Beautiful Attitudes

By Steve A. Hamilton

Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction: Jesus begins his very first recorded sermon in the Bible known as The Sermon on the Mount with a list of eight beautiful attitudes.  We call them beatitudes because the word “blessed” (from which the word beatitudes is derived)  expresses the utmost bliss or the most pronounced happiness that anyone can obtain. Would you like to know what beautiful attitudes that Jesus identifies will give us so much joy?

 I. “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”

          A. If you are thinking I’m going to have to be depressed to enter heaven you are correct. 

          B. The word poor describes a condition of poverty and perhaps such a condition in danger of starvation. However, Jesus makes it clear that he is not talking about a physical starvation but a spiritual one (i.e. “poor in spirit”). 

          C. Those who want to be members in the Lord’s church must recognize the depths of their sins and realize there is nothing they can do to rectify their situation.  The poor in spirit recognize they are spiritually bankrupt (ex.; Luke 18:13-14).

          D. The poor in spirit do not rely upon themselves to save their souls.  They humbly submit themselves to God’s will (Phil 2:3-8).  

          E. Unless we humble ourselves to God, we cannot enter heaven (Matt. 18:3-4).

II. “Blessed are those who mourn…”

          A. Does it seem strange that Jesus says happy are the sad?

          B. Like all the beatitudes, the Lord’s blessings go out to those whose attitudes are spiritually affected.  In this case, we must mourn our sins (2 Cor. 7:9-10). 

          C. The Lord will comfort those who mourn their sins (Psm. 34:18).    

III. “Blessed are the meek…”

          A. Meekness is often misunderstood to mean timid almost to the point of cowardly.  Meekness no where close to that.

          B. Meekness is closely associated with gentleness, humility and mildness. But meekness more closely embraces the attitude of putting others ahead of self.  A meek person will consider others before he considers himself (Ex.: Gen. 13:8-9).

          C. Moses was described as the meekest person who lived in his time    (Num. 12:3: KJV uses “meek” instead of “humble”). This is evident when Moses sits in judgment over the people (Ex. 18:13-18).  He tries to do it all because the people need him but in the process he burns himself out.  The meek will put the needs of others before his own needs.

          D. Lest you think meek people don’t get mad, consider Moses’ reaction to the Golden Calf (Ex. 32:19-21).  Is Moses at all timid? Who was Moses considering in his rage?  He is mad because sin was brought upon the people.  His meekness is also shown in his appeal to God (Ex. 32:30-34). Could you do the same for a sinful people who deserve punishment?

          E. Can you think of another example of a meek person taking on the sins of others?  Jesus appropriately described himself as meek (Matt. 11:29: KJV uses “meek” instead of “gentle”).  Jesus was the meekest person who ever lived.

          F. The meek will inherit the earth.  Not a physical one but a spiritual earth of far greater value (Rev. 21:1; 22:14).    

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

          A. “The story is told of a young man who went to a wise old man seeking the secret of success.  The wise old man took him down to the river and held the young man’s head under water.  After struggling and finally breaking free from the old man’s grip, the young man lay exhausted on the shore gasping for breath.  After the young man had recovered a bit, the old man replied, “When you want success as much as you want air, you will succeed” (Sermon On The Mount by John Smith, p.9).

          B. We must have the same desire for air as we have for righteousness.  David used that same analogy but with a deer’s desire for water (Psm. 42:1-2).

          C. Paul said he would give everything up for the knowledge of Christ (Phil. 3:7-11).  Would you be willing to give anything to know Christ?

          D. If you hunger for righteousness you will be filled (John 6:35).

Conclusion: How thirsty are you?  The Lord makes great promises to those who possess these beautiful attitudes.  If you want happiness beyond anything you have ever experienced before, how about putting off the weight of sin and begin a new life in service to Christ.

Last modified: 05/02/08