“The Framework: The Making of The Blessed”
Series Title: #Blessed
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 03/15/26 (3rd Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
{Message start:}
Message Title:
“The Framework: The Making of the Blessing"
We’re continuing our study from last week.
We are talking about one of the greatest sermons from the greatest.
When Jesus started his ministry… he started heavily.
He had been traveling, teaching, sharing the good news, healing others… People began to hear about him and would come so they could see him.
One time when he saw all the people…
he sat them down and gave the Sermon on the Mount.
we’re going to spend this month talking about some parts of it.
Matthew 5:3-11
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This is what’s called the Beattitudes.
Jesus sat them down and immediately started talking about being blessed.
Before we get to the details of it…we have to talk about being blessed. We talked last week about what being blessed means.
and Jesus is saying that those who are blessed have certain traits. certain characteristics
they have certain postures…
Last week we covered those who are poor in spirit.
meaning those who truly show humility and realize they need God. they understand they are nothing without him.
We also covered those who mourn.
which meant those who had the Lord’s heart. those who grieved over our own mistakes.
those who grieved over what happens in the world. things happen often…people die every day…
we can’t become desensitized to it…
those things grieve the Lord…and should grieve us too.
Today we’ll start with verse 5 Beatitude #3
Matthew 5:5
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
When you see “meek,” you prob think of the traditional definition.
Oxford Language Dictionary
Meek - quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive
Easily imposed upon.
being quiet.
being gentle. submissive
This is written like some type of weakness it’s also how people can view it. too nice. Easy to get over on.
But using a bible dictionary gives a slightly different definition and more detail.
Eastons Bible Dictionary
Meekness - a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked
What we see here is a calm temper. not easily provoked.
This is different than being a pushover.
And we have a perfect example from Christ himself.
Matthew 11:29
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
Jesus said to accept the calling and learn from him. because he is gentle in heart.
Jesus was gentle and meek.
he was patient with the sinners (woman at the well/caught in the act of adultery/)
he was compassionate with the broken (the centurion/woman with issue of blood/ Lazarus)
he was also showing restraint against those who tried to push him.
Matthew 5:38-40
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Jesus says to go against the thoughts to get back. If they come for you, let them think they won.
This sounds like weakness right? Let’s be clear…Jesus was not weak.
When Jesus was arrested…Peter was going to defend him.
Jesus told him to put his sword up.
Matthew 26:53
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Twelve legions?
He didn’t need more than a single angel for them! didn’t need THAT!
Jesus had power beyond understanding. but he kept it controlled.
That’s what meekness is.
Others Tell You The Strong Take Control. Jesus Says The Blessed Surrender It!
What does this look like in practice? Stepping back for the sake of control…
How To Show Meekness:
You Could Win The Argument, But You Choose Peace
How many of you know that peace many times is better than being right?
sometimes stepping back and letting people have it is a sign of biblical meekness
How To Show Meekness:
You Could Embarrass Someone, But You Choose To Have Grace
The point is not to make someone look bad…you are blessed if you show control.
How To Show Meekness:
You Could Demand Your Way, But You Choose Humility
This is something that goes into the heart.
You have to allow the change on the inside. That’s what meekness is.
Showing Grace And Letting Things Slide Is Not Weakness - It Is Showing Meekness!
Let’s look at the next one for today:
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is more straight forward.
What is righteousness?
Righteousness is a position of being right and living right. being right means those who have accepted Christ.
living right are those who live according to his standards.
Desiring him as much as we desire the things we need to live.
Him…his will…his way
Craving righteousness through him.
Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
as a deer needs to satisfy it’s thirst with water… the psalmist thirsts for the Lord.
Food and water are vital to life! but so is the Lord!
and he wants us to desire righteousness the same way!
Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
The Lord wants us to desire him. but not JUST him.
what he represents.
Not mild interest…
not occasional trying.
not…”oh I would like to be more religious.” not…”oh I need to go to church more…” “read my bible more…”
“I should stop doing this one day…”
The Blessed Are Those Who Crave Righteousness In Their Hearts And Actions!
It’s not JUST about being right… but also living right.
There are those who believe in being right…but don’t stress “doing right.”
The problem with that is it makes you think you’re okay because you accepted Christ. it also allows you to think you can live any way you want.
you feel comfortable because you accepted Christ… but show no fruit because you live NOT like a believer.
Don’t Think You Can Live Any Type Of Way And Still Be Acceptable To The Lord!
Blessed are those who hunger AND thirst for righteousness.
Not just being righteous… but LIVING righteous.
But here’s the thing… Plot twist…
it’s not about attaining it…
it’s always been the heart posture.
Romans 3:10
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
If there is no one righteous…then how do we do it? Jesus says those who HUNGER and THIRST for it.
yes we are made righteous through him…. but what about our righteous living?
Can we attain that?
Even through slips and falls…
are we willing to try again the next day?
To be right and LIVE right?
That’s who Jesus says is blessed.
The Blessed Aren’t Perfect, They Just Continue To Try Each Day! They Thirst For Righteousness!
Let’s look at the last one for today.
Matthew 5:7
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
This one is similar to meekness.
while meekness is a condition of the heart, mercy is the action it produces.
Mercy means showing compassion to someone who DESERVES judgment.
What Mercy Looks Like:
This is the way Christ operated.
He gave mercy when he didn’t have to.
- woman caught in adultery…
the law required her death… But Jesus showed her mercy.
This is what the Lord says.
Mercy Doesn’t Mean You Ignore The Wrong People Do. It Means You Show Compassion Instead Of Judgment Towards Them!
James 2:13 (b)
Mercy triumphs over judgment!
This is what we’re supposed to show!
We live in a word where everyone judges everyone… but NO one is without fault.
and if you WANT mercy… you need to show it.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
The Lord says plainly that if you want to receive mercy… you’ve got to show it.
you have to give it to others.
If You Want To Receive Mercy For The Wrong You Do, You Need To Be Willing To Give It To Someone Else!
Luke 6:37-38
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
If you want mercy….you better give it. This is who Jesus was…
one of the biggest examples of mercy…. even as we approach resurrection Sunday…
as Jesus was dying on the cross an innocent man for our sins…
being crucified by those who hated him…
Luke 23:34
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
{recap}
We talked about 3 new Beatitudes today.
Matthew 5:5-7
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
-
Meekness Is Controlled Restraint
-
Hungering And Thirsting For Righteousness Is Seeking Him AND Doing Our Best To Live Right!
-
Showing Mercy Is Having Compassion When Others Deserve Judgment
Zephaniah 2:3
3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
