Kingdom Character and the Blessed Life

Passage: Matthew 5:1-12

This week, our study of Matthew's gospel brings us to one of the most familiar sections of the bible and perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached, Jesus' discourse known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins his ministry preaching the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. God's rule and reign is now present and powerfully at work through his Son. Jesus starts by teaching teaching his disciples what life in the kingdom is to be like. He opens with a description of those in the kingdom who are truly blessed, and as is often the case, it is not what we might expect. The Beatitudes, as they are commonly known, don't describe the circumstances or situations that we typically think of as blessings, but rather the heart attitude and spiritual bent that leads to embracing and experiencing a deep trust and humble dependence on God. Jesus' challenging sermon opens with a challenging call to pursue true kingdom character and to consider what it means to live a truly blessed life.