Matthew 5:1-12
ARE YOU HAPPY? We have all been asked that question. And certainly at some point we have asked others that simple question. Are you happy? What does it mean to be happy? The world has its ideas. Happiness is the new house, the great job, or unfortunately the “Miller High Life” or being part of the Budweiser generation. Some have sunk to the place where happiness is getting their next “crack” or recently “heroine” fix. The world tells us that happiness is doing what I want to do, when I want to do it, how I want to do it. If you think about it, that is the life of an old hobo but I am not to sure how truly happy they are. The world seeks to convince us that happiness is stuff; the nicer car, having more money in the bank. If I just had that stuff, I would be happy.
Do you want to know true happiness? Listen to the words of the lord Jesus Christ, it is not found in the world. Money will not do it! Sex will not do it! Drugs and booze will not do it!
You may think that this preacher is crazy, but I am here to tell you that the only place you will ever find true happiness, true joy is in the Lord Jesus Christ. I must apologize for many of us Christians that walk around looking like we have been sucking on a pickle: I’m sorry.
Jesus died to give those who trust Him as their Savior, eternal life. His gift of life to the believer begins the moment they repent of sin and put their faith in Him. That life was given to the Christian to enjoy not just in heaven some day but right here today.
BACK TO THE PASSAGE. Chapters five through seven of Matthew are commonly called the “Sermon on the Mount.” and what a sermon it is. Jesus preached this Sermon early on in His earthly ministry.
THE BACKGROUND.
THE LORD’S TEMPTATION
Matthew 4:1-11In chapter four of Matthew we find the time where the Lord Jesus is “led of the Spirit into the wilderness” where the devil tempted Him to forsake the very purpose for which God the Father sent Him to accomplish. The basic thrust of Satan’s temptations to Jesus was look out for yourself. I will give you anything you want, just forsake your Father and worship me. Look at 4:9. That did not work on Jesus Christ, and we must not allow it to work on us.
THE LORD’S PREACHING
Refusing to serve the devil, the Lord Jesus begins His early preaching ministry. What was His message? 4:17 “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What that means is, “you need to get right with God for I, the King, have come.”
THE LORD’S CALLING. Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus walked along the Galilean seashore He calls His first four disciples. Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John. He calls men who were accustomed to catching fish and tells them He has a greater catch for them, He would make them “fishers of men.” Those four men’s lives would never be the same.
THE LORD’S MINISTRY Matthew 4:23-25
The ministry of the Lord Jesus now gets into full swing. He travels through Galilee teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God. He meets people’s needs spiritually, as was always His focus and priority. But He also met physical needs. He healed sick people. He delivered those who were possessed with demons. He healed those with mental disease. (The word “lunatic,” according to the Bible dictionaries as the Greeks called it, those that were moonstruck or those that were suffering with a mental disorder). He made whole those who were disabled. These were brought to Him from far and wide and the Bible says “He healed them.” How many of these did He heal? As you read the verse we must come to the conclusion that He healed all those that were brought to Him. He healed out of His compassion, His mercy and His grace. His miracles authenticated His ministry. They authenticated His words. This was God in flesh in their midst.
Is it any wonder that verse 25 tells us that great multitudes began to follow Him. We learn that very early on in His ministry people made their way to Jesus from all over Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea. If we looked at the size of this area on the map it would not be that large but by first century standards it was pretty much all of Israel up through Syria. In comparison; we could picture from here (Fort worth) to Mesquite, TX roughly 45 miles. And from here to Vernon, TX. which is about 170 miles as the crow flies. Remember, verse 24 says, “His fame went throughout all Syria.” Were there reports of what Jesus was doing on the channel 11 evening news? Of course not, His fame was spread by word of mouth.
The fame, the reports, the rumors about this new preacher were spread far and wide and multitudes came to see Him and hear Him. And when they came He taught them.
CHAPTER 5 opens with the words, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them . . .”
We cannot be sure just where this sermon was delivered. Somewhere outside of Capernaum at the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. We are told that Jesus went up into a mountain, sat down and delivered some of the most famous words ever uttered. WOULD WE COME AND BE TAUGHT BY HIM FROM THE WORDS OF THIS SERMON?
As of right now I have peace to over the next few Sunday mornings to focus on at least the first twelve verses of this sermon. We read these verses and on the surface we might not think so, but the Lord tells the multitude that gathered that day, HOW TO BE HAPPY. Happiness is a much misunderstood thing even among Christians.
Nine times in this passage Jesus uses the words “Blessed are,” describing certain people. The word “blessed” means to be extremely blest, fortunate, well off or “happy.” He says “blessed are,” “HAPPY ARE” and goes on to speak of people in specific situations.
Do you want to be happy? I do! The Lord Jesus Christ is going to tell us how to be happy.
But dear ones this is not talking about the happiness that the world offers. It is not a happiness that we can produce by our own strength or wisdom. There is an old saying that quips, “Something has to happen to make one happy.” But, the Christian, through Jesus Christ has a happiness that transcends the things that are happening in life. The believer in Christ has a joy that is true happiness. It is a happiness, as we will learn, that can be found by only one way.
The multitudes came to Jesus with their earthly needs. Their diseases, torments, spiritual oppression, their emotional battles, and all forms of physical weaknesses. The passage says He healed them. They probably came to Jesus thinking if I can just be rid of this burden, this sickness, this lameness, this need I will be happy. WE FIND IN THIS PASSAGE WHAT JESUS CHRIST, GOD THE SON TOLD THEM HOW THEY COULD HAVE TRUE HAPPINESS AND AS YOU NOTICE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PHYSICAL WELL BEING. In fact it is just the opposite.
THE WORLD, HEALTH, WEALTH, AND THINGS COULD NOT GIVE THEM TRUE HAPPINESS. HE WOULD TELL THEM HOW THEY COULD HAVE HAPPINESS THAT TRANSCENDED THEIR SITUATIONS. IT IS A HAPPINESS THAT TRANSCENDS TIME AND TRIAL. IT IS A HAPPINESS THAT HE COULD GIVE THEM.
CONCLUSION: The happiness that Jesus Christ gives is the possession of all who will by faith receive Him as the personal Savior.
Look at the end of this sermon, Matthew 7:21-29. Who is it that will enter the kingdom of heaven? Jesus say, “He that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE FATHER? WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US. IT BEGINS VERY SIMPLY.
The Bible says, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
What is God’s will for you this morning? Believe, put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Sin stands between man and God. Jesus died to remove it. Repent of your sin. That means turn from it. Jesus died to deliver you from your sin not so that you could go right on living in it. Do not deceive yourself. You cannot continue with the booze and have Jesus. You cannot have your drugs and Jesus. You cannot continue in your immorality and have Jesus. You cannot continue in your covetousness and have Jesus. You cannot continue in your selfishness and have Jesus. He died to save you from sin. HE DIED TO REMOVE US FROM THE MUCK AND CORRUPTION OF OUR SIN AND PLACE US UPON THE ROCK OF STABILITY AND HOLINESS, HIMSELF.
The recent conditions in South Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico as a result of the hurricanes were and still are beyond our imagination. Officials called for the total evacuation of many areas. Yet there were many who refused to leave. They refused to flee the danger. It is not just the flood waters themselves that are dangerous there is also the danger of sewer polluted waters, downed electric lines, and everything else that goes with such a disaster. It has been a mess. Any one with any sense at all wants to get out of such danger to safety. The warnings were given. The boats and helicopters were sent to carry them to safety but some refused. We conclude that they cannot be thinking right. In their minds they want to protect and hold on to what they have. They want to stay with their house or whatever. They believe that they will be alright. They believe they can weather the storm. Sadly, many were not alright. Friends, no material stuff is worth the risk that is present in such deadly conditions. HOW ABOUT YOU?
Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
What of this world is worth more than your soul? I am continually amazed that any one would choose to remain in their sin when God has done everything to get them out of it. He gave His only begotten Son to die for their sin. He has given them preachers, loved ones, and friends to tell them how they can be rescued from the consequences of remaining in the deadly cesspool of their sin. And they shake their head, “maybe later, I will be alright.” Turn from your sin, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and dear one for the first time in your life, KNOW TRUE HAPPINESS.
Fellow Christian, knowing forgiveness, receiving eternal life, living for and serving Jesus is true happiness. Be not weary in well doing dear one, God’s promise is that you shall reap in due season, that is if we faint not.
