WINNING ATTITUDES – PART 2 Bella, Roohi

GRACIOUS JESUS2. TRUE BLESSEDNESS

Winning Attitudes – Part 1 Winning Attitudes – Part 2Winning Attitudes – Part 3

PRESENTATION OVERVIEWMatt 5:6-8; Lk 6:21a Objectives Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness pre-requisite for spiritual craving

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. comparison of mercy of soul to body

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. attaining and sustaining purity

Recap Discussion

OBJECTIVESTo understand:• The deeper concepts of “blessedness”

given by Christ• The requirements for blessedness,

specifically righteousness, mercy and purity.

• The original meanings of associated terms and contexts and what Christ intended to convey.

KEY VERSES6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive

mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall

see God. Matt 5

WINNING ATTITUDES MATTHEW 5 : 6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

For they shall be satisfied

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST...

As hunger and thirst are the keenest of our appetites, this refer to "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings." [4]We see this longing expressed by David (Ps 119:20), Jacob (Gen 49:18), etc.

AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESSIn ancient Judaism, righteousness meant “to acquit, vindicate, restore to a right relationship.”[1]It does not refer to the external piety as Jews demonstrated but the sanctifying righteousness that comes from Christ alone through faith.

…. FOR THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED

• In overflowing measure God fills to saturation.

• 'They were very full, because they were very empty’ – St Austin says of the apostles

• Have we emptied ourselves of materialism so that we can be filled with Christ’s righteousness?

WINNING ATTITUDES MATTHEW 5 : 7

Blessed are the merciful

For they shall obtain mercy

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

Mercy refers to:• Mercy to the body – ie.

treating poor and miserable with affection and generosity

• Mercy to the soul - ie. via counsel, reproof, prayer, forgiveness, comfort, etc.

• God’s mercy through Christ – free, sovereign, abundant and eternal. [1]

FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:16

WINNING ATTITUDES MATTHEW 5 : 8

Blessed are the pure in heart

For they shall see God.

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

Pure in heart. Greek Katharos –Clean, blameless, unstained from guilt

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

We are declared pure because of:• work of JESUS

to sanctify us through His blood.

• by giving our hearts to Jesus

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

We remain pure by internal attitude:• Singleness of

heart toward God • No hypocrisy, nor

any hidden motives.

• Transparency and uncomplaining desire to please God in all things.

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

We remain pure by external compulsion:• Pruning• Fire

What Satan throws to inflict damage

God grows to reflect Christ’s image

FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD

WINNING ATTITUDES – PART 2: RECAP6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.• Do we crave for right living with God above everything else?• Have we truly emptied ourselves of the world to fill ourselves

with God?7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.• Are we passionate and compassionate about the lost or

starving condition of souls and bodies?8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. • Do we keep our hearts constantly cleansed by His blood? • Are we intolerant to the slightest stain on our heart?

DISCUSSION1. What are the things that can replace our thirst for God?

How can we handle them?2. How can we show mercy to the body and soul? When

does mercy to the body “steal” from mercy to the soul?3. What are aspects of pure heart from Ps. 51:10 and John

3:1-3?4. How has our tolerance increased? How can we maintain

purity?

REFERENCES

1. Gill’s exposition, bible hub2. https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/matthew/

the-kingdom-of-heaven-at-work-in-us-matthew-5-7/the-beatitudes-matthew-51-12/blessed-are-those-who-hunger-and-thirst-for-righteousness-for-they-will-be-filled-matthew-56/

3. Pulpit commentary, bible hub4. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, bible hub