The Beatitudes
-
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. -
Sermon on the Mount
I had the privilege of visiting the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount in 2010 with my wife. It was built in 1938 and when you are there you wonder, how did Jesus’ voice carry to the back of a crowd of thousands on that small Mount. You can imagine some truth in the Monty Python idea that a man at the back of the crowd would mishear Jesus’ words and pass on the message ‘blessed are the cheesemakers’ like Chinese whispers.
Jesus had just started his ministry and was gaining in popularity. Large crowds were gathering. He had just picked out his disciples. And on the grassy hills of northern Israel by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus delivered a sermon – The Sermon on the Mount.
The crowd represented a cross section of people, young and old, men and women, boys & girls, rich & poor and I’m sure various races too. All different but all looking for the same thing Makarios (Greek word translated as happiness or blessedness).
Jesus said the word “blessed” 9 times in 12 verses.
Let us look at this word Makarios or Blessedness or Happiness. Let’s look firstly [1] Blessedness/happiness the world's way and secondly, [2] Happiness Jesus way
Our reading in Matthew 5 begins:
‘When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down..’
Blessedness the World’s way
Lots of songs have been written about happiness, ‘the greatest gift I possess’ Ken Dodd, Farrel Williams ‘Happy.’ Bobby Ferrin ‘Don’t worry, be happy.’ Shiny Happy People REM is one of my favourites
Happiness is an emotion, a feeling triggered by external happenings. Happy are those who have a birthday, Happy are those who go to Jay Miller’s circus, happy are those who go out for a nice meal….etc. That kind of blessedness is to do with happenings and circumstances. We think that the blest and the happy person is one who has a great time, has achieved something or has possessions.
The world's beatitudes may be:
1. Blessed is the one who wins the lottery or who makes a fortune.
2. Blessed is the one who drives a fast car
3. Happy is the one who can afford to go on expensive holidays
4. Blessed are the influencers on social media
5. Blessed are the celebrities in society.
A few years ago, BBC breakfast launched ‘The happiness challenge.’ It was about changing attitudes and actions that will make us and others happier.
BBC suggested 3 simple actions that will make us happier people:
1. Be kind; do kind things for others
2. Be grateful; remember the good things and be thankful
3. Be mindful; reflect more and notice more
Isn't that what we want for ourselves & friends, and families: Happiness and Blessings? Yes and no.
The world's way is not a recipe for happiness. Not even BBC can ensure happiness.
Makarios, Blessed is not happinessBlessed is one of those words with a spiritual depth for which the English language has no alternative. Makarios - is a deep spiritual joy, untouchable by life’s events.
Let’s look at Blessedness the Jesus Way.
“Blessed is one of those words with a spiritual depth for which the English language has no alternative. Happiness is an emotion, a feeling triggered by external happenings. Happy are those who go out for a nice meal. Blessed is not the same type of word. It is a deep spiritual joy, untouchable by life’s events.”
-
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Blessedness the Jesus Way
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that Blessedness is not based upon what we have. Nor is it based on 3 simple things we need to do! Blessedness is based on who we are and who we are becoming through the transforming Holy Spirit in our lives.
Blessedness is not about the kind of car we drive, it is about the kind of people in the car: the poor in spirit, who weep with those who mourn, who are meek & searching for righteousness. The merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and even the persecuted. These are the 8 Beatitudes. But they are not 8 types of people – the poor, the criers, the meek types and so on NO they are 8 characteristics of a Christian: who is poor in spirit, weeps, meek, hunger for more of Godliness, merciful to others, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted.
John Chrysostom taught that each beatitude was linked to the previous and the next. Like a ladder with each step displaying one of the beatitudes. Each step leads to the other and each was dependent on the previous step. The message is that we should not isolate the eight sayings - these spiritual qualities are interconnected.
For example when we become a Christian, we admit our spiritual poverty, we mourn over our sin and helplessness, leading to meekness and humility, accepting Christ as our Lord. Then a hunger and thirst for righteousness develops inner characteristics of showing mercy, purity and peace-making and when we do this we will be persecuted.
Spend a few minutes giving a whistle-stop tour of the beatitudes while the jigsaw is being assembled by the young people in the congregation.
Whistle-stop Tour
Notice each of the Blessings are followed by a kingdom promise, also these eight statements belong together, given to all Christians. They are not to be separated, they are a unit of exclamations about Christians.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Poor. We admit our spiritual poverty. Nothing we can do to make us spiritually whole. We trust in God,
2. Blessed are those who mourn – for they will be comforted. Crying out to God for mercy. As we grow in faith we begin to weep and intercede for the world’s suffering, unbelief, our own sin.
3. Blessed are the meek - for they will inherit the earth. Meek is not weak, but gentle. Coming to God with nothing in our hands to bring, that’s meekness.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – for they will be filled. Words: hunger & thirst = starvation and parched, how much do you yearn for God?
5. Blessed are the merciful – for they will be shown mercy. Mercy is a Christ-like empathy. Mercy tries to see with their eyes and empathise.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart – for they will see God. As we mature as Christians we want no dark secrets, selfish motives, pride, examine yourself. Stay close to Him
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God (peace makers, not peace lovers). Shalom is the word. Shalom is about welfare, well-being, wanting best for others. Shalom is also about right relations: they, too are blessed.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Jesus knows there is a cost in following him (take up your cross, daily) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Remember these eight statements belong together, given to us for encouragement, not to rebuke us. These 8 characteristics may seem impossible (to be pure & righteous heart…. peace-maker etc). In Matt 19:26 when the rich man walked away from Jesus because he could not do it all. The disciples exclaimed, 19:25 who then can be saved? Good question. Ans: Matt 19:26 ‘With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.’’
The truth is, we can't be the ‘Beatitude Christian’ all the time, but with God all things are possible. That’s because we have Jesus, with & within, our hope and confidence is in him. Jesus who became poor in spirit on the cross for us, he wept over our sinfulness and is meek and gentle with us (Matt 11:29) and by his forgiveness and mercy we receive his purity and righteousness. In ‘The Secret to Happiness,’ Billy Graham wrote, “The character which we find in the Beatitudes is, beyond all question, nothing less than our Lord’s own character, put into words.”
The blessedness Jesus taught SOTM 2000 years ago is based on being related to him and giving him Lordship of your life. Have you trusted him as your Lord & Saviour?
I hope so.
These are not eight groups of people
these are eight qualities of one people
Summary
Jesus is teaching us who we are in Him, the Qualities we have in him and the Blessings we are promised in these Beatitudes:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn – for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek - for they will inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – for they will be filled
5. Blessed are the merciful – for they will be shown mercy
6. Blessed are the pure in heart – for they will see God
7. Blessed are the peacemakers – for they will be called the children of God
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness
