Jesus teaches his disciples about the kingdom of heaven by describing eight characteristics of people who are blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness. For each characteristic, Jesus states that those people will find blessing or reward in the kingdom of heaven. He establishes a new framework for following him focused not on ethical standards but on real life experiences and priorities.

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3. Matthew 5:1-2 NIV
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds,
he went up on a mountainside and
sat down. His disciples came to him,
2 and he began to teach them.
3

4. Matthew 5:3-11 NIV
He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who
mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the
meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will
be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be
shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who
are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people
insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same
way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
4

5. characteristics
poor in spirit
those who mourn
those who are meek
those with a passion for righteousness
those who are merciful
those who are pure in heart
those who are peacemakers
those persecuted & insulted
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6. what this is NOT
God’s “stand & deliver”
An ethical standard
A wish list for later
6

7. NOTE e.
TECH this slid
w
Do not sho
New
CREATION
Matt 5:3-16
New New
PRIORITY VALUES
Matt 5:17-48
Matt 7:24-27
JESUS
New
New RELATIONSHIP
JOURNEY GOD
Matt 7:13-23 New Matt 6:1:33
RELATIONSHIP
PEOPLE
Matt 7:1-12
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8. intention
Jesus establishes the
framework for following him
against the backdrop of real life.
8

9. invitation
1
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10. outcomes
Spirit >> Citizen of God’s Kingdom
Mourn >> Comforted
Meek >> Inheritance
Righteousness >> Satisfaction
Merciful >> Mercy
Pure Heart >> See God
Peacemakers >> Child of God
Persecuted >> Citizen of God’s Kingdom
10

11. warning
2
11

12. expectation
3
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13. characteristics
You possess BLESSING NOW > Jesus
Your heart will break for the “God important”
You begin to exercise gentle strength
You develop a passion for what is right.
You grow in grace and kindness
You become deeper & stronger IN God
Your behaviour increasingly unites people
You possess BLESSING NOW > Jesus
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