The Beatitudes...part 2

 If you missed part one click Here so you can read it! :O) 

"Christ's Inaugural Address"

This sermon has also been appropriately called "Christ's Inaugural Address," because in it He enunciated the principles which are to control the administration of His spiritual kindsome, - the kingdom of grace. In it Jesus gives the qualifications for heavenly citizenship, and lays down the conditions upon which we may enter the kingdom of heaven. All citizens of the heavenly kingdom will live in harmony with the eternal principles set forth in this sermon.

The setting, or background, of this sermon adds to its importance. because of the significance of the occasion. Jesus had spent the entire night in prayer. Prayer is the secret of Christ's success as a preacher, and lack of prayer is also the explanation of the weakness and impotency of many modern sermons.

Following the night of prayer Jesus selected and ordained the twelve apostles who were to constitute a sort of cabinet to help Him administer the affairs of His spiritual kingdom. They were to be the special ministers, or ambassadors, of the King of grace and truth. Their ordination as apostles would entitle them later to be crowned as kinds. Matt. 19:27,28; Luke 22:28-30. Their office was therefore the most important to which human beings had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself. Throughout the eternal ages their names will be emblazoned on the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem, the capital city of the universe. Rev. 21:14.

Not only was the sermon of the mount the greatest of all sermons, but it was preached to a very large audience. It was composed of "great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan." Matt. 4:25 The congregation was made up of all classes of men and women, representing all conditions of life. The proud Pharisee and the humble fisherman were there; the rich ruler from his palace and the poor peasant from his wretched hovel. There were present the wise and the ignorant, the believer and the doubter. Many races of men and religious creeds were represented. It was indeed a cross section of humanity, comprising a miniature world. And the sermon was a world message which will shine as a beacon light to guide the footsteps of the Christian pilgrims till the church militant becomes the church triumphant.