Sermon on the Mount: Insight into the Beatitudes Part 2

Matthew 5:3–12: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you."

"Wisdom is a capacity of the mind; in the OT, it involves both knowledge and the ability to direct the mind toward a full understanding of human life and its moral fulfillment. Wisdom is thus a special capacity, necessary for full human living, but one which can be acquired through education and the application of the mind." [1]

Beatitudes

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives us eight things to do to be blessed, classically called "Beatitudes"—a Latin word for "blessed."

What does it mean to be "blessed"? People throw that term around, usually in the context of getting extra money, a new job, or something good happening to them. That'sThat's not really what it means. The Greek term cannot be reduced to happiness based on "happenings" or circumstances. In Greek, makarios (blessed) means fundamentally to be approved. There can be no higher blessing than to be approved by God and to have God's favor, which is not dependent on circumstances. We can be blessed regardless of our earthly circumstances, which might not be outwardly happy. 

The term refers to someone who is to be congratulated. To be blessed is to experience the applause of heaven. [i] God's blessing is his applauding you. When you live the kind of life Jesus describes, you win God's favor and approval. In our vernacular, he says, "Way to go!" " [ii] What could be better than hearing that from God? 

Jesus tells us how we can gain God's applause by giving us eight qualities that describe the people receiving these blessings. These eight divine blessings can be yours if you live the way Jesus asks you to live. 

If you want to be all in and hold nothing back, the Sermon on the Mount tells us how to do it. These are our instructions for how to be all-in followers of Jesus Christ. The Beatitudes are not a scheme for self-improvement or succeeding in life; they are qualities of Jesus-like people. It is not the rich, the physically fit, the happy, or the forceful who are truly blessed. It is the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the meek who are blessed. As you read the Beatitudes, prayerfully consider which one God is drawing you to focus on. 

[1] Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. "Wisdom, Wisdom Literature." Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible 1988: 2149. Print.

[i]. Max Lucado, The Applause of Heaven—The Secret to a Truly Satisfying Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

[ii]. William W. Klein, Become What You Are: Spiritual Formation According to the Sermon on the Mount (Tyrone, GA: Authentic Publishing, 2006), 75.

[i]. Grant R. Osborne, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 165.