Matthew 5:7-8

7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

I need mercy. The number of mistakes I make on any given day ... I am so glad that our Lord Jesus Christ has an unending supply of mercy.

I must remember that and extend mercy to others. Even if I feel hurt or rejected or wronged in any way. I must remember that I repeatedly fall short and relinquish my self-righteousness in favor of reaching out for the righteousness of Christ.

8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The word for heart is καρδία kardia (kär-dē'-ä) which means, literally, the heart. It also means the thoughts and feelings or mind in a figurative sense.

Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it as the center of spiritual life: the soul or mind as the fountain of our thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, etc.

I will continue to struggle with keeping my thoughts, words, actions, etc. pure because I really want to see the face of God.

Matthew 5:6

6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

The word for righteousness is δικαιοσύνη dikaiosynē (dē-kī-o-sü'-nā) which means equity of character or justification. Easton's Bible Dictionary explains it as the state of being as we ought to be, the condition acceptable to God.

How encouraging to know that those who hunger and thirst for being or acting in a way acceptable to God will one day reach that goal.

I realize that this condition is made possible only through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. There is nothing more I can do to make myself acceptable to God.

Loving Him makes me want to be a better example of someone who follows Christ. I never want to act in a manner that would turn people away from Him.

Lord, help me to be a light for you in this world.

Matthew 5:4-5

4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

The word for comforted is παρακαλέω parakaleo (pä-rä-kä-le'-ō) which means to call near. Comforting indeed is the thought that when I am grieving, Jesus is there calling me near to Him.

5. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

The word for gentle is πραΰς prays (prä-ü's) which means mild. I do not understand what it means to inherit the earth. How do I attain a mild disposition? The words meek, humble and gentle are easier for me to identify with.

Somehow meek and mild bring with them a negative feeling ... However, I am thinking of a mild and meek attitude toward God in accepting that there are things that happen in my life that I will not like, want or understand but still I will wholly rely on God rather than my own strength to get me through this life.

My spirit is now rejoicing in the knowledge that I don't have to do it on my own.

Matthew 4:23-5:3

4:23-25. Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

After going about Galilee teaching and preaching and healing not only were the disciples He chose following Him but crowds of people.

5:1-2. When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Jesus walked away from the crowds to a more secluded place, followed by His chosen disciples. Once settled He began to teach them.

5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The word for blessed here (and through verse 11) is μακάριος makarios (mä-kä'-rē-os) which means supremely blest. Not just called fortunate or spoken well of but supremely blest.

Who are the poor in spirit? What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Does this refer to people who struggle with sadness or depression?

The word for spirit here is πνεῦμα pneuma (pnyü'-mä) which is the rational soul or mental disposition.

I do not understand clearly what it means that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Does it simply mean the gates of heaven will be open to them or that they will catch glimpses of heaven while still here on earth?

Matthew 4

1-3. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter cam and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted. He was tempted after 40 days of fasting. Was He not tempted before that time? It makes sense that Diabolos would wait until Jesus was weak and tired before trying to lead Him astray.

4. But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

When Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy the meaning is clear and if you read the scripture in context it means the same.

5-6. Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You’; and‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

When the devil quotes Psalm 91 it is out of context and sounds like it has a completely different meaning than what it was intended to mean when read in its' entirety.

This gives me pause ... I want to make sure that when I quote scripture it is not simply taking a small piece out of context to make it fit my purposes. Scripture, the very breath of God should be read and remembered to honor His purposes ... never to simply support our purposes.

7-11. Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, ' You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the3ir glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, ' You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

When Jesus says "Begone", Satan goes and then angels come and care for Jesus.


12-17. Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He cam and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

How long were the angels ministering to Jesus before He came out of the wilderness and heard the news about John being in jail?

18-22. Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

As Jesus is preaching and bringing light into the darkness of the Gentiles he calls two sets of brothers away from their fishing boats. Simon Peter and Andrew and then James and John, the sons of Zebedee. How did Zebedee feel about his sons just walking out on the family business in the middle of the work day?

23-25. Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Jesus went about teaching and preaching and healing all kinds of sicknesses. Is it any wonder that people began to flock and follow Him, bringing their sick and lame with them? I would have gone. I'm sure once I got there and heard Him preach I would have been moved. I would have run after Him with Rebekah in my arms hoping for miracles of perfect health for her.

Matthew 3

1-6. Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is the one referred by by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’”

Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

What is the timeline here? I feel like I'm reading an introduction to who John the Baptist is and then about one day in his life.

7-12. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Was it just the first statement about vipers that John directed at the Pharisees and Sadducees or was he still talking to them through to the end of this little speech? It sounds like he was talking to people other than the religious leaders, like John made his first statement directly to the leaders and then turned to include everyone there in what he said next.

13-15. Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.

When Jesus arrived were the Pharisees and Sadducees still there?

 16-17. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Was everyone present able to see the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove? Were they all able to hear the voice proclaiming who Jesus is?

Matthew 2

1-3. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

All Jerusalem was worried with Herod or because of fear of Herod being worried?

4-23. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children;And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and cam and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Dreams

Verse 12: The Magi were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod. Did they all have the same or similar dreams?

Verse 13: An angel told Joseph in a dream to take Mary & Jesus to Egypt.

Verses 19-20: An angel told Joseph in a dream to take Mary & Jesus back to Israel.

Verse 22: Joseph was warned by God to go somewhere other than Judea.

This seems to answer my question from yesterday. Messages from God through dreams were not uncommon. I don't think everyone had them, just that they were not unheard of.

I find it interesting that the magi also received messages from God. I suppose God can send a message to anyone He chooses so I shouldn't be surprised.