciples that those who follow Him have the responsibility and the privilege of being salt and light in the midst of a lost world.

As salt, they are to bring the flavor of righteousness to the world. Salt also creates thirst. The believer creates a spiritual thirst within unbelievers, motivating them to learn more about Christ.

As light, they illuminate the truth of salvation in Christ so that others may turn to Him in faith. They serve as lights on the narrow path. As Jesus pointed out, light cannot be hidden. Their roles will be vital in reaching the lost.

The believer is to carry out good works and make it clear that those works are done by the power of God so that He will receive all the glory and honor.

QUESTIONS

1. What is meant by the term "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3)? How does this relate to the term "kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20)?

2. In what ways can Christians be peacemakers?

3. How is an ineffective Christian like salt that has lost its saltiness?

4. How can we let our lights shine for Christ? Who should receive the glory of our good works?

(Reprinted by permission of The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society and Union Gospel Press, P.O. Box 6059, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101)