The Standards of the Kingdom

THE standards of the kingdom set forth in the Scriptures cited for today’s lesson appertain more particularly to the Lord’s requirements of those who are seeking to qualify for joint-heirship with Jesus in his kingdom reign. True, God’s standards of righteousness are in principle the same for all. Even those who gain life as subjects of the kingdom during the thousand years of Christ’s reign will have to possess the same qualities of heart and mind which the Scriptures outline as necessary for those who will live and reign with Christ. The subjects of the kingdom will not be required to lay down their lives in sacrifice for others, but they will have to possess the heart qualities which would make them glad to do this were it the Lord’s will for them.

One of the principles of righteousness essential for all to possess who would be pleasing to God is expressed in Jesus words: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 6:33) In brief, this means that God must come first in the life of everyone who would be pleasing to him. The Lord will not share the dominion of our hearts with another, or with other interests. If we want him to come into our lives, we must give him first place. There can be no exception to this. Not until we can say to him, “None of self and all of thee,” will he enthrone himself in our lives and be to us a never-failing source of grace and wisdom and strength, supplying all our needs, both temporal and spiritual.

MATTHEW 5:1-12—In this passage is listed what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes—the blessings. They constitute the opening remarks of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and in many respects are an epitome of the thoughts expressed more in detail throughout the sermon. This sermon was not addressed to the general public—although some of them may have heard it—but to Jesus’ own disciples. The multitude was close by, but Jesus’ “disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth and taught them.”

In verse fourteen of the chapter, Jesus said to his disciples, “Ye are the light of the world,” and to understand the meaning of the Beatitudes it is important to realize that they are setting forth the high standards of righteousness required of those whom the Lord honors as his ambassadors. The whole Jewish nation, and particularly the religious leaders of the nation, were at that time nominally God’s representatives in the earth, but they were about to lose this honored position because they had failed to bring forth the proper fruitage of righteousness. Jesus warned that the kingdom was to be taken from them and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. This new nation, which was to be so highly honored, is mentioned by the Apostle Peter. See I Peter 2:9,10.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”—many who are extremely poor in material possessions are very haughty and proud in spirit, hence not usable as servants of God. To be poor in spirit means that one recognizes his own undone condition and his great need of God’s grace. Often the Lord permits severe trials to come into the lives of those whom he calls into kingdom service in order to impress upon them their great need of him. Many earnest Christians can look back in their lives and recognize that certain experiences through which they passed were essential means employed by the Lord to bring them to him.

Of those who are poor in spirit the Master said, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This expression means more than merely being citizens of the kingdom. It has to do more particularly with the privilege of being a part of the governing body in the kingdom, for every true follower of the Master is called to share this rulership with him. Besides, there is the preparatory work which precedes the full establishment of the kingdom. In this work also the followers of Jesus have a share. All the privileges of the kingdom belong to those who are “poor in spirit.”

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” It is manifest that this second Beatitude is not true if we take merely its surface meaning, for there have been almost countless millions throughout the ages who have mourned yet have not been comforted. In seeking the deeper and truer meaning of this statement it is well to remember that it is addressed to those who were to serve as Christ’s ambassadors in the earth, and that all such must become copies of him.

This means that we are to be mourners in the same sense that Jesus was a mourner. Of him it is written that he was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isa. 53:3) When Jesus was at the tomb of Lazarus, he wept. (John 11:35) Jesus’ sorrow, however, was not because of his own suffering, but rather a sympathetic sorrow for others. He was a genuine mourner for the ills of the fallen and dying race, and this was one of the motives which encouraged him to lay down his life for the world, and we are to be like him.

This is a very heart-searching thought for all who profess to be followers of the Master. Are we genuinely sympathetic toward the suffering world of mankind? If we are, we will be trying to give them a crumb of comfort, a ray of hope, by telling them the glad tidings of the kingdom. We know that if faithful we will have the great privilege later of helping to wipe away the tears from the faces of all mankind; but a faithfulness which will make us worthy of that high honor in the future will lead to a self-sacrificing effort to do what we can to comfort the people now.

Such sacrifice becomes the evidence of our real interest in those for whom Christ died. And if we take this sacrificing interest in others, we are bound to be comforted ourselves. “He that watereth shall be watered also himself,” is a divine principle certain to operate for the great joy of all who seek to comfort others by proclaiming the truth. (Prov. 11:25) Paul quoted Jesus as saying that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” If we are genuine mourners, we will be putting ourselves in line for this greater blessing.—Acts 20:35

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is teachableness, and the Lord can use those only who are willing to be taught by him, through his Word. The professed representatives of the Lord in Jesus day—those who sat in Moses’ seat—were losing their honored position because they were not meek. When Jesus came to them as the Messiah of promise they rejected his teachings and put him to death on the cross. Because of this they lost their privilege of inheriting the earth.

The inheritance of the earth, as mentioned in this passage, does not have reference to receiving restitution blessings. The inheritance in this instance is rather one of rulership, and the reference is to the honored privilege of sharing with Jesus as the promised seed of Abraham in the work of blessing all the families of the earth. The Revelator says of those who receive this inheritance that they shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:10) Only those who are truly meek, teachable—willing to learn and do the Lord’s will—can hope to enter into such a glorious inheritance.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” There is a great deal of meaning in the simplicity of this statement, because hunger and thirst are very real when the system craves food and drink. The illustration very forcefully describes a genuine desire to know God and to live in harmony with him. And it is only those who are truly sincere in this respect who are “filled.” If our study of God’s Word is prompted by any selfish desire it will not yield to us its treasures of knowledge and grace. The promise that to those who knock it shall be opened is fulfilled only to those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Jesus set forth the principle involved in this Beatitude when he explained that unless we forgive men their trespasses against us, neither shall the Heavenly Father forgive our trespasses. The importance of this lesson is further impressed by the fact that it is made the basis of our prayers for forgiveness—“forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Surely those who represent a merciful God as light-bearers in the world, must themselves learn to appreciate and practice the quality of mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Here it is essential to put the emphasis on heart purity. The scribes and Pharisees were very meticulous in keeping the “outside of the platter” clean, but gave little attention to that which could not be seen of men. But the Lord is looking for heart purity, a purity of intention that is deep-rooted, sincere, and enduring.

The reward of the pure in heart is that they shall see God. They rejoice in the vision of God which is given to them through his Word, even while they are still in the flesh. They behold his wisdom, his justice, his love, and his power. In all of these attributes they see his glory displayed, and by this vision of divine glory, they are led to prostrate themselves before him and offer themselves for his service. Blessed indeed is the lot of the pure in heart! And it will be thrice blessed when this mortal shall have put on immortality, and we are able to enter into the actual presence of the Heavenly Father. What a blessed hope!

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” The Lord’s true people—those who are filled with his Spirit—will be an influence for peace wherever they go. They will not put peace above purity, but, consistent with the truth of God’s Word, they will endeavor to live peaceably with all men.

In addition to this, the followers of Jesus—those who are the light of the world—are commissioned to be ministers of reconciliation, and in this capacity, through the ministry of the Gospel, they endeavor to make peace between God and men. They are authorized to say, “Be ye reconciled to God.”—II Cor. 5:20

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The “blessing” of this final beatitude is the same as mentioned in the first—“the kingdom of heaven.” This high reward goes to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Millions of the human race have been persecuted for one reason or another, so the mere fact of being persecuted is not the important consideration here. “For righteousness’ sake” is the main point to be noticed. To be persecuted for righteousness’ sake means that the powers of darkness are arrayed against us because of our faithfulness as light-bearers in the world.

The standards of righteousness set forth in all of these Beatitudes are required of each one whom the Lord uses to represent him, and those whom he will exalt to joint-heirship with him in the kingdom. All the promised blessings will also be enjoyed by each one who is thus faithful. Surely, then, it behooves us to humble ourselves before the Lord and to strive earnestly every day to make the kingdom of God and its righteousness the first consideration of our lives.

MATTHEW 7:24-27—In this passage—the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus stresses the importance of “doing” the things which he outlined. He said that he would consider the one who did so a wise man, and the one who heard and did not, a foolish man. Jesus said that the doer of the Word would be wise, and like the man who built his house upon a rock where it would not be destroyed by the winds and storms which might beat upon it.

On the other hand, the one who does not live up to the principles of the truth will not be able to withstand the storms of life because the high standards of righteousness set forth in the Word have not become a part of his life. James emphasizes the importance of this when he says that we should be doers of the word, and not hearers only.—James 1:22

QUESTIONS

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of heaven?

Was the Sermon on the Mount preached to the world or only to Jesus’ disciples?

Name the Beatitudes, and explain briefly the application of each one to the Christian life.

Quote a statement by James in which he sets forth a thought similar to the one contained in the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount.

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