Matthew 1:1-5:4

At the beginning, Matthew chapter 1.

And I'm going to put a marker there because when we move in and out, then at least we can get back to the section of Matthew.

But from about verse 1 to verse 17, it gives the genealogy or the lineage of Christ. Basically, that He was the son of, the son of, the son of. But it is the legal genealogy, the legal genealogy. In other words, through His legal father. And I used the word, I kind of was thinking what word to use. And I used the word legal father. I thought, oh well, maybe adopted father, but no, that's kind of the wrong way around. But it's His legal father because His real father, as we know, is God the father. He was born of Mary as a virgin, but His physical father, legal father was not really who the seed was given to her. It didn't come from the physical father, as we know. So that is, for lack of better word, I'm using it His legal father, the lineage. And that shows that legally, through the law, He was the son of David. Now, in the Book of Luke, it's got the genealogy and we will go, God willing, at another time when we do a study on the Book of Luke. We'll go through that, which shows the genealogy through the matter, which also goes through the same, also from a son of David, through the matter. So, but yeah, it covers the genealogy through the father. And let's just look at verse 16 and 17, when it finishes this section of the genealogy. It says, Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So, you see, it does not say that Joseph begot Christ, but it says, Joseph was the husband of Mary, of whom?

You know, of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Messiah. Understand the word Christ means Messiah. It's just, quote unquote, the Greek version into English, Christ, while Messiah is the Hebrew version of the same word. So, whenever people talk Christ, the word Christ means Messiah. So, it's actually just a translation of a word, like the word road might be called road in English, but might be called strada in Spanish or whatever, but it just still means the road.

So, the word Christ means the Messiah, which is the same word, just a different language. All right. So, continue reading, yeah? Then, we want to emphasize who his real father was, and we can see that in verse 20. And it says, yeah, but while this is Joseph was thinking about, because he had realized that Mary was now pregnant and it was betrothed to her, was engaged, but more than just engaged. In those days, that betrothed was, it's more than engagement. So, she was now expecting and he then wondered, what is he going to do about this? Then, verse 20, Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to you, Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her, did not come from another man. She has not committed adultery or anything like that, or any sexual immorality. No, it's not conceived of man, but it's conceived in her of the Holy Spirit, through the power. It's the seed that came from the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit that was impregnated in her. So, that seed came from the Father. And look at a little bit later in verse 25. And did not know her, in the words physically speaking, there was no sexual relationship. I don't want to use the word, but anyway, I used it. There was no sexual relationship until she gave birth. That's really what it means. In other words, she gave birth when she was a virgin. But she did have other children afterwards. But he did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn son. And he, Joseph, called his name Jesus, which means Saviour. Now, interesting enough, just adding a little point here, think about the word Jesus means Saviour. Just in brackets, think about points to the first coming as a Saviour.

Christ, Messiah, as a king, points to the second coming. That's just between brackets, but it's interesting, isn't it, to think about that and meditate about that. But anyway, let's move on forward to the next chapter. As I said, we're going to go quickly through these first four chapters. So, chapter 2, now we have the story up. And understand that Matthew was writing to address potential issues that the Jewish audience could have. And the potential issues that a Jewish audience could have. And we know a lot of the Jews had. They didn't believe Christ because they expected a Messiah, a ruling king, and they got the Saviour.

And that's why they said, well, this Messiah is a fake because they were expecting the second coming, not the first. And that's why they were expecting the activities of a second coming, and they got the activities of the first coming. And that's why they said, no, this is not the Messiah. But they didn't understand fully the Scriptures because there were Scriptures about Christ coming as the Messiah. And there were Scriptures also of Christ coming as a suffering servant. As we know, for instance, Isaiah 53 talks about that coming as a suffering servant. But they did not focus on those Scriptures. They only focused on the others. And so because Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience, which in a sense under a Jewish situation in their society, particularly the Jewish Christians, they were having, let's call it, opposition from the Jewish society saying he was not the king of the Jews.

And therefore, he brings this story out to underline that he was the king of the Jews. And he says, yeah, in chapter 2, verse 1, But after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, he the days of Ered the king, behold the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

You see, this phrase, king of the Jews, is important to the Jewish community. For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him. Now, understand, these wise men that came, it says, yeah, from the east. Where is the east? Now, if you know a little bit of the history of the Jewish people, you know that they went into captivity, into battle. And you know, some, in fact, very few came back to what we call today the Middle East, the area of Palestine, where that area.

Very few actually came. Most of them actually stayed behind in the area of what is called today Iran and Iraq. So these people were most probably, I can't see why not, were Jews living in that Iran-Iraq area. Because who else? Who would be interested in the Jewish scriptures of the Old Testament but Jews, right? Surely people that had remained, they were of the Jewish society, that remained in the area of Babylon, that area of Iran-Iraq area.

They then probably had the sign. They had the sign. They probably got together in a meeting with other leaders, like a council meeting amongst them. And then they got together and said, yeah, we've got to go there. And they searched the structures and they said, okay, there's a Messiah. This is the time, according to Daniel. Daniel Mine, this is the time. So they worked it out. And therefore, they, and why did I say that? Because the Messiah would have to be born and then he would need to be about 30 years old before he could start preaching. That's the way they would look.

So they had to work those things from Daniel Mine and work back 30 years and all that. So that's they said, well, it's the time frame. And then they got together. And, you know, when people get together, they say, all right, let's have a... I'm now assuming, I'm speculating. They probably got collection and they got gifts. And they say, well, we can't take clothing and this and that. It's going to be difficult to carry for this long journey because remember, they were in Iran, in Iraq area, and they had to come all the way to Jerusalem.

And if they were doing it today by foot, I think it would be a pretty dangerous trip. Well, I don't think it was any different in those days. I think it was equally dangerous and would also take a little bit of time.

And so I believe that I might be wrong, but I believe they probably got a collection going. They got a meeting amongst themselves. They got various things. And therefore they got these gifts to go and give to the king of the Jews. What I'm saying is it took time. It was not the very day that he was born on the manager. And next thing, there is the wise man from the east with gifts, as the typical Christmas story of the world puts it.

That's not the case. And so let's go on reading a little bit, yeah. Look at verse 11 through 13. Oh, by the way, while I'm reading, yeah, sorry, it says in verse 1, Behold, wise men from the east. Now, what is the number that gives the... How many wise men does it say in verse 1 they win? It does not specify the number. Could it be 10? Could it be 9? Could it be 7? Could it be 2? Yeah, it could be 3, but it doesn't say. So this is the point. Sometimes people add things. We've got to be careful. They're not in the Bible.

So wise men from the east. So let's go on to verse 11. And when they had come into the house... Oh! He was in the house now. Not when he had been born, as you know, he was in the stable, etc. Now he was in the house. Yeah, because, I mean, he wouldn't have stayed there for all that period. This was at time he had elapsed. And he says, when they had come into the house, they saw the young child.

Wait, wait, wait! It doesn't say the baby in arms. The young child. All there was Jesus there. I mean, did he have... was he a one or a two-day old baby? I don't think so. By reading this and looking at your logistics, they came from the east, from where it is Iran and Iraq. They came. I don't think so. Let's continue reading. We are reading in verse 11.

They saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him of gold, frankincense and myrrh. If I go and travel to another country, for instance, I go and visit Germany in Brazil. If I go and visit Germany in Brazil, it's very difficult for me to take physical things. Like, for instance, kettles, TVs, physical things. It's very difficult for me to take. So what I do is maybe I take money. It's easy to exchange. In those days, those things were very valuable in a sense, was like money. Very valuable.

And this is where the three came in. There were three types of gifts, which were of three types of items that could be exchanged for something else. It was like carrying money. It's like I could go to Brazil and sometimes I could carry some euros or I could carry some dollars or I could carry some Brazilian re-ives. In fact, I've done that. And it's three different currencies, the types of currency. So I'm not saying that was the case, but it was something that was easier for them to carry and could be converted to something they needed right there that would be proper.

And remember, God knew, God knew, they're going to have to travel to Egypt. So they probably needed to buy a few things and therefore they used that to convert into some other different assets for the trip to Egypt. So think of it practically from that point of view. Now, obviously, the Bible doesn't say that. I'm just speculating, yeah, but let's continue.

Present gifts to him of gold, Frankenstein, St. Mary. So I'm reading in chapter 2, verse 11 of Matthew. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Paris, they reported for their own country another way.

Now, when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise, take the young child again, young child. His mother fled to Egypt and stayed there till I bring you word, for Aaron will seek to destroy the young child to destroy him.

Now, how young was he young?

Look at verse 16. Look at verse 16. Then, Aaron, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise man, again, it doesn't say how many wise men were there, but they were deceived by the wise man, was exceedingly angry, and he sent forth and put to death all the mild children who were in Bethlehem and all its districts from two years old and under. So, I mean, if a child is two years old, which means nearly three years old, right? I mean, the second birthday is gone, so it's more than two. He's two and a little, but he's not three yet. I mean, he's only three years old when he's already lived three years, right? So, he was two years old, nearly three years old, all younger. Right. So, that's what it says. But interesting point is the next verse. According to the time which he had determined from the wise man. According to the time that he had determined from the wise man. If you look at that word of determination, or you look at different other Bible versions, for instance, the Dobby, which is a version which is more of a literal translation, says, according to the time which he had accurately inquired from the Magi. Accurately inquired.

Now, if you as a king are going to murder children in a certain city, you better make sure that you got your facts right. Now, why, if Jesus was only one or two months old, why did he not kill children that are six months or younger? Why kill children that are two years old? So, we do not know what age Christ was, but clearly it was not, from what we can see, it was not just a few days. It was more than just a few days. So, he could have been up to and including two years old.

So, that's interesting because of the story that traditionally is made up about Christmas, because they got a lot of facts incorrectly, and we're just drawing it straight up from the bottom.

All right, let's look a bit further down in verse 19. It says in verse 19, Now, when Herod was dead, the old and angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. So, Herod died in the course of time. And then look at verse 23.

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. He went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that it shall be called a Nazarene.

In other words, people that are, for instance, born in Lexington, you could call them the Olexintons, or whatever. I don't know what word you have. Or, Lexington's are people born in Lexington, you know. Or you may have a word, for instance, I was born in a town in Mozambique, and in fact, a town called Lorenzo Marx, today it's called Maputo, that's Portuguese East Africa.

In those days, they used to call the people that were born in that city, Coca-Cola.

Why? Well, I don't know, because they drank a lot of Coke at that time. I don't know. And also because it was illegal there to sell Pepsi. So, I don't know. I don't know why. But he was called a Nazarene. Now, some people say, oh, you see, it was a Nazarite. No, no. It's not a Nazarite. I know it's a similar word, but it's not that he was a Nazarite. He did not have a Nazarite vow. He was a Nazarene. He was a one that was brought up and raised in Nazarene. Okay, that was just interesting, so we get all those facts right.

So, we have a situation that he was at a certain young age, somewhere between two years old although younger, but clearly not maybe in Haungs. It appears to not that be the case. He was a little young child. He went to Egypt. He was there maybe a certain amount of time. Okay, and then Herod died. Okay, and again, that's a whole different story. Because a lot of people, a lot of historians give a date on Herod died. And believe it or not, that date is incorrect. Because there are other historians that put a lighter date for Herod to die. And we can actually prove from various points from the Bible that actually the lighter date is more correct. But anyway, the years have gone by and we get now into chapter 3.

And Matthew now keeps the number of years forwards because now it's talking about John the Baptist. So John the Baptist must have been, therefore, about 30 years old to be able to do what he did. Because according to the Jewish God's law, in fact, they would need to be 30 years old.

And therefore, there was probably, after Jesus had gone to Egypt, maybe some 28 years later, or maybe 29. But maybe somewhere, because he was maybe 2 years old or younger, so maybe that was like 20. So it keeps there a number of years. And so we get to the story of John the Baptist. And John the Baptist started preaching when he was about 30 years old. And when you look at other scriptures, John the Baptist was born round about the time of Unleavened Break.

And therefore, he started preaching round about that time.

And because we can determine when Christ died, based on the prophecy of Daniel 9, and then because he can work backwards 3 1⁄2 years, because he was to preach, and he preached for 3 1⁄2 years, so he can work back. So from Daniel 9, we determined that Christ died in AD 31, or Passover.

We can work 3 1⁄2 years back, so Christ would have started preaching round about time of trumpets, 27 AD. And because John the Baptist was 6 months younger, then he would have started preaching 27 AD Unleavened Bread. And we know he was born at the time of Unleavened Bread, based on other prophecies that says, according to the bias that his father was serving in the temple and things like that. So we can determine the season when he was born.

And therefore, we get to the conclusion that Christ was born 6 months after John the Baptist, because we can see that there was a difference of 6 months between June 2, and because John the Baptist was born round about Unleavened Bread, Christ was born round about trumpets.

So we're actually approaching a season where somewhere we are, we're approaching the time of Christ's birthday. That's interesting. Round about the time of trumpets. Anyway, we then continue reading in Matthew 3. That's the time of John the Baptist. And we can see in verse 5, Then Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region around Jordan went out to him. I mean, in a short period, John the Baptist got a big following. I mean, the whole world was going after him. It says, I mean, all the people of that region. And we're baptized by him in the Jordan Confessive, their sins.

And when you saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Brute of Vipers, who want you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and even not baptized. But the point that I want to emphasize is, many people came. And therefore, many people were around John the Baptist. And John the Baptist began in a very quick time, very, let's call it, famous, very well known, and people were there.

And so, a little later, a little later sometime, then Jesus came to Galilee. And we read that in verse 13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John as John the Baptist, and to Jordan to be baptized by him. And John, the Baptist, verse 14, tried to prevent him saying, I need to be baptized by you. And are you coming to me? Here it was, John the Baptist says, hey, I need to be baptized by you, because you and I are also baptized by Jesus, by the authority of Jesus, by receiving God's Holy Spirit after the physical baptism upon the laying of hands when the minister prays and asks you, then God, through the authority of Jesus, because he says, Jesus says, I'll stand to you, the Holy Spirit.

So, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, let's call it that, is done after our physical baptism upon the laying on of hands. And that's why John the Baptist said, I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me? But Jesus also then said, permit it to be so now, for thus is fitting to fulfill all righteousness. To fulfill all righteousness. So, to fulfill all righteousness, Jesus was baptized, and that's why we all left to be baptized. So, then he allowed it, and he was baptized, and then when he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and beyond, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.

It wasn't a dove, but it just like a dove and a liking upon him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven. Now, this is a voice. It does not say it was the Father's voice. It says a voice. So, it could have been the Father sending an angel to say that voice, right? Because it doesn't say it was the voice of the Father, and Jesus himself says, no man has heard or seen the Father. So, putting that together, it was a voice. A voice came saying, you know, it was with instructions from the Father saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I'm well pleased.

Now, I mentioned to you a little earlier, there were a lot of people going to John the Baptist. A lot of people going to John the Baptist. Therefore, I think it's a fairly good logical conclusion to assume that a lot of people were there and were witnesses to this event. Now, I'm going to give an analogy, which is weak. I know, but it is an analogy.

If you are Catholic, you know of Fatima. And there were three little young children that had this vision and told the whole world they had this vision, and the whole world, at least the whole Catholic world, knows well about it. There was Fatima that happened there and blah, blah, blah, blah. And the whole world makes a big thing about it. When I said, the whole world, I mean the whole believing world. Now, Yah is an event that is bigger than that of Fatima. There is a voice coming from heaven, which was a voice instructed by the Father, saying, This is how beloved Stunwoom are well pleased. There were many witnesses listening to that. If this was something like Fatima, the whole world would know about it. But this was squashed. Why? Because they can squash it, right? Because the people rejected the Messiah.

They rejected the witness of the Father. That's what it means. The witness of the Father, that Jesus is the Son of God, was rejected. Because they heard that voice from heaven. So, that's why I went and spent a little bit of time showing you that there were a lot of people there.

So, the people rejected the Son of God. Then we get to chapter 4, which is Jesus being tempted by Satan. I'm not going to go into that. It's again a nice section for you to take a little bit of time to study.

And then after that being tempted, we read a little letter in verse 18. Or in fact, verse 17. From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He started preaching about the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of heaven, which belongs to God, which is in heaven.

And then from verse 18, we can see that he started getting his disciples together. And then we have the fact that a lot of people start following him. We can see in verse 25, great multitudes followed him from Galilee and from various areas around there, and Judasim, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Many people start following Christ. And now we get to chapter 5, which is really where I want to slow down a little bit more, and look at the teachings of Jesus Christ.

But what we've seen so far is that the Jewish people have basically rejected Christ.

They had a witness from a voice from heaven coming from the Father through probably a messenger. But they had a witness of a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved son, whom I well pleased.

But they rejected the Son of God.

Now we get to the point of the first set of five speeches of Christ, or discourse.

And this first one is called the sermon on the Mount, which is from Matthew 5 to Matthew 7. And so let's start with Matthew 5.

And seeing the multitudes, he went onto a mountain, and when he was seated, these disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them sign. In other words, we have that Christ on Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, Mount of Olives, what am I saying?

Take a part. On Mount of Olives, he was teaching like the instruction that was given at Mount Sinai.

In other words, he was expounding the law, because we can see he's expounding the law.

So let's read in verse 3.

From verse 3 to verse 12, it's basically a section which is called the Beatitudes, which is a short, brief section.

There's a lot of depth, a lot of wisdom, and a lot of learning that you and I learn from verses as the years go by.

And we're always learning from this.

I hope to, in the next half an hour or so, just cover the next two verses, verse 3 and verse 4.

In verse 3, let's read that blessed are the 40 spirits, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In first place, let's talk about blessed. Blessed is a Greek word called Makarios, which means happy.

Now, does it mean that you're feeling happy? Happy, happy? No.

What it means is that you're blessed. You are blessed. You are really something good for you that you're going to receive a blessing.

So it is a blessing and therefore something to be happy, but it's not an emotional happiness.

It is really a deep, profound feeling of joy.

And it's this 40 spirit.

Now, it's not that one is physically poor or there is a poverty in people, you know, but it is that they are poor in spirit. It's not physically speaking.

So, they were not necessarily, therefore, people that appeared physically poor, or they were not necessarily people that did not have material blessings.

But it is people that had an aptitude of being poor in spirit.

Now, turn with me to Psalm 34. Psalm 34, verse 2 through 4. Psalm 34, verse 2 through 4.

Psalm 34, verse 2.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear of it and be led.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I thought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all fears, all my fears. They looked to him, and were raided, and their faces were not a shadow.

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard it, and saved him out of all his troubles.

It's not that the person is for you, but it is a person that is humble. He says, the humble, look at in verse 2, the humble shall hear of it and be led. It's a person that is humble, a person that, from a spiritual point of view, has got humility.

Maybe the person has trials, because it says, and saves him out of all his troubles at the end of verse 6. So the person is humble, maybe he's got some trials, maybe the person is aware of certain things he's done wrong, because it says, the Lord heard me, and he delivered me from all my fears. Why? Maybe he's done something wrong. Maybe he knows he's turned, and he comes to God and says, please forgive me and help me.

So we have here a person that is humbly looking to God for deliverance and trusting in God.

What other word would you say instead of trusting? Think about it.

Faith, isn't it? Faith. So he has a man which is poor in spirit, has got difficulties in life, which one does not have difficulties. We all have difficulties. We all have afflictions of one way or another.

But we have to have faith that God will deliver us.

So even though it begins with the attitude of humility, humility is also an attitude, think about it, that shows that you have faith in God.

And it starts from faith. Right? It starts from faith. Faith in God.

So he has a man that is humbly looking to God for deliverance and having faith that God will deliver him. And when I say a man, I mean a woman, it's a person. Look at also Isaiah 66.

We're going to read verses 1 and 2. Isaiah 66, verses 1 and 2.

Thus says the Lord, Heaven is my throne, and Earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will go to me? And where is the place of my rest? For all these things my hand has made, and all those things exist, says the Lord. But on this one will I look, on him which is poor, and of contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

He has a proper, profound, deep respect, fear of God, and trust in God to deliver him. This is who God looks to, somebody that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at my word.

That is poor in spirit.

He or she depends on God. He knows he can't depend on himself. He is concerned, or she is concerned, for now God thinks of us, of me, of myself, of you. And not what others think of me, or of us, or of you. He is not fearful of our people, but he is fearful of God.

When he is in trouble, you'll call on God.

Why does he know that God will deliver him? Why does he know that God will deliver him when he is in trouble?

1 John 3, verse 22 And whatever we ask, we receive from him. So we have this confidence that we're going to ask for something from God and receive from him. And obviously we're going to ask according to God's will, right? But we know that God is going to hear it. Why? Because we keep his commandments and we do those things that are pleasing in his sight. So the man that is sporting spirit, he looks at himself, and yes, he or she knows he's done things wrong. Which one asked? But from the heart, he's trying to please God. This is not a justification to say, well, I can go and sin. No. Because he's really trying to please God. And he knows that God is going to answer his prayers because he keeps God's laws and does what's pleasing in God's eyes. Reverend, it's not just keeping God's laws. I mean, the Jews keep the Sabbath, keep the Holy Days, don't eat some clean foods. But are they doing what's pleasing to God? God knows the heart. I'm not going to say individual people, whatever. But the point is, keeping the commandments is not enough. Just saying, I come to church and I keep the Sabbath is not enough. There's more to it. And God, through his Spirit, will guide you through what that is.

You know the parable of the Pharisee and the text collector? Not going to go through it, but in Luke 18, there's the Pharisee and the text collector. And there's the Pharisee who goes out there and says, I am so good! And look at this text collector! He's a piece of rubbish, blah, blah, blah. But I'm so good! Thank you God that I'm so good! And listen to that. And the text collector goes in and says, God, I'm a sinner. I'm a sinner. Forgive me. He was poor in spirit. He was contrite. He was trying to please and do what God, but he recognized the eventings wrong. And then Christ asked, who do you think was forgiven? But if you read that, it says, the Pharisee trusted in himself.

You read that parable again and you see those words there, hidden, that sometimes we don't notice, but they there, the Pharisee trusted in himself. Brethren, we must not trust in ourselves, but we need to trust in God, which goes back to faith, that faith in God.

Brethren, you look for Jesus. They are people that came to Christ and had a problem that Christ was teaching to them. Another thing that says, you can't teach me. You read at the end of John chapter 9, you can see people that don't want Christ to teach them.

Why? Because they were too big in their heads, put it another way. They thought they knew it all, put it another way. Or put it another way, spiritually speaking, they thought they were rich and increased in goods.

And that brings us a very serious analogy of the warning that Christ gives to the loud sin. That says, I'm rich and increased with goods. We've got to be careful, because if we think, that we are Philadelphians, and we accuse everybody else of being loud asians, maybe we are the loudest sins, because we are thinking that we've reached an increase in goods. We've got to be careful of putting labels on people. We've got to be very, very careful.

So, how are we poor in spirit? That's a big subject. I know I'm not giving it justice yet, but I gave you some food for thought about being poor in spirit.

Now, think about Christ. Christ humbled Himself and gave us the example of humility. You look at the example in Philippians 2, when He says He made Himself of no reputation. He humbled Himself, and He trusted God, and He humbled Himself and came as a servant. Christ, the very Son of God, was poor in spirit.

True Christianity, brethren, begins with being poor in spirit.

And as you've seen, that is kind of linked to having faith in God, to trusting God, not in ourselves. So, poor in spirit is the first beatitude, or the first attitude that will be blessed by God. Because let's go back to Matthew 5, verse 3. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. For those people are the ones that will be in the kingdom of God. So, we really need to humbly look towards God for deliverance, depending on God, and being completely humbled and having absolute fear of God. But let's move on to the next one, which is in verse 4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Now, it's easy to kind of conclude, to say, well, mourn means somebody died, and I'm mourning for that person.

And yes, that is true. That means mourn.

But is that all that it means? Yeah.

In this verse, is that all that it means about mourning?

What is mourning? Is it just crying and being sad because something did not go the way God like it to go? To mourn in its lament for one with words.

Or in other words, to be disappointed. Yes, to be sad.

What is true mourning? True mourning, one example, and I'll give it to you. But one example is Godly sorrow.

You mourn because you look at yourself, and I look at myself, and I recognize that I'm a long way from what I should be.

And therefore, I recognize I need to repent. I need to change.

And the other way of mourning is that you see things happening in this world, and you mourn because you see it's going to be big trouble.

Maybe you look at what's happening in the American scene today, and you see certain things happening, and you mourn for the country.

Because you see that people are breaking God's laws, be it lying, be it deceiving, being unreasonable in their demands, being whatever.

And if you open your eyes, you know, and you know that you know that nothing is going to fix it of mankind, that mankind can do it.

We are on one way road to trouble.

But it's around just in the century. If you live in Europe, and you see what's happening there, they are on a one-way ticket also to the South.

And the whole world is that way. And so we sigh and cry for the sins of the world, and that is mourning.

So, you mourn, as I mentioned, you can look at it in two ways. One, you look at yourself and it leads to repentance.

The other one, you look at others and what they're doing, and you pray for them, even though they are your enemies, because you love them, and you want them to change for their own good. So it actually is a symbol of love for others. Just like being poor in spirit reflects faith, mourning for others reflects love for them, particularly for your enemy, love your enemies.

So, Godly mourning, brethren, is more than just an emotional feeling, who I'm crying and addressing black and whatever it is, and I'm going to put a black bar around my arm.

And I'm not saying don't do that, but there's a lot deeper than that.

It is an attitude that because you feel that towards others, God will comfort you. That's what it is. You will be comforted.

God will give you that peace of mind, even though we're going through difficult trials.

In other words, it's an attitude that we need to be sober-minded.

You're reading Paul's instruction to Titus. He says, young man, be sober!

Yeah, because you're not seeing the things that be on you go and party and drink and go mad.

But you see these things and you're born, because you know the end result.

In Peter, it says, be sober! Well, let's turn to 1 Peter. 1 Peter 4, verse 7.

1 Peter 4, verse 7. I wasn't going to turn into that, but let's look at that while we're young. 1 Peter 4, verse 7.

But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.

1 Peter 4, verse 7. In the end of these things at hand, you can see the way this country is going, the way the different things that are happening.

You just turn on the radio, turn on the TV, and you just hear more and more of the stuff, and you say, we are in trouble.

So he said, the end of these things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.

In other words, there is an attitude there of being sober-minded and of being watchful with calm, collected in spirit, because you're born for the things that are happening to the world.

Christ brings us to warn us about trouble. You know the situation where people cried for him and said, oh well, as he was carrying the cross, different people cried for him and said, well, they mourn for him.

And what did Christ say? Mourn rather for yourselves, because you are rejecting the Son of God. Well, he didn't say that, but behind it, that's what he was.

You are rejecting the Son of God. You're killing the Son of God, and therefore your study and your children are going to be utterly destroyed.

That's what he said. He said, run and cry for yourselves, because you are going to be utterly destroyed.

And he did in 70 AD, about 40 years afterwards. That said, he was completely destroyed.

Brethren, we need to have the attitude that is displayed in Ezekiel chapter 9. Some of you know what I'm going with that scripture. Ezekiel chapter 9.

We're going to start reading in verse 4. Ezekiel chapter 9. I'm going to read you verse 4. And the Lord said to him, fell through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.

Putting that into modern context. Go through America. Go through whatever country you are in and look at what's happening.

And you and I need to be sighing and crying for the abominations that are being done in this country, in fact, around the world. That is mourning. Sighing and crying is mourning for what's happening. And God says, you will protect those people. He says, go to the others, he said in my hearing, go offering through the city and kill, and do not let your eyes spare nor have any pity. Utterly slay all the young men, maidens, and little children and women, but do not come on anyone who has this mark from God, as sealed with this protection from God.

And begin at my sanctuary! What is God's sanctuary in today's spiritual terms? The Church of God.

This is serious stuff, brethren. We need to be mourning. And so they began with the elders who were before the temple. Serious stuff for us as ministers. So brethren, we gotta mourn. You know, the scripture, for instance, in Corinthians, where those people were puffed up. And he says, you puffed up instead of mourning! And get that man out! Get that son out!

And sometimes we as elders have a difficult task to say to people, I'm sorry, but you can't be in a fellowship. No, I know those people afterwards get very cross with the minister and the right things to the minister that are not kind. I've experienced that. But you gotta do what you gotta do. So brethren, we need to mourn. We need to mourn. This is an interesting scripture that sometimes we have not really paid a lot of attention to it. And that is in Colossians chapter 1 verse 24. Colossians chapter 1 verse 24.

You know, brethren, Christ mourned, and not only that, He suffered for us.

I use the word suffer. I did not use the word die. Now, of course, He did die for us. But I said suffer. Now, Christ could have just died and not suffered. And He still would have been saved by His blood. Right? Yeah, He could have died. He could have shot Him on the head, one shot dead, no suffering, finished. Or in the heart, and probably in their guns, but maybe a spear or whatever it is, straight in the heart. And that's gone. And they probably knew ways of, like they did to the sheep for the offering. They killed the sheep for the offering, and they had, let's call it a science, to kill the sheep in a way for the offering, that that sheep basically would not suffer. Think about it. In God's offerings, there was no suffering of the offering. Yes, they killed, but there was no suffering. Or at least was minimized, that's what it's another way. But Christ's suffering, or Christ's death, had suffering. Why? You know, for us, for our healing. But it's not just when you seek all my back so I get healed, our emotions. But there's more to that. And that's why, during Passover, we have to discern the body of Christ. Because it's suffering, which is that bread. And that's why it says, that's why some of you are sick. Why? Because we do not discern the body of Christ. And what is the body of Christ? It's you and I. You see, Christ is the head of that body, but you and I are members of that same body. Now look at Colossians 1.24. Now I rejoice in my sufferings. Now this is Paul speaking about in my sufferings. For you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions. You know, was he the sufferings of Jesus Christ, who for the sake of his body, which he is the church? Now, think about that. Did Christ suffer cancer? No. Did Christ suffer whatever? I did terrible disease. But there are members in the church that have suffered. And at the resurrection, because they are part of that body, and because they fold up, as it says here, fold up in our flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Because Christ is lacking the suffering of dying of cancer. And the pain that goes with that. But as the body of Christ, the church of God, we fill up those sufferings. And you and I have different sufferings that complement the suffering of the body of Christ, which is the spiritual body of Christ, which is the church. And for this reason you were called. You read elsewhere. For this reason you were called. And so, we suffer. That makes us more mature, more loving, more compassionate, more caring, and helps us to mourn better. So, it says when people hurt you, hurt them back. No, no! It doesn't say that. Don't, don't overcome evil with evil. Or overcome evil with good. Christ said, turn the other cheek. It doesn't mean you go out there and say, oh, give me one of the cheek, because I want to give the other cheek too. No, that's not bad. But you know, it's an attitude of care, of love, of not hitting back. So, brethren, we mourn for others. We mourn for ourselves, too, right? But we mourn for others, because you and I know that we cannot change them. Only God can change them. And therefore, we suffer, like Christ suffered for us, for the healing of the body. Because if you and I get offended by a brother or sister, Yah, in church, and you start hitting back, are you either fine with the body? Are you either fine with the church of God? But if you suffer patiently, that's why I say, patiently, forbearance, forgiveness, we need that in the church! And so, we mourn for others, because we can't change them.

And therefore, we suffer patiently in love for them, in the hope that ultimately they will repent. In the hope that ultimately they'll repent. And that's what God is, isn't it? He's patient in hope that over time, that everybody will repent.

And if we, you and I, are to be sons of God like he is, we are to develop the same attitude of love, and being prepared to suffer for others, in the hope that they will repent.

And that's why it says, Yah, in Matthew 5, verse 4, Lesson are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Comforted now, but more so in the world tomorrow, when Christ comes back, we'll be comforted, and we will be at peace, and we'll be joyful, and be able to help others. And we do that mourning because we love them. So ask God, brethren, for help, to be humble, truly born in spirit, and to have truly godly mourning. Understand always a bigger picture, that our desire, and God's desire for us, is to have sons and daughters of God. And therefore, we have to learn to become more like him, in faith and in life, by being poor in spirit and mourning for others. And when we are ultimately daughters and sons of God, we will ultimately be comforted, or comforted, by God himself.