Blessed Ten-fold!
Remember your analogy exams? Car: gasoline = man:_________. You may answer food; but since gasoline is liquid we may answer water. There is a bit of uncertainty there.
In Mathematics, if f(x) = 2x + 3, what is f(0)? Well, we substitute the x with 0
thus, f(0) = 2(0) +3 = 3. The answer is 3; that's certain.
Well, the Old Testament shows us Moses coming out of Egypt was led to climb up the tall mountain Sinai and was given the 10 commandments. In parallel, the New Testament shows us Jesus coming out of the wilderness was led to climb up a mount in Israel and was inspired to lecture on the 10 beatitudes. Was it 10? It must be 10! Let us see:
The Beatitudes
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 1
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 2
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 3
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled. 4
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 5
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 6
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 7
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 8
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.9
Wow, where's the 10th Blessed? Should there be? Let's read further:
Salt and Light
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore {this is our clue!} shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 1
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 2
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 3
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled. 4
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 5
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 6
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 7
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 8
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.9
Wow, where's the 10th Blessed? Should there be? Let's read further:
Salt and Light
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
That is a description of who we are in Christ! Must there be 10th Blessed?
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Alright then, there must be a 10th Blessed! Let's see what is it...like finding the missing function of the OT in the NT.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I didn't come to cancel the Laws and the Prophets but to fulfill. Notice how Jesus further continues to explain the proper interpretation of the 10 commandments or the Law! The Law is a channel of blessing.
Therefore, the 10th Blessed is:
Therefore, the 10th Blessed is:
Blessed are "whosoever shall do and teach them (commandments), the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
This reminds us of the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20 which says,
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Let us go and be blessed ten-fold!
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Let us go and be blessed ten-fold!
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