WITH LIBERTY ANDJUSTICE FOR ME

Matthew 5:6-8

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOKStudies in the Sermon on the Mount

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1. Families of murder victims are often given the opportunity to confront their killer in court at the time of sentencing. If you

were to ever find yourself in that situation, which would better represent your feelings?

I would never be able to forgive him

I would forgive him

Gary Ridgway

“The Green River Killer”

48 consecutive life terms

Admitted to 71 murders

Suspected of 90+

How would I would feel?

Could I forgive?

Would I want him to pay?

Mercy I’m fresh out

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOK

Disciple’s Character

Code

Worship Economy

Relationships

Choices

THE DISCIPLE’S CHARACTERMatthew 5:1-16

THE DISCIPLE’S CHARACTERLifestyles of the Poor and Nameless (5:1-5)

With Liberty and Justice for Me (5:6-8)

WITH LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR METhe Disciple’s Three Great Desires

BLESSED ARE …Those Crying for Justice

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

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2. When Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness," what kind of people was he describing?

People who try to do what is right and obey God's laws

People who want God to bring justice to wrongdoers

Jeremiah 12:1

You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Acts 17:31

[God] has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.

Psalm 9:7-8

The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 … He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

Psalm 45:6

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

2 Peter 3:13

In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

BLESSED ARE …The Unexpectedly Forgiving

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

• Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Unexpectedly Forgiving

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98%

3. When Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful," what kind of people did he have in mind?

People who want God to show mercy to them when they sin

People who forgive others when they don't deserve it

Matthew 18:23-35

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

Matthew 18:23-35

26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

Matthew 18:23-35

29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

Matthew 18:23-35

32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Matthew 18:23-35

35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Two qualities stand side by side

Justice

•Punishment

Mercy

•Liberty

“The Merchant of Venice”

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy.

Booker T. Washington

“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

• Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Unexpectedly Forgiving

BLESSED ARE …The Absolutely Innocent

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

• Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Unexpectedly Forgiving

• Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Absolutely Innocent

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4. When Jesus said "Blessed are the pure in heart," what kind of people did he have in mind?

People who are perfect, inside and out

People whom God considers perfect because of their relationship to Jesus

Psalm 24:3-4

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

Hebrews 12:14

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Romans 3:25

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Blessed are …

• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Crying for Justice

• Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Unexpectedly Forgiving

• Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Absolutely Innocent

CONGRATULATIONS!The kingdom of heaven is yours!