a man totally committed to the sufficiency of Christ and the sufficiency of Scripture…

The day the Lord saved me Matthew chapter 5 was heavy on my heart. Still trapped in my sin and believing myself to be saved because of my own works, this sermon breathed new life into me. It exposed my hypocrisy and brought me down on my face (where I belonged) right at the feet of my Savior. Amen.

Some regard this sermon to be the greatest sermon ever given, I would agree. For in it the Lord Jesus Christ specifically deals with what people who do enter the Kingdom look like, and what those who will not enter the kingdom look like. Yet, in His compassion for the souls of men, even to those who will reject Him, He offers the keys of eternal life. Offering a salvation by the Glorious Grace of His Father, through His perfect and complete work on the cross, that the Spirit may give life to those who have been called according to the purposes of God.

With all the attention this sermon gets you would think that most people would have a solid grasp on what Christ was actually talking about. Alas, most people don’t, most only marginally read what Christ has said, not to gain a proper understanding of His great sermon, but to mark a check by Matthew 5 in their daily bible reading.

Unfortunately, that would not constitute true bible study at all. For the Lord told us to study His word diligently, to be approved not by men but by Him. We show ourselves to be approved by not being ashamed as we handle His word of truth rightly.

Few want to do the hard work of exegesis today, because exegesis of Scripture, using the 7 principles of interpretation, reveals truth. Truth that the hearer will be held accountable for, for the Scripture is clear, “to whom much is given much is required” (Luke 12:48). So with that being said let us exposit the meaning of Christ words in Matthew 5.

Blessed are those who Mourn

The second attribute that Christ describes concerning kingdom citizens is that they are those who mourn. Now there are many interpretations of this Scripture, and by many I mean there are a lot of WRONG interpretations. I can say this because most interpretations I’ve heard have been inconsistent with the totality of Scripture. I’ve heard people say that you have to actually mourn over death or you are not going to heaven. This cannot be true because the bible teaches that Salvation is by God’s grace through the gift of faith, not of any works, so that no man may boast (Ephesians 2:8). There are no contradictions in Scripture, because it is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16), which means it’s perfect. Jesus said that Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), and Paul called it holy (Romans 1:2).

We can throw that interpretation away.

So what was Jesus really saying? Well if we truly desire to know the mind of the Lord on this subject we must first have His Spirit inside of us. Paul tells us:

“…..these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Now I do know that the direct interpretation of this portion of Scripture is speaking of Paul himself, and other writers of the word of God. Notice the word “we” that Paul uses referring to him and others. Paul understood the word of God because of the Spirit of God who resided in him, for it’s the Spirit who knows the mind of Christ. But I also believe that this holds true to all believers. To be honest it must be true for all believers because of what Paul says next:

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Only Spirit filled people understand the word of God savingly. God’s Spirit illuminates the word of God and provides the His saints with the capacity to discern divine truth. This truth is very important, and it’s the reason why when the Christian (or one of God’s elect) looks at Matthew 5 they are broken over their sin, shown their need for a Savior, and come running to Christ. Yet when the Jehovah’s witness looks at Matthew 5 they see a way to inherit this earth, by somehow keeping the Law of God. What a blasphemous thought! True Christians are sensitive to their sin, because their eyes have been opened to the truth.

They have the mind of David when he says:

 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words. Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:3-5

Now this does not mean that as Christians all we do is sin. Paul said: “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). We are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, which is what Paul goes on to teach in Romans 6. We have be crucified, buried, and raised to walk in the new life! But what David is saying is this, “Lord even though you have saved me and I love you and hate sin, I still yet sin against you. And that sin will ever be before me and it’s against You and You alone. I am a sinner from birth and even my parents were sinners when they conceived me. God, You are right when you say that men are sinners and that sin deserves death. Please forgive me!

David recognized three things in his Psalm 51 prayer: 1. He recognized how horrible his sin was against God, he blamed no one but himself, and he begged for divine forgiveness.

Isn’t this what all true believers have done at salvation and continue to do all throughout the Christian life?

In Matthew 5 this is exactly what Christ is talking about, not those who mourn over death but those who mourn over their sin. Those who are broken over their sin, because they know who it is they have sinned against and what that sin deserves…….death. The Bible says:

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

In the presence of Almighty God no man should have their head lifted up with pride in any of their accomplishments or sacrifices, but their heart should be broken over their sin, as they look to Christ as a totally sufficient Savior, the total propitiation for our sins.

That person shall not be despised but saved:

“For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13

 Amen….