The Beatitudes – Part 1

Part 1 of 8 – A Bible Study on the Beatitudes from Matthew, Chapter 5

Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matthew 23:37-39

What does it mean to come in the name of Jesus? How do we grasp the revelation of what Jesus was saying to those of his own people who had rejected him? He didn’t say he would not enter Jerusalem again or that they would not see him again, He just said it would not happen until they say, Blessed is He (Jesus) who comes in the name (identity) of the Lord (Yahweh).

In 2020, the Holy Spirit took me on an incredible journey to unfold yet another key to the Kingdom of Yah (God), and what is really amazing is how my journey was a prelude to a piece of revelation that would come via another brother, in Christ, who had also recently been taken on a journey and given revelation knowledge that would connect with my journey. God orchestrated it in His perfect timing. We had not seen our brother in about eight years. Yet, at the time it pleased the Father, we reconnected and he asked if he could come to Idaho for a visit and share what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. Not knowing what it was he was going to share, I was amazed at the iron sharpening the iron after the first evening. Thank you, Jesus!

Let’s begin by setting the stage (Grab your Bible!):

In the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus has begun His ministry, called his 12 Disciples to follow Him, and is attracting followers who are being drawn closer to him through repentance and baptism. He also has followers who are intrigued by the signs and wonders but are not so interested in true repentance. Jesus had been preaching about the Kingdom of God and this was foreign to many, as they had become accustomed to the teaching of the Pharisees-who knew the word of God (Yahweh or Yah) but did not know Yah. It had become mere mechanics and dead works to them in order to dull their senses.

Here Jesus is, confronted with a crowd who are hungry to hear what He has to share. Jesus, knowing the hearts of all, begins His sermon with what is known as The Beatitudes, aka Blessings. In scripture, these are eight blessings for those who choose to follow Him and walk in righteousness.

The definition of Righteousness – (the quality being honest and having moral principles, walking in integrity, justice, fairness).

He begins teaching:

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 the sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Although Jesus then continues His teaching on the Mount, we will focus on the Beatitudes and what they truly represent. I encourage you to open your Bible and take notes. Let the Holy Spirit of Truth begin to speak to your heart and mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your walk with Jesus where you were once blind, but now can see and where you were once weak in understanding, but now can be made strong, all in the name of Jesus. Amen.

As we begin to go through each beatitude, I encourage you to think of two things: 1) how you would build a house – the order of which it is built; and 2) a recipe – the ingredients needed to make the recipe so that you have a savory and satisfying product once completed.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, For Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

What does “Poor in spirit” mean? In Hebrew, the word poor means to “bend down.”

The prophet, Isaiah, in Isaiah 66 speaks the word of the Lord regarding true worship versus false worship. The Lord says, “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exists,” says the Lord. But on this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word. (emphasis mine)

The Hebrew meaning of contrite is “remorseful or repentant.”

So when Jesus says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, he is looking for those who will revere Him, honor His word, and have a heart of repentance where repentance is due.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven–also known as the Kingdom of God are the same in one.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus speaks many parables regarding the kingdom of heaven. Even his 12 disciples are confused by these parables until Jesus explains them in detail. Let’s look at the Parable of the Marriage Feast.

Chapter 22:1-14

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

But when the king heard about it, he was furious and he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment, so he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” and he was speechless, then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

This parable within itself should be enough to cause one to tremble at His word. When we search out the wisdom of God in scripture, we come to understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2). God is our Father in heaven, creator of all things. We were created to worship Him in Spirit and Truth, destroy the works of the devil, and inherit His kingdom . He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to the earth to take the sins of all mankind upon himself at the cross and died. He walked in righteousness while on this earth and brought with him the kingdom of heaven. He taught those who had ears to hear and eyes to see what the kingdom of heaven is. Did you catch that? What the kingdom of heaven is…not what it will be one day, but what it is in the here and now. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come and he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘see there!’ for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.’

Upon His death on the cross, He was raised again three days later from the grave – fulfilling the scriptures, and soon after, ascended on High to be on the throne at the right hand of God. He assured His disciples that it would be to our advantage that He left to join the Father so that the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Spirit) could come and be with us until His second return. That same Spirit of Truth is with us today. As we continue to read the scriptures, we know that Jesus is the Bridegroom, the son of the king in the parable, and He is returning for His bride (the glorious church) who has made herself ready without spot and wrinkle. Friends, we mustn’t be caught without the right garments—without making ourselves ready.

Eph 5:27-27

Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. When we choose to live a life without compromise to His word and turn away from every area and in our life that we knowingly have fallen short, we begin to have a poor and contrite spirit. As it was in the days of old, so it is again where few people tremble at God’s word because they do not want to repent and give up their fleshly works. They love the comforts of sin and don’t want to put in the time to ready their garments for the wedding feast. As we seek and search out the scriptures, it becomes clear from the Word of God, that without a poor and contrite spirit, we will not inherit the kingdom of heaven while here on earth or in the kingdom to come upon His return.

Romans 3:21-26

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Let’s go back to Isaiah 66:

The Lord says, “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exists,” says the Lord. But on this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word. (emphasis mine)

and John 14:22

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

You and I were created to be the tabernacle (house) of God. How we build our house for him will determine the blessings we inherit. Understanding and applying the first beatitude – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven – is the foundational key to walking in the order of the royal priesthood.

Prepared By Norma Umphress

October 2020

Personal Note:

Other than the revelation personally given to me by the Holy Spirit of the Most High God, Yahweh, and my own personal input, no part of this study is copyrighted by me.

All scriptures quoted in this study are from the NKJV or NIV version of copyrighted bibles.

That which I have been given, I have been given to share with you. You are most welcome to share with others and I only ask that you give honor where honor is due with all glory and honor unto the Father above.

Study guides are available to purchase to share with others. Contact me via email at gentlespiritnu@gmail.com for ordering and volume discounts.