Sunday Sermon Summary – Feb 01 2026
The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth – The Beatitudes
Matthew 5: 1-12
We always try to comply with the law to safeguard ourselves. When we fail to comply, we will have to face consequences. But Jesus calls us to live beyond the law and be blessed.
1. Beatitudes are Christ’s interpretation of the Law
Our Lord interpreted the Old Testament in its context to His followers. Jesus taught the people to follow the law in its context. In the Sermon on the mound from where we read this morning, Jesus said repeatedly, “You have read of old that it is written; but I tell you.” The law says that committing adultery is sin; but Jesus said that even looking at someone with lust is adultery. According to Biblical scholars the Jews were given 613 laws. They were divided in three categories: Moral law, Ceremonial and Judicial law. Jesus interpreted the law in just one sentence. When he was asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and the second one is, love your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus said that all the law and all prophets hang from these.
2. Beatitudes are an Invitation for Blessings (makarios)
Our Lord taught us the way to receive blessings. The law will keep us from trouble, but the Beatitudes will bring down God’s blessings. The Greek word used here is Makarios which literally means Blessed, not Happy as some translate it. One reason why we may not see the abundance of God’s blessings is because we fail to live the Beatitudes as taught by Jesus Christ. In our times there are preachers who suggest that the Beatitudes are not practical for daily living. That’s not true. The Lord emphatically said nine times in the Beatitudes that we will be blessed if we follow his teaching. The outside world practices something opposite to what Jesus has taught us; but we follow only what Jesus has taught us. In Matthew 11: 29 and 30 Jesus said, “take my yoke and learn from me, my burden is light and my yoke is easy.”
3. Beatitudes Reflect the Fruit of the Spirit
The Beatitudes reflect on our convictions. Following the Beatitudes will show Christ shining through our lives. If we take a close look at the fruit of the Spirit, we will see that they weave in so well into the nine points of the Beatitudes. Our Lord fulfilled all the laws of us that we may live in liberty and that our lives will be blessed. Jesus has done it all for us. Following the law of the Lord must never be a burden for us. It must set us free to joyfully live it.
At the end of Galatians 5:22 which speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, the Bible says that there is no law against these. What a joy to be a Christian. We can live in liberty and in the abundance of God’s blessings. Amen