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Matthew 5 – The Beatitudes – Backwards and Forewards
The Beatitudes Backwards and Forwards
Being persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew5:10-12) will make you pursue peace ‐ but which kind?
1. Peace from the persecutors? Becoming weary can do this.
2. Peace from Jesus who likewise was persecuted? Becoming more like Jesus ends our emotional weariness and gives us strength. But only when we keep reliving the Beatitudes.
When you pursue Jesus’s peace it is because you are a peacemaker (5:9).
When you are a peacemaker, it is because you are pure in heart (5:8).
When you are pure in heart, it is because you are merciful (5:7).
When you are merciful, it is because you hunger and thirst after righteousness (5:6).
When you hunger and thirst after righteousness, it is because you are humble (5:5).
When you are humble, it is because you’ve mourned for sins (5:4).
When you’ve mourned for sins, it is because you have realized you have nothing to offer God except your poor poverty of spirit (5:3).
When you’ve become poor in spirit the kingdom of God belongs to you (5:3).
When the kingdom of God belongs to you, you will be comforted (5:4).
When you’ve been comforted, you will inherit the earth (5:5).
When you’ve inherited the earth,you will be filled (5:6).
When you’ve been filled, you will show mercy (5:7).
When you show mercy, you will see God (5:8).
When you have seen God, you will be called a son of God (5:9).
When you are a son of God, the kingdom is yours (5:10).
Because they are treating you like the prophets whom they persecuted before you, be blessed, glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven (5:11-12).
Reliving the Beatitudes backwards and forwards, and forwards and backwards, leads to internal and eternal peace away from our persecutors, slanderers, and haters who have no internal or eternal peace. Why would we want peace from them when they are in turmoil?
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