THE BEATITUDES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1898

Lesson IV.—Sunday, January 23, 1898.

THE BEATITUDES.

NOTE.—A study of the whole chapter, which is included in the lesson section, will be found exceedingly profitable. There is an intimate connection between the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. The latter portion of the chapter seems to be based upon the texts furnished by the Beatitudes. This sermon was delivered about the middle of Christ’s second year of earthly ministry, after He had secured considerable influence and following.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 5:1-12, R. V.

1 “And seeing the multitudes, He went up into the mountain; 2 and when He had sat down, His disciples came unto Him; 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 that 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 sons of God. 10 “Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say 12 all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Golden Text: “Ye are the light of the world.” Matt. 5:14.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) When Christ saw the multitude about Him, what did He do? Verse 1. (2) By whom was He closely surrounded? (3) What did He immediately begin to do? Verse 2. (4) Upon whom did He pronounce the first blessing? Verse 3. (5) What did He say of them? Same verse. Note 1. (6) Upon whom is the second blessing pronounced? Verse 4. (7) In what does their blessing consist? Same verse. Note 2. (8) Who is next blessed? Verse 5. (9) What will be included in their reward? Same verse. Note 3. (10) Who are the next recipients of His blessing? Verse 6. (11) What is said of them? Same verse. (12) With what will they be filled? Same verse. (13) What will be the blessing conferred upon the merciful? Verse 7. (14) Who are next mentioned as recipients of God’s blessing? Verse 8. (15) In what does their blessing consist? Same verse. Note 4. (16) How are the peacemakers blessed? Verse 9. (17) What rich inheritance is vouchsafed to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Verse 10. Note 5. (18) Through what special trials does the Saviour’s blessing rest upon His followers? Verse 11. (19) This blessing is conditional. In what does the condition lie? Same verse. (20) During such trials what is it the privilege of the Christian to do? Verse 12. (21) Why may he reasonably do so? Same verse. (22) To whom can the persecuted Christian look as an example in the suffering of persecution?

NOTES.

1. The poor in spirit.—Humble in spirit. It is a condition of spirit which realizes what there is for it to attain to, and at the same time senses its own great spiritual want. Only such as have this spirit realize the importance of the spiritual blessing which they need and lack. Such a spirit is in harmony with the Spirit of heaven, and such as possess it are made heirs of heaven.

2. They that mourn.—This is not the mourning that is done for the loss of worldly riches or positions of honor, but the mourning for sin and for the wretched condition of the sinners who refuse to turn from their sin. It is such mourning as the great Teacher furnished an example of when He wept over Jerusalem. The comforting is also exemplified in the experience of the Lord Himself when “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.” Isa. 53:11. See also Rev. 7:14 and Heb. 12:11.

3. They shall inherit the earth.—Literally, through the promise made to Abraham that he should be the heir of the world. See Rom. 4:13; Gal. 3:16, 29; Gen. 13:14–17; Isa. 60:21; Ps. 37:29. When the earth shall have been purified by fire from the effects of the curse, and all the proud and all that do wickedly (Mal. 4:1) shall be as tho they had not been, then will the Lord renew or recreate the earth, and make it the abode of the saints forever. See also Mal. 4:3.

4. They shall see God.—Only the pure in heart will be able to look upon God and live. The others will be slain by the brightness of His coming. The pure in heart will be made immortal at the coming of Christ (1 Cor. 15:51–54), and whatever remains mortal at that time will not be able to withstand the power of the outshining glory of Christ.

5. Persecuted for righteousness’ sake.—It is well to note the fact that the blessing is pronounced upon those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake—not upon those who persecute, thinking that they are doing God service. There is no blessing pronounced in the Scripture upon one who persecutes another, no matter how sincere the motive of the one who does the persecuting. He may think he is doing his duty, that he is honoring God, but God has no blessing for such an one; but, on the other hand, he is the indirect instrument in the blessing which comes to the one whom he persecutes.