The Heart of the King’s The Heart of the King’s MessageMessage

Mt 5:13-20Mt 5:13-20

The Resolution of The Resolution of RulershipRulership

• Happy Happy areare the poor in the poor in spirit because belonging spirit because belonging to them is the Kingdom to them is the Kingdom of Heaven.of Heaven.

• Happy are those who are Happy are those who are mourning because they mourning because they will bewill be comforted comforted

• Happy Happy are are the gentle the gentle because they will inherit because they will inherit the earth.the earth.

• Happy are those who Happy are those who hunger and thirst hunger and thirst forfor righteousness because righteousness because they will be filled.they will be filled.

• Happy Happy areare the merciful the merciful because they will be because they will be mercied.mercied.

• Happy are the clean of Happy are the clean of heart because they will heart because they will see God.see God.

• Happy are those who Happy are those who make peace because they make peace because they will be called sons of God.will be called sons of God.

• Happy are those who have Happy are those who have been persecuted on been persecuted on account of righteousness account of righteousness because belonging to because belonging to them is the Kingdom of them is the Kingdom of Heaven.Heaven.

#9: v11-12: YOU#9: v11-12: YOU

11 μακάριοί ἐστε11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ ὑμῶν [ψευδόμενοι] ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. 12 χαίρετε ὑμῶν [ψευδόμενοι] ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. 12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.

Happy are YOU when they should revile you Happy are YOU when they should revile you and persecute and say all kinds of evil and persecute and say all kinds of evil concerning you, being false, on behalf of concerning you, being false, on behalf of me. Rejoice and leap for joy because your me. Rejoice and leap for joy because your reward is great in heaven, for in this way reward is great in heaven, for in this way they persecuted the prophets before you.they persecuted the prophets before you.

Rejoice and Leap for JoyRejoice and Leap for Joy

1.1. Jesus personalizes the beatitudes to the Jesus personalizes the beatitudes to the audience for the first time on the topic of audience for the first time on the topic of persecutionpersecution..

2.2. The specific form persecution will take is The specific form persecution will take is verbal abuse, including slander and gossip. verbal abuse, including slander and gossip.

3.3. The first recorded sin in earthly history is The first recorded sin in earthly history is the adversary’s false statements in Gen 3:1.the adversary’s false statements in Gen 3:1.

4.4. To be attacked by the enemies of God is To be attacked by the enemies of God is portrayed as reason to rejoice and exult or portrayed as reason to rejoice and exult or leap for joy.leap for joy.

5.5. These words are for our encouragement These words are for our encouragement under withering attack in the realm of under withering attack in the realm of thoughts and communication.thoughts and communication.

6.6. We rejoice, going back to the history of We rejoice, going back to the history of God’s self-revelation through human God’s self-revelation through human beings.beings.

7.7. The prophets, for revealing the The prophets, for revealing the righteousness of God as related to the righteousness of God as related to the Law suffered the enemy’s attacks.Law suffered the enemy’s attacks.

8.8. Therefore under pressure we find Therefore under pressure we find continuity with God’s people across the continuity with God’s people across the ages.ages.

9.9. But these present sufferings cause us to But these present sufferings cause us to look forward to future blessing in the look forward to future blessing in the kingdom as well.kingdom as well.

How Persecution How Persecution Motivates UsMotivates Us

1.1. It tells us we’re getting it right.It tells us we’re getting it right.2.2. It reminds us that we’re fighting on It reminds us that we’re fighting on

the winning side in a war of ideas.the winning side in a war of ideas.3.3. It provides a sense of fellowship It provides a sense of fellowship

with all who have represented God with all who have represented God in the in the pastpast: the prophets and the : the prophets and the Prophet. Prophet. – The bearer of God’s testimony has The bearer of God’s testimony has

always been rejected by the Kosmos.always been rejected by the Kosmos.4.4. It reminds us of It reminds us of futurefuture reward. reward.5.5. It provides another opportunity for It provides another opportunity for

us to see God’s deliverance.us to see God’s deliverance.

From Character to From Character to ConductConduct

v 13: Saltv 13: Salt

You (emphatic) you are the salt of the You (emphatic) you are the salt of the earthearth

But then (now—But then (now—dede advances—next point, advances—next point, deeper into the argument) if the salt deeper into the argument) if the salt should become foolish = insipid (3s aor should become foolish = insipid (3s aor pass subj pass subj mwrainwmwrainw), by what ), by what meansmeans will will it be made salty [or will it be salted](3s it be made salty [or will it be salted](3s fut pass ind fut pass ind alizwalizw)? )?

For the goal of (For the goal of (ei~ei~) nothing is it capable ) nothing is it capable (3s pres act ind, (3s pres act ind, iscuwiscuw) anymore except ) anymore except ((ei mhei mh) being thrown out (aor pass ) being thrown out (aor pass participle, neut accus sg, participle, neut accus sg, ballwballw) for the ) for the purpose of being trampled underfpurpose of being trampled underfootoot by by men.men.