The Price of Admission

December 31, 2001

TEXT: MATTHEW 5:1-12

LISTENING TO THE TEXT
The Beatitudes are a distinctive literary form in the New Testament called a makarism, from the Greek word that means "a privileged recipient of divine favor." The difficulty of expressing the meaning of the Greek term in English is apparent in the diversity of translations.

The question of translation is integral to the beatitude's function. Robert Guelich* helps us understand that if a beatitude is translated as something that affects what it announces, then "blessing" would be best. But for those who translate it as an exhortation for one to exhibit a particular attitude or conduct, the word "happy" or "fortunate" is more appropriate.

The question of function is important for the preacher because how a person interprets the Beatitudes will determine a way of interpreting all of the Sermon on the Mount. One function is a command-telling us how to behave. The other is a clarifying statement-announcing who we are. Which function is correct?

The grammar of the Beatitudes provides the answer. The Beatitudes are not imperatives-they are indicatives. The Beatitudes are not commands-they are statements of being. For nine sentences, Jesus has commanded nothing. He is simply stating what is.

Jesus always tells His disciples who they are before He tells them what to do. He blesses us before He commands us. He enables us before He challenges us. Condition before action! Indicative before imperative! Grace before call!

Frederick Bruner reiterates this truth: "The Beatitudes are not the mere preface of the Sermon on the Mount, they are its engine. We will only read the commands that follow in the right spirit if we read them in the power of the Beatitudes."

The foundation of Christian discipleship, even Christian existence, is the grace of God and what He transforms us to be and to do. The recipients of God's grace are truly "blessed."

ENGAGING THE TEXT
The Need
For most of our lives we have earned our own way. We have been rewarded according to our performance. We get the grades when we study. We get the raise when we work hard. We lose weight when we eat right and exercise. Therefore, we automatically assume that entrance into the kingdom of God is also based on our performance. We ask: How much does it cost? How can I earn my way? How much shall I pay to "get in?"

The heartfelt questions of this passage are, How can I become "poor in Spirit" so that I can get "the kingdom of heaven?" What can I do to be "pure in heart" so that I can "see God?" The problem arises in that there is nothing we can do to earn our way into the kingdom of heaven. Entrance into the Kingdom is not based on our moral performance or pious actions.

God's Answer
Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is not based on right thinking, moral actions, or consistent discipline. Membership in God's family is not based on anything that we have to bring! It is based only on the grace of Almighty God who extends blessing to us through His Son Jesus Christ!

Jesus will speak later in His sermon about disciples' ethical conduct and moral purity, but those actions are only the fruit of discipleship and not the basis of achieving discipleship. Thus, Jesus doesn't begin by telling His disciples what they have to DO; He begins by telling them who they ARE by His grace! Entrance into the kingdom is not through a system; it is through a Savior!

Our Response
The recurring theme throughout the Beatitudes seems to be an honest admission of our inability to pay our way into the Kingdom, and the deep desire for God to empower us to be what we cannot be by ourselves. The proper response to grace is surrender. The price of admission into the kingdom of heaven is empty hands and hungry hearts.

PREACHING THE TEXT
An appropriate place to begin any sermon is with the human need. Highlight the ways that people try to earn their way in the world (e.g., making friends; working hard; impressing people). Then begin to address how, in the same way, we believe that we earn our way with God.

Following Matthew, the preacher may make reference to the rich young ruler (19:16-30) who also believed that entrance into the Kingdom was something that could be earned. Make clear that our spiritual account is bankrupt, and that no amount of hard work or moral conduct qualifies us for entrance into the kingdom of God.

The preacher may then move to God's answer of blessing and grace through Jesus Christ. We have to be something before we can do something. God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God changes us before He commands us to action.

The sermon will not call people to work harder. Rather, it should call people to respond to God with empty hands and hungry hearts-an honest confession that we bring nothing to God but the desire for His grace to change us and bear fruit in our lives.

*Robert Guelich, The Sermon on the Mount, (Waco, Tex.: Word Publisher, 1982, PA084-993-3102).