Blessings and Woes

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS

1. The Gospel is literally “the good news”.

2. What Christ presents to us here is very different from the views of the common man.

3. The idea of blessing and cursing is an Old Testament principle that Jesus as a
   Prophet employs as He preaches to the crowds and to his disciples.
   Psalm 1:1, 32:1-2, 128:1
   
   The Cursings -- Deut. 27:11-26
   The Blessings – Deut. 28:1-6; 13-14
   Further Warnings – Deut. 28:15-20; 45-47

4. The unique nature of the Beatitudes.
   They don't tell us what to do -- they tell us what we are.

5. There are differences between Matthew's account and Luke's account.

   I. The poor Contrasted to the Rich. v. 20, 24

   II. The Hungry Contrasted to the Full v. 21a, 25a

   III. The Weepers Contrasted to the Laughers 21b, 25b

   IV. The Persecuted Contrasted to the Popular 22-23, 26