Introduction

To this point in covering the beatitudes, we have considered the marks of the Christian: on one hand as he is in himself and on the other hand as he is in relation to others. In summary, the Christian presents himself before the perfect righteousness of God, recognizes his spiritual poverty, is sorry for and turns away from his sin, hungers and thirsts for practical righteousness, and though opposed, insulted, and persecuted, he responds with gentleness, mercy, and peacemaking. These qualities make up one person, the Christian (i.e. one who has these qualities as his standard and goal).

In the progress of this study, we shifted attention from what the Christian is like (per the marks or qualities) to his blessedness. Here three facts should be observed: the inclusio (vs. 3, 10), the causal phrase ("for…" throughout), and the tenses of the verb (is…shall…is). From these facts, we learn to subdivide the blessedness into kingdom blessing and kingdom blessings. All the blessings cited in verses 3-10 are kingdom blessings. To understand the blessings we must see them as conditioned and governed by the kingdom that is both now and not yet.

Therefore, the future is within the present; the present is like a frame set around the future. Housed within the kingdom blessing that is now are the kingdom blessings that are not yet. Every use of "shall" is within the use of "is." The time line from the present to the future has a vertical "is" line at each end (cf. "is …shall…is").

The result of this structure is that "shall" and "is" affect both the bookends and the books. The now and not yet principle of the kingdom applies to all the blessings even though we may tend to apply the now to some blessings and the not yet to other blessings. However intuitive it may be that one blessing goes better with the now and another blessing goes better with the not yet, we have to maintain our focus and read all the beatitudes in both a now and not yet way. This is how we should seek to understand all the blessings. This is how Matthew’s literary bookend structure guides our meditation. This is the way to read the beatitudes and find nourishment in Christ from them.

The challenge before us then is to not only lay hold of the obvious but to also lay hold of that which is more subtle in the teachings of Christ. This is so like our Lord to bury treasures under our feet along with treasures that are directly in front of our eyes. He calls us to seek, to dig, to strive, and in this way to find.

What we want to do then is go through the kingdom blessings trying to grasp both the now and the not yet aspects of each one. We covered the first two last time: comfort is now and now yet; inheriting the earth is now and not yet (vs.4-5, mourn…comforted…gentle…inherit the earth). Today we will consider how satisfaction and mercy are now and not yet kingdom blessings as well (under our Sabbath king, according to His will, and by His authority).

1A. Satisfaction now and not yet (v. 6)

1B. Now

In terms of every day food and drink, there is a sense in which we are never satisfied. That is, the satisfaction is temporary. We have a good meal and are satisfied. Having received nourishment, we have the strength to go about our lives in work and various activities. The food converts to energy but when the energy is used up we need to be re-supplied. When the stomach is empty, we become hungry. At that point, we are not satisfied. Viewed over time, we are never satisfied. However, having cupboards and refrigerators stocked full, we really do not know what it means to go hungry. In our context in life, we have plenty of provisions for every need and want. We experience a continuous satisfaction-dissatisfaction cycle daily.

This is a testimony to the blessing of righteousness that is ours in the kingdom of God. We have all that we need and want. The provision is there for us in Christ and in His word. In the comfort of the Scriptures and learning more and more of the mercy we have received by God’s sovereign grace, we have all we need and want for spiritual health and strength for the Christian journey. We have all that we need to grow in righteousness of a very practical kind day by day. Yet all along the road, a lack or emptiness is present in a way that stirs up a fundamental sorrow over sin and a basic sense of lack for righteousness. Then we are comforted and we press on toward the mark of our high calling in Christ.

In a sense, we are never satisfied; one meal on the word of God is not sufficient to sustain us long term. The blessings of the past do not suffice for today. We must come repeatedly to the table of the word by attending to preaching, by our own private meditations, and by a hearty "one-anothering" fellowship in the things of God. It is like the manna in the wilderness that lasted only for one day at a time. Israel had to look to God for daily bread and we must do likewise. The hunger for righteousness flares up repeatedly and we often cry out, "O Lord how long, how long?"

In another sense, we always find satisfaction. Whatever the difficulties may be (whatever the ups and downs), the Christian has all that He could ever need or want in Christ. Therefore, he comes back again hungry for the food and the drink that will sustain him in the service of his king. Coming back to Him hungry for righteousness, He gives satisfaction now on the way.

2B. Not Yet

In addition, one day we shall enter the gates of heaven into the heavenly city where righteousness dwells. There all unrighteousness will be removed. The unrighteous will no longer be present to afflict us and intensify the struggle with sin in our own hearts. Unrighteousness around us and within us will be removed. We shall be satisfied at the table of the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷ Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; ⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. ⁹ And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God" (Rev. 19:6-9).

This is an amazing passage for it speaks of the righteous deeds of the saints. The righteousness for which we long, and experience in some degree, is always tainted. We are clean but we must be cleaned up repeatedly. Exposed in our true sinfulness, we actually make progress in a real righteousness because of the blessing of God our Father who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Every step we take on the journey to heaven is by grace; therefore, progress is a sure thing.

Therefore, the circle or spiral of righteousness (exposure, poverty, sorrow, and hunger) has within it the tension of dissatisfaction-satisfaction: we find refreshment, nourishment, contentment, and real righteousness in stages. The cycle is not a rut; in an ascending spiral, the Lord is leading us home to glory (we go from tasty samples here and now to the heavenly feast there and then).

2A. Mercy now and not yet (v. 7)

The blessings like the marks of the beatitudes are inter-related. Reflecting on them in relation to one another (by vertical as well as horizontal meditation on the text), imprints their richness on our hearts. Thus, the comfort that we receive already in anticipation of the comfort of heaven is related to the mercy that we receive from the king of heaven: the merciful are blessed because they receive mercy now and they shall receive mercy in the day of final judgment.

Showing mercy is evidence that they have received mercy; it is evidence that God has blessed them (i.e. the merciful have already been blessed as shown in the fact that they are merciful; cf. the cause these blessings in that they are kingdom blessings, 12-28-03).

1B. Now

To guide our thoughts regarding mercy that we have now, consider the impact of the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:21-35) in which our sin debt is far beyond all ability to repay. We are like this servant that accumulated a debt that is so large that repayment is beyond possibility. It is like having a debt equal to 50 thousand dollars a year times 20 years, which is a million dollars multiplied by 10,000 or 100 trillion (if I have the math right). This literal money debt illustrates (partially!) the debt we have incurred before God because of our sin. It is not surprising then that true acknowledgement of sin is gripping and the abiding sorrow is deep. We know that we have spent our lives in unthankful prodigality. We have received of our Father’s good will and generosity but we have wasted His goods, just like the prodigal son. Even as believers we find that in ourselves there is no good thing and the best of efforts to serve God are always actions of a sinner-saint.

Nevertheless, Jesus Christ grants mercy. The debt is paid and we are free from all obligations. Therefore, we can sing the marvelous testimony of God’s grace in a personal way:

My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul. Therefore, it is well with my soul, it is well; it is well, with my soul.

2B. Not Yet

In the Day of Judgment when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, there will be predominance given to the mercy seat. When we stand before God, we will do so knowing what we now know: that we stand exposed with no righteousness of our own. Still, as we saw in Revelation 19:8, it is a real righteousness, we make real progress in holiness. However, we know that we have no righteousness of our own; we know and own up to our sins. They are real and the fact is unpleasant (recall that all sin has the stench of death on it). What then shall we receive in the Day of Judgment? We shall receive mercy! That means pardon for our sins. It means that we will be counted as "doers of the law," we will be justified, and no charge leveled against us will be able to stick (Rom. 2:13; 8:33). All charges will be deflected (Jesus is our shield).

How comforting to know that what Jesus accomplished was efficacious in such a way that no one for whom Jesus died will ever face the punishment they ought to face due to their sins. Amazing comfort flows from the death of death in the death of Christ. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, our sins past, present, and future! We have comfort for the battle with sin still in front of us. Nothing we have done merits our salvation and nothing we shall ever do negates our justification. We are frail and on the way, we fail. Nevertheless, the blessed person, the Christian, shall receive mercy in the final Day of Judgment by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Conclusions (key words: need, encouragement, hope)

1) Need

We learn how to think about our need of righteousness. There is a continuous tension in the Christian life, a basic dissatisfaction. It is simply an essential mark of a Christian to acknowledge his need of righteousness and to long, yearn, and hunger for growth in righteousness.

2) Encouragement

a) Looking ahead on our journey, we are encouraged in times of dissatisfaction by the thought that we shall be satisfied with regard to righteousness. This is an interesting passage regarding satisfaction, contentment, and pleasure. Remarkably, being satisfied, content, or experiencing pleasure is not the point. Satisfaction per se (in and of itself) is not what Jesus promises even though the text says, "They shall be satisfied" (v. 6). How can this be so? It can be so very easily. Just keep the object of hungering and thirsting in mind and you will get the point: righteousness is the great object here. Satisfaction means attaining righteousness. That is a masterful way to view pleasure. This is the pleasure doctrine of Christ: to experience the taste of practical righteousness.

Jesus is not even saying that you will have pleasure in the way of righteousness (though these words may imply it). What He is saying is that our hunger and thirst will be satisfied in righteous living by His law and for His glory. He is not telling us to seek pleasure in Him and be satisfied with the pleasure He gives. Instead, He tells us to seek righteousness and we will in fact find it. In our regular experience of exposure as sinners who lack righteousness and who have sorrow because of it, we are dissatisfied and long for His righteousness. He encourages us by these words: you shall be satisfied, that is, you shall lay hold of true righteousness of life as my disciples. Thus, He says, "don’t give up, you are going to make headway in righteousness and you are going to make it to the heavenly city where righteousness dwells forever."

b) In our experience with unrighteousness of others that enflames our own unrighteousness, we are encouraged to show mercy by the dual thought that we have received and we shall receive mercy. Although we struggle repeatedly in a tension of satisfaction and dissatisfaction knowing all too well our lack of righteousness, in the end we will receive mercy in the heavenly feast of joy and rejoicing!

3) Hope (encouragement looking ahead flows into hope)

Looking at what we have both now and not yet, we have hope. We have now in part what we shall have in fullness. This is amazing and we have but "touched the hem of the garment." Truly, "the half has not yet been told us" of what God has in store for us. Praise the Lord O my soul praise the Lord! The new day has already dawned. We have been rescued from the present evil age (Gal. 1:4) and have been brought into the life of the age to come (1 Cor. 10:11). We live in the dawn of the new day and we wait for the noonday sun (Rom. 13:12). We taste now of the heavenly feast that is yet to come. The now of the not yet generates a very practical and lively hope. How marvelous to know that there is refreshment now along the way and complete satisfaction out in front of us in the never-ending future.