Right Attitudes

Read Matthew 5:1–6

Real disciples will:

• have a humble trust in God
• depend on God for everything
• be gentle and holy.

Matthew introduced the talk in verses 1–2. Then, Jesus began his sermon (talk). He explained what a genuine disciple should be like (This is in verses matt 5: 3–12). Each statement began with the same word. Those who translated the Bible into English chose different words. Some of them used the word ‘happy’. Some of them used the word ‘blessed’. Many of the OT psalms use the same Hebrew word. It means: ‘What rewards there are in such a life!’ It is especially for those of whom God approves. People will want to be like them.

The poor in spirit

This does NOT mean three things:

• those whose spirits have lost hope
• those who do not have God’s Holy Spirit
• those who do not have spiritual understanding.

It DOES mean those who know that:

• they have no spiritual resources of their own
• they cannot please God by their own efforts
• they are trusting in God only.

In the OT, the word ‘poor’ has a usual meaning. It refers to those who do not have many possessions. Perhaps they do not have any possessions at all. So, they need God. This is an attitude that everyone must have. Without it, nobody can enter God’s kingdom.

People who feel very sad

Verse 4 relates very much to verse 3. People who are ‘poor in spirit’ will feel very sad about their sin. It is not just their personal failure. It is the fact that their sin separates them from God. David showed this perfectly. See Psalm 51. You can read about David’s sin in 2 Samuel chapters 11-12. David says to God, ‘My sin is against you’ (Psalm 51:4).

Here, Jesus described people who are like this. These people are always aware of their sin against God. But, there is comfort for them. They also know that Jesus can forgive their sin.

People who are humble

Verse 5 relates to verses 3-4. There are people who are ‘poor in spirit’. They feel very sad about their sin. Those people will also be humble. Humble people are not just ‘nice’ people. They are not weak or lazy. They are often firm and strong in character. Moses was like this (Read Numbers 12:3).

People in the ancient world knew the word ‘humble’ well. It referred to people who had the right sort of anger. That is, they were angry when people did bad things to other people. But they did not stay angry with those who did wrong things to them. They were not bitter against those who did bad things to them. They did not want the best things for themselves either.

But Jesus gave extra meaning to the word. He meant people who obey God. They obey his words. They let God’s will control them. They are completely loyal to the purposes of God. They recognise their own lack of knowledge. They realise that they are weak. But they know that God will supply all that they need.

God promised to give the country called Canaan to his people. This was very important to OT believers. But, the prophets extended the promise. One day, all God’s people would live in a new heaven and a new earth. Here, Jesus was thinking about this great truth of the Bible.

Those who are ‘hungry’ and ‘ thirsty’ for righteousness
(The word righteousness means to be ‘right’. It also means to do what is right.)

‘People who want to do right more than anything else’. Jesus says that these people ‘will be happy’ (verse 6). Jesus knows that everyone wants to be happy. But he knows something else too. He knows that there is only one way to be really happy. That way is to live a life that pleases God. A person must really want to live a life like this.

‘Righteousness’ can mean different things in the Bible. It can refer to God’s opinion of someone. A person believes in God. So, that person’s life pleases God. Then, God says that he or she is ‘righteous’. This was true about Abraham (Read Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:1–5). In Matthew, it includes two meanings. First, it refers to a holy life. This kind of life comes after two things. It comes after we have repented and after we have believed in God. Also, it includes something else. It is a desire for God’s kingdom to come.

Ancient Israel often had no rain. So, there was a great lack of water. There would be a lack of food too. The lack of these things often caused death. Jesus spoke here about a situation like this. The person’s desire for ‘righteousness’ is very great. In fact, he feels that he will die if he does not have it. He is like a very hungry person. He is like a person who desperately needs some water. He feels that he will die if he does not have food and water. (Note: ‘He’ refers to a man or a woman.)

The truth of this teaching requires much from us. It can frighten us. So often, we are not like this at all. But, there is comfort for us too. We may have failures. But we just need to keep close to God and to Jesus Christ. We must desire what is best in our lives. Then, God will certainly bless us.

Questions

1. What do these verses teach me? How can they help me, as a disciple of Jesus?
2. There is much talk in the church today about celebration (a happy time). But, people should be sad about sin too. How can both these things be in the local church?
3. Many people in our world today are very poor. How do these verses apply to what they need?
4. What effect should humble people have on the church and on the world? There are people who live for God. What effect should their lives have on the church and on the world? Can you think of any examples?