Background

1. Why the Sermon on the Mount
   • The teachings of Jesus Christ are critical to the life of a believer, Matthew 7:24-27
   • The teachings of Jesus Christ are the primary discipleship training for His followers, Matthew 28:19-20
2. Context of the Sermon, Matthew 4:23-25 and 5:1-2
   • Protect the disciples from false preconceived notions about Christ and His Kingdom in the midst of popular appeal
   • Provide the disciples with transferable material to teach others

Exposition of Matthew 5:3

1. Blessed
   • Makarios – inward joy that comes from God
   • Connection to the Old Testament of blessings: Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 32:1-2, Psalm 34:8, Jeremiah 17:7
   • Contrasted to happiness which comes from external factors or personal accomplishment
2. Poor in Spirit
   • Humble toward God
   • Contrasted with “Blessed are the meek” – humble toward others
   • Poor – someone who is destitute, completely dependent on the help of another to survive; an acknowledgement of spiritual poverty or spiritual bankruptcy
   • In Spirit – a spiritual poverty in which the individual is completely dependent on God for their spiritual life
   • Connection with poverty, wealth and right relationship to God

• Kingdom of Heaven
  • The message of John the Baptist, Matthew 3:2
  • The message of Jesus Christ, Matthew 4:17
  • “Theirs is…” present tense – already possessing or already in
  • The Kingdom of Heaven – under the authority and reign of the King of Heaven

Conclusion: The first statement by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is a pronouncement of blessing on all those who consider themselves to be spiritually destitute and absolutely dependent on the King.  This attitude marks them as kingdom people.