The Beatitudes

["Click here for Matthew's account"]
["Click here for Luke's account"]

Having completed the calling of His 12 disciples, Christ sets about in earnest to teach them what they will need to know to carry on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Four things are established in the first two verses: The Preacher and the Place. The Preacher was our Lord, Jesus Christ. His qualifications had already been established. His text was "repentance". It had been the "text" used by the Prophets, it was used by John the Baptist and now was brought to completion by Jesus. The Place was a mountain in Galilee. Christ chose a mountain for several reasons:

It provided a natural raised platform.
It established a break from the tradition of preaching only in Synagogues.
It afforded a more private place where He could concentrate on His disciples.
It was a parallel. 1300 years before, Moses receives the Law on Mt. Sinai, this, the Law for Christian living, was given on a mountain also. Notice the difference:

Previously, the Lord came down, this time the Lord went up.
Previously, He spoke in thunder and lightening this time in a still small voice.
Previously, the people were ordered to keep their distance, this time they were invited to draw near.

The Congregation. The disciples and others, but primarily to the 12 did He speak. To these He spoke because they wanted to be taught, they strived to understand what He taught and they wanted to tell others.
We said that there are four things established in the first two verses; we have looked at "The Preacher", "The Place", and "The "Congregation, the fourth is "The seriousness of His Subject and Character".
Much is inferred in the Greek which is here translated as "When He was set", or "When He sat down". He, by doing this, tried to get them to understand the seriousness of what He was about to say and to emphasize the fact, by setting down, that He would take whatever time was necessary to explain what He was about to say.
He was going to establish a "set of standards" governing that which was good and that which was evil. It would be a model for Christian living. The nature and purpose of this sermon should be established now. It was not to establish a "way to salvation". We are justified by faith , saved by our faith in Jesus Christ. We should, out of gratitude, live as Jesus teaches here in this Sermon on the Mount.
"Blessed", sometimes read "happy", is perhaps best read from our understanding of two words, blessed and happy. Matthew Henry believed the pronouncement was twofold:

To establish those who were pleasing to God.
To establish wherein true happiness lies for the Christian.

These 8 listed here are not the only beatitudes in the Bible. Many others occur elsewhere in the Gospel of Matthew and John and also in the Books of Acts. They are believed to have been given for four reasons:

To set straight the wrong opinions and goals of a carnal world.

Blessed are the rich.
Blessed are the great.
Blessed are those with the "gift of gab", and others.

To relieve the discouragement of the less fortunate, a way to be happy with your "lot" in life.
To make inviting and interesting, by our happiness and assurance, the way of Christ.
To sum up the "articles of agreement" between God and the Christian.

Many non-christians realize the wisdom of these teachings as being the way to true happiness. Why can't we Christians?
THE #1 BEATITUDE. Blessed are the poor in spirit. What is "poor in spirit"? Humble and content. The Living Bible states this first beatitude this way, "Humble men are very fortunate." Wealth and power are not to be our aim in life but by the same token, we are not to hide our talents under a bushel. To be humble and content in life, we must accept those things that we cannot change and change those things that we can. Paul was a good example of someone who was "poor in spirit", he considered himself the least of the Apostles, accepting his limitations but making the most of those "gifts of Grace" that the Lord bestowed upon him. For Paul to live, was Christ.
We must acknowledge our sinful and limited nature, knowing that we rightly deserve condemnation. We are truly "poor", for we are always in need of God's Grace. Christ put humility first among all moral virtues. Why is a humble person blessed? He expects nothing and is therefore not disappointed but rather happy with whatever he receives. Happiness, then, is being content with whatever you have.
What, then, is the reward of the "poor in spirit"? "Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Lets see how we can define the Kingdom of heaven:

Happiness, heaven on earth.
Grace sufficient for our needs.
Strength in time of need.
Knowledge of our salvation.
Assurance of our salvation.
Abiding faith.

The same happiness is promised to those who are contentedly poor as to those who are able to spend cheerfully for His sake. (Psalm 3 describes this peace and security of the redeemed.)
THE #2 BEATITUDE Blessed are those who mourn. The Loving Bible says, "Those who mourn are fortunate". Sometimes people will use this promise to extreme in both directions. There are those who believe that we show lack of faith when we mourn and others that take what is said literally and believe that we are commanded to mourn. Jesus wept when He heard that His friend Lazarath has died. He also mourned for the sins of the world, for the trials that the Disciples would face, for the weakness of the human soul. We should mourn for our sins and for the sins of others as Jesus wept over Jerusalem. (Psalm 38 describes a sickness that God sent into the life of David because of sin and the fact that David "mourned" because of that sin and asked God's forgiveness.)
Such mourners are blessed and shall be comforted.

The happiness of Heaven has been described as being eternally comforted.
Comforted by the "wiping away" of all tears from our eyes.
Comforted by the knowledge that Heaven will be Heaven indeed, to those who mourn for it will be a "harvest of joy" for a lifetime of tears.

(Psalm 40 verifies this, as David finds comfort in God's forgiveness of his sins.) There is comfort in the knowledge that we have done what we could, when we could.
THE #3 BEATITUDE Blessed are the meek. The Living Bible says that the "meek" are fortunate. The meek are those who quietly submits themselves to God's will and are gentle towards their fellow man. One that can be "cool" when others are angry. One who would rather forgive many injuries that to revenge one. However, we are not talking about cowards, introverts or fence sitters, we are talking about peace keepers, people who find enjoyment in themselves, their friends and their God.
Notice their reward, "They shall inherit the earth." Meekness reduces tensions, animosities and high blood pressure. Meekness has a tendency to promote health, wealth, comfort and safety. (Psalm 29 records a time of great meekness on the part of David as he witnessed a great electrical storm which he considered to be a demonstration of God's power.)
THE #4 BEATITUDE blessed are those who hunger and thrust after righteousness. The Living Bible says that the just and good will be happy. Righteousness is "rightness with God". We have no righteousness of our own. We obtained an "imputed" rightness when we accept Christ as our Savior even though we do not deserve it.
Sanctification is the process of spiritual growth which we should hunger and thrust after.
Notice the reward, those who do this will be blessed. There is much satisfaction and happiness in growing as a Christian. The Lord promises us we shall be "filled". God promises to honor our efforts to grow in Grace if they are properly motivated, certainly they will be the source of much joy in our spiritual life. We, as Christians, cannot be happy unless we are growing. Not all of us can grow at the same rate but we must all strive to grow as God has endowed us to grow. (Psalm 42 by the Sons of Korah expresses the belief that only through our hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God, can faith be truly stabilized.)
THE #5 BEATITUDE Blessed are the merciful. The Living Bible says, "Happy are the kind and merciful." Notice some of the virtues of the merciful:

They are patient.

Patient with their own afflictions and short comings.
Patient with the afflictions and short comings of others.

Compassionate.

This means they have pity and understanding for the ignorant, the careless, the lost, the poor and animals.

One of the most rewarding experiences in this world is giving to someone in need. Sharing with others whether it is food, an experience, love, work, spiritual possessions or worldly possessions.
The reward for being merciful is having it returned to you in kind. They shall obtain mercy. Kindness is contagious, so is love. God always returns to us more than we give, more than we expect. "For in as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me." (Psalm 41 written by David, expounds on the blessings and peace of mind in helping others.)
THE #6 BEATITUDE Blessed are the pure in heart. The Living Bible says, "Happy are those whose hearts are pure." This is the most encompassing of all the beatitudes for without it, the others are for naught, with it, the others are meaningful. Christianity lies in the heart. Out of the heart comes what a person is. Regardless of our outward appearances, regardless of our Bible knowledge, regardless of our giving of our time and money, it is the condition of the heart that counts. "Create in me, O Lord, a clean heart, for out of the heart comes either defilement or righteousness."
Their reward is that they shall see God, and get this, they shall see Him NOW. We, like Adam and Eve, were created to walk and commune with God but sin separated us from God. Through Christ and God's Grace, there can be created within us a pure heart which will return to us that fellowship. Those who earnestly seek the Lord do so from a pure heart. What pleasure could a defiled heart have in the presence of God. (Psalm 15 written by David, called the characteristics of the godly, says, a clean life and a pure heart are necessary to fullness of life.)
THE #7 BEATITUDE Blessed are the peacemakers. The Living Bible says, "Happy are those who strive for peace." Who are the peacemakers?

Those who have a "peaceful disposition".
Those who engage only in peaceful conversation and always try to preserve the peace when it is broken by others. This is mostly a thankless position, often bringing abuse from both sides. But while others may abuse, God will bless, for in effort, they are working together with Christ.

The Bible says that as "Children of God", by our works shall we be known. Certainly keeping the peace is worthy of striving for. We are known also by our associations. We take on the resemblance of those whose efforts we support. (Psalm 68 states that God is the father of the fatherless, David speaks highly of those who stand alone sometimes we become in our effort to keep the peace, "a stranger in a strange land".)
THE #8 BEATITUDE Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. The Living Bible says, "Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good." This truth is still true today. Many are persecuted or discriminated against because of their "Puritan ideals". Often last when it comes to promotions, often dropped from the "list of guests" or often considered a "party pooper". Where do you draw the line for the sake of job and social standing? Religious persecution had been with us sence the time of Christ.
"They will say all manner of evil against you, falsely." Gossip, half truths, jealousy and pride will dishonor you. If you are not being persecuted in some way perhaps you should take a good look at yourself, maybe you are not any different that the un-godly, maybe they can't tell you are a Christian.
Do this for the sake of Christ, not for your own sake, it is not the suffering but the cause that makes the martyr. Those who do this, shall be blessed and compensated. We do not do this to be compensated, we are compensated because we do it. How? Ours shall be the Kingdom of Heaven. The joys of Heaven are offered in measure to those who endure, to those who live as God has taught, not only in the world to come but in this world also. Remember, so persecuted they the Prophets.
Therefore, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. It is not enough to be patient and forbearing in the presence of persecution, we are told to be happy, exceedingly so, for this is our reasonable service. Remember, be careful not to take pride in them, nor rely on them for salvation.

Previous Chapter

Return to Outline

Ask Questions

Next Chapter