Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - June, 2005

Bible Study - Commentaries
Chapter 5: 1-5 Cont...

from Kaniyamparmabil Achen, the Great Teacher of Malankara

“Blessed are the mourners: for they shall be comforted” 

Mourners are:
1. Not the one who mourns for material matters, but just like saints and apostles say, it is the one who had to mourn for doing righteous acts. 
2. People who really repent about things they have done that prevents them from inheriting the kingdom of God. This is a genuine repentance about the sins one did (Luke 8:13, Psalm 51:3). 
3. One who shares with the misery of others and help to alleviate their misery. See our Lords model (Mat 8:17). Apostle Paul exhorts to ‘carry each other's burdens’ (Gal 6:2). 
4. One who mourns for the sins of others [like Moses (Exodus 32:32)]. Their reward is comfort from the One who is supreme comforter. Relief is happiness; the presence of God is eternal happiness. 

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:11)

During our Lord’s time, the Jews were proud of their lineage (That they were sons of Abraham). The Romans were proud about their power, and Greeks about their knowledge. Our Lord also derides the pride of Pharisees. Attributing humility to weakness is wrong. Our Lord showed His humbleness by washing the Apostle’s feet. Not only this, but He also taught about the attitude a person should have towards others. He commanded that “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:10-12). 

Opposite of pride is humility. The pride of Adam caused his fall. But our Lord’s humility caused the triumph. The humble will not be prideful, hard-hearted, selfish, or unrighteousness. While others argue for their own rights, the humble ones fulfill their responsibility. When pride live luxuriously, the humble live a simple life. When pride long for retaliation, the humble submits all to God. Humility is the answer to the prideful destruction caused by all modern scientific advances. The humble will have self-control. Not only that an intellectual will be humble, but also humility is imperative for seeking knowledge. One who thinks that he knows all cannot learn anything. Our Lord’s statement, “nothing can be done without me” should remind us of our helplessness and so make us humble. This is the most important quality for leadership. Moses was humble always (Numbers 12:3). So is Old Testament fathers like Abraham (Gen 18:27), Jacob (Gen 32:10), Joshua (Joshua 7:6) , Gideon (Judges 6:15 ), David (1 Chron. 29:14 ), Job (Job 40:4; 42:6 ), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6 ), Elizabeth (Luke 1:43), Peter (Luke 5:8), and Paul (Acts 20:19 ).

[More on humility – translator ] 

Lord taught others about humility.

A. He taught His disciples to humble themselves as little children (Matthew 18:1-4). 
B. He taught His disciples to be ministers and servants instead of kings and princes (Matthew 20:25-28). 
C. He taught His disciples to be servants instead of masters (Matthew 23:10-12). 
D. He taught His disciples to be first servants of all, to be first and greatest of all (Mark 9:33-35). 
E. He taught His disciples to be least of all in order to be the greatest of all (Luke 9:46-48). 
F. He taught His disciples to take the lowest position to reach the highest position (Luke 14:7-11). 
G. He taught the religious but lost to be like the publican instead of like the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14). 

Lord practiced humility.

A. He took upon Himself the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7). 
B. He was made in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7). 
C. He was found in fashion as a man (Phil. 2:8). 
D. He voluntarily became poor for the sake of God’s elect (2 Cori. 8:9). 
E. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7). 
F. He was raised in a poor family (Luke 2:22-24). 
G. He grew up in the wicked place called Nazareth (John 1:46). 
H. He had nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58). 
I. He was a friend to publicans and sinners (Matthew 11:19). 
J. He allowed Himself to be anointed by a sinful woman (Luke 7:36-39, 44-48).
K. He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:3-5, 12-17). 
L. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). 
M. He was buried in a borrowed tomb (Matthew 27:57-60). 
http://www.pbministries.org/articles/kohler/kohler_02.htm 

Regarding Humility:

1. A true Christian should be humble ( Col 3:12; 1Peter 5:5; Eph 4:1,2)
2. A characteristic of saints (Psalms 34:2 )
3. Necessary to the service of God (Micah 6:8 )
4. The result of humility is fear of the Lord, wealth, honor, and life (Prov. 22:4)
5. God's afflictions intended to produce humility (Levi 26:41; Deut 8:3; Lament 3:20 )
6. Lord Jesus Christ showed us the example of humilty (Matt 11:29; John 13:14,15; Phil 2:5-8 )

Those who have humility: 

1. Regarded by God (Psalms 138:6; Isa 66:2 )
2. Heard by God (Psalms 9:12; Isa 10:17 ;2 Chron. 7:14; 12:6,7 )
3. Blessed by God ( Mat 5:3) 
4. Saves the humble (2 Samuel 22:28; Psalms 18:27)
5. Will sin if you are not humble (2 Chronicles 33:23)
6. God will be with them and save them (Isa 57:15; Job 22:29, 5:11; Psalms 138:6; Psalms 147:6)
7. Exalted by God (Luke 14:11, 18:14; James 4:10)
8. Are greatest in Christ’s kingdom (Mat 18:4; 20:26-28 )
9. Receive more grace (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; Psalms 25:9 )
10. Precedes before honor comes (Proverbs 18:12; 29:23; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12)
11. Will be happy (Matthew 5:5)
(Ref: Torrey's Topical Textbook on humility)

Some verses to remember: 

The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child (Mat. 18:4)
Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love (Eph 4:2)
Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes (1 Peter 5:6)
You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud (Psalms 18:27)

The reward for the meek is that: 

“They will inherit earth”. The prideful try to get it by force, but the meek get it from the owner of earth, just like son inherits from father. “He (God) has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly” (Luke 1:52). “The LORD lift up the meek: he caste the wicked down to the ground” (KJV) (Psalms 147:6).

Our Lord taught about humilty , when people thought that only powerful rule the earth [Read Psalm 37] 
http://www.biblegateway.com/cgibin/bible?passage=Psalm+37&NIV_version=yes&language=english&x=15&y=13