Comfort in Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:3-9:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. ⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

God is sovereign over everything. He causes and permits every seemingly good and bad thing in our lives to happen. He foresees it all, and does it with a purpose. God rules over chance (Proverbs 16:33). The purpose of God stands over that of men (Proverbs 19:21). He frustrates peoples' plans (Psalm 33:10). He also declares that His plan shall stand (Isaiah 46:10).

Blessed Are the Persecuted

 Matthew 5:10-12:

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It may seem at first that these words of Christ are irrelevant for us today. We, in our Western society, don’t experience persecutions and torture like in the days of Nero. But Christ makes it clear that we wills be persecuted too. He says in John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

Each beatitude so far has outlined that it is imperative that, in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven, in order to see God, believers cannot act like unbelievers. There must be a change of attitude, a change in actions, and a change in person. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5:20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The beatitudes are not optional. They are not merely suggestions on how to make society better. On the contrary, Jesus is outlining the path to heaven. There’s a lot at stake. Get on that pathway to heaven and stay on it. Then you will be called sons of God.

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

The heart is the target of Jesus here. It's not just what we do on the outside that matters. In order to 'see God' you must also clean up your inside. Later in Matthew Jesus says,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” (Matthew 23:25-26)

The heart is the root of your actions. What is in your heart springs forth in your words.

Blessed Are the Merciful

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

Mercy is an important subject. Godly wisdom is full of mercy:

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

Mercy’s not only important but also complex and profound. But I’m just going to skim the surface. I would like to meditate on just a few points about mercy and this beatitude.

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

The first thing I want to do is find out what this righteousness is that Jesus is referring to. This can be found in the very same chapter, in the very same sermon from Christ. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus says, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Then He goes on to explain how that is to be.