“Life in the Kingdom of God” # 3 Matthew 5:3

TRANSCRIPT

Date: March 6, 2022 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Many religions view the Sermon on the Mount as a list of ethical standards by which Christians should live. In that regard, they claim that poverty in itself is a virtue, and the absence of material possessions or the lack of financial resources reveals one’s faith in God. Some even take a vow of poverty to prove their faith and their trust in God’s provision. However, Jesus used the term “poor in spirit” to describe those who are utterly destitute and completely helpless to provide their own way into the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ day, a person in such physical need would be so ashamed of his position in life he would cover his face while he held out his hand and begged for help. Jesus said this describes those who will be allowed into His kingdom; those so poor in spiritual things they beg God for His mercy and grace. We will explain this further in our next sermon in this series – “Behold the King: Life in the Kingdom of God # 3.

Many religions view the Sermon on the Mount as a list of ethical standards by which Christians should live. In that regard, they claim that poverty in itself is a virtue, and the absence of material possessions or the lack of financial resources reveals one’s faith in God. Some even take a vow of poverty to prove their faith and their trust in God’s provision.

However, Jesus used the term “poor in spirit” to describe those who are utterly destitute and completely helpless to provide their own way into the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ day, a person in such physical need would be so ashamed of his position in life he would cover his face while he held out his hand and begged for help.

Jesus said this describes those who will be allowed into His kingdom; those so poor in spiritual things they beg God for His mercy and grace. We will explain this further in our next sermon in this series – “Behold the King: Life in the Kingdom of God # 3.

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

Old Testament Reading: Amos 9:11-15 – New Testament Reading: John 3:1-21

Matthew’s purpose in writing his account of the life of Christ was to prove to his fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, the King, the Savior sent from God.

In His first recorded sermon, Jesus said the fundamental characteristic of a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven is to be “poor in spirit.”

This is where the different interpretations of the Sermon on the Mount are manifest.

Two Greek words are translated as “poor” in the Bible:

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