Blessed are the Humble
Life of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Handout
Handout
When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Key Terms:
Key Terms:
“Blessed” - almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Blessed” - almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Kingdom of Heaven” - The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition.
Key Concept:
Key Concept:
“Inclusio”
Key Connection:
Key Connection:
The “ Poor in Spirit” see themselves as spiritually bankrupt as a result they will mourn over their sin and be comforted in the knowledge that one day all will be made right in the coming Kingdom.
Trans: Today we will continue to connect the dots of the beatitudes and show how they build upon one another by asking the following questions:
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
I. What is the scriptural definition of humility or meekness?
I. What is the scriptural definition of humility or meekness?
A. What meekness/humility is not
1. It is not shyness or timidness.
This same Greek word is used in this passage is used two other places to describe Jesus.
The first instance it is translated as “lowly”
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
In this passage Christ is comparing himself to the other teachers of His day. In this way Christ stands in stark contrast to those around Him. Others in that day would have proven themselves worthy of being followed by their own conceit. They would have striven to make a name for themselves. Christ however, made Himself of no reputation. He followed only the Father’s will. He emptied Himself. Christ did not strive for popularity His concern was only bringing glory to the Father. In this sense He was lowly.
Trans: The Second time this word is used it is translated as “Gentle”.
Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Jesus was not like any other King the world had known He did not come to power through harshness or violence he came in with gentleness, meekness, and humility.
He came born in a manger to parents of little means. He didn’t have an army to conquer the world. He conquered through humility, love, and service. Preaching, the good news of the kingdom
Yet it is worth mentioning that He will return with gentleness to those who are “poor in spirit” having turned to the messiah. To those who reject Him he will return with judgement.
Jesus was in no way shy in character. Shyness in the christian life is not an attribute to be valued, but rather an obstacle to be overcome.
2. Trans: It is not the absence of boldness or confidence
Example :Moses
Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.
Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them went out.
Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward,
he said: “Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
Not so with my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my household.
I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
Moses was called the meekest or most humble man on the face of the earth. Yet he stood before Pharoah and demanded the people of Isreal be set free. He stood before the congregation of Isreal in the face of great adversity (under the threat of being stoned) and would declare the Word of that Yahweh God had spoken.
We see in the N.T. that the holy spirit’s indwelling did not decrease their boldness or make them quiet but the opposite it gave the early church boldness to speak the truth.
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.
3. Trans: It is not the absence of righteous indignation or the inability to stand up for what is right.
Jesus was meek and lowly yet spoke strongly to the proud. Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers, made a whip, and chased them from the temple.
So then what is meekness/humility?
It cannot be defined by a single word. It is selflessness. It is loving, It is not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. It is gentleness when gentleness is warranted. It is boldness in the face of opposition. It is righteous indignation in the presence of evil. In other words, meekness is a pliable spirit under the direct control of the Spirit of God. Meekness/humility has no will of it’s own but rather submits in all things to the will of the Father.
Unfortunately those who confidently follow the savior will at times be called arrogant. Because we live in a culture the operates not from certainty, but uncertainty. The more you question truth, the more you are seen as open, woke, philosophical, and even wise. Boldness and confidence in our God feels to the unbelieving world like pouring salt in the wounds of sin.
II. Toward whom are we to exercise this attribute?
II. Toward whom are we to exercise this attribute?
A. Toward God - we are to be pliant/pliable
B. It overflows into how we treat one another.
III. What does it mean to “Inherit the earth”?
III. What does it mean to “Inherit the earth”?
Once again we come back to the term of “inclusio”. We are pulling everything from the envelope of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus is not saying that if you are humble in this life that you will somehow rise to the top. Seldom do people who refuse to promote themselves ever receive recognition on this earth. It is not saying that everything the world’s system will one day flip and suddenly people will value meekness and humility.
It is the promise that when one day, Christ will return. One day Christ will set all things right. One when his Kingdom is established all things will operate according to His values.