Today, the Beatitudes mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount describe the character and personality traits that believers should possess. However, this character of faith is not just about receiving blessings; rather, possessing such traits is itself a blessing. This blessing differs somewhat from our expectations. If we look again at verse 11 of chapter 5, it says, Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. This means that persecution is expected. We are persecuted because of Jesus. Jesus was persecuted, so it is only natural that those on His side will face the same. The character of Jesus, who was persecuted, and the character of believers who are persecuted is described here as being poor in spirit, mourning, and meek.

Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. However, they must endure persecution. Yet, that persecution is a blessing. It is not easy; the blessings we often expect are those of prosperity. We think of blessings as being able to live without hurting others' pride, being unyielding, generous, and able to smile day and night. But the Bible tells us that we must endure persecution. Our character, while receiving such treatment, should reflect the character of Jesus. These paradoxes and contradictions are the realities of our faith. The reality of faith is that we must possess the character of Jesus, yet we are told we must endure persecution, and that this is a blessing. If we cannot overcome these triple contradictions and paradoxes, we will always be dissatisfied and unable to live out our reality. In Ephesians 4, which is an important scripture, please turn to it. It is around page 313 in the New Testament.

This is Ephesians 4:17. Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: from now on, you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. Here, the term Gentiles refers not only to those who are not Jewish but to all those who do not know Jesus. It is said that the actions of those who do not know Jesus are futile. Do not walk in the same futility. Next, their understanding is darkened, and due to the ignorance that is in them and the hardness of their hearts, they are alienated from the life of God. They have become senseless, giving themselves over to sensuality, to indulge in every kind of impurity with a craving for more. Therefore, without Jesus, there is no other way. Futility means that no matter how hard you try, there will be no results; it is worthless and devoid of understanding. Ignorance is the greatest law. You know, should I go this way or that way?

Should I go this way or that way? The most important thing is that not knowing is the best waste, right? If you don't know, you have no choice but to go in the wrong direction. If you work hard and end up in a place that leads nowhere, it ultimately results in futility. Those who do not know God, who is absent from all things, will find that everything is ultimately meaningless and incorrect. The biggest reason for this is that they are separated from the life of God. As explained in the parable of the vine in John 15, Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If a branch is attached to the vine, it will naturally bear fruit, but if it is cut off and falls to the ground, it will wither, rot, and be trampled. The subsequent actions do not even require effort. Once it is cut off, that is the end. Therefore, if we are not connected to Jesus and bound as children of God, we cannot receive life or value, and we cannot grow.

There is nothing. It cannot be fulfilled. Therefore, when you are disconnected from God, the most prominent manifestation is annihilation; it is futile. It is annihilation, and there can be no choice, no responsibility, no value, and no results in that state. So, it is essential for you to expect something different from what has been said. How can one bear fruit? How can one have value? How can one bear fruit? It must be attached to the vine. The vine is not just any vine; it is Jesus Himself. So, look at the next part: You have not learned Christ in this way. Just as truth is in Jesus, you have truly heard Him and have been taught in Him. Therefore, put off the old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The encouragement to put on a new person becomes possible. It allows for choice, obedience, and responsibility. Reflecting on this in light of the Beatitudes we discussed earlier, being poor in spirit, mourning, showing mercy, being meek, and hungering and thirsting for righteousness can only truly be realized when one is captured by the life of Jesus. To discern, to know value, and to understand what glory is, leads to knowing what true blessings are. This blessing isn't simply about possessing certain traits or understanding; it's about Jesus being the one who grants these blessings. He embodies all these characteristics and, despite facing persecution, promised us these blessings. He does not just give us the blessings; rather, He gives them to us through the persecution He endured for our sake. We understand well that He has these qualities and imparts them to us.

You came wanting to share, but you were caught in the hands of people, mocked, and faced death on the cross in pain. That's right. So, Jesus had no choice but to die this way. However, by doing so, Jesus gave His life to us, and we have developed a desire to live like Jesus. This is because, finally, we who had been separated from God felt a longing for life, earnestness for righteousness, truth, and glory. We developed a desire for His character. Therefore, we also wish to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, and to show mercy. Jesus says that possessing these qualities is indeed a blessing, but having them also means that we must endure persecution. You cannot only have the good without the bad. If you want both, can you give up one? It is possible.

If you give up this blessing, you are a person without sense, a person who has departed from life, and a person who is ignorant. You can only possess sorrow. Why must you have both at the same time? The Beatitudes are established for those who cannot attain this. Jesus came to teach us that you are sinners, that you are in shame and death, and to show how tragic that is. He came as light into the darkness to shine that light. He did not bring it to show off his superiority. The reason he grants you the Beatitudes is so that, through this blessing, you can reflect the light and salt of your souls before the ignorant, the blind, and those who lack sense, awakening them, bringing them back, and allowing them to share in this blessing with you. This blessing is not just something to possess; it must be reflected and shared.

We must take on challenges and, therefore, face persecution. That is what is being said. Whether we understand or not, when we demand blessings in our Christian faith, we often think that receiving blessings means being in a state where there are no problems, responsibilities, dangers, or difficulties. This is why blessings are often not recognized as blessings. The blessings given to us are exemplified by Jesus carrying the cross, which God considers the highest proof of Himself. As seen in Philippians 2:5 and onward, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though He was in the form of God, He did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. To relinquish the glory of being equal with God is an act of love, boasting, and glory; that is what God is.

This is evidence that God and His Son both empathize with us. Christian faith is not about being subdued by God, who is high and alone. It is not a faith that involves begging, bowing, or striving to obtain something. Our God is one who gives Himself for His children, even if it means sacrificing Himself to protect us. This is the essence of the cross. Therefore, He tells us, You are my children; follow my example. He invites us to participate in the richness of His glory, saying, You are to be the flowers of my glory. Christian faith is not completed by having more or being superior, nor does it solve every problem. Rather, Christian faith is always about giving because it is love, and love desires that the beloved does better than oneself.

What I desire is love, for which I can give up my share. So, everything that appears in the Beatitudes can be said to mean that I am dying to myself for the sake of the other. It is being spiritually poor. It means not showing off. When we look at our conversations, it’s strange how we can continue to be friends despite the harsh words exchanged. It's really unpleasant; we say things very unpleasantly. Recently, I saw on the news someone saying something like, Hey, that’s not right! Are you just going to keep watching that kind of news? That's misleading. And why is it that every time you speak, you get so worked up? If I were to get worked up, would I not respond? You say things that sound like you could draw a knife at any moment, yet the next time I see you, we're hanging out together again. It’s an impressive skill, truly impressive. Just try losing once. There’s no need to point out whether what the other person is saying is right or wrong. So, when we talk about the Korean sentiment, it’s not just about Korea; it’s because we are Korean people that we are discussing this.

Human emotions are ultimately a manifestation of arrogance. Why does it have to be this way? It shouldn't be, but it is necessary to win because we cannot fulfill our own needs. Therefore, we must take from others. This is why the world is ruled by death. Without God, who is the only one who can provide us with everything we need, we are left in a high atmosphere of despair. What can He give us? Not just the basics of life, but something greater—an abundance of existence. Our God is the one who desires to make us like Him, enabling love and faith. In contrast, the gods created by people instill fear. We ask them for things like winning wars or healing from illness, often offering sacrifices in return, such as giving up a limb. These gods are all violent because we have made them that way. We believe that in order to receive a reward, we must give something up. To do that, we...

We are supposed to offer various types of wealth and property, or perform acts of devotion. However, our city does not instruct us to do so. Instead, it says, Live your life according to my words. It assures us that it will always be there to help us, encouraging us to ask questions and discuss our actions together. This is Christianity. Throughout the Old Testament, we should observe how God wrestles with the people of Israel. If we fail to read this context, we may interpret the Old Testament as a moral dichotomy, thinking, This person is punished while that person is rewarded. Therefore, reflect on your own life and consider your past. There are regrets and dissatisfaction; whose fault is that? It is my fault. I did not listen to my parents or my teachers, and I did not come before God to seek forgiveness. I lived life according to my own desires.

Everyone tends to blame others. Now we must come to our senses. What should we do? Who is the wisest? Who will guide us best? It is God. It is the Bible. Then, we must make decisions for ourselves and obey. However, that is not easy. We need to have the skills. Skills do not come overnight; they are developed through many trials and errors, and we also need grace. Without God giving us new strength and new life, we cannot overcome failure, nor can we surpass our limitations. All of this is revealed to us through God in Jesus. Jesus came as a human and, under the same conditions, embodies patience, forgiveness, and restoration for us, providing us with answers. The world not only misunderstands Jesus, who is for us, but also lacks the ability to accept Him, leading to blame, jealousy, and betrayal, ultimately resulting in His death. He endures even that. Why? Because those who killed Him, including those who spoke ill of Him, are also included.

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Those who crucified Jesus are like those in hell; we cannot say that. He prayed for them. Will our names be included as well? I will ask. If anyone is curious, please present your name. God, in the Bible, when He sends His Son, does so on this scale and in this dimension. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. You must see what God intends. The intention of God, the Creator and Judge, is salvation. What is the basis for this? Love. Love is much greater than simply saying that one can obtain salvation. Love does not give up. Love accepts any condition, even to the point of crucifying His Son.

Alright, this is Christianity. So don't decide your fate based on faith and salvation in the middle of it all. You must always remember that God has a will. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us. How far did He go to demonstrate this? He was betrayed by their hands, humiliated, beaten with rods, slapped, and subjected to insults—all because of love. When we love, our children might say, I don't think of you as my mom. But we hope they will grow up to meet a good partner and live a life without hardship. That's what being a mother is. Isn’t that right? We don’t say, Let’s pull out your teeth, from the first to the sixth, just to mock them. Love is a powerful thing. It fills us with awareness of our ignorance and the words of those who lack understanding, revealing what our surrender looks like.

I wait until that day; that is Christianity. And so, when Jesus accomplished this work and resurrected, what did the disciples say? They asked, Now is the time; when will the kingdom of the Lord come? In a week? When will it be revealed? He said, It depends on the Father's hands; I do not know. I am going now; you take my place. This is how it happened. So, we are that. We are Jesus, so to speak. Now, we must do that. We are the ones who are lost, asking for useless things day and night, getting angry and complaining, but now we have to do it. It must be us; it cannot be anyone else. So, regardless of how far your faith has come, you must do it. What must you do? You must do this. The Beatitudes are the character of a believer, and the only condition that makes this character a character is love. God loves these people.

You know, living like that means you’re definitely not going to hell. After all, you’re someone who is going to hell anyway, so why would you even say such things? It’s something you just don’t say, and you don’t know it either. Until you die, you won’t know. So, everyone, say good things. Smile. And respond to the questions that people have tied you up with. You can say, What about you? I’m someone who loves you. Just say it like that. Why do you love them? You don’t have to know. Why? Because even if you try to explain, you won’t understand. You’re losing your mind. That’s the truth. Live with that expression. You don’t need to go with a serious expression or be intense and fierce. Just look warmly at everyone. Look warmly at everyone, especially those who seem pathetic. Why look at them? It was cool. Memorize a few words and carry them with you, and if you suddenly can’t remember them, just take them out of your pocket and say, Nice to meet you.

We met earlier, right? I'm sorry. This means you shouldn't react in the way you usually do. You are the first to respond like this. You need to move beyond that. If God acted according to my reactions, we would all be in a terrible place right now—not just me, but my parents, my children, my friends. We would all be without hope. God came into that situation. I love you. Why? You don't need to know. It's as much as this—it's the cross. What does the Beatitudes say? Don't be proud. Don't fight. Maintain your manners. And cling to the fact that I love you. What’s the basis for that? Didn't I love you? Live like this. This is love. This is love. That's what God came to say. Just like the world does its own thing, what does the world do? It deals with death and sin. Death nullifies everything.

Sin is being separated from God. People often don't realize that what they are doing is wrong. Violence—why is there nothing? All problems arise from shouting, overturning things, and hitting others to fill their own anger, but the more they do this, the greater their anger becomes. There is no answer that brings peace. This is death; this is violence. Even if we speak eloquently or claim freedom, it turns into violence. Even when we advocate for justice, it becomes violence. To achieve peace, one must kill, and there is no way to save lives here. Only in Jesus—only in Jesus—do I die, but dying is the path to resurrection. Death is not annihilation; it becomes a seed. That one seed can yield thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. In this logic, Jesus has set us up. He tells us to walk this path. When Jesus came, he set the stage for the law and played the game of faith.

How do you unfold? You forgive, you hold on, you repeat, and you say that you love us. We, who have received that love, encounter people everywhere in our lives. We meet them in the arena. They represent violence, and we represent love. Will violence win, or will love win? God must prevail. We must be persistent. This death must go on until it surrenders. They crucified Jesus and buried Him in the tomb, and everyone had no choice but to leave. But there, the flower of resurrection blooms, and its fruits are infinitely abundant. Your life is entirely called to this life. Due to your constant demands for power, solutions, and abilities for the sake of your own satisfaction, you are missing the opportunity of the blessings given to you—love and infinite power. The cross is God's power and wisdom, and you are missing the chance to embrace your own life, which has been called. You don't need to do anything special.

Smile, keep your manners, and be persistent. I hope you will witness how God's being God has transformed your life through the miracles you create in your life. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, our lives are blessed and filled with miracles. We must demonstrate the victory of the cross before everyone we meet. This is about dying to ourselves in reality while performing God's work of life within it, in the place of the resurrection of the cross. 

Do not let us be afraid when we see the cross. Do not let us despair when we see the tomb. May we testify to the life and power of the resurrection that blooms there, bear fruit, and hold hands with everyone, praising together. Let us be those who share the blessed pride of our lives in the lives we encounter. 

We pray in Jesus' name.

마태복음 5:1-12 _박영선 목사

마태복음 5:1-12 _박영선 목사

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