Ending the Sermon on the Mount series, this last Beatitude has the same promise as first one, "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
God's chosen people also knew that a Messiah would come and usher in a Kingdom of Peace. So, when Jesus came on the scene proclaiming to be the Messiah, many people had doubts that He was the Messiah.
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount shook the very foundation of their beliefs. Yet, the people could relate to much of what he said especially the concept of persecution. Jewish people were being persecuted by the Romans during this time. So, the Jews were responsible for following, not only Jewish religious law, but Roman law as well.
Jesus redefines righteousness
What is righteousness? Are we good enough?
Merriam-Webster defines righteous as acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin: morally right or justifiable, and/or arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality.
Jesus equates righteousness with himself. He is saying that righteousness comes from him. So, when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we are hungering and thirsting for Jesus. Therefore, the Beatitudes are a picture of Jesus, and we are to reflect that picture of Jesus/righteousness because it was giving to us to take the place of the laws and acts associated with the Law of God.
Read these Bible verses, and gain a new understanding of Righteousness by remember JESUS = Righteousness
Romans 10:14
Romans 8:10
Galatians 2:21
Philippians 1:11
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Philippians 3:9-10
Romans 5:21
1 Peter 3:18
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus redefines persecution
The Jews, during the time, feared for their lives because of Roman persecution. Right now, in our country, Christian persecution has begun.
(Here are some stories, I, personally, will share)
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/california-city-fines-couple-for-holding-bible-study-in-their-home/ http://www.theblaze.com/stories/man-arrested-outside-calif-dmv-for-reading-his-bible-out-loud/
We must expect to walk the same road as Christ. John 15:20 states, "Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."
God is Sovereign: He causes things to happen, and He allows things to happen. We may not understand. We may ask, "Why God is this happening to me?" But, God has a plan for each of us, and that plan may include persecution for "His sake."
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 states: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (Biblegateway.com)
We are the jars of clay, and the treasure is our salvation. We are fragile, yet Jesus is strong, and our desire should be to apologize for our past sin, crucify our old life, walk with Him, and reflect Christ in our day to day living.
James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (Biblegateway.com)
Trust the process
Jesus saved us and continues to hold us in His Saving Grace. Everything that is going on in our lives, good are bad, if it points to Jesus is ALL good.
I can think of a verse here that reiterates it perfectly, Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21 (Biblegateway.com)
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