From the “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew Chapter 5
Historical Backdrop: Jesus had left His work as a carpenter. He was about 30 years old. He had called His Disciples and had begun His public ministry. Everyone had heard of His miracles! Many had personally observed them.
(Matthew 4:23-25) “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (24) And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (25) And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.”
The crowds were never far behind Him!
All eyes were on Him!
He couldn’t easily find a place to be alone… (sound like when you’re trying to catch lunch on patrol?)
(Matthew 5:1) “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
· He was acutely aware of the needs of those around Him and He met those needs through action and teaching others.
(Matthew 5:2) “And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”
I. POOR IN SPIRIT
(Matthew 5:3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
· Blessed means happy, content, fulfilled, lacking nothing, needing nothing, wanting nothing. To be poor in spirit is the opposite of being proud and haughty. It’s sometimes hard not to become proud in the work we do. Everyone looks up to us as having all the power and the answers to their problems. BUT IF WE ARE HUMBLE IN GOD’S GRACE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SIN, DEPENDING UPON GOD TO SAVE AND FORGIVE US THROUGH CHRIST, then we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!
We don’t always have all the answers. We can’t solve all of life’s problems for other people. Sometimes we have trouble managing our own problems!
II. THEY THAT MOURN
(Matthew 5:4) “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
· The depth of this promise is almost inexhaustible! Those who truly mourn over their personal sin shall be comforted when they confess their sins to Him through a personal relationship with Him. (1 John 1:9) When it hits us that we can’t badge our way into Heaven, this will become a reality to us and our own sin will cause us to mourn over it! The Bible tells us that ALL HAVE SINNED and have fallen short of the Glory of God!
III. THE MEEK
(Matthew 5:5) “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
· “Meekness” is power under God’s control! Think about the weaponry, authority, and power that come with the badge. It’s always a temptation to misuse it. Like humility, meekness is sometimes hard to exhibit when others may take it as a sign of weakness. But do it anyway. THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE TO LET THE STRENGTH AND POWER LOOSE, BUT YOU CAN BE MEEK in your job.
The meek are those who have been humbled before God. They not only inherit Heaven, they also ultimately share in the Kingdom here on earth!
These first three Beatitudes demonstrate the balance between the physical and the promise of the spiritual kingdom yet to come.
IV. HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Matthew 5:6) “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
· Those who have a deep desire for personal righteousness will be filled with the righteousness of God through Christ when they become born-again. Their hunger and thirst for righteousness is part of the proof of their salvation!
· Those who are poor and empty in their own spiritual poverty recognize the depth of their need, and so they hunger and thirst for that which only God can give them: His Righteousness!
(Psalms 107:9) “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
In the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics there is a line that reads: “I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all.” We don’t see much of this these days…
Do you have that deep desire to be above-board and clean in all areas of your life? Is there accountability for your actions off duty?
V. THE MERCIFUL
(Matthew 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
· “The Merciful” are those who themselves have been born again by the Mercy of God and; and because of His Divine Love extended to them, they extend the same mercy to others through the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives! To unregenerate men, this mercy defies explanation!
· The ULTIMATE EXAMPLE of such mercy is Jesus when he cried from the Cross, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
VI. THE PURE IN HEART
(Matthew 5:8) “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
· “Pure in Heart” are those who truly saved. Their lives have been totally transformed by the Grace of God! They are not SINLESS, but their position before God has been changed. They have the New Birth, Saving Faith, and Holiness in Christ. THEIR HEARTS ARE PURE. (Romans 8:1)
VII. THE PEACEMAKERS
(Matthew 5:9) “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
· It’s a common thought that officers are “Peacemakers.” However, in context with this passage, this is quite inaccurate. One must first have made peace with God through a born-again personal relationship with Christ. Only then will their hearts be changed and they will desire to make peace with all men to the greatest possible extent (notwithstanding having to fight with criminals, of course). Such people will then become AMBASSADORS of God’s message to a very troubled world. Hence, they’re called the children of God.
· Throughout the Beatitudes Jesus underscores the fact that only those who have these qualities of a changed life will be citizens of His kingdom!
VIII. THE PERSECUTED
(Matthew 5:10-11) “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
· “Ye” is plural. The folks in the southern states render the word “y’all…”Jesus could see the coming persecution which all of His followers would experience. So will you experience the persecution, if you truly serve Him in your life. Living a godly life will mark you as a freak to most of the world. When you refuse to lie on your report or stretch the truth on the stand in order to ensure a conviction, those who do will not be pleased with you.
· When you refuse to adhere to the “Code of Silence” you might find yourself without a back-up when you need it. Just remember: if they hate you for righteousness, it’s only because the world hated Jesus first.
· (2 Tim 3:12) “Yea, and all that will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” It’s a promise.
IX. REJOICE! BE GLAD
(Matthew 5:12) “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
· Count it a privilege to suffer persecution for Christ!
X. THE SALT OF THE EARTH
(Matthew 5:13) “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
· Salt is a good description of the Christian’s role in the World! Salt adds seasoning, it acts as a preservative, it kills bacteria, and it helps to heal wounds! The dedicated officer will have words seasoned with truth; he will actively preserve and defend it; he will fight evil, and he will be an encouragement and a hope to the oppressed and victimized.
· The born-again believer will have words seasoned with God’s Truth; he will actively preserve and defend that Truth; he will fight evil, and he will be an encouragement and a healing balm to the oppressed and victimized.
XI. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
(Matthew 5:14) “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
· Light dispels darkness. Light illuminates the way. Light leads and directs. Light is a beacon for all to see.
(Matthew 5:15) “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
THERE ARE NO UNDERCOVER CHRISTIANS!
(Matthew 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:17-18) “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
CONCLUSION:
· Are you born again? It’s the only way to be a Child of God and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! It is the only way to be fully equipped to perform the duties of a Law Enforcement Officer. (Romans 13:4)
· Are you salt and light? Do you fight evil and lead others in a path of righteousness by your personal example both on and off duty?
I invite you to contact me if you have any questions. -Tim.
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