20 Why Jesus Says Only the Merciful Will Receive Mercy (Matthew 5:7)

Jun 30, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

Only those will to commit the costly act of being merciful will receive mercy in the kingdom of God, because showing mercy is an implication of having saving faith.

19 What Jesus Means by “Blessed Are Those Who Hunger” (Matthew 5:6)

Jun 23, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

When you’re physically hungry, the desire to eat is so overwhelming you can hardly think about anything else. Jesus is counting on that experience in this beatitude. The truly fortunate ones long for that which is missing in this life which only the kingdom of God can fulfill: holiness.

18 Why Does God Bless the Meek? (Matthew 5:5)

Jun 16, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

While Matthew 5:5 is probably the most famous beatitude, not many people understand what it means. Jesus does not explain what he means by “meek”, but he is quoting Psalm 37 which gives us a very big clue.

17 Why Those who Mourn are Blessed (Matthew 5:4)

Jun 9, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

Mourning is the appropriate emotional response to being poor in spirit. When you realize that life is not what it should be and you are not the kind of person you should be, the appropriate response is to weep over it.

16 Who are the Poor in Spirit? And Why are they Blessed? (Matthew 5:1-3)

May 26, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

Unlike those who are self-satisfied and see themselves as spiritually rich, the poor in spirit know that they are morally bankrupt and nothing in this world can give them what they truly need. This knowledge is a core conviction of saving faith.

15 What is a Beatitude? (Matthew 5:1-12)

May 19, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Matthew

Before we look at the beatitudes, we need to understand what it means to be blessed, the nature of a beatitudes (Jesus wasn’t the first to employ them) and how Jesus expects us to understand them.

14 How to Understand the Sermon on the Mount Without Getting Lost (Matthew 5-7)

May 12, 2021 | 01 Podcasts, Introductions, Matthew

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most important passages in Scripture, as it is a profound and unique body of teaching from the Messiah himself. Yet throughout church history, believers have found it difficult to agree on what this sermon means and how it is to be applied to our lives. In this introduction, I’ll contrast the different approaches to the Sermon on the Mount and explain which approach I take.