3D Worship Part 17 – Worship is a Blessing – NT Parallels Part 2
*This teaching does not have a corresponding slideshow download.
Matthew 5:3-10 May 17, 2026
Series Recap
Our definition of Worship: exaltation and prioritization of the object of your
highest love in any given moment
o Deuteronomy 6:4-6 “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall
be on your heart.”
o John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is
seeking such people to worship him.”
Devotion + Desire = Delight in the Lord, worship in Truth and Spirit
NT Parallels: Beatitudes
Jesus and the law
o Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism = parting of Red Sea
o Matthew 4:1-11
3 Temptations in the wilderness
Who is your provider (Ex. 15:22-27, water; Ex. 16, mana) =
Yahweh
Who is your trust (Ex. 17, water again, Amalekite attack) =
Yahweh
Who is your object of worship (Ex. 32, golden calf) = Yahweh
o Matthew 5-7 (especially 5:3-10)
Mt. Sinai and giving of law – Exodus 19-20, 34
Repentance and Blessing
o Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repent – Turn from your sin and turn to God.
o Matthew 5:1-10 “1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and
when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
o 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
o 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
o 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
o 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
o 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall
be satisfied.
o 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
o 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
o 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
o 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
o 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for
your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.”
Blessed (Gk. makarios) = to be spiritually contented and fulfilled and focuses on
the state of happiness (independent of circumstances) experienced by people
who have received God’s blessings.
o One can be “makarios” and yet be in miserable circumstances. So “blessed
are you” does not mean “untroubled are you” or “healthy are you” or
“admired are you” or “prosperous are you.” It means “between you and
God all is well.” You are deeply secure, profoundly content, happy in God –
even if you are weeping over the pain of a struck body, a perplexed mind,
or a heartbreaking relationship.
o Makarios does not refer to how a person feels (a blessed person may still
“feel” blessed), but more importantly to the divinely bestowed inner spiritual
condition of those who are the objects of God’s supernatural favor through
faith in Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon “The Old Testament closes with the word “curse.”
(see Malachi 4:6 in KJV). The New Testament begins here, in the
preaching of Christ, with the word “Blessed.” He has changed the
curse into a blessing: “Blessed”.”
Warren Wiersbe “Imagine how the crowd’s attention was riveted on
Jesus when He uttered His first word: “Blessed.” This was a powerful
word to those who heard Jesus that day. To them it meant “divine joy
and perfect happiness.” The word was not used for humans; it
described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead.
“Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not
depend on outward circumstances for happiness. This is what the
Lord offers those who trust Him!”
Charles Swindoll “Most sermons are more negative than positive,
more like scathing rebukes than affirmation. Not this one. With
beautiful simplicity, using terms any age could understand, Jesus
brought blessing rather than condemnation…Having endured a
lifetime of verbal assaults by the scribes and Pharisees, the multitude
on the mount must have thought they had died and gone to heaven.”
Recalls God’s first act when He made man, Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed
them….”
Commandments <—> Beatitudes
1) You shall have no other gods before Me.
1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2) You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
3)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
2) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
4) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
3) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
5)Honor your father and your mother.
4)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
6) You shall not murder.
5) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
6) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
8) You shall not steal.
7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
9) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
8) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
10) You shall not covet.
God (and Jesus) is also “blessed”
o 1 Timothy 6:13-15 “13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life
to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[d] Pontius
Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained
and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15
which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only
Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has
immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever
seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”
o The only way we can truly experience God’s blessing – which is offered
freely to all people – is to turn to the blessed one – Jesus, who offers His
very blessing to us.
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his
holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who
forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life
from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you
with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Amen. Amen.