Chapter 11: The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!

Yeshua ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven, spiritually, to the elect and chosen of God 2000 years ago.  The people were in the presence of Yeshua, the Holy One of Israel; the door by which each person enters the Kingdom.  His teachings, of love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy and grace were taught by example.  Yeshua’s teachings put love, life and Spirit into the Law, making it complete. Yeshua addresses Law/Spirit completeness in Mattityahu 5:17-20

17 "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

"I AM"

 performed by Mark Schultz

Yeshua is the only One who can describe the Kingdom of Heaven since He was there with His Father God from the beginning!   Yeshua was questioned by the Pharisees about the coming of the Kingdom of God in Luke 17: 20-21.

20 The P'rushim asked Yeshua when the Kingdom of God would come. "The Kingdom of God," he answered, "does not come with visible signs; 21 nor will people be able to say, `Look! Here it is!' or, `Over there!' Because, you see, the Kingdom of God is among you."

The passage refers to God’s Holy Spirit within a believer. Yeshua again explains the Law and Spirit becoming one in Mattityahu 22: 34-40.

34 but when the P'rushim learned that he had silenced the Tz'dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh'eilah to trap him: 36 "Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?" 37 He told him, "`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.' 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot."

Mattityahu 23: 23-24

23 "Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You pay your tithes of mint, dill and cumin; but you have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah -- justice, mercy, and trust. These are the things you should have attended to -- without neglecting the others! 24 Blind guides! -- straining out a gnat, meanwhile swallowing a camel!

The Kingdom is referred to in God’s Word as the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.  The very first phrase of Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”                                                                                                                                                  

Yeshua taught His Apostles how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, with verses 9-10 addressing our Father and His Kingdom. 

Pray, then, in this way,

9.Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name

10.Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Simply put, since God made the heavens, God abides in the heavens on His Throne.  God is holy and is our {the believers} heavenly Father.  Believers pray, Thy will be done, for His Kingdom to come to earth, as it is in Heaven.  This becomes a reality after the seven-year tribulation.  (Much more will be written on this subject later!)  Therefore, it is God’s Kingdom of Heaven where He rules and reigns over all things.       

All believers, while living on earth, receive the Kingdom of Heaven within their hearts.  This takes place by forsaking sin, not simply confessing it, but leaving it behind, repenting in all humility and by choosing God’s way over our own.  Believers are born again spiritually by faith believing and after passing from this world, shall be given a glorified body and live forever in God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

"God of Wonders"

performed by Third Day and Caedmon's Call

Yeshua spoke in parables, a beautiful way of illustration using an earthly story to relate a heavenly meaning.  Several parables are given in Matthew 13:24-51, illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven. 

24 Yeshua put before them another parable. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, then went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. 27 The owner's servants came to him and said, `Sir didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' 28 He answered, `An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, `Then do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 But he said, `No, because if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot some of the wheat at the same time. 30 Let them both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers to collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned, but to gather the wheat into my barn.'" 31 Yeshua put before them another parable. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man takes and sows in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up it is larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the birds flying about come and nest in its branches." 33 And he told them yet another parable. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose." 34 All these things Yeshua said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without using a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, "I will open my mouth in parables, I will say what has been hidden since the creation of the universe." 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His talmidim approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world. As for the good seed, these are the people who belong to the Kingdom; and the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One. 39 The enemy who sows them is the Adversary, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all the things that cause people to sin and all the people who are far from Torah; 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where people will wail and grind their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let him hear! 44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field. 45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it. 47 "Once more, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the lake, that caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen brought the net up onto the shore, sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad fish away. 49 So it will be at the close of the age -- the angels will go forth and separate the evil people from among the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will wail and grind their teeth. 51 "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they answered.

Yeshua explains some of the parables, with a common theme throughout. 

Included are terms such as:

Good seed - the children of the Kingdom

The tares - the children of the wicked one

The weeds - the children of the wicked one

The wicked - those who refuse Yeshua and will be cast into a furnace of fire where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The reapers - the angels separate the good and bad

The Harvest - the End!!  It is all over for planet earth!!  No more good and evil together. You will either be eternally part of the Kingdom of Heaven or the devil’s Hell.

The net - gathered every kind; when full, the good were saved; the bad cast away.  Full as complete; the end of the world! The angels earlier were called reapers, shall come and sever (separate) the wicked from the just. Yeshua asked those present, “Have you understood all these things?”  and they said to Him, “yes, Lord.”

What is your answer?

The Kingdom of Heaven – priceless!!!  In two separate parables a man and a merchant sold all of their possessions and each obtained their one treasure: life everlasting in the Kingdom of Heaven!

Matthew 13:44-46

44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field. 45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it. 

This is summed up perfectly in Mattityahu 6:33.

33 But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 "I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy"

performed by Michael English and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Here is a true story of a small party of missionaries, one of whom was Jim Elliot, a young man totally dedicated to spreading the gospel message to a lost world.  After much preparation in language and customs, he and others traveled to Equador, Latin America.  There mission:  witness to the Quechua Indians, a primitive, violent and murderous tribe, with no contact with the outside world, nor white man, other than killing. On January 8, 1956 it was time, after many months of their presence made known, to visit the Auca tribe, but instead, twenty to thirty of the tribe ran into their camp, killing them all.  Their bodies were brutally pierced with spears and hacked by machetes.  Jim Elliot and the others gave all in faith to the Auca people and cannot lose in the Kingdom of Heaven!!!  Jim Elliot, a godly missionary, gave the world a profound quote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

This account tells of a rich man and El’azar (Lazarus) in Luke 16:19-31.

19 "Once there was a rich man who used to dress in the most expensive clothing and spent his days in magnificent luxury. 20 At his gate had been laid a beggar named El`azar who was covered with sores. 21 He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man's table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 In time the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Avraham's side; the rich man also died and was buried. 23 "In Sh'ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El`azar at his side. 24 He called out, `Father Avraham, take pity on me, and send El`azar just to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I'm in agony in this fire!' 25 However, Avraham said, `Son, remember that when you were alive, you got the good things while he got the bad; but now he gets his consolation here, while you are the one in agony. 26 Yet that isn't all: between you and us a deep rift has been established, so that those who would like to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27 "He answered, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house, 28 where I have five brothers, to warn them; so that they may be spared having to come to this place of torment too.' 29 But Avraham said, `They have Moshe and the Prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 However, he said, `No, father Avraham, they need more. If someone from the dead goes to them, they'll repent!' 31 But he replied, `If they won't listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won't be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!'"

 The Rich Man and Lazarus

from the God Provides Series of

Crown Financial Ministries 
God Provides... A Film Learning Experience

The passage in 1Timothy 6:6-10 reads:

6 Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world; and we can take nothing out of it; 8 so if we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these. 9 Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.

Herein is one of two choices: live on planet earth for 70 or so years and go to Sh’ol or chose great spiritual riches through Yeshua and follow Him and live forever in the Kingdom of heaven.  One cannot begin to understand the powerful deception of evil that permeates our world. 

Again, let’s repeat this quote:  “The lost man is blinded, by the deception of Satan, to believe that he has control over his own destiny.  One is given sight only when he chooses God’s way over his own.”

Yeshua continues teaching the Apostles concerning money in Mattityahu 6:19-24.

19 "Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. 20 Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. 21 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also. 22 `The eye is the lamp of the body.' So if you have a `good eye' [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if you have an `evil eye' [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can't be a slave to both God and money.

This account shows the Law and the fulfillment of the Law, yet the fulfillment -Spirit of the Law- was refused, therefore Yeshua’s fulfillment of the Law was refused, for you see, money was still his god, not ADONAI God.

Mark 10:17-22.

17 As Yeshua was starting on his way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of Him and asked, "Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?" 18 Yeshua said to him, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God! 19 You know the mitzvot -- `Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't give false testimony, don't defraud, honor your father and mother, '" 20 "Rabbi," he said, "I have kept all these since I was a boy." 21 Yeshua, looking at him, felt love for him and said to him, "You're missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!" 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad because he was a wealthy man.

Was the Law kept?  Was ADONAI God number one?  Sad to say money, not God, was on the throne of his life.

The Law has become a heart issue!  Yeshua simply condensed the Ten Commandments into one called the Greatest Commandment.  

"Follow Me"

performed by David Kauffman

Mark 12:29-31.

29 Yeshua answered, "The most important is, `Sh'ma Yisra'el, ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, O Isra'el, the LORD our God, the LORD is one], 30 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other mitzvah greater than these."

The first four of the Ten Commandments describe man’s relationship to God.  The remaining six describe man’s relationship with man. There is no way the ten can be broken when one loves God with all his heart and soul and loves his neighbor as himself! The Word says, God is love, and that love is personified in His only Son, Yeshua, to complete and fulfill the Law.  The Law is a mind that obeys, willingly or unwillingly, without emotion. The Spirit is a heart that willingly follows out of love.

Several passages in the Bible give insight to the coming Kingdom of Heaven. 

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 35:1-10, 17-19.

1 The desert and the dry land will be glad; the 'Aravah will rejoice and blossom like the lily. 2 It will burst into flower, will rejoice with joy and singing, will be given the glory of the L'vanon, the splendor of Karmel and the Sharon. They will see the glory of ADONAI, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen your drooping arms, and steady your tottering knees. 4 Say to the fainthearted, "Be strong and unafraid! Here is your God; he will come with vengeance; with God's retribution he will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped; 6 then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the mute person's tongue will sing. For in the desert, springs will burst forth, streams of water in the 'Aravah; 7 the sandy mirage will become a pool, the thirsty ground springs of water. The haunts where jackals lie down will become a marsh filled with reeds and papyrus. 8 A highway will be there, a way, called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not pass over it, but it will be for those whom he guides fools will not stray along it. 9 No lion or other beast of prey will be there, traveling on it. They will not be found there, but the redeemed will go there. 10 Those ransomed by ADONAI will return and come with singing to Tziyon, on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee. 
17 When that time comes, they will call Yerushalayim the throne of ADONAI. All the nations will be gathered there to the name of ADONAI, to Yerushalayim. No longer will they live according to their stubbornly evil hearts. 

18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of the Book, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 The humble will again rejoice in ADONAI and the poor exult in the Holy One of Isra'el.

In Z’kharyah (Zechariah) 14:8-9.

8 On that day, fresh water will flow out from Yerushalayim, half toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, both summer and winter. 9 Then ADONAI will be King over the whole world. On that day ADONAI will be the only one, and his name will be the only name.

   

Yeshua, Holy One of Israel, King of kings and Lord of lords, ushers in the millennium period bringing peace to the earth, the Kingdom of Heaven, with life on earth without sin as it was in the beginning in the Garden, so it is now restored!!! All because the Lamb has brought us home!! Amen!!  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!!

Revelation 5:1-14

1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"

3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.

4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;

5 and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a   Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

14 And the four living creatures kept saying, " Amen " And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Let all who read this give glory and honor and power and praise and thanksgiving and blessing to the One, the Holy One of Israel, for He alone, our Yeshua Messiah, is Worthy of all our worship and praise and adoration forever. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!  Worthy is the Lamb that brought us home!  The everlasting Kingdom of Heaven without end! Amen. 

"Worthy the Lamb"

performed by the Gaither Vocal Band

Chapter 10: Come, Follow Me!

Like God said to Moses, let those who read this chapter say, “Take off your shoes for you are standing on Holy ground.”  The words unworthy and inadequate come to mind as one speaks of the life of the Son of God, who comes to us as Servant, Savior, Shepherd, Redeemer and Lord. Later we will see that there are many more names and titles given to Yeshua. 

Yeshua’s message was simple, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and come, follow Me.  Yeshua called twelve disciples beginning with the fishermen.  Here is the account from Mattityahu 4.

Mattityahu 4

18 As Yeshua walked by Lake Kinneret, he saw two brothers who were fishermen -- Shim`on, known as Kefa, and his brother Andrew -- throwing their net into the lake. 19 Yeshua said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!" 20 At once they left their nets and went with him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers -- Ya'akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan his brother -- in the boat with their father Zavdai, repairing their nets; and he called them. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Yeshua.

"Fishers of Men"

from the 1999 movie  "Jesus"

Scripture is the best teacher for it is truth! Why would the fishermen leave their nets immediately and follow Yeshua? Going a little farther, Yeshua called two more who were in their boat repairing their nets with their father.   At once, they left their boat and their father and went with Yeshua!  The fishermen, without hesitation, answered the call of Yeshua. They knew very little about Him, but by faith, they followed the One who had begun to preach and teach, showing such wisdom and understanding in the synagogues and the miraculous healing of the sick.  Yeshua was meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the Jewish people…His people.

This was the beginning of choosing His twelve disciples/apostles. Their basic training had begun. They had volunteered to be a part of Yeshua’s army, in word and deed, to bring all who believed into His coming Kingdom.  The disciples would watch and witness this Man of Galilee as He went throughout the region, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of His Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people, even raising some who had died!  The complete list of the twelve disciples, whose name Yeshua designated now as Apostles are recorded in Mark 3.

         

Mark 3

13 Then he went up into the hill country and summoned to himself those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve to be with him, to be sent out to preach 15 and to have authority to expel demons: 16 Shim`on, to whom he gave another name, "Kefa"; 17 Ya`akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan, Ya`akov's brother -- to them he gave the name "B'nei-Regesh" (that is, "Thunderers"); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bar-Talmai, Mattityahu, T'oma, Ya`akov Ben-Halfai, Taddai, Shim`on the Zealot, 19 and Y'hudah from K'riot, the one who betrayed him. 

News spread like wildfire throughout Syria, bringing those ill with diseases, pain, demon-possession, epileptics, paralytics and Yeshua healed them.  Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judah and across the Jordan followed Him.  These people saw Yeshua’s love and compassion demonstrated first hand. Yeshua was meeting the physical needs, now He began teaching His apostles while thousands of people listened as well.

Yeshua teaches a portion of scripture recorded in Mattityahu 5 known as the Beatitudes.  These are the believers “attitudes” for living in a world that is turned upside down and can only be done through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit of God.  

 Mattityahu 5

1 Seeing the crowds, Yeshua walked up the hill. After he sat down, his talmidim came to him, 2 and he began to speak. This is what he taught them: 3 "How blessed are the poor in spirit! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 "How blessed are those who mourn! for they will be comforted. 5 "How blessed are the meek! for they will inherit the Land! 6 "How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled. 7 "How blessed are those who show mercy! for they will be shown mercy. 8 "How blessed are the pure in heart! for they will see God. 9 "How blessed are those who make peace! for they will be called sons of God. 10 "How blessed are those who are persecuted because they pursue righteousness! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 12 Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great -- they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

Yeshua taught the apostles and the crowds how to receive blessings from following His teachings.  The first ‘attitude’ being poor in spirit, is the believers’ inner humble condition by experiencing God’s saving grace through Yeshua Messiah, thus replacing the selfish pride and haughty attitude toward others.  The reward: Kingdom of Heaven.  Pride is the foundational taproot from which sprouts other roots of selfishness, arrogance, bitterness and hate.

Proverbs 11:2 and 16:18 records pride this way:

2 First comes pride, then disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure.

"The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes"

from The Life of Christ Bible Videos

The greatest example of humility is found in Philippians.

Philippians 2

1 Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, 2 then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves - 4 look out for each other's interests and not just for your own. 5 Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: 6 Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force. 7 On the contrary, He emptied himself, in that He took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when He appeared as a human being, 8 He humbled Himself still more by becoming obedient even to death - death on a stake as a criminal! 9 Therefore God raised Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name; 10 that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow - in heaven, on earth and under the earth 11 and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is ADONAI - to the glory of God the Father.

The second ‘attitude’ is blessed are those who mourn for the sinful condition of others.  The following is spoken by Yeshua in Mattityahu 23.   

Mattityahu 23

37 "Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! 38 Look! God is abandoning your house to you, leaving it desolate.

Yeshua had come to His own and they did not receive Him.  Yeshua knew the meaning of the word ‘mourn’ more than anyone could ever comprehend.  In another passage in Luke 19, Yeshua is speaking of the city, Yerushalayim.

Luke 19

41 When Yeshua had come closer and could see the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, "If you only knew today what is needed for shalom! But for now it is hidden from your sight.

That was a statement made by Yeshua 2000+ years ago as He wept over Jerusalem.  That was then and this is now! Praise Yeshua for His message for you today, His direct quote from Matthew 11.

Matthew 11

28 "Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

"Come Unto Me"

performed by Nicole C. Mullen

The third Beatitude says, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Many people could refer to the word ‘meek’ as weak, but this is by no means correct!  Meek is used in this scripture as:  bridled strength!  A picture comes to mind of the beautiful white Lipizzaner stallion, prancing on two legs with two in mid air as though marching to the heavens.  The rider has complete control of this strong and mighty animal, using only a small bridle.  That is harnessed strength!  The believers are given strength from within through the power of the Holy Spirit, yet one also displays the attitudes of the Beatitudes. 

The Master of meekness: Yeshua, as read in 1Peter 2

21 Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in His steps. 22 "He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found on His lips." 23 When He was insulted, He didn't retaliate with insults; when He suffered, He didn't threaten, but handed them over to Him who judges justly. 24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the stake, o so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness - by His wounds you were healed. 

The fourth beatitude reads, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. This beatitude is classified as ‘high priority’ for the believer.  It is communication with one’s heavenly Father God through prayer and study of His Holy and perfect Word, knowing Yeshua, His Son as one’s Savior and Lord with the Holy Spirit within, as teacher and guide in one’s daily life.  The meaning to hunger and thirst for righteousness is the spiritual feeding of the soul.  Have you ever been so hungry you would give almost anything for something to eat? One example of this physical hunger is found in Genesis 25.

Genesis 25:19-34

19 Here is the history of Yitz'chak, Avraham's son. Avraham fathered Yitz'chak. 20 Yitz'chak was forty years old when he took Rivkah, the daughter of B'tu'el the Arami from Paddan-Aram and sister of Lavan the Arami, to be his wife. 21 Yitz'chak prayed to ADONAI on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. ADONAI heeded his prayer, and Rivkah became pregnant. 22 The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, "If it's going to be like this, why go on living?" So she went to inquire of ADONAI, 23 who answered her, "There are two nations in your womb. From birth they will be two rival peoples. One of these peoples will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time for her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first to come out was reddish and covered all over with hair, like a coat; so they named him 'Esav [completely formed, that is, having hair already]. 26 Then his brother emerged, with his handholding 'Esav's heel, so he was called Ya'akov [he catches by the heel, he supplants]. Yitz'chak was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 The boys grew; and 'Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya'akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents. 28 Yitz'chak favored 'Esav, because he had a taste for game; Rivkah favored Ya'akov. 29 One day when Ya'akov had cooked some stew, 'Esav came in from the open country, exhausted, 30 and said to Ya'akov, "Please! Let me gulp down some of that red stuff - that red stuff! I'm exhausted!" (This is why he was called Edom [red].) 31 Ya'akov answered, "First sell me your rights as the firstborn." 32 "Look, I'm about to die!" said 'Esav. "What use to me are my rights as the firstborn?" 33 Ya'akov said, "First, swear to me!" So he swore to him, thus selling his birthright to Ya'akov. 34 Then Ya'akov gave him bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, got up and went on his way. Thus 'Esav showed how little he valued his birthright.

The spiritual account of the ‘bread of life’ is found in John 6.

John 6

26 Yeshua answered, "Yes, indeed! I tell you, you're not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the bread and had all you wanted! 27 Don't work for the food, which passes away, but for the food that stays on into eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For this is the one on whom God the Father has put his seal." 28 So they said to him, "What should we do in order to perform the works of God?" 29 Yeshua answered, "Here's what the work of God is: to trust in the One He sent!" 30 They said to Him, "So, what miracle will you do for us, so that we may see it and trust you? What work can you perform? 31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert -- as it says in the Tanakh, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' 32 Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! I tell you it wasn't Moshe who gave you the bread from heaven. But my Father is giving you the genuine bread from heaven; 33 for God's bread is the one who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread from now on." 35 Yeshua answered, "I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in Me will never be thirsty. 36 I told you that you have seen but still don't trust. 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do not My own will but the will of the One who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of the One who sent Me: that I should not lose any of all those He has given Me but should raise them up on the Last Day. 40 Yes, this is the will of My Father: that all who see the Son and trust in Him should have eternal life, and that I should raise them up on the Last Day."

"My Savior My God"

performed by Aaron Shust 

 

The account of both physical and spiritual water is found in John 4.  Yeshua was on His way from Judea to Galilee.

John 4

4 This meant that He had to pass through Shomron. 5 He came to a town in Shomron called Sh'khem, near the field Ya`akov had given to his son Yosef. 6 Ya`akov's Well was there; so Yeshua, exhausted from his travel, sat down by the well; it was about noon. 7 A woman from Shomron came to draw some water; and Yeshua said to her, "Give me a drink of water." 8 (His talmidim had gone into town to buy food.) 9 The woman from Shomron said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for water from me, a woman of Shomron?" (For Jews don't associate with people from Shomron.) 10 Yeshua answered her, "If you knew God's gift, that is, who it is saying to you, `Give me a drink of water,' then you would have asked him; and he would have given you living water." 11 She said to him, "Sir, you don't have a bucket, and the well is deep; so where do you get this `living water'? 12 You aren't greater than our father Ya`akov, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it, and so did his sons and his cattle." 13 Yeshua answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again! On the contrary, the water I give him will become a spring of water inside him, welling up into eternal life!" 15 "Sir, give me this water," the woman said to him, "so that I won't have to be thirsty and keep coming here to draw water."

25 The woman replied, "I know that Mashiach is coming" (that is, "the one who has been anointed"). "When he comes, he will tell us everything." 26 Yeshua said to her, "I, the person speaking to you, am He."

Jesus meets the Woman at the Well

from the movie, The Gospel of John 

 

The fifth beatitude, blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Merciful: showing sincere compassion and kindness with no partiality.

A beautiful parable told by Yeshua of the lost son in Luke 15.

Luke 15
11 Yeshua said, "A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.' So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch. 15 "So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any. 17 "At last he came to his senses and said, `Any number of my father's hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I'm going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he got up and started back to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son --' 22 but his father said to his slaves, `Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let's eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he's alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!' And they began celebrating.

This parable relates to both physical and spiritual lostness. The father never gave up hope that the son might return, for he kept looking and waiting as the days became months and then years but he never gave up that hope of return.  This reunion shows the compassion and forgiveness of a waiting, loving father. In our world today there are countless families with heartaches and loneliness, waiting for a family member to return and become a part of the family again.  If this is your situation, pray to God for the healing, for it may begin with you.

The spiritual lostness of one follows the same path.  One strays from the foundation of God’s Word, only to realize, in their heart, they have chosen the wrong way, yet cannot bring themselves to admit it until they reach the bottom.  

"Come Home Running"

performed by Chris Tomlin

 

The world of sin always takes one farther than he ever intended to go and keeps him longer than he ever intended to stay.  There is a heavenly Father that is also waiting for you to come to Him for He is waiting and ready to receive you into His arms just as the earthly father received his son.  It is called mercy. Luke 18:13 

13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!'

Call on Him and He will answer and say to you, Matthew 11

28 "Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 

The sixth beatitude reads, blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Pure:  not mixed with anything else; genuine; perfectly clean and spotless; as silver is heated, the dross comes to the top and removed, leaving the silver pure as a reflection in a mirror.

Pure in heart is the position of the believer before God.  The life of one who receives Yeshua as Savior and Lord has been transformed into a new spiritual birth.  Being born again, because of Yeshua dying for my personal sin by shedding His blood on the cross and raising to life on the third day, He defeated death and the grave to give eternal life to each one who believes in Him.  When God looks at me, Yeshua is standing between me and the holiness of God and deems me pure because He died and took my sin on Him on the cross. When I chose to follow Yeshua, all my sins, past, present and future were forgiven and washed away by the blood of the Lamb!!!

One is not sinless as a believer, but enters a continuous process of sanctification, a common term used as the act of growing into the likeness of Yeshua.  Yeshua knew no sin, for He is pure, but He became the sacrificial Lamb, taking on the sin of the world, that whosoever, meaning any one or all, has been provided the way that leads to life, the Kingdom of Heaven.  

When one sins as a believer, the fellowship can be broken, but the relationship as a part of the family of God can never be broken.  This also holds true when being born into our earthly family.  There is a quote in 1John 1:9 that says, 
9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since He is trustworthy and just, He will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.  

The seventh Beatitude says, blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.

Peacemakers are believers who are at peace with God and live in peace with God for they experienced the peace that passes all understanding when they obeyed Yeshua invitation, “Come, follow Me.”  At the birth of Yeshua, the angels sang, “Peace on earth, good will to men.”  Why?  Yeshua brought peace to a world lost and without hope.  It is the difference between the thermostat and thermometer.  The thermometer represents the ups and downs in life, with instability a constant companion.  That is the way of the world. The thermostat describes the believer as steady in all of life’s circumstances. How?  Because of the peace and joy given to the one who chooses God’s love gift, Yeshua the Messiah, His only begotten Son, the Prince of Peace.

Tortured for Christ website

The eighth Beatitude says, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. The quote from 2Timothy 3:12 says: And indeed, all who want to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted.

And Mattityahu 5 says:

11 "How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 12 Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great -- they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

The world in its darkness does not except the ways of Yeshua.  It continues to be the battle of the ages: the goodness of God against the deceptions of Satan.

This concludes the Beatitudes, the Spirit of the Law, given to His Apostles while thousands gathered on the hillside to capture each and every word spoken by the amazing One.  Yeshua supplies one’s every need.  He lived as a man and followed His own beatitudes as an example to His apostles and the people.

Truly the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

I Still Believe

performed by Jeremy Camp