Jesus shows us the course of the Kingdom. Matthew 5.9, 10
Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes (5)
Pray Psalm 84.5-7.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Sing joyfully Psalm 84.5-7.
(Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Blessed are they whose strength is founded
in Your strength, O Lord above.
All whose hearts in You are grounded
journey in Your strength and love.
Though they weep with tears of sadness,
grace shall all their way sustain.
In Your presence, filled with gladness,
they shall conquer all their pain.
Read Matthew 5.1-10; meditate on verses 9, 10.
Prepare.
1. Who are the blessed of the Kingdom, according to these verses?
2. Where should they expect to receive their fullest reward?
Meditate.
Having shown us the way into the Kingdom (vv. 3, 4), and cast a vision for the scope and character of the Kingdom (vv. 5, 6), Jesus began to explain the goals and expectations of Kingdom living, starting with mercy and purity and the vision of God (vv. 7, 8). In today’s passage, Jesus continued to put before us what to expect and what to strive for as we follow Him into the Kingdom of heaven.
We are called to be peacemakers (v. 9). Righteousness describes the character of the Kingdom; peace describes the condition that adheres to those who dwell in righteousness, and joy is the consequence of those together (Rom. 14.17, 18). They who have come into the Kingdom are at peace with God. They have peace in the world, so that its vicissitudes and uncertainties do not cause them to be anxious (Phil. 4.6, 7). Believers work hard to be at peace with one another, so that the reality of the Kingdom may flourish from within their midst (Eph. 4.3; Jn. 17.21). And they extend the promise of peace to their neighbors, that they may enter the Kingdom and know the peace of God that accompanies the pursuit of righteousness.
Knowing peace, sharing peace, proclaiming peace, and leading others to the shalom of the Lord: This must factor large in our daily agenda as citizens of the Kingdom whose ruler is the Prince of Peace. Kingdom citizens are vessels of mercy and bringers of peace to world.
But notice (v. 10) that not everyone will be happy to know of this peace, or glad to receive it. For some, the offer of peace with God is a threat against their presumed autonomy. And since they can’t strike out at God, they will strike out at His messengers, as Daniel was shown in Daniel 7.13-27. We must expect opposition and even persecution; so we must take as a goal to prepare ourselves for these, so that when they come, they will neither shake our peace nor deter us from offering mercy to those who hate us.
Note here also that Jesus extended the promise of the Kingdom beyond this lifetime into the Kingdom of heaven yet to come – a note He will reiterate in verse 12. He has outlined the whole course of our journey in and to His eternal Kingdom. We are not merely creatures of the here and now; we live toward a glorious then and there, in which our adoption as sons and daughters of God will be finalized, and full possession of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will be ours to enjoy.
We must pass through some valleys of tears in this life. But if we keep our eyes on Him Who alone is pure, and on the Kingdom He has given and is preparing for us, we can take up our calling to be living sacrifices for His glory (Rom. 12.1, 2), and know peace and show mercy, even to those who seek to do us ill.
Where else in the world can you find people who live like that?
Reflect.
1. What does it mean to have peace with God? How would you explain this to an unbelieving friend?
2. In Ephesians 4.3, Paul said we have to work hard to maintain the unity we have in Christ, in the bond of the Spirit. Jesus said in John 17.21 that this is an important part of our mission in the world. Why must we work hard at keeping peace within the Body of Christ?
3. In what ways should citizens of the Kingdom expect to encounter persecution? How can we prepare for this?
The peacemakers are those who, standing apart from the stumbling block of disagreement and discord, guard the affection of fraternal love and the peace of the church under the unity of the universal faith. And the Lord in the Gospel particularly urges his disciples to guard this peace, saying, “I give you my peace; I leave you my peace.” Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 17.7.1-2
Use me today to spread peace, O Lord, especially as I…
Pray Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12.
We are called to be living sacrifices for the Lord (Rom. 12.1, 2). Offer yourself to Him today, as a pleasing sacrifice. Focus on Him in glory, and ask Him to give you every good thing you will need to do all His will today.
Sing Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12.
Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12 (Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Lord of hosts, how sweet Your dwelling;
how my soul longs for Your courts!
Let my soul with joy keep telling
of Your grace forever more.
Like a bird upon the altar
let my life to You belong.
Blessed are they who never falter
as they praise Your grace with song!
Lord of hosts, my prayer receiving,
hear me, help me by Your grace!
In Your courts I stand believing;
turn to me Your glorious face!
Lord, our sun, our shield, our glory,
no good thing will You deny
to those who proclaim Your story,
and who on Your grace rely.
T. M. Moore
Worship the Lord!
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).
