THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(A Mountain Plateau not far from Capernaum)
Subdivision B
BEATITUDES: PROMISES TO MESSIAH'S SUBJECTS
MATT. 5:3-12
LUKE 6:20-26
Simpson describes the beatitudes as "promises" to the Messiah's subjects--I hadn't thought of them in that light, thinking of them more as encouragements. Promises is stronger--something that holds weight and is guaranteed.
Mat 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Luk 6:21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
As problematic and unfair as the current world seems to the secular eye--and even the faith-filled one--it's encouraging to know that our thirst for "rightness" (a more accessible version of "righteousness") will be satisfied.
Vincent's Word Studies: A very strong and graphic word, originally applied to the feeding and fattening of animals in a stall. In Rev_19:21, it is used of the filling of the birds with the flesh of God's enemies. Also of the multitudes fed with the loaves and fishes (Mat_14:20; Mar_8:8; Luk_9:17). It is manifestly appropriate here as expressing the complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst. Hence Wycliffe's rendering, fulfilled, is strictly true to the original.
Robertson's Word Picture: Here Jesus turns one of the elemental human instincts to spiritual use. There is in all men hunger for food, for love, for God. It is passionate hunger and thirst from the word for fodder or grass like Mar_6:39 “green grass” (chortos chlōros).
Fourfold Gospel: "Our Lord here declares that those who feel a most intense desire for righteousness shall obtain it. Under no other religion had such a promise ever been given. Under Christianity the promise is clear and definite."
We long for our laws to reform and perfect, but Hebrews 7:19 points us to "the bringing of a better hope...by which we draw nigh." Our imperfect world, our own imperfections, and the sins of others pull us toward Him.
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God
I continue to be impressed by the strong parallels between Isaiah and the beatitudes:
Isa 55:1-3 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
The seeds of the beatitudes are repeatedly sown in Isaiah. Christ expounds upon them and then fulfills them.
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