Kingdom Manifesto (Volume 1)

Studies on the Sermon on the Mount: The Beautiful Attitudes

Nelson Thermitus

• Publisher: Elm Hill
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781400329854
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Manifestos are very popular nowadays. Some, one could argue, have become infamous. Kingdom Manifesto, however, is a series of biblical studies on the Sermon on the Mount. This manifesto was originally given by the King of kings. The first volume is on the Beatitudes which the author entitled the Beautiful Attitudes. The author, Dr. Nelson Thermitus, has done an in-depth study of the Beatitudes; he has offered different ways to apply them and live them out in your Christian walk. These beautiful attitudes, once applied with the help of the Holy Spirit, will help you to become a better disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The values of the kingdom are thoroughly explained. The book will aid you in assessing your values with those of the King and require a change in your behavior. This book could serve as a personal devotional or personal Bible study; it is also perfect for small group Bible studies. The author believes that Kingdom Manifesto can truly change the world and make it a better place. Happy reading.

CHAPTER 1 Poor in Spirit

“When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down,

His disciples came to Him.² Then He began to teach them, saying:

‘The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.’”

Matthew 5:1–3

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kingdom Manifesto

Are you able to identify true Christians? If you were in a large room, would you be able to identify those who claim to be Christians? How about the fake ones? Are the fake ones always easy to identify? This sermon, especially the Beatitudes, has been called the beautiful attitudes of the kingdom because they provide us with the character of those who are true disciples of God. We have entitled this book Kingdom Manifesto. The first four Beatitudes focus on our relationship to God, and the second four on our relationship to our fellowman like the Ten Commandments. There is a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with others in these beautiful attitudes. There exists a progression since each of the eight Beatitudes builds upon the other. Concurrently, there is a profound unity when reading them in one sitting. So take some time to read them through thoughtfully. The first Beatitude (verse 3) and the last Beatitude (verse 10) end with the same reward, “the kingdom of heaven,” which according to Hebrew style means that the Beatitudes between them all deal with that very same theme: “Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Mat 5:10). How is your relationship with God? How is your relationship with others? Christianity boils down to these four words: love God and others. Similar to the Ten Commandments, the first four deal with your relationship with God and the remainder your relationship with others. If you are truly a Christian, would others be able to identify you as such? Someone once said that if a so-called Christian went to court, would the judge find enough evidence to convict him as such?

The Coming Kingdom

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mat 4:17, KJV). Jesus instructed them in view of His announcement of the coming kingdom. Have you repented? We’re not talking about kingdom come, because the kingdom came. Are you a part of it? Louis A. Barbieri Jr. exclaimed, “natural questions on the heart of every Jew would have been,

‘Am I eligible to enter Messiah’s kingdom? Am I righteous enough to qualify for entrance?’

The only standard of righteousness the people knew was that laid down by the current religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees. Would one who followed that standard be acceptable in Messiah’s kingdom? Jesus’ sermon therefore must be understood in the context of His offer of the kingdom to Israel and the need for repentance to enter that kingdom.”¹ What questions do you have in your heart right now? Take some time to reflect and answer them honestly. You are eligible to enter the Messiah’s kingdom. Everyone is welcome. There is no condemnation, no judgment. The question is, are you willing to enter? If you are not righteous enough, the righteousness of Christ is enough. Apostle Paul explains that “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21).

The Way of Life

We’re spending so much time on this because if you have not repented, then this manifesto is not written for you. Why do you think we were provided with this beautiful sermon? Are you a true child of the king? Have you allowed yourself to be instructed by its lessons? Have you found true repentance? These disciples were probably confused as to the true nature of righteousness and God’s kingdom. If it is confusing to you, slow down and think about the following verse form the prophet Micah:

Mankind, He has told you what is good

and what it is the Lord requires of you:

to act justly,

to love faithfulness,

and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Jesus clearly taught in the sermon: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Mat 5:17, KJV). I truly hope you have responded positively to the invitation of the King of kings. Now what is the nature of true righteousness? First of all, what is righteousness? What do you think it means? What is the nature of God’s kingdom? If a person is taking part in something, there is a need to know what we’re getting into and what is expected. God is essentially pleading that He will take all of your sins in exchange for His righteousness. That’s a good deal. Take it.

True Righteousness

A lot of commentators have always felt that Matthew 5:20 was the key to this important sermon:

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.

The main theme is true righteousness. The late great Warren W. Wiersbe, who recently passed away, rightly concluded: “the religious leaders had an artificial, external righteousness based on Law. But the righteousness Jesus described is a true and vital righteousness that begins internally, in the heart. The Pharisees were concerned about the minute details of conduct, but they neglected the major matter of character. Conduct flows out of character.”² Some of the Jews undoubtedly turned away after hearing the key verse. They probably felt unworthy. Don’t turn away. But as Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us in his “I have a dream” speech, are people judging you based on the content of your character? How have you conducted yourself lately? Would the King of kings be proud of your behavior? Who are you when no one is looking? Integrity matters.

Character and Conduct

Although this first volume in this series will cover the first twelve verses which we entitled the beautiful attitudes, the first sixteen verses of Matthew 5 describe the true Christian and deal with character. Basically, what is the character of the true Christian? The rest of the Sermon on the Mount deals with conduct that grows out of character. Character always comes before conduct because what we are determines what we do. Like belief and behavior, what you believe will eventually affect your behavior. Are you a believer? Then you should behave accordingly. In other words, live what you believe. “In Matt. 5:1–16, Jesus shows us that true righteousness is inward, and in 5:17–48, He points out that sin is also inward. Thus, He exposed the false righteousness of the Pharisees, who taught that holiness consisted in religious actions, and that sin was what you did outwardly.”³

“Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

A New Moses?

We had already established a similarity between the Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments which were given by Moses on Mount Sinai. “Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well” (Ex 2:15, KJV). So, is Jesus the new Moses? What do you think? What are some similarities and differences between those two? Moses also was forced to flee into exile (Exod 2:15), for example, and returned only when he was told, “all those seeking your life are dead” (Exod 4:19=Matt 2:20). The beginning of Jesus’ ministry recalls the Exodus: he passes through the waters and is led into the wilderness to be tested. As Moses fasted for forty days and nights (Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9, 18), so does Jesus. Now, in 5:1, Jesus ascends a mountain as Moses did (Exod 19:3; 24:16–17; Deut 9:9). “Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: ‘This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites’” (Ex 19:3). What are your thoughts on this topic? All these similarities seem to prove that Jesus is the new Moses; however, there are always two sides to a book.

A New Moses, but…

“The 11 disciples traveled to Gali...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Table of Contents
• Prologue
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Poor in Spirit
• Chapter 2: You Will Be Comforted
• Chapter 3: Be Meek, Be Happy
• Chapter 4: Hungry and Thirsty
• Chapter 5: Mercy, Mercy Me
• Chapter 6: A Pure Heart
• Chapter 7: Makers of Peace
• Chapter 8: For the Sake of Justice
• Chapter 9: You Are Blessed
• Bibliography
• Back cover