The Beatitudes are a series of blessings found in the fifth chapter of the gospel of Matthew. The word Beatitude, in fact, comes from the Latin word beatitude which means blessedness.
The word Beatitude can also mean happy and state of great joy.
Look at the Beatitudes and you’ll see that they offer a specific reward for a specific character trait. (For example … if you are merciful, you will obtain mercy.)
Jesus’ words, as illustrated in the Beatitudes, are absolutely revolutionary.
Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Many in the audience listening to Jesus would have been shocked by these words. They would have expected something more like … Blessed are the Pharisees or blessed are the moral. But blessed are the poor in spirit (the lacking or broken)? This was new thinking.
The blessings found in the Beatitudes (commonly known as The Sermon On The Mount), are paradoxical promises. They sound more like curses than blessings? Jesus is telling us:
-Blessed are the poor in spirit
-Blessed are those who mourn
-Blessed are the meek
-Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
-Blessed are the poor in spirit
-Blessed are those who mourn
-Blessed are the meek
-Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
These blessings seem to go against our normal human desires. But Jesus is trying to open our minds to the bigger picture. First, hardship (such as mourning) transforms us. It often makes us kinder, wiser, more patient people. Second, if we have received more typical blessings (such as children, money, or good health), we can still put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and work to help alleviate their suffering. When we do that, we are living the spirit of the Beatitudes revealed by Jesus.
In many ways the Beatitudes reveals just the kind of person that Jesus was. It says in Matthew 5:4 that blessed are those that mourn … and there are several examples of Jesus openly mourning (such as at the grave of Lazarus). It says in Matthew 5:7, blessed are the merciful … and there are many examples of Jesus showing mercy (such as Jesus healing the man with the withered hand on the sabbath). And it says in Matthew 5:9, blessed are the peacemakers … and Jesus clearly was a peacemaker when he healed the ear of a servant cut off by Peter at Jesus’ arrest.
By following the model of the Beatitudes, you are following the model for Christlike behavior. But don’t think that a Christian’s life is supposed to be nothing but suffering. Jesus’ teachings are meant to show you that God wants you to live a life full of blessings, but that you should put God’s kingdom first.
Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
