Are You Hungry?

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached Part IV

Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5-7

(Commentary by Guy Glass and Scott Hescht)

Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Scott: Understand that the Sermon on the Mount is just that; a sermon. Though it may seem at first glance to be a collection of various wise proverbs and commandments, it is much more that, centering around a central idea as does any other speech given by an intelligent man or woman purposefully conveying a message. What is this message? As one reads through the Sermon on the Mount, it becomes clear that Jesus is calling those who would follow Him to a higher standard.

Barack Obama recognized this in referring to Christ’s teaching as “radical”; and the truth is, they are radical in comparison to the social norm. Not much has changed in the nature of man. There is a part of mankind that recognizes some good, but screams, “Now wait a minute!” when challenged to love like Jesus loved. Some read the Sermon on the Mount and eventually walk away disappointed much like the rich young ruler did when Jesus beckoned him to a higher calling (Mark 10:17-22). There was a part of the young man who wanted to follow the Messiah, but in seeking his own righteousness he came up short.

Before judging the poor lad for walking away, we must first look at ourselves. Do you seek after righteousness? If the answer is yes then ask yourself from where this righteousness comes? If it is found in an attempt to follow the rules without the Author of them, then you too will sadly be disappointed and eventually find yourself unable to do so, walking away as did the rich young man. Even in an attempt to layout the Sermon on the Mount before us as a blue print to satisfaction, we will be empty. This too is self righteousness, and truth be know, there is no such thing as self righteousness. We will waste away in our own futile attempts to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.

So is the Sermon on the Mount a wash, or on the other hand, is it an attempt to show us the impossibility of following the Son of God? Absolutely not. Remember that those whom Jesus spoke to were those to whom the Kingdom of God had come. They are those who were the poor in spirit and had placed their faith in the living Christ; Jesus the Righteous One. They knew they lacked and that is exactly why they sought the mercy of the living God. It is His righteousness that they hungered for. Those who hunger for His righteousness will be satisfied.

Therefore the Sermon on the Mount is not an outline to righteousness. It is the fruit of an individual living in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This most famous sermon can be summed up as “The life in Christ”. Those who are “born again” in His righteousness will be satisfied. Not only does His grace cover where we have fallen short, but He gives us a new heart that desires righteousness. These commands of his become less radical and more of an outflow of our love for God and our love for people through the power of Jesus Christ. He makes the impossible possible. So hunger and you will be fed. Thirst and you will be refreshed. He makes all things new; and all things He will set right. In Him alone we are satisfied.

To the self righteous, this sermon will indeed be out of the realm of possibility. Many will be turned away. Others will be turned off. To those who have placed their trust in the Righteous One, they will receive His teaching and high calling of love for God and other people with joy and thanksgiving.

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached III

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached III
Matthew 5-7

(Commentary by Guy Glass and Scott Hescht)

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Guy: As we've seen earlier, the word translated blessed means happy. Here in verse five, we read that the meek are happy. I want to point out that the Greek word "praeis", when it is used elsewhere in the New Testament, is translated as gentle. So we read, "Happy are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."

What does it mean to be gentle? So often, gentleness is perceived as weakness. Gentleness, however, is far from weakness. Weakness is the opposite of strength. Gentleness is "controlled strength." If one would be seen as possessing power if they are strong rather than weak, then one should be seen as having more power if they walk in gentleness rather than demonstrating their strength.

In Galatians 5:22-24, Paul writes, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." This passage sums up Jesus' sentiment in verse five of His sermon.

What comes naturally to mankind is to be proud, to think highly of ourselves, to come to our own defense, to want to be treated "right" by others. We want to have things; a nice home and a nice car and friends that think we are witty and smart. We want success in business, in our finances; we want to be confident, assured of ourselves, go getters. We believe we deserve respect and if you treat me in a way that is not up to my level you're going to hear about it because I deserve better. These, however, are fleshly desires.

Jesus, in preaching the Sermon on the Mount, was speaking to His disciples - those who belong to Christ. So, as Paul said to the Galatians, if you are Christ's, then you must lay all of those fleshly desires aside, make a practice of self control, and walk in gentleness and meekness. Matthew Henry says of the meek:

The meek are gentle towards all men (Tit. 3:2), can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either silent, or return a soft answer; and can show their displeasure without being transported into any indecencies; who can be cool when others are hot; and in their patience keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of any thing else. They are the meek, who are rarely and hardly provoked, but quickly and easily pacified; and who would rather forgive twenty injuries than revenge one.[1]

So why are the meek blessed or the gentle happy? On one hand, this spiritual discipline, of walking in gentleness, allows a developing Christian to live in peace with others. If we are not always being offended when our pride is injured; if we are not always at odds with others, or having words with our spouse or our parent or our boss when our high estimation of our self is brought low; if we are, rather than looking out for our own benefit, looking out for the benefit of others, esteeming others as more important than ourselves, we will have peace with others, peace of mind and we will share in the attitude of Christ.
On the other hand, we have a promise. Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." The earth will be ours. It seems, in our world, that the earth belongs to the rich and the arrogant - those that are seeking their own gain and not walking in gentleness. Their claim to the earth, however, is short lived. Psalm 73 tells how God has set them in slippery places and as soon as they slip down into the grave, their successes and possession of earthly things ends.

In Psalm 37:11, King David refers to God's people inheriting the land. Just as the Israelites inherited a land of promise and found rest, Christians also will inherit the whole earth and find eternal rest. Second Timothy 2 says, "If we suffer, we will also reign with Him." Romans 8 promises that, "if we are God's children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." We have a new earth to look forward to in which righteousness dwells.

Jesus calls each of us to walk in gentleness in Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (USA: Hendrickson Publishers 1991), 1,629.

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached II

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached II
Matthew 5-7

(Commentary by Guy Glass and Scott Hescht)

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."


Scott: At one time in my life I had hated what I had become. My sin consumed me and I knew that I was not right with God. It weighed so heavy on my conscience that I could not put it to rest. Like a man or woman grieving the death of a loved one, I was so deeply burdened by my sin. My mourning brought me to repentance and in that moment I was comforted.

Jonathan Edwards was considered by some to be an over the top, hell bent religious fanatic. His most famous sermon "Sinners in the Hand of and Angry God" lead them to this conclusion. However, those who understand Edwards realize that he had an immense love for people and was intimately aware of the death sentence that their sin brought upon them. He mourned for their souls and would go to great lengths to show them the way of salvation.

Does your sin bother you? Then turn to the Savior. Adam Clarke understood that those who do, "He will call them to himself, and speak the words of pardon, peace, and life eternal, to their hearts."[1]

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your
laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the
Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:8-10)

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Does the sin of the world trouble you? Do you mourn over lost souls and for those who have gone astray?

The Apostle Paul was burdened by the Corinthian's sin as he wrote, I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. (2 Corinthians 12:21)

Blessed are those who mourn. Jesus promised that you will be comforted not only in this life, but in the next life when sin and all its destruction will be done away with for eternity.

[1] Clarke, Adam. Adam Clarke's Commentary. New York: World Publishing, 1997.