Opening Prayer
Lord, speak, and grant us grace to hear. Amen.
Text: Matthew 5:1–12
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Devotion
Here we are told who are blessed, and what it is to be blessed. “The poor in spirit” are the meek. They have nothing with which to stand before God and nothing to make themselves blessed. They have neither righteousness nor love. “Those who mourn” are those whose hearts have godly sorrow when they do evil, because they have sinned against God. “The meek” are those who suffer injustice for God’s sake without becoming bitter. “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” are those who from their inmost heart and with unceasing longing yearn to stand before the righteous God. “Hunger and thirst” are the most powerful desires, – that’s how fervently the saints long for righteousness, how ardently they hate all injustice. “The merciful” feel other people’s trouble as their own and help them. “The pure in heart” have no unchastity, anger, deceit, or other evil desire in their heart, but strive to be holy like God. The “peacemakers” are those who establish peace, gather souls to the Lord, lead them on the way of peace and unite them in one spirit. Peacemakers gather; peace-disturbers divide. Nevertheless the saints suffer persecution, reviling, and all manner of evil in the world.
But still they are blessed. They are already blessed and shall become eternally blessed. They are “poor,” but in Christ they have the riches of “the kingdom of heaven”: righteousness and love, peace and joy. They “mourn,” but still they are happy and shall be comforted with eternal comfort. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev 7:17). They are robbed and wronged in the world, but no one can take their treasure from them. They shall “inherit all things,” for they have all things in Christ. Their longing for righteousness “is satisfied” by Jesus’ grace. In Him they stand perfect before God and at last shall be freed from all sin, in and around them. In the meantime they are surrounded by the pure “mercy” of God and live and breathe it both day and night. They also receive more and more of God’s glory and shall “see God” as He is, which is the fullness of blessedness. They are “children of God” and are called God’s children. They are like God and bear the honored name “sons and daughters” before all the angels, – and “the riches of the kingdom of heaven” with all its glory belong to them forever.
Rejoice and be glad in all your affliction, “great is your reward in heaven” for what you suffer here – not reward on account of any merit of yours, but a reward of grace. – “With joy we depart for our fatherland, Where God our Father is dwelling, Where ready for us His mansions stand, Where heaven with praise is swelling; And there we shall walk in endless light, With blest ones His praise forth telling” (O day full of grace: LHy 379:6).
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me Your way and keep from walking on the path of hypocrites. Let righteousness and truth lead me, for I believe in You. Holy God, enthroned forever, You dwell on high and among those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit! Make me humble and make my spirit and my heart alive. Let me be known among Your saints on earth, so that I can stand among the blessed in heaven. Amen.
Hymn
O Jesus, make us ever small
And humble in our spirit
That we upon our God may call
For hunger true; Lord, grant it,
That we may thirst for righteousness;
According to Your promise,
Lord, now feed us
With comfort, joy, and peace,
And ev’ry wrong now erase.
Beside You now in heaven’s pale
The saints are splendor wearing,
Who travelled through this tearful vale,
The cross with patience bearing.
They now enjoy their Sabbath rest
God’s sweetest peace tasting –
Everlasting –
At home with God all blest,
Safe from the devil’s wasting.
O You who walked close by their side,
Lord Jesus, now be with us
That in their footsteps we abide
With saints who share our witness,
That in Your Word as children true
Your works with joy confessing
And Your blessing,
To stand in heav’n anew
Our hymns to You addressing.
Landstad: O Jesus, Herlighedens Haab L 553:3-5 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Ich ruf zu dir (ELH 255); alternate hymn: Blessed is the man ELH 457