CtK Part 2: Coloring the People of the Kingdom (Part A)

This is the next entry in an on-going series titled Coloring the Kingdom (or CtK). To read the introduction to this series, click here. For better context of what I’ll be talking about today, I’d suggest reading Matthew 5:2-12. 

Every nation’s citizens have certain qualities they exhibit. The various peoples of the various countries all have different expectations put on them by society or the government. Outsiders see those qualities and expectations (or at least stereotypes of those) and associate them with the people from those lands. For instance, when an American meets a Canadian, certain pictures and expectations spring to mind. In coloring His kingdom, Jesus first defines who its citizens are and what they look like.

Jesus’ coloring in of who His people are technically runs to verse 20 of Matthew 5. But today we’ll only go up to verse 12. Partially because there’s so much to say between the two parts, partially because v.2-12 contain some of the most famous lines of Jesus’ teaching. A series of rapid-fire verses make up what is commonly known as the Beatitudes, which comes from a Latin word that highlights the “blessing” aspect of the paragraph. These blessings can be further broken down to containing two parts: a) the characteristics (which explains who is blessed), and b) the blessing expected for those people.

The Characteristics of the People

There are 8 characteristics that Jesus highlights. Some are qualities that can be personally cultivated. Others are states of being or circumstances outside ourselves crashing into our world. I will explain each–to the best of my ability–briefly:

1. “The poor in spirit”: This marks an inward poverty in which you realize that your soul is needy for something beyond you. Sin and the world won’t satisfy. Those who are poor in spirit rely on Jesus to enrich them spiritually.
2. “Those who mourn”: Likely the intended meaning here would be mourning over sin. If you see your inward poverty, it should cause you to mourn. It could also imply mourning as in grief over the brokenness of our world or life circumstances, but grief over sin (“godly sorrow”) is probably in view.
3. “The meek”: This word denotes quiet gentleness, even submission. Jesus’ disciples aren’t expected to sally forth into the world with a megaphone cranked up as loud as it can go. Christians, the people of the kingdom, are to be meek. This doesn’t mean letting people roll over you, however. It means carrying on with humility. This could also refer to our relationship to Jesus. We are to be submissive to His commands and God’s will.
4. “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”: The people of God’s kingdom are colored by their hunger and thirst, not for the things of this world, but for righteousness. This righteousness they seek in their own lives and in the world around them.
5. “The merciful”: In Jesus’ kingdom, you don’t hold a grudge. As we’ll see later in this sermon, because God forgives us, we should forgive others.
6. “The pure in heart”: Purity doesn’t necessarily mean perfect. It’s a heart full of devotion to God and dwelling on the things of heaven that bring peace and are virtuous. It could also denote purity of intent with no ulterior motives.
7. “The peacemakers”: Even in the Old Testament, God’s people were told to “seek peace and pursue it“. Just as Jesus’ people aren’t expected to yell at the world with a megaphone, they aren’t expected to go out armed to the teeth and ready for battle. A Christian’s desire should be to find a way so that there is peace.
8. “The persecuted for righteousness’ sake”: Persecution takes many forms. It could be physical like imprisonment, torture, or death. Or it could be verbal. For the people of the kingdom, they face persecution for “righteousness’ sake”, just like the prophets of old. They stood for God’s law and preached His message to an unwilling nation. As a result, they suffered for it. That prophetic tradition continues in Jesus’ kingdom.

You might notice that half of these characteristics don’t sound appealing and the other half sound near impossible to integrate into daily life. True, this shows that to be a citizen of God’s kingdom means life won’t be living like a sultan. But don’t forget the word that comes before each of these characteristics: Blessed. Happy. To be colored this way is not something to be feared, loathed, or avoided. Rather, the person in this camp should realize how blessed he is. But what do those blessings look like?

The Blessings of the People

For each of the above characteristics, a blessing is applied. Here is a quick summary of these rewards:

1. “The kingdom of heaven”: Those who see that they are poor in spirit and accept it–embrace it!–suddenly find they have a share in the richest and most secure kingdom. Some mock at the idea that sin is real and they lack something spiritually; others sense the gaping hole in their soul and despair of life. What they’re missing are the riches of heaven!
2. “They will be comforted”: Do you mourn over your sin? There is comfort for you. Do you grieve over the state and circumstances found in this broken life? There is comfort for you. Jesus’ kingdom brings a healing balm to the hurting soul.
3. “Inherit the earth”: They say it’s the aggressive and ambitious who take over and rule the world. In God’s kingdom, the meek don’t take over the earth, they “inherit” it, meaning God gives it to them. Ambition can only take one so far.
4. “Satisfaction”: If you “hunger and thirst for righteousness”, you will never be lacking; you will never feel like you didn’t have enough.
5. “Receive mercy”: If you are merciful toward others, God extends that same grace to you.
6. “See God”: Discipline your heart, guard your actions, cultivate your devotion and you will see a sight greater than anything the world can offer instead: God Himself.
7. “Called sons of God”: In spite of the erroneous idea common today that God is a warmonger who just wants to watch sinners burn, God is actually a God of peace. That’s why He shows mercy, why He won’t flood the earth again in a worldwide act, why He sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sin. For God to be so committed to making peace, when His people are peacemakers, it shows they are sons of God.
8. “The kingdom of heaven…and a great reward”: At the end of persecution, whether it ends in death, a maimed body, or a ruined career, there is the kingdom of heaven. Further, Jesus promises a great reward in heaven. To suffer for righteousness’ sake is a great honor (though we should never go out and try to seek persecution; preach the gospel and it will eventually come without much prodding).

What an astounding list of blessings! Though most of these have more of a future connotation, that does not negate the power and hope the promise of these rewards evokes. When the people of the kingdom see the characteristics in their lives, they should not despair or groan, for they have great rewards waiting for those that persevere.

Conclusion

For Jesus to color the people of the kingdom in this way–as poor, lowly, persecuted–shows He was not out to flatter or sell a product. Instead, He paints a brutally honest picture that, on earth, His kingdom won’t look like much. But one day, when His kingdom fully overtakes the world, His people will find themselves as the ones with the riches and power. Until that day, however, they toil; but they toil in the hope of that future reward.

Next time we’ll continue coloring the people of the kingdom, looking at their witness and standard.