Today’s Gospel passage from this past week’s Lectionary Scripture readings comes from Matthew’s Gospel, and contains some very familiar verses that have come to be known as the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes were the opening message from a series of teachings that Jesus gave in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin, meaning “blessed”. Nine times in our passage, Jesus calls those who hold certain virtues and behaviors in their life as being blessed. To be blessed is more than just being happy. It is the state of those who belong to God’s Kingdom. The Beatitudes do not promise pleasure, laughter or prosperity. To be blessed is more than surface emotion. It is a divinely-bestowed well-being that only God’s faithful can have. Following Jesus will bring hope and joy, apart from our outward circumstances. Let’s take a quick look at these virtues that the Lord spoke of, which should be evident in His children.
The first one is to be “poor in spirit” (vs. 3). One who is poor in spirit shows deep humility. It is the opposite of self-sufficiency, and knowing that apart from God one is spiritually bankrupt. It doesn’t mean that we have low self-esteem. It means we understand we’re sinners, in need of God’s grace and mercy. People who are poor in spirit know that without God they are lost and hopeless.
The second beatitude Jesus speaks of is that those who mourn will be comforted (vs. 4). He is speaking specifically for those who mourn over sin, showing a godly sorrow which will lead to repentance and salvation (II Corinthians 7:10). Jesus says that those who mourn over the wrong in the world and their own sinfulness will be comforted. The comfort we receive is with forgiveness and salvation. Next is that of meekness. Meekness is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Holy Spirit (vs. 5). The Scriptures, particularly in the Book of Proverbs, warn us to watch out that we do not lose our tempers or our self-control.
In verse 6 we read about those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is to desire and yearn for God. Those who genuinely seek God, and not their own desires, will find Him. They are not promoting their own self-righteousness, which is what the Pharisees showed. Our own righteousness will get us nowhere, and certainly cannot bring us into God’s Kingdom. Taking the righteousness of Jesus upon us, we can receive a right relationship with God.
We next read that we are blessed if we are merciful, and shall also obtain mercy (vs. 7). When God shows us mercy, He withholds giving us the punishment that our sins deserve. When we have received God’s mercy, He wants us to extend mercy to others. Those who give mercy will receive mercy, He says. How much mercy do I need? I need all that I can get. If I want mercy for myself, I need to give mercy to others. The amount of mercy I need is the amount of mercy I should show others.
Jesus says those that are pure in heart will see God (vs. 8). The purer our heart becomes, the more of God we’ll see, and the more of God others will see in us. To be pure we must set ourselves apart from the world and it’s ways. Next are the peacemakers who work to settle quarrels, not start them (vs. 9). They find no pleasure in being negative. Peacemakers build people up, watch their tongue, and heal rather than hurt.
The final beatitude speaks of those who are persecuted for the Lord (vs. 10-12). How can we rejoice in persecution? Persecution takes our eyes off of earthly rewards and strengthens the faith of those going through it. It also weeds out superficial “believers”. Those who endure persecution are examples to those who follow. Persecution can bring endurance, strengthen our character, build hope, and deepen our faith. Christian joy comes with a deep sense of peace and comfort in the midst of persecutions and trials.
Living the way God says, is in direct odds with the way the world says. When we follow God’s way, we give when the world says take. We help when the world abuses. A follower of Jesus will give up their “rights” and serve others. The Beatitudes are the values of the Kingdom of God, in contrast to the values of the world. They are not multiple choice. We cannot pick what we like and leave the rest. When we live according to Jesus’ ways, we will have the blessings He promised.
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