Beautiful Attitudes

By Steve A. Hamilton

Part 2

 Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction: If you could learn just eight attitudes that could change your life for the better would you be interested?  Not only will these beautiful attitudes change your life but they will change your eternal being forever.  Anyone who develops these beautiful attitudes will be blessed by the Almighty.  We have already discussed four of these attitudes so let’s learn about the other four.

I. “Blessed are the merciful…”

          A. Mercy is the feeling of pity toward one in misery.  Mercy is compassion that meets the need of those in distress.  Mercy is sympathy for the suffering.

          B. Mercy is displayed in action.  James contrasts judgment with mercy to faith with works to illustrate one without the other is incomplete (Jas. 2:13-16).  If we feel pity for our brother but fail to act on his behalf, we are without mercy (Prov. 21:13).

          C. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) and the parable of The Unforgiving Servant (Matt. 18:23-35) are examples where mercy was displayed in action.  

          D. But mercy is optional.  We can give or withhold our mercy just as God has reserved that right (Rom. 9:15-24).  It so happens that God in making the new covenant plans to be merciful to those who have been called by it (Heb. 8:12).

          E. We don’t deserve His mercy.  But if we wish to receive His mercy we will have to be merciful ourselves (Luke 6:31-36).   

II. “Blessed are the pure in heart…”

          A. Pure in heart is being free from evil.  It is a sincerity to live righteously in service to God.  That is not to say the pure in heart do not sin.  However, one who is pure in heart will appropriately deal with sin (1 Tim. 1:5-7; 2 Tim. 2:19-22).

          B. The pure in heart look at life differently from the world (Titus 1:15-16).  Therefore, the pure in heart are a peculiar people (Titus 2:14).

          C. It will be the pure in heart that will see God (Psm. 24:3-5).

III. “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

          A. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34; Luke 12:51).  It seems obvious to me that Christ is not talking about making peace for the sake of peace.

          B. Certainly, we should try to “live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18-21).  But how are we to achieve the kind of peace that Christ is talking about here?  Paul said, “Overcome evil with good.”

          C. Can you think of any greater peace that overcomes evil than that which comes with knowing and living God’s word (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 6:15)?  No one can have true peace without Christ (Eph. 2:11-13).

          D. Therefore, peacemakers are those who bring others to Christ. The peacemakers are like sons of God as God’s Son came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). 

IV. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…” 

          A. Christians will suffer (2 Tim. 3:12; Acts 14:21-22; Phil. 1:29-30).

          B. It is better to suffer for doing what is right (1 Pet. 3:13-17; 4:12-16).

          C. That might even mean to the point of death (Ex.; Matt. 14:3-4).

          D. Christians are going to suffer because we are in the business of exposing other people’s sins whether by our words or by our example (John 3:19-20; Eph. 4:13).

          E. The persecuted will have a great reward (Luke 6:22-23).

Conclusion: Jesus uses the beatitudes to express eight beautiful attitudes that will ensure anyone entrance into the Lord’s kingdom.  It is the poor in spirit, the sorrowful, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure, the peacemakers and the persecuted who will be in heaven.  Do you possess these beautiful attitudes?

Last modified: 05/02/08