The Citizens of the Kingdom

This sermon explores the characteristics of citizens of the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one’s spiritual poverty, mourning over sin, and adopting a meek attitude that willingly loses for God’s glory. Through understanding these principles, listeners are encouraged to cultivate a heart aimed at God and live a life reflective of eternal values rather than worldly standards.

 

It has been some time since we last studied the Gospel of Matthew, so before diving into today’s message, we need to reorient ourselves. This morning, we will focus on three blessings—also known as beatitudes or sources of true happiness—that deserve our attention.

The last time we explored Matthew, we noted that his Gospel contains five major sermons, with the Beatitudes serving as the introduction to the first one, commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount. Given the time that has passed since our last discussion, I want to remind you of the purpose of this sermon: to instruct the citizens of the kingdom of heaven in cultivating heart obedience that leads to holiness. This is an obedience that goes beyond external actions; it is an inward transformation. It is not merely avoiding murder but also rejecting hatred. Yet, it goes even further—it calls us not just to avoid hate but to actively seek the well-being of our neighbors. It is a refusal to commit negative actions by instead choosing positive ones, all for the glory of God.

With this in mind, I want to pose a question for us to consider: Who are the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? My concern is not their external appearance, nationality, or political affiliation, but their inner character. What defines their lifestyle? More fundamentally, what shapes their character?

Character matters because it reflects the values that lie at the core of our beliefs. It is a mirror of what we cherish and, ultimately, what we worship. As Jesus said in Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

So, who are the true citizens of the kingdom of heaven?

Those Who Recognize Their Moral and Spiritual Bankruptcy

Jesus begins the Beatitudes by declaring, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

But what does Jesus mean by “blessed”? The word “blessed” here signifies the best and most enviable life. In other words, Jesus is saying, “This is the best life—the life that is to be sought after.” Surprisingly, this life is found in being “poor in spirit.”

Modern advertisements promise us different versions of the best life:

• Coca-Cola invites us to “Open Happiness,” portraying moments of joy tied to drinking their product.
• Lexus encourages us to “Experience Amazing,” equating luxury and prestige with fulfillment.
• Corona tells us to “Find Your Beach,” associating their brand with relaxation and a carefree life.
• Michelob Ultra urges us to “Live Fit. Live Fun.,” linking their beer to an active and rewarding lifestyle.

Yet, Jesus offers a different path. He teaches that the truly blessed, the truly fulfilled, are those who are poor in spirit—those who recognize their utter dependence on God.

At the Statue of Liberty, a famous poem by Emma Lazarus calls out to the nations:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore…”

The Statue of Liberty extends an invitation to the physically poor and destitute, offering them a new life in America. But is this the same kind of call that the kingdom of God makes? Is physical poverty the requirement for divine blessing? Some mistakenly believe that lacking material wealth qualifies a person for the kingdom of heaven.

I once heard a pastor share a story about encountering a homeless man in distress. As he approached him, he claimed to hear a voice saying, “Be careful what you do next, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The implication was that poverty itself grants entrance into God’s kingdom. But is this what Jesus meant?

Poverty of the Soul

Jesus is not speaking of financial poverty, but rather a deeper, spiritual poverty—a recognition that we cannot please God on our own. Those who are “poor in spirit” understand that they are ruined by sin and completely dependent on God’s grace.

Many people struggle with this concept because they compare themselves to others. They say, “I’m not as bad as so-and-so. I pay my taxes, follow the law, and even go to church.” But they rely on their own efforts and see themselves as morally sufficient.

Yet, the citizens of the kingdom of heaven are those who recognize their moral and spiritual bankruptcy.

• Morally, they acknowledge that they are incapable of true goodness on their own.
• Spiritually, they accept that they are born in sin and in need of redemption.

The Heidelberg Catechism captures this truth well:
Q: But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
A: Yes, unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.

This is the first beatitude for a reason. If we do not understand our spiritual poverty, then the gospel is not truly good news to us. As the old hymn declares:

“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Unless we grasp that the only thing we contribute to our salvation is our sin, the gospel will never be sweet to our souls. This beatitude humbles us before it lifts us up; it calls us to die to ourselves before we can truly live.

Application: Surrendering Our Self-Sufficiency

We are drawn to stories like The Pursuit of Happyness because they depict triumph through sheer determination—pulling oneself up by the bootstraps. But Jesus presents a different message: “You are blessed when you recognize your poverty—when you surrender and say, ‘I can’t do this on my own.’”

Many of us are indifferent toward God because we fail to realize that apart from Christ, our souls are starving. We live unconcerned about spiritual matters because we do not see our desperate condition. But when we finally recognize our brokenness, we become aware of our need for Christ.

• Niños, you are not good enough to please God on your own. You need Jesus!
• Teens, you are not good enough to please God on your own. You need Jesus!
• Adultos, you are not good enough to please God on your own. You need Jesus!

It is one thing to say this; it is another thing to believe it.

There will be no longing for God, no desire to be set free, no yearning for heaven unless we acknowledge our moral and spiritual bankruptcy.

To be poor in spirit means that we:

1. Stop trusting in ourselves.
2. Stop believing we are wiser than God.
3. Stop relying on our own opinions and our illusion of control.

So, who are the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? Those who understand that they are morally and spiritually bankrupt—and who, in their emptiness, cling to Jesus alone.

Understanding our poverty of soul is the first beatitude, and the second builds and that one. Who are the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? Secondly…

Those Who Have Godly Sorrow for Their Sins

In Matthew 5:4, Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

At first glance, this statement seems paradoxical. Happiness and mourning—how can they coexist? Typically, we associate happiness with celebrations, like a birthday party, and mourning with sorrowful occasions, like a funeral. The two appear to be complete opposites. Society often labels those who mourn as “Debbie Downers” or overly emotional, but do we truly understand what Jesus means by mourning?

The kind of mourning Jesus refers to here is not just sorrow in general, but a deep, heartfelt grief over one’s own sin. It is a sorrow that leads to repentance, a wailing of the soul over its waywardness. This stands in stark contrast to the world’s message, which tells us to pursue happiness on our own terms. Commercials, media, and popular culture all encourage a philosophy of self-indulgence: Do whatever makes you happy. But Jesus calls His followers to something greater.

In Luke 6:25, a parallel account to this sermon, Jesus warns, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” The world says, “Be happy on your own terms.” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” But what exactly are we to mourn?

Mourning Our Own Sin

The mourning that Jesus speaks of is not just any sorrow—it is sorrow over sin. It is a deep grief over our disobedience, our waywardness, and our tendency to stray from God.

However, we often find it easier to mourn the sins of others than our own. We see the flaws in those around us and shake our heads in judgment:

• “I can’t believe they would think that or do that.”
• “Just look at that heathen.”

This attitude is particularly evident in political discourse, where each party demonizes the other. But do we mourn our own sins with the same intensity?

The Church’s Struggle to Mourn

I have noticed that the church is often quick to lament the sins of the culture but slow to grieve its own failings. We do not mourn our disregard for God, our neglect of His commands, or our spiritual complacency. One reason revival does not sweep through the land is that the church is too comfortable in its sin. There is no true anguish over our waywardness.

If we are honest:

• We don’t grieve how easily we are annoyed by others—friends, family, or strangers.
• We don’t mourn how our eyes wander and desire what is forbidden.
• We don’t lament the time we steal from our families to indulge ourselves.
• We don’t sorrow over how quickly we tear others down with our words instead of building them up.

I recently spoke with someone about the sin of slander. They justified it by calling it “just venting.” But God does not see it that way—He sees it as sin. We are often careless with our tongues and fail to grieve the damage we cause.

We also fail to mourn our covetousness—our constant desire for more, our jealousy of others, and our discontentment with what God has given us.

But who are the true citizens of the kingdom of heaven? They are those who mourn and lament their sin.

True Mourning vs. False Mourning

Paul gives us a distinction between two kinds of sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:10:
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

There is a difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow:

• Worldly sorrow is self-centered—it grieves only the consequences of sin, not sin itself. It regrets getting caught or suffering loss, but it does not lead to change.
• Godly sorrow leads to life because it is concerned with God’s glory. It hates sin, not just its consequences, and turns away from it.

I once read about two men who were caught viewing pornography and had to confess to their wives. Both wept and expressed deep remorse. Yet, years later, one remained happily married while the other ended up divorced and even spent time in jail due to his addiction. What was the difference? One had godly sorrow, leading to repentance and restoration, while the other had only worldly sorrow, leading to destruction.

The Result of Mourning—Comfort

Some may think, “Why talk so much about sin? Shouldn’t church be a place of encouragement?” The answer is yes—but true encouragement comes through the gospel. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

This is the paradox of the Christian life: those who mourn their sins find comfort in Christ. The comfort of the gospel becomes truly sweet only when we first experience the bitterness of our sin.

So, do you mourn your sin? Do you grieve the ways you have strayed from God? Are you saddened by sin’s devastation in your life?

Who Are the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?

They are those who have godly sorrow for their sins—those who mourn over their waywardness and turn to Christ for comfort.

Jesus has stated two beatitudes, the second building on the first, and now he turns to a third which builds on the previous one. Jesus continues to answer the question: Who are the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? In the third beatitude he says that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven are…

Those Who Are Willing to “Lose” in This Life for God’s Glory

In the third beatitude, Jesus teaches that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven are those who embrace meekness—a characteristic often misunderstood and undervalued both in His time and in ours.

Meekness: A Liability or a Mark of Heaven?

In Jesus’ day, meekness was seen as a weakness, a liability in a world that valued power, status, and dominance. The same remains true today. Consider the political landscape—can you name a well-known leader who is truly meek? Meekness is unnatural to the unspiritual person because it requires humility, trust, and a willingness to surrender worldly gain for the sake of God’s glory.

What Is Meekness?

To understand meekness, we must see it from two angles:

• Positively, meekness is trusting in the Lord, delighting in Him, putting one’s hope in Him, and waiting expectantly for His promises to be fulfilled.
• Negatively, meekness is being willing to “lose” in this life for God’s glory. It is not about losing for the sake of losing, but about surrendering earthly advantages in faith, knowing that eternal reward awaits.

Examples of Meekness in Scripture

The Bible gives us powerful examples of those who willingly “lost” in this life for the glory of God:

• Abraham: When his wife Sarah died, Abraham needed a burial site. He was offered land, but he insisted on paying for it. He was, however, charged an exorbitant price—five to ten times its value. He knew he was being taken advantage of, yet he did not argue or negotiate. Why? Because he was looking forward to “a city whose builder and architect is God” (Hebrews 11:10). He was willing to “lose” now, knowing God’s promises were far greater.
• Moses: Hebrews 11:25 tells us that Moses “chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” He could have remained in Pharaoh’s palace, enjoying a life of luxury, but instead, he identified with God’s suffering people. He “lost” in the eyes of the world but gained something far greater.
• Jesus: Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that “Jesus became poor so that we might become rich.” In Philippians 2, Paul describes how Jesus humbled Himself, taking on human flesh and enduring death on a cross. No one exemplified meekness more than Christ, who willingly “lost” everything for the sake of God’s glory and our redemption.
• Paul: In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul declares, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” Even when the Corinthians mistreated him, he continued to serve them, knowing that true reward comes not from human approval but from God.

Who, then, are the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? They are those who are willing to “lose” in this life for the glory of God.

Meekness Is Belief in the World to Come

Why do the meek choose to “lose” in this life? Because their faith is anchored in eternity. Their willingness to sacrifice now is the strongest declaration of their belief in the world to come.

Consider the game Tell Me Without Telling Me. If someone wanted to reveal their Puerto Rican heritage without explicitly saying it, they might say, “I love rice and beans.” If someone wanted to reveal they were Dutch, they might say, “I own several pairs of wooden shoes.”

Likewise, how do we proclaim that we believe in eternity? By saying, “I’d rather ‘lose’ in this life for the glory of God.” Nothing demonstrates faith in the afterlife more than a willingness to give up temporary success for eternal reward.

Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 15:19:
“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

One author illustrates this idea vividly:

• Why would Jed refuse multiple promotions to maintain honesty and integrity? If this life is all there is, he is a fool.
• Why would Andrea continually forgive Dana’s disloyalty? Without eternity, she is merely allowing herself to be taken advantage of.
• Why would Pete endure ridicule from his high school peers for his faith? If this life is all there is, he is making a terrible choice.
• Why would Michael pour his time, money, and energy into ministry if there were no eternity?

If this world is all there is, then why serve? Why give? Why pursue righteousness? Why sacrifice comfort and security? Everything God calls us to only makes sense in light of eternity.

And that, brothers and sisters, is meekness—being willing to “lose” in this life for the glory of God, knowing that we have an eternal reward.

Meekness in Our Own Midst

We don’t need to look only to biblical figures to see meekness. We see it in those around us—those who quietly sacrifice and serve, expecting nothing in return.

• Frank and Harold are two such men. By worldly standards, they are “losing” as they selflessly serve their families and others. But in reality, they are winning, for they will inherit the kingdom of God.

Why Is Meekness the Third Beatitude?

Many Christians ask themselves, Would I be willing to die for Christ? The real question is: Am I willing to “lose” in this life for the glory of God?

Meekness is third among the beatitudes because, without it, the others are impossible to live out.

• Without meekness, we won’t hunger and thirst for righteousness—we will hunger and thirst for our own ambitions.
• We won’t pursue purity of heart—because purity requires sacrifice.
• We won’t seek peace—because that, too, requires humility.

This is why the last beatitude is about persecution. Without the foundation of meekness, we won’t be able to endure suffering for Christ.

Application: Where Are You “Losing” for the Glory of God?

Where in your life are you willingly “losing” in faith? Or, to put it positively, where are you trusting God?

• Time: Will you “lose” some of your time to attend prayer meetings? Will you commit to studying God’s Word with others, even when it requires sacrifice?
• Energy: Our church is preparing for Vacation Bible School—will you “lose” some of your energy to serve in this ministry?

Who Are the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?

They are those who are willing to “lose” in this life for the glory of God.

Conclusion: Look to Christ

This morning, we have seen that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven are those who:

1. Recognize their spiritual poverty,
2. Mourn their sin,
3. And embrace meekness by surrendering worldly gain for God’s glory.

As you go into the world this week, remember that you are called to live in light of these beatitudes. But the focus is not on the beatitudes themselves—the focus is Christ.

Look to Jesus, who became poor so that we might become rich.
Look to Jesus, who wept over the stubbornness of Jerusalem.
Look to Jesus, who was gentle and lowly.

And as you look to Him, be energized by the power of the Spirit to follow in His footsteps—willing to “lose” in this life for the sake of eternal glory.