The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW 5:3

MATTHEW 5:16

1491

The promise of a Kingdom where CHRIST will rule (Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6) 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the 1 KINGDOM of heaven. P 4 Blessed are they that 2 mourn: 1 for they shall be comforted. P 5 Blessed are the 3 meek: 1 for they shall inherit the earth. P 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: 1 for they shall be filled. P 7 Blessed are the merciful: 1 for they shall obtain mercy. P 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: 1 for they shall see God. P 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: 1 for they shall be called the children of God. P 10 4 Blessed are theywhich are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the 1 KINGDOM of heaven. P 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall re- vile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

The promise of rewards to all who are found faithful when CHRIST returns (Fulfilled - Rev 4:2) 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: 5 for great is your reward in heaven: 6 for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. P 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. Parable #2 - The candle under a bushel [A lesson for the saved - Never assume the blessings of God are unconditional just because we are saved. They are not. Blessings are based upon our willingness to exemplify salt (vs. 13) and light.] (S/A - Mk 4:21-25 and Lk 8:16-18) 14 Ye are the 7 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, 8 that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6 (Christ’s Kingdom) (See - Dan 2:44) 2. Isa 61:2-3 3. Psa 37:11 4. I Pet 3:14 & 4:12-16 5. Fulfilled - Rev 4:2 (NT Rewards) 6. Jere 20:1-2 & Acts 7:52 7. Prov 4:18 & I Jn 4:17 8. I Pet 2:12 & Jms 2:14-26 & Eph 2:10 & Titus 3:8

5:3 a What a promise. Those (Christians) who learn what it means to be blessed here will be blessed in the future as well ( for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ). Called the Beatitudes ( Blessed means happy), verses 3-12 describe for us the genuine happiness of believers who have learned to surrender themselves to the Scriptures ( Psa 1:1,2 ). According to the Scriptures, we are “sanctified” (Jn 17:17 and Gal 3:1-3 & 5:16-25) in the same manner that we were “saved” –by yielding ourselves to the SPIRIT and the Scriptures (II Thess 2:13 and Titus 3:5a ). The Beatitudes do not teach us how to be saved, rather they teach us what it can be like to be saved – here and in the future. Christ encouraged his disciples to experience now what would become universal during the Millennium. NOTE – Contrary to popular belief, not everyone going to Heaven is going to “enjoy” Heaven ( Mt 16:25-26 , II Cor 5:10-11 and Lk 12:46,47 ). 5:3 b Christians who are poor in spirit now (have a genuine need for God at all times), because they have learned to continually yield themselves to the Word of God ( Amos 8:11-12 ), are promised a special future ( Rev 2: 12- 17 ). NOTE –Those who understand that they have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, are blessed of God, because it is through this “poverty” that we enter the kingdom of Heaven. We cannot enter the kingdom as good men and women; we can only enter the kingdom like the thief on the cross did (Lk 23:39-43) – as a complete pauper. 5:4 Christians who mourn now (have a genuine spirit of repentance), because they have learned to continually yield themselves to the Word of God ( II Cor 7:8-9 ), are promised a comfortable future ( Rev 3: 14- 21 a ). 5:5 a Christians who are meek now (are willing to suffer patiently without resistance - Num 12:3 ), because they have learned to continually yield themselves to the Word of God, are promised to rule and reign with Christ during His 1,000-year Millennial reign ( Rev 2: 18- 26 ). 5:5 b The expression “ for they shall inherit the earth ” refers to Christians who have “earned the right” to rule and reign with CHRIST during His 1000-year Millennial Reign ( Mt 19:29 & 25:34, Gal 5:21 and Rev 21:7 ). NOTE – This word ( inherit ) is the Greek word κληερ ο ν ο µησουσιν ( kleronomesousin ), and is translated inherit (Mt 25:34), heir (Rom 8:17), lot (Mt 27:35), part (Acts 1:17), or heritage (I Pet 5:3). It comes from two Greek words: (1) kleros (meaning lot ) and (2) nemomai (meaning to possess ), and means “ to possess the right to receive an inheritance .” An heir is someone who inherits something because he/she is a part of the family. However, while every heir receives something, not every heir will receive the same thing. Receiving an inheritance doesn’t mean you inherit everything. For example, some within a family, because of the favor they enjoy (Gen 25:1-6), or because of their birth status (Gen 25:29-34), or because they have earned a better inheritance (Gen 49), will receive more of the inheritance than the others. The same will be true of Heaven. While it is true that every onewho trusts CHRIST inheritsHeaven, not every one that trustsHimwill inherit the same inheritance.Why? Because: * Some, due to covenants (promises made – Gen 12:1-3), will be more favored than others (Mt 19:28-29 & 20:20-21) * Some, due to their birth status (II Sam 12:18-23), will not inherit the same inheritance (Mt 5:5) * Some, due to their lack of faithfulness (Mt 25:14-30), will not enjoy what they inherited (Lk 12:41-48 & 19:11-26 and