The Sermon on the Mount 1

In Matthew 5:1–4, Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by revealing the character of those who belong to His kingdom. The Beatitudes are not a pathway for sinners to earn salvation, but the marks of grace in those who have been brought under the reign of Christ. Unlike the world, which prizes strength, confidence, and self-sufficiency, Jesus declares the poor in spirit to be blessed. These are those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and come to God empty-handed, trusting in Christ alone. From this poverty of spirit flows godly mourning, a sorrow over sin because it is an offense against a holy God. Yet Christ does not leave His people in despair. He promises comfort to those who mourn, pointing us to the gospel where sinners find pardon, cleansing, and hope through His finished work. The kingdom belongs to the humble, and comfort belongs to the repentant.