The Manifesto of the Kingdom
Throughout history, leaders have been defined by their achievements or failures, especially in relation to their stated goals and aims. These goals and aims have been presented to the people as a manifesto, or vision of how life would be better, safer and more prosperous under their leadership. At this historic time in the British nation, let us remember to pray for our leaders, especially Theresa May, our new Prime Minister, that God would give her wisdom and direction.
Matthew 5:1-13 is Jesus’ manifesto for the Kingdom of God. It starts:
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are they…”
The Greek word for ‘blessed’, which is also sometimes translated ‘happy’, is makarios and was first used in Homer’s poetry, referring to the happiness of the gods which transcends earthly cares, labour and even death. Later, from the time of Aristotle, the word had a weaker, more philosophical use meaning rich beyond cares. In Jewish literature the word was used to replace the Hebrew ‘eser’ which, especially in the psalms and proverbs, refers to those who trust (have faith in) God.
So, under Jesus’ manifesto of the kingdom, who is happy and why?
V3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In most cases, the word used for poor, ptochos, is used for lack of finances, but here it is clarified by specifying ‘poor in spirit’, meaning those who are lacking in a spiritual sense. The hearers would have understood that Jesus was calling everyone who was depressed, upset, hurt, abused etc. He was calling those who recognised their spiritual state as ‘unhappy’ and letting them know help had come in the form of the kingdom of heaven. They could receive new spirits (2 Cor 5:17) by letting the kingdom of God come within them (Luke 17:21 & Romans 14:17). Their new spirits would lack nothing.
V4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Here Jesus is calling anyone who is sorrowful of heart, perhaps due to losing a loved one. Whatever the reason for the sorrow, the kingdom of heaven turns sorrow into joy.
Isaiah 61:1-3:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
V5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Meekness is not a passive word as many think, ignoring wrongs and injustices, but rather an active word confronting issues with gentleness and peace yet operating in one’s authority. It was a highly honoured personal characteristic of Greek society. Jesus was likely basing this phrase on Psalm 37:9-11:
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Meekness was a characteristic of Jesus – Matthew 11:29:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
This meek Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple (John 2:14-17 & Matthew 21:12-17). He was a man of action, yet had immense gentleness and compassion.
V6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
This is similar to Psalm 106:3:
Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times.
Hunger and thirst are feelings where the body is telling us what we need. Mankind has an inborn need for the justice and righteousness of God. Those who hunger and thirst after this righteousness will find it in Christ Jesus.
God’s ultimate goal is to bring us, as sons, into His presence through righteousness which is by faith in Jesus.
V7 Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Neither the Roman law, nor the Jewish law showed mercy, so this was a very radical statement for those hearing it on the mountainside. The basis of the grace of God is that He is merciful towards us.
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2
Mercy brings a level of forgiveness that restores to us what was lost in Adam, but it’s grace that brings us into sonship and intimacy with God.
V8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Those hearing Jesus teach this would not have had a concept of the mind in the way that we do today. They would have understood the heart to be the place of thinking, so having a pure heart is about controlling our thoughts. Paul, using the concept of the mind, develops this further,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
V9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
In this verse, Jesus moves onto the goal of the kingdom manifesto which is sonship, with the characteristic of being peacemakers. God Himself demonstrates this quality:
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Col 1:20
It is natural that a son will have the same characteristics as the Father. We are exhorted, as sons, to be imitators of God (Eph 5:1) and should therefore demonstrate His peace.
Jesus uses an interesting phrase in Matthew 10:13: “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” This implies that as believers we intrinsically have peace and furthermore, that we have the ability to share it. If it is not received, then it returns to us. Jesus, Himself demonstrates this in John 14:27. It is no wonder that the most common Christian greeting is “Peace to you” (James 3:18).
V10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Every Christian will go through some form of persecution at some time (John 15:18-20, Phil 1:29-30). The only Christians who don’t suffer persecution are those who choose to not live godly lives (2 Tim 3:12). Persecution does not come from God but is instigated by Satan and is designed to make us take our eyes off Jesus (Heb 2:9, 12:1-3) thereby causing us to fall into strife and lose heart (James 3:16).
There are many forms of persecution. History shows that the Church has always flourished under persecution with increased numbers and zeal. During intense, life-threatening persecution, people get their priorities sorted and put Jesus in first place whatever the outward circumstances.
It helps to recognise that it is not us being persecuted, but rather, Jesus in us (Acts 9:4). We are actually becoming partakers of His sufferings (Phil 3:10) and will share His rewards (Rom 8:17-18). When we have this in mind, we can have joy despite persecution (Luke 6:22-23, Acts 5:41).
V11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
This verse makes it clear that not all persecution is threats of bodily harm. Being reviled and having evil things falsely spoken of you is persecution. The same Greek word for “revile”, oneidizo, was used in Matt 27:44 when the two thieves mocked Jesus.
V12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Those who are despondent over persecution are short-sighted. If we look at things in the light of eternity (2 Cor 4:17-18) we see that the rewards for enduring persecution are so great that the hurt we suffer now is not even worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18). Paul longed for the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings (Phil 3:10). Luke 6:23 says, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in this manner their fathers did to the prophets.”
As believers in Jesus, we should be the happiest people on earth, regardless of our circumstances!