Kingdom Citizens

¹ One day as He saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around Him, ² and He began to teach them. ³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. ⁴ God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. ⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. ⁷ God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. ⁹ God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. ¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. ¹¹ God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. ¹³ You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:1-16 (NLT)

When large crowds from Galilee, Syria, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Jesus (Matthew 4:23-25), He now takes them to a mountain. On that mountaintop, Jesus teaches and explains His Kingdom law for them (Matthew 5:1-2). Scholars call Jesus’ inaugural Mountain teaching the “Sermon on the Mount” and encompasses Matthew 5:1 through Matthew 7:29. The Sermon on the Mount gives a detail explanation of “Repent” (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17) and shows in detail the repentant lifestyle that characterizes people of God’s Kingdom. With John the Baptist and Jesus’ announcement to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” people were naturally asking, “How do I qualify to be in God's Kingdom?” 

The Sermon on the Mount opens with a series of formula-like sayings or proverbs of how to receive God’s blessings (Matthew 5:3-12). There are nine such sayings, also called Beatitudes from the Latin word for “blessed.” These Beatitudes are not separate, spiritual qualities people may choose but rather a unified portrait a blessed soul of God. Together, these beatitudes reveal the portrait of a Kingdom citizen who acknowledges God as their King.

What does a Kingdom citizen look like?

·         Poor in spirit because they know they have no righteousness of their own

·         Mourns and grieves over their lack of personal righteousness

·         Humble and not prideful nor arrogant

·         Hunger and thirst for a righteous life that pleases and glorifies God

·         Merciful and kind to others and not selfish and unforgiving

·         Pure in heart who actively seeks to please and obey God’s Word

·         Peacemaker who works peace in the world

·         Persecuted for seeking and obeying God

Amazingly, these Kingdom citizens are like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29; see also Philippians 2:5-8) and trusted wholeheartedly in God the Father and His Word (Matthew 4:1-11). Moreover, Jesus sought to do God’s will and obey His Word (see e.g., Matthew 26:39; John 4:34). Though Jesus was the friend of sinners, preached peace, and showed unending compassion for others, He was unjustly despised, rejected, and persecuted (see e.g., Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 27:27-31). As our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father is compassionate, merciful, patient, loving, faithful, holy, and forgiving (see e.g., Exodus 34:6-7).

Kingdom citizens may not fully receive all Kingdom blessings while on earth. Seven of the Beatitudes state that Kingdom citizens will receive their blessings in the future (“for they will be”) (see Matthew 5:4-9, 11-12) while two of the Beatitudes state that Kingdom citizens receive their blessings and gladness during their lifetime (“for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs”) (see Mathew 5:3, 10). Thus, some of God’s blessings are ours NOW, while other blessings are forthcoming in the future. Nevertheless, Kingdom citizens also receive God’s Kingdom living within their hearts and the blessings of God’s Holy Spirit (see e.g., John 7:39; John 14:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 11:16-17; Acts 19:2).

Even more, Kingdom citizens are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). Kingdom citizens stop the moral decay and corruption of the earth and shine Jesus’ light of goodness into a dark world (Matthew 5:13-16; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4–7). Because Kingdom citizens seek to stop corruption and darkness, they are often persecuted, rebuked, and hated by the world (Matthew 5:10-12; see also John 15:19). Yet, it is such good, righteous, and pure character that Jesus calls blessed because Kingdom citizens bring glory to God in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12, 16; see also 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Peter 2:11-12).

Thus, Jesus encouraged Kingdom citizens not to become discourage by the world’s hatred nor compromise their righteousness. Instead, Kingdom citizens must shine their light in such a way that others may see their good works and deeds and give GLORY TO GOD (Matthew 5:13-16; see also Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:12).

References

Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).