This sermon expounds three concepts from this text: the concept of the heart, the concept of purity and the concept of “seeing God”.
Read Matthew 5:8
The Centrality of the Word of God
This passage gives a number of important principles concerning the centrality of the Word of God in the lives and worship of the people of God.
Read Nehemiah 8:1-12
Blessed are the Merciful
This sermon explores the idea of showing mercy in the Bible as well as the relationship between Jesus’ statement “Blessed are the merciful” and his promise “for they shall receive mercy.”
Read Matthew 5:7
Giving for the Lord’s Kingdom
This passage gives details of the giving of the first wave of exiles to return to Jerusalem for the rebuilding of the temple. The principle that we see is that one of the way that God’s people are to support the work of God’s Kingdom is through their financial support.
Read Nehemiah 7:66-73
Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness
The righteousness that Jesus speaks of in this text includes being right with God, living obedient lives and seeking obedience to God throughout the world. Jesus teaches that those who are passionate for this comprehensive righteousness are blessed.
Read Matthew 5:6
First Steps After the Wall Completed
In this passage Nehemiah organizes the defense of the city of Jerusalem and enrolls the people by genealogy. From this we learn of the importance of defense in God’s Kingdom and the importance of legitimate membership in number of the people of God.
Read Nehemiah 7:1-65
Blessed are the Meek
This sermon explores the idea of meekness by considering the meaning of the word, the example of Moses and Jesus as well as other passages which enjoin meekness in God’s people.
Read Matthew 5:5
Enemy Tactics & Nehemiah’s Responses
Among other things this chapter teaches us that Satan attacks leaders, is persistent and uses deception and trickery as he seeks to hinder the work of the Kingdom of God.
Read Nehemiah 6
Blessed are Those Who Mourn
The kind of mourning Jesus is speaking about here is a mourning for sin. This beatitude teaches that such mourning is an essential component of Christian character. Those who mourn in this way are comforted by the gospel of forgiveness in Christ.
Read Matthew 5:4
Greed and Generosity
Tensions are surfacing in the covenant community because the rich are exploiting the poor. Nehemiah addresses this issue and is himself an example of helping the poor rather than exploiting them.
Read Nehemiah 5