Saturday, Pentecost Week -- June 7
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Meditation
Saturday, Pentecost Week, juxtaposed the Old Testament and New Testament ways for believers to behave. The Ten Commandments formed the law. The Beatitudes formed the spirit of the law. Old Testament behavior encouraged the spirit of the law, too, but its emphasis was a checklist of dos and don’ts. The New Testament lessons were a shift from the Pharisaical teachings of the law.
Often, Jesus would say...“You have heard it said…, but I say….”
The Ten Commandments enumerated the relationship of humans to God in the first four commandments. I am your God and don’t have any others before me; no idols; don’t take name in vain and keep the Sabbath day—all focused on how we must treat God. The next six addressed the ways humans should treat each other, starting with honoring parents, which is not to be confused as obeying them. Then, it expanded to the community—don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t make up false statements about people and don’t wish to have the neighbor’s goods instead of their having them.
The Ten Commandments were so pervasive as to be used by many cultures as the basis of their laws. But when Jesus came to earth, he encouraged believers to not just be a minimalist—and fulfill the letter of the law, but to do things out of love, from the heart.
The Beatitudes underscored that perspective, when he listed off the people’s behaviors and the rewards for those actions.
There were two interpretations of the Jewish word, μακάριοι (Makarioi)—Blessed or Happy. ‘Blessed’ implied a little more than ‘happy’ because it recognized the external force and the internal feeling. God blesses. We choose to be happy—an internal response, not an external force. For that reason, ‘blessed’ meant more because it included the work of God in the actor.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Poor in spirit meant people, who recognized their need for spiritual influence from God, in other words, spiritually humble people, for the Kingdom of heaven belonged to them. Since their behavior fits in with the way the Kingdom of Heaven operated, they will blend right in.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” This was straight forward: God would always provide comfort and peace for any suffering loss and grieving.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The Greek word used here (only once) seemed redundant to some—another form of humbleness. But Matthew Henry suggested that it described the soul who was willing to let go of whatever they had for the sake of God. The result would be that they would receive what God had promised. This was akin to the law of reciprocity—what you give out will return to you.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” The believer, whose passion for doing the right thing—seeking justice and equality for all—will be satisfied. God will help them achieve it.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Again, the theme was reciprocity. Give mercy and you will find that people are merciful back.
“ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” In past lessons, the purity and holiness of God was identified and restated. Here, people who emulate that purity would find themselves resembling the aspects of God’s holiness and purity, so that they would encounter God, even as Moses was enveloped in the Shekinah glory and absorbed that essence of God. Emulate God and God will open the opportunities for that special encounter.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” We’ve noted in the past where hostile ‘Christians’ have turned people away from God, but people, like Mother Teresa convey the attitude that even non-Christians believe would be Godly, or children of God.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Again, if persecution attacked a believer, who was humble enough to receive it, the end result would be attaining the highest level of achievement—the Kingdom of Heaven.
A common theme prevailed—a passion for humility, purity, and peace would result in achieving everything possible—inheriting the earth, an encounter with God, and finding ownership in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It all came out of desire of the believer, not a checklist. The rewards would be much greater.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Pentecost Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 33:12-22;Exodus 20:1-21;Matthew 5:1-12&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT (multiple versions)
Saturday, Pentecost Week
Psalm 33:12-22
Exodus 20:1-21
Matthew 5:1-12
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 8:14-15
New Century Version (NCV)
14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.
15 The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 5:1-12
King James Version (KJV)
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 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.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, the law teaches us how we should behave; the Beatitudes show the rewards for behaving well, arising from our hearts and minds. Empower us to emulate God and be all that you want us to be. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Pentecost Week enumerated the law—in the Ten Commandments—but it went further, showing how behaviors of Christians could result in the kinds of things that many desired for themselves. The Pharisees wanted these results, but fell short when they put their own achievements pridefully ahead of the goals of God.
God wants us to find our passion for the service of God. All the Beautitudes aimed for showing how the behaviors of Christ followers could take them one step beyond the temple. The Holy of Holies separated God from the impure. The temple curtain tore upon Christ’s death and resurrection. Our access to God, through Christ, became one of the key points of Christianity. We can ‘see God’ and ‘receive the Kingdom of Heaven’ or ‘inherit the earth.’
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Saturday, Pentecost Week, juxtaposed the Old Testament and New Testament ways for believers to behave. The Ten Commandments formed the law. The Beatitudes formed the spirit of the law. Old Testament behavior encouraged the spirit of the law, too, but its emphasis was a checklist of dos and don’ts. The New Testament lessons were a shift from the Pharisaical teachings of the law.
Often, Jesus would say...“You have heard it said…, but I say….”
The Ten Commandments enumerated the relationship of humans to God in the first four commandments. I am your God and don’t have any others before me; no idols; don’t take name in vain and keep the Sabbath day—all focused on how we must treat God. The next six addressed the ways humans should treat each other, starting with honoring parents, which is not to be confused as obeying them. Then, it expanded to the community—don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t make up false statements about people and don’t wish to have the neighbor’s goods instead of their having them.
The Ten Commandments were so pervasive as to be used by many cultures as the basis of their laws. But when Jesus came to earth, he encouraged believers to not just be a minimalist—and fulfill the letter of the law, but to do things out of love, from the heart.
The Beatitudes underscored that perspective, when he listed off the people’s behaviors and the rewards for those actions.
There were two interpretations of the Jewish word, μακάριοι (Makarioi)—Blessed or Happy. ‘Blessed’ implied a little more than ‘happy’ because it recognized the external force and the internal feeling. God blesses. We choose to be happy—an internal response, not an external force. For that reason, ‘blessed’ meant more because it included the work of God in the actor.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Poor in spirit meant people, who recognized their need for spiritual influence from God, in other words, spiritually humble people, for the Kingdom of heaven belonged to them. Since their behavior fits in with the way the Kingdom of Heaven operated, they will blend right in.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” This was straight forward: God would always provide comfort and peace for any suffering loss and grieving.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The Greek word used here (only once) seemed redundant to some—another form of humbleness. But Matthew Henry suggested that it described the soul who was willing to let go of whatever they had for the sake of God. The result would be that they would receive what God had promised. This was akin to the law of reciprocity—what you give out will return to you.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” The believer, whose passion for doing the right thing—seeking justice and equality for all—will be satisfied. God will help them achieve it.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Again, the theme was reciprocity. Give mercy and you will find that people are merciful back.
“ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” In past lessons, the purity and holiness of God was identified and restated. Here, people who emulate that purity would find themselves resembling the aspects of God’s holiness and purity, so that they would encounter God, even as Moses was enveloped in the Shekinah glory and absorbed that essence of God. Emulate God and God will open the opportunities for that special encounter.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” We’ve noted in the past where hostile ‘Christians’ have turned people away from God, but people, like Mother Teresa convey the attitude that even non-Christians believe would be Godly, or children of God.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Again, if persecution attacked a believer, who was humble enough to receive it, the end result would be attaining the highest level of achievement—the Kingdom of Heaven.
A common theme prevailed—a passion for humility, purity, and peace would result in achieving everything possible—inheriting the earth, an encounter with God, and finding ownership in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It all came out of desire of the believer, not a checklist. The rewards would be much greater.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Pentecost Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 33:12-22;Exodus 20:1-21;Matthew 5:1-12&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT (multiple versions)
Saturday, Pentecost Week
Psalm 33:12-22
Exodus 20:1-21
Matthew 5:1-12
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 8:14-15
New Century Version (NCV)
14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.
15 The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 5:1-12
King James Version (KJV)
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 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.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, the law teaches us how we should behave; the Beatitudes show the rewards for behaving well, arising from our hearts and minds. Empower us to emulate God and be all that you want us to be. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Pentecost Week enumerated the law—in the Ten Commandments—but it went further, showing how behaviors of Christians could result in the kinds of things that many desired for themselves. The Pharisees wanted these results, but fell short when they put their own achievements pridefully ahead of the goals of God.
God wants us to find our passion for the service of God. All the Beautitudes aimed for showing how the behaviors of Christ followers could take them one step beyond the temple. The Holy of Holies separated God from the impure. The temple curtain tore upon Christ’s death and resurrection. Our access to God, through Christ, became one of the key points of Christianity. We can ‘see God’ and ‘receive the Kingdom of Heaven’ or ‘inherit the earth.’
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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