I'm very interested in seeing Jacko's jibing, but HB is rushing me, so I will go ahead and share the next TOJ that lead off the Sermon on the Mount.
TOJ #9: Blessed are Believers. [MT 5:3-12] Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (MT 5-7) begins with a series of blessings called the Beatitudes. (The verb “beatify” means to bless or make happy.) Believers have the Faith implied by “because of me” (v.11). Peter’s confession {MT 16:16-17} showed his Faith in Jesus as Messiah/Christ/Son of God. Although Believers experience many blessings in the midst of earthly troubles, God’s ultimate blessing is eternal life in heaven (TOJ #154), which is the proper reason or motivation for obeying God’s will, beginning with TOJ #7 & #8 {JN 13:17}. (See TOJ #198.) The Beatitudes might be viewed as one general teaching comprised of eight specific examples of ways all true Believers will be blessed, but we will consider each beatitude separately.
TOJ #10: Believers are humble/teachable. [MT 5:3//LK 6:20] The term “poor in spirit” is associated with being contrite or repentant (in IS 57:15). It is the opposite of the sin of pride that precedes a fall from Eden (GN 3:23-24) to destruction (PR 16:18). It does not refer simply to physical poverty, because nowhere does the Bible teach that destitution is a virtue, merely that reliance on wealth can be tempting. The equivalence of humility and willingness to learn is indicated later by Jesus (TOJ #81; also see TOJ #31).
TOJ #11: Believers are comforted (by God’s Holy Spirit). [MT 5:4//LK 6:21b] The means of comfort is stated by Jesus in John 14:26-27. God’s comfort was prophesied in Isaiah 61:2 and Revelation 21:4. Paul also found comfort in the realization that our grief is brief (1CR 7:29-30)! The term “mourn” connotes grief in response to the death of a loved one, but Paul connected “comfort” with suffering due to various troubles (in 2CR 1:3-7), and Peter tied the blessing of comfort to suffering for what is right (1PT 3:14) and for the sake of Christ (1PT 4:13-14) as in the eighth beatitude (TOJ #18). Ultimately, Believers will rejoice in heaven with the beggar, Lazarus {LK 16:25}.
TOJ #12: Believers are meek. [MT 5:5] Although the OT passage Jesus seems to have in mind (PS 37:9-34) probably envisioned an earthly fulfillment of this prophecy, the ultimate promised land (NM 14:16) will be heavenly (JN 14:2-3, RV 21:1-3). Meekness describes a moral quality akin to love rather than a personality type, such as introversion. It is also related to humility (TOJ #10) and peacemaking (TOJ #16).
TOJ #13: Believers’ craving for righteousness will be satisfied. [MT 5:6//LK 6:21a] Luke’s wording appears to refer to physical hunger. They will be filled with “good things” (PS 107:9) or the Holy (Righteous) Spirit {LK 11:13}. TOJ #15 is a significant restatement of this truth, and a major component of righteousness is the subject of the next beatitude.
TOJ #14: Believers manifest Faith by showing mercy. [MT 5:7] This teaching is stated in other words {in MT 6:14-15, 9:13, MK 11:25, LK 6:36-38, 17:3-4} and negatively in James 2:13. Jesus illustrated this principle with the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant {MT 18:21-35}, and He exemplified it while on the cross with a prayer for forgiveness {LK 23:34}. Mercy can be appropriated only by those who repent of their wrong attitudes and actions (MT 18:15-17). See TOJ #114. Reflecting God’s love is the normative sign of saving Faith (TOJ #148). The distinction between love and mercy parallels that between Faith and faithful works. Showing mercy does not mean allowing anarchy (RM 13:4b); there is a time for leniency and a time for logical consequences (ECC 3:3; cf. TOJ #30).
TOJ #15: Believers will become pure/righteous. [MT 5:8] Purity is synonymous with moral perfection, which is a goal not attained in this lifetime (PHP 3:12-16) except vicariously by spiritual union with God’s perfect Son, the author or source of salvation (HB 2:10, 4:14-15, 5:8-9, TOJ #21). However, those who were with Jesus did see God the Son {JN 14:8-10}. The process of becoming perfect or like Christ is called sanctification. {JN 17:17}. In heaven all saints will be pure and behold Him in His Shekinah or glorified body (PS 11:7, 15:1-2, 24:3-5, RV 22:3-5).
TOJ #16: Believers are peacemakers. [MT 5:9a] All souls should strive for peace (RM 12:16-18) and unity (EPH 4:3). An application of this teaching is made by Jesus later in His sermon. {MT 5:23-24} This attribute should not be equated or confused with antinomianism (not having criminal laws) or pacifism (not resisting aggressor nations), but it does correlate with TOJ #14 & #29. Slogans advocating peace should always include a reference to freedom and justice. (Also see ECC 3:8 & RV 12:7, 19:11.) The opposite of this truth is TOJ #157.
TOJ #9: Blessed are Believers. [MT 5:3-12] Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (MT 5-7) begins with a series of blessings called the Beatitudes. (The verb “beatify” means to bless or make happy.) Believers have the Faith implied by “because of me” (v.11). Peter’s confession {MT 16:16-17} showed his Faith in Jesus as Messiah/Christ/Son of God. Although Believers experience many blessings in the midst of earthly troubles, God’s ultimate blessing is eternal life in heaven (TOJ #154), which is the proper reason or motivation for obeying God’s will, beginning with TOJ #7 & #8 {JN 13:17}. (See TOJ #198.) The Beatitudes might be viewed as one general teaching comprised of eight specific examples of ways all true Believers will be blessed, but we will consider each beatitude separately.
TOJ #10: Believers are humble/teachable. [MT 5:3//LK 6:20] The term “poor in spirit” is associated with being contrite or repentant (in IS 57:15). It is the opposite of the sin of pride that precedes a fall from Eden (GN 3:23-24) to destruction (PR 16:18). It does not refer simply to physical poverty, because nowhere does the Bible teach that destitution is a virtue, merely that reliance on wealth can be tempting. The equivalence of humility and willingness to learn is indicated later by Jesus (TOJ #81; also see TOJ #31).
TOJ #11: Believers are comforted (by God’s Holy Spirit). [MT 5:4//LK 6:21b] The means of comfort is stated by Jesus in John 14:26-27. God’s comfort was prophesied in Isaiah 61:2 and Revelation 21:4. Paul also found comfort in the realization that our grief is brief (1CR 7:29-30)! The term “mourn” connotes grief in response to the death of a loved one, but Paul connected “comfort” with suffering due to various troubles (in 2CR 1:3-7), and Peter tied the blessing of comfort to suffering for what is right (1PT 3:14) and for the sake of Christ (1PT 4:13-14) as in the eighth beatitude (TOJ #18). Ultimately, Believers will rejoice in heaven with the beggar, Lazarus {LK 16:25}.
TOJ #12: Believers are meek. [MT 5:5] Although the OT passage Jesus seems to have in mind (PS 37:9-34) probably envisioned an earthly fulfillment of this prophecy, the ultimate promised land (NM 14:16) will be heavenly (JN 14:2-3, RV 21:1-3). Meekness describes a moral quality akin to love rather than a personality type, such as introversion. It is also related to humility (TOJ #10) and peacemaking (TOJ #16).
TOJ #13: Believers’ craving for righteousness will be satisfied. [MT 5:6//LK 6:21a] Luke’s wording appears to refer to physical hunger. They will be filled with “good things” (PS 107:9) or the Holy (Righteous) Spirit {LK 11:13}. TOJ #15 is a significant restatement of this truth, and a major component of righteousness is the subject of the next beatitude.
TOJ #14: Believers manifest Faith by showing mercy. [MT 5:7] This teaching is stated in other words {in MT 6:14-15, 9:13, MK 11:25, LK 6:36-38, 17:3-4} and negatively in James 2:13. Jesus illustrated this principle with the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant {MT 18:21-35}, and He exemplified it while on the cross with a prayer for forgiveness {LK 23:34}. Mercy can be appropriated only by those who repent of their wrong attitudes and actions (MT 18:15-17). See TOJ #114. Reflecting God’s love is the normative sign of saving Faith (TOJ #148). The distinction between love and mercy parallels that between Faith and faithful works. Showing mercy does not mean allowing anarchy (RM 13:4b); there is a time for leniency and a time for logical consequences (ECC 3:3; cf. TOJ #30).
TOJ #15: Believers will become pure/righteous. [MT 5:8] Purity is synonymous with moral perfection, which is a goal not attained in this lifetime (PHP 3:12-16) except vicariously by spiritual union with God’s perfect Son, the author or source of salvation (HB 2:10, 4:14-15, 5:8-9, TOJ #21). However, those who were with Jesus did see God the Son {JN 14:8-10}. The process of becoming perfect or like Christ is called sanctification. {JN 17:17}. In heaven all saints will be pure and behold Him in His Shekinah or glorified body (PS 11:7, 15:1-2, 24:3-5, RV 22:3-5).
TOJ #16: Believers are peacemakers. [MT 5:9a] All souls should strive for peace (RM 12:16-18) and unity (EPH 4:3). An application of this teaching is made by Jesus later in His sermon. {MT 5:23-24} This attribute should not be equated or confused with antinomianism (not having criminal laws) or pacifism (not resisting aggressor nations), but it does correlate with TOJ #14 & #29. Slogans advocating peace should always include a reference to freedom and justice. (Also see ECC 3:8 & RV 12:7, 19:11.) The opposite of this truth is TOJ #157.