“Kingdom Living: Kingdom Character” (Matthew 5:1-6)
The Setting: Jesus was proclaiming, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (4:17). He ministered throughout Galilee & large crowds came to Him. On a mountain in Galilee, He sat (teaching position of a Rabbi) He taught His disciples with crowds listening. The theme is righteous living in the kingdom, or kingdom living.
What does kingdom character look like?
1. Poor in spirit (vs. 3)
 a) “blessed”- 9X, “Happy”- only if linked with seeing things the way God does rather than our emotional 
     response to circumstances; being in a position under God’s favor & approval. Each characteristic is 
     opposite of who the world would declare blessed.
 b) “poor in spirit”- (contrast Rev. 3:17) a deep poverty where one has nothing & becomes a beggar 
     -applied to her/his spiritual condition. One who sees himself/herself as destitute and spiritually 
     bankrupt. They own that they have nothing to offer God to experience His favor.
 c) “is” present tense here & vs. 10. In between are future tenses. This indicates though God’s kingdom 
     will be a future reality, there is a present experience of it.
 d) “kingdom/heaven”- synonymous with “of God” reflecting Jewish respect for God’s Name. This 
     person has become a citizen of the redemptive rule of God that will be established on earth when King 
     Jesus returns. However, where He rules in people’s hearts there is a present enjoyment.
2. Mourning (vs. 4)
 a) “mourning/grieving”- over the way they as lowly disciples are abused and/or grieving over their own 
     spiritual condition as well as other people (psalm 119:136). Their eyes have been open to see their & 
     other’s spiritual condition before God & they lament over this.
 b) “comforted”- with God beginning His work of salvation in that person which will one day be 
     completed (Rev. 21:4).
3. Gentle (vs. 5)
 a) gentle/humble/meek (11:29, 21:5)- a vice to the Greeks, but it is power under control. Facing your 
     spiritual condition before God tempers you to not be self-assertive, harsh & forceful with others. 
     Lloyd-Jones wrote, “The man who is truly meek is the one who is amazed that God and man can think 
     of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.” One accepts God’s dealings with you 
     without complaint including the provocation of others as tools to refine you.
 b) “they shall inherit the earth”- (Psalm 37:9,11,18,22,28,34- the land). Followers of Christ already have 
     the title deed to the universe in Him (I Cor. 3:21-23, 6:2, 2 Tim. 2:12). This will take place when He 
     returns to establish His kingdom on earth & with the new heaven & earth.
4. Hunger & thirst for righteousness (vs. 6)
 a) “hunger & thirst”- strong growing desire as with physical hunger & thirst. “righteousness”- begins 
     with a legal right standing before God where Christ’s righteousness is credited to you based on faith in 
     Him & what He has done for you. Out of this comes the strong desire for moral & spiritual integrity & 
     uprightness. A/S- conformity to the Divine will in purpose, thought and action. There is also a longing 
     for this socially in society & one works to this end.
 b) “satisfied”- used of satisfying & fattening animals thus fully satisfied. This person will experience 
     temporary satisfaction with a growing righteousness in their thinking, feeling and acting & impact on 
     others (from your meek manner), but there will continue to be more hunger & thirst because of all the 
     unrighteousness in the world. Full satisfaction awaits His new creation (2 Peter 3:13).
These are character qualities of kingdom living. When we operate as though we are spiritually rich (apart from Christ), laugh with indifference to our & others spiritual condition, manipulate & grasp with forcefulness & hunger & thirst for pursuits other than righteousness to satisfy, we show we prefer the kingdom of this world over which the devil rules.