Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Scriptures Illuminating The Meaning Of The Beatitudes

From background research for a sermon delivered on the Beatitudes. All word definitions from Greek reference works.  This material was used for the last 15 minutes of the sermon. Of course I only shared only a few of the verses listed here. These and other verses unpack the meaning of each attribute, they give a fuller meaning than what we might expect.  +'s indicate verses that show these attributes originate in the Holy Spirit and are the picture of one filled with the Spirit, a test of whether one is Spirit filled.

MATT 5: 3-10.

3. Blessed- fortunate, happy, free from daily cares and worries.
    Spirit- Greek word pnema-refers to sight unseen, not physical poverty-gives
    sphere of poverty spoken here.
    Poor in Spirit- Mt 11:25, 18: 1-3, Lev. 26:41, Dt. 8:2, 2Chron. 7:14, 33:12, 33:23, 34:27, Ps. 34:18, 51:17, 147:3, Ec. 7:3, Is. 57:15, 61:1, Mic. 6:8, Lk. 18:14, 2Cor 6:10, Ja. 2:5.

4. Mourn- takes possession of person, a quality that cannot be hid. Future reward.
    Ps. 32: 3-7, Ec 7:3-4, Is. 25:8, 35:10, 61:2, Ezk. 9:4, Zec. 12: 10-14, Lk. 7:36, 2Cor. 1: 3-7, 7:4, Rev. 21:4.

5.  Meek- Humble, gentle attitude which expresses self in patient submissiveness to
     offense, free from malice, desire for revenge.
     Mt. 11:29, Ps. 25:8-13, Ps. 37 (whole), 149:4, Pr. 14:29, 15:1, 18, 16:32, 19:11, Ec 7:8, Is. 29:19, Zeph. 2:3, +Gal 5:23, +Eph 4: 2-3, Col. 3: 1-14, Titus 3:2.
      Inherit the Earth- Gen: 22:17, Ps. 25:17, 37:9-11, Is. 54: 16-17, Dan. 7: 14, 18, Rom. 4:13, Rev. 5:10.

6.  Hunger- A continual attitude.
     Righteousness- That God gives, or or comformity to God's will (Mt.5:20) Here, God is the agent, we are passive. Hunger and thirst-Ps. 41: 1-2, 63: 1-2, 107:9, Is. 26:9, Amos 8: 11-13, +Jn. 6:27, +36, +7:37.  Filled- Ps. 8:10, Jn. 4:14, Rev. 7:16-17.

7.  Mercy- Indicates moved by pity, compassion at tragedy, includes fear this could
    happen to me.  Mt. 6: 14-15, 18: 34-35, 25: 34-36, Ps. 12:5, Pr. 11:17, Ezk. 16:49, Dan. 4:27, Mic. 6:8, Gal 6:9, Eph. 4: 26- 5:1-2, Col. 3:12, +James 3:17, Mt. 7:2, 2Cor. 4:1, 2Tim 1:16, +Heb. 4:16, 6:10.

8.  Pure- Mt. 23:25-28, 1Chron. 29: 17-18, Ps. 18: 25-27, 24:3-4, 51: 6,10, Ps. 73, Ezk. 36: 25-27, +Acts 15:9, +2Cor. 7:1, Titus 1:15, +Heb. 10:19, +James 1:8, 3: 17-18,+Heb. 12:14, +1Jn. 3:2, 3.  Heart-Center of the inner life of the person where all the spiritual forces and functions have their origins.    

9.  Peacemaker: Ps. 34: 12-14, Prov. 12: 20, Rom: 12:18, +14:17-19, +2Cor. 5:20, +Gal 5:22, Eph. 4: 1-3, Col. 3: 12-15, James 1: 19-20.  The Hebrew word for Son often denotes the character of the parents as expressed by the child.

10.  Persecuted- cause of persecution, righteous conduct.  Mt. 10:39, Ps. 69: 7-9, Is. 51:29, Jn. 15:20, Acts 5: 40-41, 9:4, Rom. 8:17, 37, 2Cor. 4:8, 2Tim. 2:12, 3:12, Heb. 10:34, James 1:4, 1Pet. 4:12-16, 2Thess. 1:4-7, James 1:12.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Update

I am still teaching on The Sermon on the Mount on Wednesdays at Church.

Starting Monday I will begin reading for the Ordination process.