The Beatitudes & Attitudes
Matthew 5:3-12
October 4, 2025
The Beatitudes & Attitudes. Matthew 5:3-12.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . Humility
2. Blessed are those that mourn . . . Repentance
3. Blessed are the meek . . . Gentleness
4. Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness . . . Obedience
5. Blessed are the merciful . . . Forgiveness
6. Blessed are the pure in heart . . . Integrity
7. Blessed are the peacemakers . . . Reconciliation
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted . . . Courage
- Introduction – Overview
The Old Testament begins with Adam whose story is tragic. The New Testament begins with Jesus Christ whose story is tremendous. The Old Testament opens with death. The New Testament opens with life. The Old Testament is about the curse. The New Testament is about the cross.
The Old Testament is about Mt. Sinai and The Law, thunder, lighting and judgements for all who come too close. The New Testament is about a Sermon on The Mount with its King offering blessing, healing, and peace for all who come close.
“The Sermon on the Mount is the masterful revelation from the great King, offering blessings instead of cursing to those who come on His terms and true righteousness . . . The thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is that the messages and work of the King are first and most importantly internal and not external, and spiritual and moral rather than physical and political . . . In this sermon our Lord establishes a standard of living counter to everything the world practices and holds dear . . . Jesus’ new way of living comes from a new way of thinking, and the new way thinking comes from new life . . . When our attitudes and thinking are right, our actions will fall in line.” John MacArthur commentary page 139.
“Because of Christ we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation – an aroma redolent with life.”
2 Corinthians 2:15
2. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3
The word “Blessed” in the greek is “Makarios”, which means happy, fortunate and blissful. The term “makarios” is referred to in scripture as a happiness that comes from a deep inward contentment that ones life is right with God based on the new life he has created within us. It’s a happiness that comes from an inward attitude of gratitude not a condition predicated on assumed outward comforts.
Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Paul is “Blessed”. He is experiencing “markarios” happiness in his daily life. A happiness that has nothing to do with his outward conditions but fueled by a overflowing tide of inward contentment. Are you living a life bathed in “markarios” happiness because of the high tide of contentment that comes from knowing Christ?
The word “Poor” comes from the Greek word, “Ptochos”, which means not just poor, but begging poor. In Mark 12:41-44, we see the Widow was poor, but she still had two pennies that she could give at the temple. In Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus the beggar was so poor, he didn’t have even two pennies to his name. That is “Ptochos” poor.
In Luke 18:9-14, we have the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Both prayed, only one was heard. Why? Who was “Ptochos – poor” in spirit? Which one are you? What role does humility play in this story?
“Jesus puts this beatitude first because humility is the foundation of all the other graces, a basic element in becoming a Christian. (Matt. 18:3-4). Pride has no part in Christ’s kingdom . . . Until a soul is humbled, until the inner person is “poor in spirit”, Christ can never become dear, because He is obscured by self.” John MacArthur commentary page 148.
How do we look for God to develop humility within us?
1. We turn our eyes off ourselves and look to God. Psalm 28:8, “My heart says to you, Your face Lord, will I seek.” We look not at our faults, but at God’s perfection.
2. Starve the flesh from the things it feeds upon. Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
3. Look to serve others. Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. The truly humble man is free to serve.”
Yet the paradox of the Beatitudes is this . . . what does humility, meekness, mourning, forgiveness and being persecuted have to do with happiness? In man’s world the answer is nothing. In God’s world the answer is everything. In man’s world, success works to feed our pride. In God’s world, misery works to breaks down our pride. And breaking down our pride is the only way to experience God’s internal happiness that has nothing to do with outward circumstances.
“Jesus teaches that misery endured for the right purpose and in the right way is the key to happiness. That basic principle summarizes the Beatitudes.” John MacArthur page 142.
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3, “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Spurgeon: “The gate of the kingdom is very low, and the great ones must stoop to enter.”
How “childlike” are you in your relationship with Christ? With others? How can being “childlike” actually be a sign of great strength? What does a man of “childlike” strength look like? See Philippians 2.
MacArthur: “This beatitude comes first because it is foundational; no one enters the kingdom without acknowledging spiritual poverty.”
Isaiah 57:15, “For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
“Those who come to the Lord with broken hearts do not leave with broken hearts . . . instead, in giving up their own kingdom, the poor in spirit inherit God’s.” John MacArthur page 151.
Which kingdom commands your loyalties?
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3