Matthew 5:7-12 How God Wants His People to Deal with
Others
Introduction: The first four Beatitudes showed what God wanted
His people to be in their relationship to Himself. These four show how God wants His people to deal
with others.
I. God wants His people to be merciful to others.
Verse 7
A. God does not want
His people to be hardhearted; He wants them to be tenderhearted and kind.
1. He wants them to feel for others.
2. This is a God-like characteristic.
B. Several situations
give opportunity to be merciful.
1. When other are in suffering and pain. (Sickness, accident, death, loss,
trouble, etc.).
2. When others wrong the child of God. (It is God-like to forgive).
3. When one deserves punishment. (It is God-like to be lenient).
C. It pleases God when
He sees His people be merciful.
1. The result is He will be merciful to them.
` 2. Being merciful is not a means of salvation. (Repentance and faith are the means of salvation).
3. But it is a basis of blessings in this life.
II. God wants His people to be pure
in heart. Verse 8
A. This verse deals
with motives.
1. “Heart” in scripture does not speak of emotions.
2. It speaks of an act of the will: decision, choice,
aim, intent, and hence motive.
B. Because one’s motives
are inside and cannot be seen by men, even the child of God may nourish
some impure motive.
1. Such as selfishness, greed, bitterness, revenge,
lust of the flesh, etc.
2. But God sees the motives. (Tries the heart).
3. These inward motives have a way of coming out in
one’s actions. (Not hidden then).
C. God is pleased when
He sees a pure heart.
1. He blesses these.
2. They shall see God:
a. With the eye of faith.
b. Thru the teaching of the Word.
c. With the natural eye. (In resurrection). See Him in all His glory).
III. God wants His people to be peacemakers.
Verse 9
A. This is the opposite
of troublemakers. (There is enough trouble
without God’s people causing it).
B. Because of the
weakness of the flesh, it is inevitable that there will be conflict.
1. This
is true at work, in the neighborhood, at home, at church.
2. Would it not be great if every worker were a
peacemaker? Every
neighbor? Every family
member? Every church member?
C. When you know
you are in the wrong, be quick to make peace.
D. When you know
the other party is wrong, be quick to make peace. (God did with man).
E. Be careful and
try not to wrong others.
F. Caution: Do not compromise Bible truth in an effort to
keep peace.
G. Be a mediator.
H. Be a soul
winner.
I. God blesses the
peace maker and they are called the children of God.
(This is a characteristic of God’s children).
IV. God wants His people to be
willing to suffer for Jesus Verses 10-12
A. Technically
there are two beatitudes here, but they are one in meaning. “Blessed are these who
suffer for Jesus’
sake. (After all, Jesus suffered for
us).
B. All who would
live godly will suffer persecution.
(Jesus was persecuted and all who are Christ-like
will be persecuted).
C. There is no
blessing for suffering for our own wrong doing.
D. But there is a double
blessing for suffering for Jesus.
1. There is the joy of knowing we are going to
heaven.
2.
There is the joy of knowing that there will be reward for our suffering.
Conclusion: 1. Do not try to get
saved by cultivating these characteristics.
2. If
you are saved do not neglect to cultivate these characteristics.
3. If
you need a church home come join a people with these characteristics.
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